8/15/2023 0 Comments Brady breeze draft profile![]() Graham Jr.’s third and final season punctuated his impressive Oregon career with a Rose Bowl victory, a feat that was accomplished in large part due to a Duck secondary that had drastically improved since his freshman year. There, he started all 13 games, once again tallying three interceptions (one he returned to the house against Oregon State), and finished with 18 pass breakups. His 824 snaps during his freshman campaign (second-most in the country by a true freshman cornerback) helped him pick up steam towards his breakthrough sophomore season. ![]() He played in all 13 contests, starting in the final 12, while tallying three interceptions during that stretch. that earned the starting spot his freshman season. and Deommodore Lenoir -both picked in the first six rounds of the 2021 Draft.ĭespite Lenoir being the higher rated of the two, it was Graham Jr. His 2017 class was highlighted by two four-star cornerbacks, Graham Jr. Helfrich’s 4-8 campaign would be his last, and the hiring of Willie Taggart reinvigorated the dated recruiting techniques of the old regime. Oregon’s secondary was a joke in 2016 - the season before Graham Jr.’s arrival - allowing PAC-12 foes to rack up an average of 285 yards per contest. played a crucial role in rebuilding the Oregon football program after the firing of Mark Helfrich. How would you describe Graham Jr.’s journey at Oregon? Where did he most make an impression?Īdam Chimeo: I don’t think it’s outlandish to say that Thomas Graham Jr. In fact, based on the three years he did start, many draft analysts saw him as a safe early Day 2 talent. ![]() would’ve been regarded as one of the best corner prospects in this draft. An impact contributor from the get-go, it certainly seems that if not for his decision to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, Graham Jr. What I found was a cornerback perfectly suited to a contemporary defensive scheme, and a man who will never let himself dwell in his own mental doldrums.ġ. I spoke with Adam Chimeo, the Managing Editor of Addicted to Quack - SB Nation’s Oregon affiliate - to learn a little more about the fiery Graham Jr. Your skin must be thicker than the raw hide of any swamp beast, and your memory shorter than that of a goldfish, especially when burned.įortunately, for the Bears and Thomas Graham Jr, that seems to be his exact profile as a defensive back. To succeed in the slot, or on the boundary, you have to be tough, smart, and confident. It has also arguably never been more important to a defense to have competent cornerbacks, on the inside and outside. It has arguably never been more hard to play professional cornerback. One of the main ways to carry on such a mandate is to defang the cornerback in these situations, to skew toward the receiver winning the all-important one-on-one battle. The NFL has not eliminated the very concept of defense, but it would be foolish to suggest they don’t prefer an emphasis of passing yards, offense, and points. But they have to straddle the line between being physical and demanding with receivers, or otherwise impede progress with sometimes the faintest of touches while being punished for it.Ĭhances are, in the event of a mythical 50-50 ball, a cornerback in 2021 is not going to receive the benefit of the doubt if there’s tons of contact between him and the receiver. Their job, mostly, is to prevent passes from being completed, to be certain an offense doesn’t take its roots downfield. In a game now predicated on the arms of quarterbacks and their ability to play pitch-and-catch with their pass targets, cornerbacks have, by far, the most delicate playing balance to be mindful of. A cornerback in football is tasked with some of the more unique responsibilities.
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