Patriots 2011 Draft Pick #33 DB Ras-I Dowling

Ras-I Dowling DB University of Virginia

STRENGTHS
Ras has that long, lanky cover corner build that you like to see to defend against tall wide receivers. He has good speed and has the long strides which make it easy for him to cover a lot of ground very quickly. Ras is a smart corner. He understands situational football and understands how to read a wide receiver and look for the ball in the air without giving up penalties. Ras has a good understanding of zone coverages as well as his responsibilities and works well with his teammates to carry out those responsibilities. He seems to be a drag down tackler, but does make the tackle, which is typically the main concern with a lot of corners in the NFL. Ras should be a solid cornerback for the team that drafts him.

CONCERNS
Ras reacts well to all situations on the field but he waits to make sure of what is happening before he reacts. His style is conservative because this kid does not like to make mistakes. That means that Ras is a good corner, but may not be a corner that will impact with interceptions and turnovers. He must get a lot stronger to handle the bump and run techniques at the next level, but that is normal for most college CB's. The reports are that Ras broke his ankle, so that will have to be checked out at the combine. That type of injury could impact his quickness and change of direction abilities. Ras does come up and support the run, but again, he waits to make sure before he reacts which means he will be easy to block at the next level.




BOTTOM LINE
With the fact that Ras broke his ankle and was always hesitant in coverage in the first place, it might take some time for Ras to play up to his talents in the NFL. If Ras does not intercept the ball very much at the NFL level this will also make him easy to challenge without the threat of a turnover at impact times of a game. Ras has excellent cover skills and is very smart; with some good coaching, he could easily become an excellent corner back at the next level. I just think it will take some time. Ras has a lot of talent to work with and sometimes talent takes a little while to come to the top. Ras is smart and mature; as soon as he gains confidence in his ankle, I suspect he will start to intercept passes and take a few more calculated chances to impact for the team that drafts him.

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[ryantimmins99]

McCourty and Dowling!! finally we have too lockdowns.

[MrRedsoxwin12]

Dowling has a ton of potential..very solid pick!

[SalsaConQueso2]

If Dowling gets healthy and isn't injury prone I see good things

McCourty at safety with Chung then Moore Arrington and Dowling at CB this is a pretty good Secondary in a year

[2Phaktor]

No comments since McCourty has been converted to safety, Dowling has been what he was projected to be (injury prone), and Sterling Moore (undrafted) is the starting corner with Kyle Arrington (undrafted).

[OaklandAthletics53]

THIS COULD BE A TERRIFIC PICK FOR THE DEFENSIVE MINDED BILL BELICHICK & NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

[MegaOrangehead]

@ryantimmins99 Well with McCourty, Dowling, Leigh Bodden being healthy also Pat Chung is a very good safety along with Brandon Meighwether.

[ryantimmins99]

@quincee33 lol im not sure whether your testing me or what? but the offensive line looks really good. nate solder is promising but meanwhile light is still a solid experienced vet at LT. mankins is arguably the best guard in the nfl with sebastian vollmer (who got all-pro votes last year) sealing the right side. should be a solid unit

[quincee33]

@ryantimmins99 secondary is pretty good too? how's their offensive line?

[ryantimmins99]

@quincee33 wilfork and haynesworth for one will collpase pretty much any pocket in the nfl. i mean, two guys who are 330 plus pounds and can move well, you cant double team both. cunningham is sure to improve and andre carter notched 12 sacks in 2009 when he played in the right system. dont forget about shaun ellis either. at 34, he can still get after the qb. just ask tom brady

[quincee33]

@ryantimmins99 How do u think your pass rush will be this year? Who had the most sacks last year? thx.

[lemar012197]

@254Choco keep dreamin bodden is a beast and meriweather aint that bad

[254Choco]

I wonder if there gonna trade Bodden and/or Meriwhether?