Damarious Randall, 2015 First Round Pick

[pbmax]

Damarious Randall ‏@RandallTime 27m27 minutes ago
Very blessed for the opportunity and thankful... I will be wearing #23 Time to get to work..

[red]

blah

[pbmax]

Highlights 1: tackling, picks and jumping routes. One coverage but shown from end zone, can;t tell he was in coverage or back as safety and broke on route. Rated TV-MA for Strong Language

[ThunderDan]

I wasn't sure what to think when I first heard the pick. But now that I have had a night to sleep on it I like the pick a lot more.

The NFL right now is swinging towards high flying attacks. You need to have one if not two slot corners on the field. I think in 2-3 years this might be looked back as a very smart pick.

[denverYooper]

blah

[smuggler]

Not a homerun, but I do not see much chance of a strikeout. I'll call it a walk with the potential to swipe second. Our defensive backs coaching is pretty solid.

[pbmax]

Highlights #2, Tackling, some coverage and a couple of blitzes and special team work. Still TV-MA for Strong Language

[pbmax]

Bleacher Report video post draft pick.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...packers-rookie

Demovsky at ESPN

http://espn.go.com/blog/green-bay-pa...he-first-round

[pbmax]

Scout.com: http://gnb.scout.com/story/1542674-f...e-randall?s=61

DAMARIOUS RANDALL
Free Safety
Arizona State University Sun Devils
#3
5:11.7-196
Pensacola, Florida
Butler Community College; Mesa Community College
Pensacola High School

Randall hopes that all of his recent road travels earns him a resting place on a National Football League roster. The Florida native left the Atlantic Coast for the corn fields of Kansas, where he first donned a baseball uniform at Butler College. One season on the diamond and the “football bug” again bit, as he left for Arizona, where he enrolled at Mesa College in 2011.
It was not until 2012 that he would get his opportunity to play on the gridiron. The long wait was worth it, as he was named a junior college All-American, enticing major college recruiters to be regular visitors at the Mesa campus. Liking life in Arizona and not looking to do any more sports “globe trotting,” he accepted a scholarship offer from the Sun Devils staff to join the Arizona State program.

Randall was a two-sport participant at Pensacola High School, helping the football team to a 14-1 record and a ninth place ranking in the state during his senior season, but had much better success as an infielder for the baseball team. He batted .313 and stole fifteen bases through 23 games during his senior season, finishing his prep career with a .247 average through 67 contests.
Randall enrolled at Butler College in 2010, joining the baseball program during the 2011 spring semester. He appeared in ten games, but managed just a .156 batting average while committing three errors. Realizing that his path to the professional ranks would not be as a baseball player, he transferred to Mesa College, but did not play football in 2011.

The 2012 All-American at Mesa started at cornerback, in addition to playing as a receiver and return specialist. He finished second on the team with 69 tackles, as he broke up eight passes and intercepted nine others. He averaged 28.21 yards as a kickoff returner and ran back fourteen punts for an 18.36-yard average and two scores. He also reached the end zone twice from eight receptions for 152 yards.

Joining the Arizona State Sun Devils, Randall started twelve games at free safety in 2013. He tied for third on the team with 71 tackles (48 solos), picking off three tosses and knocking down three other throws. Two of his 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage caused fumbles and one of his pass thefts was good for a touchdown.

Randall took over “boundary” safety chores as a senior, as the Sun Devil received All-American and All-Pac 12 Conference recognition. He led the team with 106 tackles, marking the first time a defensive back reached the “century” mark in tackles since Jason Shivers (104 in 2003). He was also the first defensive back to lead the Sun Devils in tackles since Josh Barnett (82 in 2006). He also had three interceptions and nine pass break-ups.

[red]

Lindy's

Safeties

#15 Damarious Randall

projected round- 6

in our view- A player with cb size but a free safety skill set, Randall took a winding road to Arizona State, including not playing football for 2 years following high school, and developed into a first team All-PAC 12 performer as a senior. He plays with a fast and physical attitude, routinely sticking his nose in the fire, but he can be inconsistant as a box safety.

Although he needs technique and discipline work in coverage, randall has the size and body fluidity to hold his own, including the ball skills and confidence for the next level. He isn't a day one starter at safety, but he has the traits to make an immediate impact on special teams coverages, and help in nickle situations.

Strengths- Highly aggressive and plays at full speed at all times. Never gives up on plays and has a knack for chasing down ball carriers from behind. Decisive sideline angles with closing burst to make up ground. Good anticipation to jump routes, reading the QB and baiting throws. Adequate ball skills amd knows what to do with the ball once he gains possession (6 career ints averaging 29.8 yards per return with 2 TDs). Played on special teams coverages with experience as a return man.

Weaknesses- Undersized and lacks ideal strength and bulk for safety position. Willing tackler, but too often needs help to finish stops and can be taken for a ride. Too many ankle biting tackle attempts. Overaggressive, leading to wasted steps and motion. Will get fooled by play-fakes due to his overaggressive nature. Needs to stay patient in his pedal and often bites too early, witch will lead to disaster when lined up in man coverage. Still very unpolished with the technical side of the game.

Grade 5.1

[vince]

Bit of a rough game here.

[pbmax]

http://gnb.scout.com/a.z?s=61&p=9&c=...24&rc=4&pid=33

SCOUT RANK OVERALL 46
POSITION RANK 02

EVALUATION
Randall has the closing burst you look for in a speedy free safety. He plants and drives quickly and is at his best closing on the ball in front of him. He makes up ground when the ball is in the air and displays very quick feet. I would not consider him ideally fluid as a cornerback, but his coverage skills are better than average for the safety position.

Pos	Rnk	Ratg	Name		Yr	Ht/Wt/40	College		Home
S	1	5/5	Landon Collins	JR	6-0/228/4.48	Alabama		Geismar, LA
S	2	4/5	Damar. Randall	SR	5-11/196/4.46	Arizona State	Pensacola, FL
S	3	4/5	Jaquiski Tartt	SR	6-1/223/4.53	Samford		Mobile, AL
S	4	4/5	James Sample	JR	6-2/209/4.56	Louisville	Sacramento, CA

[mraynrand]

Thanks Vince. There goes my day.

[wist43]

Lindy's

Safeties

#15 Damarious Randall

projected round- 6

in our view- A player with cb size but a free safety skill set, Randall took a winding road to Arizona State, including not playing football for 2 years following high school, and developed into a first team All-PAC 12 performer as a senior. He plays with a fast and physical attitude, routinely sticking his nose in the fire, but he can be inconsistant as a box safety.

Although he needs technique and discipline work in coverage, randall has the size and body fluidity to hold his own, including the ball skills and confidence for the next level. He isn't a day one starter at safety, but he has the traits to make an immediate impact on special teams coverages, and help in nickle situations.

Strengths- Highly aggressive and plays at full speed at all times. Never gives up on plays and has a knack for chasing down ball carriers from behind. Decisive sideline angles with closing burst to make up ground. Good anticipation to jump routes, reading the QB and baiting throws. Adequate ball skills amd knows what to do with the ball once he gains possession (6 career ints averaging 29.8 yards per return with 2 TDs). Played on special teams coverages with experience as a return man.

Weaknesses- Undersized and lacks ideal strength and bulk for safety position. Willing tackler, but too often needs help to finish stops and can be taken for a ride. Too many ankle biting tackle attempts. Overaggressive, leading to wasted steps and motion. Will get fooled by play-fakes due to his overaggressive nature. Needs to stay patient in his pedal and often bites too early, witch will lead to disaster when lined up in man coverage. Still very unpolished with the technical side of the game.

Grade 5.1

That's exactly what I saw of him - what little I could find.

"Ankle biting" tackler is a great description... I don't care what he might measure out as - he plays a midget brand of football. He plays very small, and doesn't have the bulk or strength to get even average WR's on the ground - he's going to get his ass handed to him by NFL WR's.

Read a couple of reports that had him as 5th rounder - that seems about right; but of course we just wasted a #1 on him.

Maybe he turns into a decent nickelback - but you don't spend 1st round draft picks on nickelbacks.

[mraynrand]

Read a couple of reports that had him as 5th rounder - that seems about right; but of course we just wasted a #1 on him.

would have been great value at #5, Mel

[pbmax]

Those write-ups, but especially Lindy's are envisioning him as a safety. 12 teams wanted him as a CB. This is similar to the kerfuffle over Collins. No one knew about the kid so the assumption is that no one in the NFL liked him much. His ranks only changed after people (including Manock and Kiper) got word late that he was the #1 or #2 safety on the board.

[wist43]

That Oregon St. footage... my God he looks awful!!!

Can't tackle, plays soft, gets outrun, gets turned around, gets beat easily...

Wow, just wow how bad he looks in that game... will go thru the others when I get a chance.

[mraynrand]

That Oregon St. footage... my God he looks awful!!!

"Bit of a rough game here" I bet that's what attracted you to watch that one first! LOL

[pbmax]

Oregon St.

#58 is so slow to react that he could have started for the Packers last year at ILB. But run fill from a deep position is not Demarious' strong suit either. That touchdown was #58's gap, but perhaps Randall should have stayed deeper rather than close.

[mraynrand]

The O. state game is troubling because it is the most recent of the footage.