Artie Burns, CB, Miami: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report
The historic significance of the University of Miami speaks volume on its own. On the other hand, the recent years have been somewhat of a drag for the Hurricanes. Regardless of your outlook on the program, the University of Miami has still been successful as a whole in the last 35 years. One of those success stories is the amount of playmakers the institution has provided to the NFL.
In particular, the secondary. Names such as Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Bennie Blades, Duane Starks, Antrel Rolle are just the tip of the iceberg of Hurricanes defensive backs in the NFL. In Artie Burns, an intriguing prospect is on the doorstep of the league. An intriguing prospect with plenty of potential. Let’s take a look at his scouting report.
Height: 6’0
Weight: 193 lbs
Strengths: Good NFL size and has the frame to add another 5-10 lbs while not diminishing the skills…..Arm length is definitely an asset…..Able to jam effectively with power and also maintain body control….Burns has displayed the ability to be equally effective in man and zone coverage….Burns has a background as a track athlete; breaking an almost 40-year record in hurdles back in 2014…..Has a confident approach to the game and will not back down from anyone or any task…..Plenty of ball skills; six interceptions in 2015….Long strides as a runner with experience as a kick returner on special teams…..Reliable and shows willingness to provide run support.
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Weaknesses: Tackling definitely needs some work but he has shown glimpses of being able to polish that aspect…..Could use some bulk….In zone coverage, Burns can get lost at times…..Despite being a track star, Burns is not known for his speed….His aggressive play can lead to a number of pass interference calls in the NFL.
Bottom line: Burns has plenty of intrigue and he definitely is worth a look as a corner. He has experience playing cornerback and free safety but his skill set is better suited as a corner. Year after year, draft after draft, some players have the characteristics for certain teams.
While I’m not clearly stating he will be drafted by them, Burns has the look and the style of a potential selection by the Seattle Seahawks. His tackling needs some improvement and when it does, Burns has the capability of being one of the better corners in the league.