STRENGTHS
Christian is a long, smart, fast, confident cornerback. He uses solid techniques in single coverage and is excellent at understanding spatial awareness in zone coverages working well with his teammates. He is a solid open-field tackler and that is something all 32 teams look for now in their evaluations of their corners. Christian has the speed and burst along with the solid change of direction skills that will make it easy to be used in any style of defensive back scheme. He has the size to be used as a safety or corner and the burst and speed to be used to blitz off the edges or if used in the slot. Christen talent-wise, has what all 32 teams are looking for in a defensive back.
CONCERNS
“Christian plays with confidence”, that being said in the game against Georgia he did not. His reactions were slow and he lacked the overall aggressiveness needed to fight off blocks and make impact tackles against sweeps and screens to his side. Christian also has not gone up against the quality of receivers on an every-game basis, that have the mental toughness, speed, strength, and clever route-running skills of the receivers at the SEC level much less the NFL level.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.89
I don’t believe there is any doubt about Christians’s talent to be successful, at the next level but I do believe it will take some time and some good coaching to “mature” that talent. At the college level sometimes, the best player on the team gets the least amount of coaching. Why, because there are others on the team that need it more and the coaches do not have the time to spend with all the players equally because of the college rules. So, the more talented players wind up getting less coaching to improve. I think it’s wise for Christian to come out early. He still needs a lot of mental repetitions and must learn to play with more aggressiveness and not lose confidence in his own play when he is up against talent that matches his. I like Christian’s potential to become an excellent defensive back and a leader for the team that selects him. Nevertheless, he needs time to mature in his overall play on the field and not lose confidence and be intimidated as the whole Oregon team was against Georgia. Remember Adversity should magnify a player’s character and leadership skills and character and leadership are what make a player more successful at the next level, not talent. Every player has talent in the NFL or they wouldn’t be there.
