- Joined
- Nov 3, 2013
- Messages
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CB Michigan
#79 overall
The Wolverines grabbed Long out of Los Angeles as a four-star and top-100 national recruit from Loyola High School. While Long played cornerback and was an outstanding receiver in high school, he suited up at corner for Michigan in four games as a true freshman in 2016 (no tackles). He had more of an impact on defense as a sophomore, posting 21 tackles, two for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups in 13 starts. Long broke up eight passes in 13 games (all starts) in 2018, also making 17 tackles and intercepting one pass, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Overview
Death, taxes and David Long sitting under a receiver's chin waiting to jam and bully the release - all three are inevitable. He lacks height, length and makeup burst, but it is hard to find tape where those areas came back to haunt him very often. He's patient from press, stays connected to routes underneath, but may have to adjust to off-man and prove he can withstand vertical challenges against taller targets. He's not as long, loose or fast as teams like, but he's a consistent cover man with the talent to find reps early in his career.
Strengths
#79 overall
The Wolverines grabbed Long out of Los Angeles as a four-star and top-100 national recruit from Loyola High School. While Long played cornerback and was an outstanding receiver in high school, he suited up at corner for Michigan in four games as a true freshman in 2016 (no tackles). He had more of an impact on defense as a sophomore, posting 21 tackles, two for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups in 13 starts. Long broke up eight passes in 13 games (all starts) in 2018, also making 17 tackles and intercepting one pass, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Overview
Death, taxes and David Long sitting under a receiver's chin waiting to jam and bully the release - all three are inevitable. He lacks height, length and makeup burst, but it is hard to find tape where those areas came back to haunt him very often. He's patient from press, stays connected to routes underneath, but may have to adjust to off-man and prove he can withstand vertical challenges against taller targets. He's not as long, loose or fast as teams like, but he's a consistent cover man with the talent to find reps early in his career.
Strengths
- Weather-tested
- Quarterbacks rarely tried him and rarely completed those attempts
- Compact and physical
- Plays with cozy coverage in receiver's chest underneath
- Strength and footwork to grind through the release
- Plays with excellent focus on the route
- Has speed to pace hip-to-hip downfield
- Parks under opponent's chin from press
- Patiently waits out release fakes
- Rarely gets over-extended and out of balance
- Quick interchange of routes from short zone
- Tenacious competitor in all phases
- Short for an outside cornerback
- May need time to adjust if moved to slot
- Can be stacked by big bodies
- Lacks length to play around opponents and into passing lane
- Doesn't have big makeup burst to chase
- Could struggle to handle downfield jump balls
- Shorter target to throw over in Cover-2
- Not much tape to gauge ability to survive outside of press
- Teams may view him as scheme-dependent
