2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

March 16, 2012 @ 11:11:13

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Keith Hernandez

Louisiana State junior Morris Claiborne headlines the cornerback class of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was highly productive, withstanding a lot of targets against him the past two years playing opposite Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, respectively.

Honey Badger who?

Strengths

• Willing tackler
• Understands the correct angles to take
• Quality production (11 interceptions in the last two years)
• Great man-to-man coverage skills
• Athletic
• Sure hands
• Capable return man
• Plays with confidence
• Fluid hip sink
• Above-average speed
• No character concerns
• Times his jumps well (34 1/2-inch vertical)

Weaknesses

• Relies too much on athleticism
• Poor tackling technique
• A bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 188 pounds
• Struggles in zone coverage
• Gambles too much
• Tends to get lazy in his technique and cannot allow that to happen in the NFL, where competition is playing at a higher level - high backpedal, sloppy footwork at times
• Doesn't usually get a good jam at the line - may have problems against physical NFL receivers

Expected draft placement

Claiborne should be the first cornerback off the board. Several teams could use his services, and it is possible that he goes as early as No. 3 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 5) seem to be the most likley landing spot for Claiborne. The St. Louis Rams could be in play at No. 6, too.

He probably won't make it past No. 7 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are desperate for help at the position. It is highly unlikely that he falls past the Dallas Cowboys' No. 14 selection.

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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