Putting together a play by play on Damarious Randall to verify my general evaluation posted here earlier and just evaluated back to back plays w/ Ty Montgomery.
3rd Q, 10:21. 2nd 11 at 31½ of ASU. Stanford goes 3 WRs left w/ TY in middle of 3. AZ’s lines up 2 CBs on the two outside WRs at 5 yards deep; DR is between other 2 CBs across from Ty 8 yards deep. There is no safety help for this 3 on 3. Ty steps back on a bubble screen, catching ball at 35. 2 WRs flanking Ty block down nicely on their CB counterparts. Ty runs up field like he going outside of the 2 blocks and DR closes. At the perfect moment when DR must commit whether he should go inside or outside of outside WR’s block, Ty fakes to the inside as if he’s going into the hole between the WRs and DR commits to that inside hole, but Ty cuts outside for a 9 yrd gain and is pushed OOB by outside CB, who came off his block.
Shifty instinctive RB-type running by TY. DR picked the wrong hole, albeit because of Ty’s move; but given there was no help over top, DR was too aggressive. He did recover nicely; it looked like he had an angle to stop Ty from going for a TD had the outside WR held his block a second longer. DR does this repeatedly in the 4 games [Oregon, Notre Dame, USC] reviewed. Ted Thompson did not pick him to be a safety. This is what that scout saw a lot of that gave DR a 5th rnd grade.
3rd Q, 9:46. 3nd 2 at 22 of ASU. Stanford in a 3x1 w/ Ty in slot right and DR covering man w/ no safety help. At the snap DR comes up to jam Ty who fakes outside and releases inside and runs a post. In perfect trail technique, DR covers Ty [within a foot] w/ back to QB. At the 10, Ty breaks off post for a deep corner route and as soon as the cut is made, DR cuts w/ him like he’s Ty’s conjoined twin and immediately swivels his head to look at QB. In perfect technique DR holds his left hand back to “feel” movement of WR he’s no longer looking at, in case Ty breaks off corner route. This subtle left hand is what the real stud CBs use to control/slow a WR w/o being flagged [Can’t tell if DR is subtly controlling/pushing off]. As the conjoined twins come out of the break to the deep corner DR sees before TY the slightly underthrown ball. DR becomes the receiver, he accelerates and flattens "his route" and ends up the first one to ball for an INT by a full yard. But Ty, who turned DB, stuck his hand in to knock ball down and when he missed he instinctively grabbed DR’s right arm pulling it back causing the INT to be dropped.
Folks, Don’t believe that combine time, Ty is a mid 4.3 guy and DR covered him like an absolute glove w/ the perfect technique and athleticism of a HOF CB. There’s not a lot of these plays, maybe 2-3 per game, because of ASU’s scheme and plays run by offenses. But, this is what Ted Thompson and Whitt are salivating over.
I watched every video of the CBs that I thought Ted Thompson might/could draft early [Johnson, Williams, Rollins, Collins, Rowe, Darby, Jones, Carter and Mager]. IMHO, only Johnson approached DR’s outside CB skill. Johnson got to hone his technique and skill play after play in game and practice. For DR to play like this 2-3 plays a game is outstanding. It’s a real toss-up; but I’m guessing Ted Thompson gives up the inch and takes DR even if Johnson was on the board. This is not about versatility; DR is not “a project;” his OCB skills are as unrefined as any late 1st rnd CB. Moreover, he’s a team player; understands the safety position; possesses football acumen; and is coachable. I predict DR is going to practice at OCB and by midseason in 4 WR sets, Hayward will move to slot w/ DR playing solidly outside [unless Goodson or Rollins is better].