NFL Draft 2014 Scouting Report: CB Bradley Roby, Ohio St

*CB grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, Wonderlic test results leaked, etc. We will update info as it becomes available. 

Bradley Roby is our top-ranked CB in the 2014 draft class...so far. We have him a nudge ahead of Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State, and well ahead of everyone's CB darling of late: Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State (who we think could be a possible bust). I promise you...I am not an Ohio State fan. I grew up in New York, and my Alma mater does not have a D1 football team. I am a fan of no team, college or pro. However, now I know why Ohio State was rolling undefeated so long the past two seasons. Ohio State's Ryan Shazier is arguably the best single prospect in this draft.Carlos Hyde might be the best RB (we won't know until his Pro Day). Bradley Roby is arguably the best CB prospect.

Roby is a better athlete, on paper, than Justin Gilbert. He is as fast, and measures slightly more agile with a better vertical leap. Gilbert has things in his favor over Roby; like a better bench press (20 vs. 17 reps) and longer arms. Let's call it a tie...they are both very athletic in their profiles. That's not why I like Roby...it's not because he's "just like" Gilbert. No.

I like Roby because he plays CB like a hybrid CB/Free Safety. I'm a 'mark' for tough CBs. I like CBs who bum-rush in to slap away slant passes from defenders who almost had the catch, but the CB spanked out of their hands. I like CBs who creep in when they suspect a run or screen is about to happen. I like a CB who makes hard-hitting solo tackles. Justin Gilbert tackles like is afraid he's going to 'break a nail' (a comparison of the two tacklers, statistically, in the next section). Roby plays like a Safety...only he has the speed and cover ability of a great CB.

Now, I know what you might be thinking; a thought that was planted in your brain by football analysts. No Roby scouting analysis cannot come without some version of "Great athlete, but a disappointing 2013. He...got burned by Jared Abbrederis in their game against Wisconsin." Hey, news flash: Jared Abbrederis is a great WR. I would also not call what happened "getting burned." Abbrederis made some ridiculously great catches...because he has the best hands in the 2014 NFL Draft. It wasn't Roby's finest hour, but he is still a great all-around CB prospect.

When I watch Roby on tape, I see an ultra-aggressive, sound football player. He has the speed to cover deep (4.39 40-time), but he also has great instincts on jumping short routes, or adjusting to come in and make a stick in the open field. When Roby pops a WR catching short passes, or RBs flaring out of the backfield...he hits them to try to send them backwards. You normally do not see that type of aggression and power from top CB prospects. Justin Gilbert kinda dives for legs with the enthusiasm of Deion Sanders making tackles back in the day. Roby tackles like they teach you in grade school...he likes to tackle. You'd swear he was a free safety if you didn't know otherwise.

Roby has had one minor blot on his college resume. He was arrested in 2013 on charges of a fight outside a bar. Video later exonerated him, and charges were dropped.

After 2012, most people had Roby as the top CB in the country going into 2013. However, he got suspended for the opening game even though he was cleared in the bar fight. A bruised knee kept him out of a bowl game matchup with Sammy Watkins, pushing him off the radar a touch. Roby kinda lost his 'mojo' in 2013. Regardless, we think he is arguably the best CB prospect in this class.

Bradley Roby, Through the Lens of Our CB Scouting Algorithm:

All 2014 CB prospect-roads lead to a comparison with Justin Gilbert, so that's what we'll do here. We will throw in Darqueze Dennard as well, just to show how far off the trail he is from Gilbert-Roby:

• 40-yard dash:  4.37 Gilbert, 4.39 Roby, 4.51 Dennard
• 10-yard split: 1.52 Roby, 1.54 Gilbert, 1.63 Dennard
• Bench Press: 20 Gilbert, 17 Roby, 15 Dennard
• Vertical: 38.5" Roby, 36.0 Dennard, 35.5" Gilbert
• Short Shuttle: 4.04 Roby, 4.15 Gilbert, 4.18 Dennard
• Three Cone: Roby 6.70, Dennard 6.88, 6.92 Gilbert
• Hand size: 10.25" Roby, Dennard, 9.00", Gilbert 8.63"
• Arm length: 33.1" Gilbert, 31.5" Roby, 30.3" Dennard
• Height: 72.1" Gilbert, Roby 71.2", Dennard 70.7"

It's the tackle-totals that I also love with Bradley Roby...

Games with 7 or more total-tackles (career): 10 times Roby (35 games), 7 Gilbert (50 games) 6 Dennard (42 games)

Five or more solo tackles in a game (career): 12 times Roby, 9 Gilbert, 7 Dennard

Roby is as athletic as Justin Gilbert. Roby is far more athletic than Darqueze Dennard. Roby is also a more aggressive hitter, more physical player than either of them. Considering the data, and the fact that Roby is likely the cheapest of the three draft pick-wise...I'm in love with Bradley Roby.

The Historical CB Prospects to Whom Bradley Roby Most Compares Within Our System:

Bradley Roby is a lot like a cross between Vontae Davis and Stephon Gilmore with some Devin McCourty mixed in there. The McCourty part because Roby could be used as a Safety as well as a CB.

*The ratings are based on a 1–10 rating scale, but a prospect can score over 10.0+ and less than 0.0

OVERALL RATING -- We merge the data from physical measurables, skill times/counts from the NFL Combine/Pro Days, with college performance data available on pass coverage/tackles, etc. and grade it compared to our database history of all college CBs, with a focus on which CBs went on to be good-great-elite in the NFL. We found characteristics/data points that the successful NFL CBs had in common in college, that most other CB prospects could not match/achieve.

Scoring with a rating over a 7.00+ in our system is where we start to take a CB prospect more seriously. Most of the future NFL successful college CBs scored 8.00+, and most of the NFL superior CBs pushed scores more in the 9.00+ levels...and future NFL busts will sneak in there from time to time. 10.00+ is where most of the elite NFL CBs tend to score in our system analysis.

COVERAGE -- A combination of on-field data/performance and physical profile data

SPEED -- Measurables from a perspective of straight-line speed, burst, etc.

AGILITY -- Measurables for lateral movements, quick cuts, body type, speed, etc. 

POWER -- A look at physical size, tackling productivity in college, other physical measurables. One of the side benefits/intentions here, is to see which CBs may be more of a model for a conversion to playing safety successfully in the NFL. Also denotes CBs who are more physical/will have higher tackle totals...over pure speed/coverage CBs.

2014 NFL Draft Outlook:

I see Bradley Roby sometimes rated as highly as a #20-25 overall Mock Draft projection. For others, he is an early 2nd-round projection. I cannot imagine Roby is going to last past the 1st-round. Actually, I think he will be closer to the #15 overall pick than the #30 pick.

If I were an NFL GM, and I was desperate for a starting CB to come from this draft, Bradley Roby would be my guy. Especially, if I run a style of defense like New Orleans or NY Jets, where the CB is on an island and has to be physically tough. Roby is a faster version of Dee Milliner for the Jets. Most likely, Roby goes in the draft some time after Justin Gilbert, but I wouldn't be shocked if Roby was selected ahead of Darqueze Dennard.

NFL Outlook:   

Likely things will go as they did for one of our highest rated CBs in 2013, 1st-round pick Desmond Trufant. The young CBs entering the NFL tend to stumble around for a bit, and then find their bearings as their rookie season goes on, and eventually you can plug them in as a no-brainer starter for years. Roby has future Pro Bowl potential in the right system.

3/24/2014