Sam Beal, CB, Western Michigan: 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft Scouting Report

Sam Beal could be one of the highest supplemental draft picks in recent years

Sam Beal, a 2015 two-star recruit, started 24 of 36 career games at Western Michigan. He primarily lined up at right cornerback in the Broncos 4-3 defense. He missed the regular season game against Akron in 2017 due to an undisclosed injury.

As a junior in 2017, Beal recorded career-highs with 12 passes defended and two interceptions (2). His first career interception came in the 2017 season opener against USC’s Sam Darnold. For his career, he recorded 96 tackles, two interceptions and 21 passes defended. He played for two head coaches and three defensive coordinators during his college career.

Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester told Yahoo! Sports Beal didn’t complete the minimum number of college credits needed to play college football in 2018. Rather than using his redshirt and suiting up for the Broncos again in 2019, Beal elected to declare for the NFL Supplemental Draft. He possesses solid size and very good length with good athletic ability.

Age: 21 (August 30, 1996)

Measurables

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 185 lbs.

Strengths

Sam Beal possesses excellent line of scrimmage skills as he keeps his feet still and delivers a powerful blow to the receiver, throwing off the timing of the route from press coverage. He displays strong hands and very good play strength as he continues to disrupt the route after the initial jam while in man coverage.

From zone, Beal demonstrates solid mental processing skills as he recognizes route concepts and quickly diagnoses the play when playing off coverage.

Beal utilizes a good angular body position and fluid hips to change directions quickly, showing off good athletic ability. When playing man coverage, he mirrors the route closely and forces the quarterback to throw into a tight window. On go routes, he forces the receiver to the sideline, also reducing the space for the quarterback to place the football.

Beal tracks the pass well in the air and takes solid angles to the ball. When beaten initially, Beal displays solid recovery speed and competitive toughness as he gets back into the play before the ball arrives, demonstrating good ball skills to break up the pass.

On this play against Central Michigan, Beal remains on the outside hip of the receiver despite almost being picked by his own teammate. He mirrors the route from a semi-trail position and gets his head around early enough to see the pass coming his way.

Beal tracks the ball well, and is able to bat the ball away with his right arm without wrapping and turning the receiver with his left. This results in an incomplete pass on a critical third down.

Against the run, Beal demonstrates solid football intelligence as he reads the play and attempts to seal the edge. He uses good play strength to hold his ground and force the ball carrier back inside.

Weaknesses

After the initial jam, Sam Beal has a tendency to continue the hand fighting and grab the receiver downfield. From off coverage, a rounded plant and drive and adequate explosiveness hamper his ability to close on passes thrown in front of him.

Despite breaking up 19 passes in three seasons at Western Michigan, Beal only intercepted two. He had opportunities to add to his total, however, marginal hands prevented him from doing so. An example of this can be seen in the play below. Here, Beal mirrors the route well and forces the receiver to the sideline. He executes this play to near perfection. However, he can’t finish as the ball slips right through his hands.

Versus the run, Beal struggles to disengage from blocks. When free, he takes marginal angles to the football in the open field, often over pursuing the play and allowing the ball carrier to make a cut downfield. He displays poor effort against the run and is easily taken out of the play by a blocker or, as in the play below, the ball carrier himself.

Overall

Overall, Sam Beal is a future starting cornerback at the next level who wins with length and line of scrimmage skills. He’s not someone who should be relied upon to play a shallow zone such as Cover 2 and help out against the run.