Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
No position appears to be a grater need than CB. The problem is the top 2 CBs stand far above the pool and will most likely be gone by 16. After them you’re talking mostly press corners, some with significant issues. I think Horn, for example, goes in round 1 but I see him as a reach. He’s been a penalty machine and plays mostly a press style of defense. Speed receivers will constantly get separation from him. Still the Cards need to make a play somewhere.
They will closely be watching the Senior Bowl. Robert Rochell is one potential Senior Bowl consideration, but not a round 1 prospect. So it’s a 2 part question. Do they like him? If so where do you have to take him. At 6’1”, 195, he’s got the size. He’s expected to run faster than 4.4 (previously hand timed) and post strong athletic workout numbers.
Part of the concern is the competition he’s faced. Coming out of high school he was ignored by FBS schools and ended up at Central Arkansas. Like many athletes he was undersized coming into college; so he redshirted. Once he hit the field he looked nothing like gangly high school student. He gradually improved his technique. A ballhawk he intercepted 4 passes in 2018 despite only starting 8 games. 2019 saw him grow into an all-conference starter who picked off 5 passes, made 13 deflections and 44 tackles. Central Arkansas did manage to cobble together 7 games in 2020, but I’m told the atmosphere was such that you’d be well advised to ignore those games when assessing talent. I spoke with a scout who had seen Rochell play and he said Rochell displayed outstanding burst coming out of his break. He showed good football IQ with regard to play recognition. He’s more than willing in run support, tackling proficiently and hitting with surprising force. He is well coached and stays home during distracting motion or when playing zone defense.
There are concerns. He wants to be the star and can get physically reckless, so self-injury is always a concern. At times he appeared to let emotions get the better of him, resulting in needless penalties. Though we’ll coached for a small school athlete, he will need quite a bit of polishing. Double moves are an issue, plus the level of competition he will face will require a big adjustment. At times he got away with using his athleticism and he will get badly burned doing that in the NFL.
So how does this play out? If the Senior Bowl and a Pro Day verify his athleticism, he might be there when the Cards pick in round 3. He’s a gamble but might be the type the Cards will have to take if they want a corner.
They will closely be watching the Senior Bowl. Robert Rochell is one potential Senior Bowl consideration, but not a round 1 prospect. So it’s a 2 part question. Do they like him? If so where do you have to take him. At 6’1”, 195, he’s got the size. He’s expected to run faster than 4.4 (previously hand timed) and post strong athletic workout numbers.
Part of the concern is the competition he’s faced. Coming out of high school he was ignored by FBS schools and ended up at Central Arkansas. Like many athletes he was undersized coming into college; so he redshirted. Once he hit the field he looked nothing like gangly high school student. He gradually improved his technique. A ballhawk he intercepted 4 passes in 2018 despite only starting 8 games. 2019 saw him grow into an all-conference starter who picked off 5 passes, made 13 deflections and 44 tackles. Central Arkansas did manage to cobble together 7 games in 2020, but I’m told the atmosphere was such that you’d be well advised to ignore those games when assessing talent. I spoke with a scout who had seen Rochell play and he said Rochell displayed outstanding burst coming out of his break. He showed good football IQ with regard to play recognition. He’s more than willing in run support, tackling proficiently and hitting with surprising force. He is well coached and stays home during distracting motion or when playing zone defense.
There are concerns. He wants to be the star and can get physically reckless, so self-injury is always a concern. At times he appeared to let emotions get the better of him, resulting in needless penalties. Though we’ll coached for a small school athlete, he will need quite a bit of polishing. Double moves are an issue, plus the level of competition he will face will require a big adjustment. At times he got away with using his athleticism and he will get badly burned doing that in the NFL.
So how does this play out? If the Senior Bowl and a Pro Day verify his athleticism, he might be there when the Cards pick in round 3. He’s a gamble but might be the type the Cards will have to take if they want a corner.
