claybillings
Cheesehead
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2010
- Messages
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I live in northern california and was able to watch almost every single Cal game, and this guy is a missle. His run support is excellent and he is probably the most physical corner in this class. Take a look. Should still be on the board in the 3rd or 4th round.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMk77JUWmw0]YouTube - CB Syd'Quan Thompson Highlights/Lowlights 2009 California[/ame]
Thompson emerged as one of the nation's top cornerbacks as a junior, ranking third in the Pac-10 with 18 passes defended, including a career-high four interceptions in earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors.
Thompson had 10 passes defended and one interception in 2009 and was an All-Pac-10 pick. Started all 52 games in his career and had 257 tackles, 36 passes broken up (a school record) and seven interceptions. Lacks size, but Thompson is aggressive in run support and has no problem attacking the line of scrimmage as his 20 career tackles for loss indicate. He doubles as a punt returner for the Golden Bears, averaging 10.8 yards per return over the past two years and retuned one punt 73 yards for a touchdown against Colorado State in 2008. Smaller than scouts would like, but in a 2010 class of cornerbacks long on potential and short on production, Thompson won't be overlooked.
Analysis
Read & React: Alert, diagnoses the action quickly. Reacts quickly to wide receiver screens and see plays develop in the running game. Aggressive to jump routes with the agility and straight-line speed to recover from missteps.
Man Coverage: Flashes a good initial jam at the line of scrimmage. Smooth in his backpedal and can turn and run with receivers in man coverage. Good lateral agility. Shows an explosive burst to close on the ball with good technique in deep coverage. Squeezes the receiver toward the sideline and plays the ball. Rarely flagged for pass interference in three years as a starter.
Zone Coverage: Plays with better physicality than expected for his size. Good read-and-react skills. Can read the quarterback and make a play on the ball when in zone coverage. Good agility to change direction. Efficient and reliable open-field tackler.
Closing/Recovery: Very good straight-line speed to recover if beaten initially. Explosive burst to close. Competitive. Will fight for the jump ball and rip passes out of the hands of receivers. Showed improved hands as a junior (four interceptions), but only has six career picks despite his talent for breaking on the ball (30 passes broken up in 39 starts).
Run Support: Secure open-field tackler with no hesitation in the running game. Fights through receiver blocks and quickly darts past offensive linemen to tackle backs close to the line of scrimmage.
Tackling: A scrappy tackler who flashes physicality, though he isn't a true heavy hitter. No issues with taking on bigger ballcarriers and is an effective wrap-up tackler who targets the knees.
Intangibles: Lacks the size NFL scouts prefer for the position, but is a natural playmaker with the secure hands, elusiveness and burst as cornerback and returner in the NFL. Earned a second-round grade from NFL scouts last year. Four-year starter with no games lost to injury. High-effort defender with no known off-field issues. Comparison to Jones is strictly based on size and athletic ability as a cornerback and returner. NFL Comparison: Adam "Pacman" Jones
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMk77JUWmw0]YouTube - CB Syd'Quan Thompson Highlights/Lowlights 2009 California[/ame]
Thompson emerged as one of the nation's top cornerbacks as a junior, ranking third in the Pac-10 with 18 passes defended, including a career-high four interceptions in earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors.
Thompson had 10 passes defended and one interception in 2009 and was an All-Pac-10 pick. Started all 52 games in his career and had 257 tackles, 36 passes broken up (a school record) and seven interceptions. Lacks size, but Thompson is aggressive in run support and has no problem attacking the line of scrimmage as his 20 career tackles for loss indicate. He doubles as a punt returner for the Golden Bears, averaging 10.8 yards per return over the past two years and retuned one punt 73 yards for a touchdown against Colorado State in 2008. Smaller than scouts would like, but in a 2010 class of cornerbacks long on potential and short on production, Thompson won't be overlooked.
Analysis
Read & React: Alert, diagnoses the action quickly. Reacts quickly to wide receiver screens and see plays develop in the running game. Aggressive to jump routes with the agility and straight-line speed to recover from missteps.
Man Coverage: Flashes a good initial jam at the line of scrimmage. Smooth in his backpedal and can turn and run with receivers in man coverage. Good lateral agility. Shows an explosive burst to close on the ball with good technique in deep coverage. Squeezes the receiver toward the sideline and plays the ball. Rarely flagged for pass interference in three years as a starter.
Zone Coverage: Plays with better physicality than expected for his size. Good read-and-react skills. Can read the quarterback and make a play on the ball when in zone coverage. Good agility to change direction. Efficient and reliable open-field tackler.
Closing/Recovery: Very good straight-line speed to recover if beaten initially. Explosive burst to close. Competitive. Will fight for the jump ball and rip passes out of the hands of receivers. Showed improved hands as a junior (four interceptions), but only has six career picks despite his talent for breaking on the ball (30 passes broken up in 39 starts).
Run Support: Secure open-field tackler with no hesitation in the running game. Fights through receiver blocks and quickly darts past offensive linemen to tackle backs close to the line of scrimmage.
Tackling: A scrappy tackler who flashes physicality, though he isn't a true heavy hitter. No issues with taking on bigger ballcarriers and is an effective wrap-up tackler who targets the knees.
Intangibles: Lacks the size NFL scouts prefer for the position, but is a natural playmaker with the secure hands, elusiveness and burst as cornerback and returner in the NFL. Earned a second-round grade from NFL scouts last year. Four-year starter with no games lost to injury. High-effort defender with no known off-field issues. Comparison to Jones is strictly based on size and athletic ability as a cornerback and returner. NFL Comparison: Adam "Pacman" Jones
