STRENGTHS
Isaiah is a size/speed ratio cornerback, with those long legs and long arms that defensive back field coaches dream about. He shows good strength and solid change of direction skills with very good recovery burst. He has the talent and size to be one of the better corners in this draft and to be used at more than one position in your defensive back field. Because of his size and strength Isaiah can be used inside against those big receivers and Tight Ends in nickel/dime packages. He is smart…maybe too smart, and uses those long arms to shock receivers at the line of scrimmage, disrupting the rhythm of a passing play at the snap of the ball. Isaiah will step up his game when challenged. He likes a challenge and becomes even more physical off the snap of the ball if he thinks his opponent can beat him. Isaiah has first round talent and in the right system with the right coaching he can become an impact starting corner back, safety or slot coverage back in nickel and dime situations for the team that selects him.
CONCERNS
When Isaiah is forced to make a tackle…he will make the tackle and do it with force. The problem is he would rather some one else tackle instead of him. He is a bit of a trash talker and can be baited easily into penalties. He doesn’t read receivers very well understanding where the ball is and when the receiver is about to catch the ball. A smart physical receiver can beat this kid all day long like a drum because Isaiah’s main weapon of choice in defending is, intimation and not in using his talent and developing his skills.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.83
Isaiah has first round talent attached to the maturity level of a 7th round pick on the field. That makes me question his maturity off the field too. This kid has way too much talent to be playing the game in the fashion he has chosen to play. He doesn’t have confidence in his talent and that’s why he overcompensates with intimidating. Lots of great players have used intimidation as a weapon on the field but those players have also understood their talent and how to use it and they develop it. All I see with Isaiah is a kid that is using intimation on the field in the hope that he is not challenge. What really surprises me in his play on film is, when Isaiah is challenged he ups his game and shows his talent level and that talent level is pretty dam good. The lack of maturity on the field and MAYBE off the field is what is lacking but if the right coach can live through it and fix it, Isaiah will be one of the better defensive backs to come out in this draft. Isaiah has the talent to be as good as last years Charges 1st round selection Derwin James…he just doesn’t know it or he’s afraid to know for fear he won’t live up to the expectations of others.
