Ronald Darby: Florida State CB NFL Draft Scouting Report
Florida State CB Ronald Darby had one of the best combine performances among his fellow cornerbacks. With a 4.38 forty yard dash and a vertical jump of nearly 42 inches, Darby is due to be a hot commodity at the draft in April.
Below is a full 2015 NFL Draft scouting report with measurables, tape and pro comparisons.
Stay tuned to NFL Mocks for full NFL Draft coverage leading up to April 30th.
Measurables and Combine Results
Darby’s height may or may not become an issue for NFL evaporators. He measured in at 5’11, but I personally think that will be overlooked. More importantly is his hand width, which was measured slightly below what scouts are looking for.
Strengths
Ronald Darby plays with confidence, which I usually see as a good thing for a defensive back. His biggest strengths are his zone coverage and open-field tackling, which he excels in consistently. He is not a ball hawk, but makes up for that with the tackling.
He also has very good awareness of how a play is developing and can read the quarterbacks eyes, as seen here during the 2014 Rose Bowl versus Oregon.
He also flashed top end speed at the combine, running a 4.38 forty. He also ranked at the top in vertical jumps with a 41.5 inch vertical.
Weaknesses
My biggest issue with Darby is his man-coverage and change of direction.
Watch this play versus Miami during the 2014 season. Phillip Dorsett gets Darby turned around and creates enough space to score the touchdown.
Darby is also susceptible to allowing comeback routes due to his tendency to overplay the top of the route.
I also don’t like his lack of backpedaling, which he tries to make up for by running with his upper body turned to the quarterback while running down field. It causes him to slow down and allow speedy receivers to get by him.
While I like his excellent zone coverage and open field tackling, my questions regarding his man-coverage skills make me question if he should move to safety in the NFL.
Pro-Comparison
Darby is drawing comparisons around the league to Houston Texans cornerback Jonathon Joseph.
Draft Projection
Ronald Darby is projected to be taken on the second day of the draft, most likely in the second round.