Film Room: What Devon Witherspoon could bring to Raiders

We’re a few month away from the NFL Draft and cornerback is among the greatest wants the Las Vegas Raiders have heading into April. The Raiders have a set of stable corners on the roster however lack a real No. 1 on the place, a task that Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon may take over in Las Vegas.

On the NFL Mix, head coach Josh McDaniels talked about desirous to get defenders who could make performs on the ball because the Silver and Black struggled to defend passes and create turnovers. Final season, Witherspoon ranked third amongst FBS corners with 14 go breakups and added three interceptions as properly which had been tied for second within the Massive 10.

The Illinois product additionally earned the best protection grade from Professional Soccer Focus (92.5) at his place and posted a meager 25.3 passer ranking when focused, the fifth-lowest mark amongst qualifying corners in 2022.

Whereas the entire numbers above are nice, what may Witherspoon convey to the Raiders if he’s drafted seventh general? Let’s flip to the tape and discover out.

Illinois is working Cowl 2 right here and Witherspoon is accountable for the suitable flat. Off the road of scrimmage, he matches the vast receiver’s launch to keep up his leverage benefit and does a superb job of recognizing the slant-flat idea from Virginia. That permits him to go off the skin receiver and decide up the slot to remove the simple first-down throw for the quarterback.

As soon as the QB begins to scramble within the different path, he sinks and locates the receiver working throughout the sphere to assist take him away. In any other case, that wideout is vast open with numerous room to work with after the catch. When the quarterback commits to working, Witherspoon has the acceleration to shut and ensure Virginia doesn’t convert on third down.

Loads is happening right here and whereas this play gained’t seem like a lot on the stat sheet, this rep is an effective instance of the nook’s soccer intelligence and athleticism.

Right here, the Illini are enjoying Cowl 1 which implies Witherspoon is in man protection with the vast receiver on the backside of the display screen. When the receiver breaks on the brief in route, he drives on it and will get proper within the receiver’s hip pocket.

What I like about this play is Witherspoon doesn’t come downhill like a bat out of hell and take out the receiver earlier than the ball will get there. As an alternative, he stays underneath management and continues to be in a spot to contest the go with out drawing a penalty. When the ball does come, he will get aggressive and performs by means of the receiver to drive an incompletion.

This was additionally fourth and one with the Cavaliers attempting to remain within the recreation, so Witherspoon makes an awesome play to create a turnover on downs and maintain the momentum of the sport on his sideline.

That is most likely the perfect instance of Witherspoon’s mixture of instincts and ball expertise.

Illinois is working a goal-line zone protection so he passes off the slant from the skin receiver and picks up the working again on the flat route, all whereas eyeing the quarterback which implies he has wonderful peripheral imaginative and prescient to seek out threats coming to his space.

He retains his eyes locked on the quarterback throughout the scramble and reads the quarterback’s eyes. Earlier than the ball is even launched, he breaks on the 2 routes behind him and is ready to get within the throwing lane to make a play on the ball on a go that wasn’t even supposed for his man.

Right here, we’re going to see Witherspoon line up over the slot with Minnesota in 21 personnel and twin receivers to the vast aspect of the sphere. For the reason that ball is on the hash, the Gophers run a tunnel display screen to make the most of the additional area laterally.

The slot receiver works outdoors to arrange his block and the vast receiver works beneath/again towards the cornerback. That is designed to idiot the 2 corners enjoying excessive of them, nevertheless, Witherspoon isn’t fooled and acknowledges the play design. So, he drives on the route and makes a wonderful open-field deal with with low pad degree to forestall the primary down and restrict yards after the catch.

One other good instance of Witherspoon’s instincts and acceleration, this time mixed with an enormous hit.

Witherspoon is considerably distinctive in his skill to make almost each throw a contested goal, even in opposition to brief routes. He’s enjoying Cowl 1 the place which implies he has to work for some depth post-snap since he gained’t have security assist excessive. That may make it tough to defend in opposition to a slant, nevertheless, not when the defensive again runs the route for the receiver as he does right here.

By the point the ball reaches the goal, Witherspoon is already plastered over the receiver and provides little to no room to finish the go. His skill to click on and shut on brief routes may be very spectacular.

NEGATIVES

Witherspoon is much from an ideal prospect. In press protection, he struggles to keep up a leverage benefit and is likely to be somewhat too fast to open his hips, leading to him shedding on the line of scrimmage. He has an analogous problem along with his leverage when enjoying off-coverage too, and he’ll get caught flat-footed which might result in him getting beat on in-breaking routes.

When he does get beat, Witherspoon will be grabby and is inclined to getting known as for go interference or defensive holding. Whereas each single name didn’t essentially fall into these two classes, he did draw 11 flags previously two years.

At 5’11” and a few change and 181 kilos, he additionally struggles to carry up in opposition to physicality whether or not that be on the prime of the route or in opposition to blocks from a much bigger vast receiver. The latter impacts his skill to defend in opposition to the run, and his angles are too shallow as a run defender on prime of that.

All of this being stated, Witherspoon continues to be an excellent cornerback prospect who could be a welcomed sight on the Raiders’ protection. Coordinator Patrick Graham will love his ball expertise along with his skill to play Cowl 2 and man protection. Don’t be shocked if the Illinois product is donning silver and black subsequent season.