NFL Draft Profile: Film study of cornerback DeAndre Elliott 

It’s time for another installment of “Film Study,” you know what that means, time to take an in-depth look at some of the other future “Next Level Rams” we haven’t covered yet. The more of these we do and the deeper we start to dig into “Potential Next Level Rams,” means resources become scarce, less film available and less media coverage. Surprisingly, Elliott falls under this category despite having been one of the better performers at the NFL Combine; his 41-inch vertical jump was especially impressive.

Elliott isn’t necessarily a household name around Rams fans either, as he was a part-time starter throughout most of his career and was never nominated for all-conference honors or even honorable mention. He’s been a steady player who’s consistently produced and been an asset in all phases of the game. One positive, he isn’t going to be penalized by NFL evaluators due to a lack of size or top end athletic skills like some of his teammates. Elliott could be the rare case of a late bloomer, who isn’t going to be a star but could develop into a regular contributor for NFL teams. It is very likely that NFL evaluators are much higher on him than media analysts are at this point.

He’s a truly interesting draft case, and should have very good chance of being drafted in the late rounds or at the very least get a serious opportunity as an undrafted free agent. Given the propensity for nickel and dime formations in today’s NFL, teams are always looking for more defensive backs who can contribute in those special packages, and especially players who are tall, athletic and come with a certain amount of versatility. These types of players will always be able to find a home in the league.

After studying four games of Elliott’s from the 2013 and 2015 seasons (finding tape on 2014 has been almost impossible), watching him throughout his career at CSU, and attending his Pro Day, here’s my scouting report.

Strengths:

• Elliott is a big corner (6-foot-1, 188 pounds) with adequate athleticism for NFL standards. Jumping ability and short area quickness (3-cone drill) were borderline elite.
• He showed the ability to run well on deep routes and stick with speedy receivers, (showed the speed to stick with Paul Richardson throughout the Colorado Game in 2013, Richardson ran a 4.40 40 yard dash)
• Early in his Rams career, Elliott was often used in zone coverage. He shows good awareness in zone, comfortable in that coverage and demonstrates active eyes/instincts defending what’s in front of him. Reads play rapidly and closes downhill in a hurry.
• Elliott is a very willing run defender who’s able to impact the game in this phase, consistently shows the ability to not allow runners to gain the outside corner.
• DeAndre shows the ability to play in man and especially press (though he needs to be more physical and do a better job of staying balanced and jamming wide receivers), shows the ability to back pedal and turn and cover even the fastest WRs down the sideline.
• The former Rams corner is an active and aware defender. Elliott gets pushed back a bit when attempting to press Richardson, he’s able to stay with him deep. Elliott slips once Richardson re-routes on QB scramble, shows a bit of stiffness, immediately gets up, runs downhill and makes decisive tackle in space on a tight end. Makes an impressive play and shows high-level athletic movement.
• On a quick snap, with safeties scrambling, Elliott sets the edge quickly, reads play immediately, forces the runner to cut inside and not hit the corner, the run doesn’t go anywhere.
• Especially on underneath routes, Elliott plays perfect coverage at times, shows ability to stay on receivers’ back hip on short routes (shows ability to do this against NFL level talent in Colorado game versus Richardson as well as few snaps he played in 2013 Alabama game).
• Elliott has shown some ability to be a contributor on special teams. Had an essential blocked field goal in New Mexico road win in 2015.

Weaknesses:

• Despite Elliott’s length, he did not look effective jamming receivers in press coverage, getting knocked back a few times by smaller receivers. While he is tall, he’s not the biggest nor most physical corner. This will definitely hinder his chances with man heavy and press heavy NFL defenses.
• DeAndre shows some stiffness on route redirects. Also appears stiff at times when in press and having to turn and run with receivers; that transition out of his backpedal isn’t always the smoothest. Which is surprising given his testing numbers.
• Trent Matthews and DeAndre Elliot both let Paul Richardson run free for a long, bomb touchdown at the very beginning of the Colorado game. The play looks to be Matthews’ fault as Elliott reads a receiver in the flats underneath, which is still worth mentioning (only really big play allowed to Richardson while Elliott was on his side).
• During the Alabama game, Elliott played only a select amount of snaps. Wasn’t put on best receiver; Elliott was a part-time starter throughout and his play was inconsistent. He had all the skills to be better than Bernard Blake but didn’t always play up to his ability.
• Then the UTEP game happened (2013). It must be mentioned how he had a horrendous stretch in this game that were major red flags during my evaluation: The following is taken directly from my notes while watching that tape.
  • 3rd Quarter –  Elliott is in the slot in off coverage. He gets beat almost immediately off the snap, on a go route down the seam, leads to 50-plus yard TD (WR #9 Jordan Leslie beats him), creates at least 5 yards of separation at catch.
  • Elliott gets picked on the next two snaps, allows an underneath route to be caught playing really soft Off coverage and then pushes the receiver out of bounds after allowing the first down. Very next play the quarterback challenges him again deep down left sideline, Elliott this time is in perfect position and ball is thrown out of bounds.
  • Elliott is in man coverage playing off, is right with wide receiver on back pedal, opens up hips a bit when going out of his back pedal, allows inside track to receiver who quickly gains position, allowing catch, receiver runs for a good 30 yards. Elliott runs him down and tackles at 2 yard line (almost singlehandedly Elliott allowed UTEP to come back from being down 28-14 to being 2 yards away from tying the game, eventually game gets tied up).

Conclusion:

Elliott has improved significantly and become a full-time starter in his senior season. He’s produced seven interceptions in his career and as mentioned, is a fairly complete cornerback who can be an asset to a defense in all phases of the game.

The worry about Elliott (aside from that UTEP game that I’m still shaking my head about) is the lack of anything that truly get’s you excited about, or better put, he’s lacking that one skill that you can hang your hat on and say “I know that he can do that in the NFL.”

He has everything you’re looking for, but he’s not explosive or powerful like his numbers or size might suggest. He’s had good production but you don’t see supreme ball skills, or the stickiest, most physical corner, who frustrates receivers. All this leads me to think that most likely he’ll be a third or fourth corner on an NFL team, who will be counted on as a special teams contributor. He should get lots of looks from teams who use zone heavy coverages and teams who are willing to gamble on his size and potential as a press corner.

Elliott definitely has the talent and tape to warrant being drafted but it’s hard to imagine there are many evaluators who are banging the table for the former Ram player to be selected by their team.