VERSUS: SOUTH FLORIDA @ AUBURN Mike Jenkins vs. Jerraud Powers

Mike Jenkins (South Florida)
5'11", 194  Junior

POSITIVES:

1. Good feel for man, comfortable in turn and run
2. Tight coverage on comeback
3. Adapts to what offense gives him; played soft coverage early, switched to tight press and backed off before snap, then played mostly press as game went on
4. Very attentive out there
5. Though on an island on the flank, QB never really looks his way
6. He's the one-assignment cover corner: blanket your man and let your teammates take care of the rest
7. At press, good hands at point of attack, moves smoothly with man
8. Good sportsmanship shown, playfully slapping helmet of opposition; there for the competition
9. Good recovery on WR block
10. Will somewhat tackle when forced to do so
11. When AU showed odd lineup, USF countered without Jenkins; AU tried to take advantage of his absence throwing deep (shows opponent is always aware of his presence)
12. Good recovery to keep up with man after beaten
13. Again, even when man beats and gets position on him, has good close to be there for a play
14. Again, pass plays in his direction when he's out of game
15. Heads up timeout on AU 4th and 4; showing good awareness
16. Excellent read and react on toss to his side
17. Good block shed
18. Confidence getting higher as game progresses
19. Awesome coverage on deep post route, made perfect play from outside position to bat ball away
20. Though playing soft around 1st down marker, showed great close and pop for tackle to force opponent to punt
21. When forced to be the only guy in run support, he came up to put a decent lick to drop man for short gain

NEGATIVES:

1. Bit on play action and let man run free
2. "Obviously he's no threat in run support"
3. Looks scared to support run, "walks" up to pile after play
4. "Ha.  No man to cover, forced into run support, got blocked and then run over like a rag doll."
5. Nowhere to be found on long run as if it's not his responsibility
6. Literally gets pushed 5 yards downfield in bump and run
7. Will miss at point of attack in press coverage occasionally
8. Disappointing; Yet another "oh I see him but someone else tackle him" play
9. Easily blocked on run to his side
10. Though he read toss well, unfortunately he can't tackle and "got run over hardcore"
11. Gets subbed out in goal line situations; assuming because of the above problems
12. No factor on run to his side
13. Forced to cover slot, looks unsure of himself, playing soft and safe, lets man get reception
14. Blocked out of position to help in run support

Jerraud Powers  (Auburn)
5'9", 183  Sophomore

POSITIVES:

1. Smart, adapted to play and took deep man as safety pushed up, cut off route to make tackle underneath
2. Lines up mostly in the slot; good coverage forced QB eslewhere
3. Easy transition with to deep corner/safety with teammate
4. Step for step with man across middle
5. Looks to have healthy appetite for run support
6. Good awareness on special teams; downed punt at 1 yard line
7. Good hands on WR block, finally showing aggression halfway through game
8. Good squat and light feet anticipating tackle in run support
9. Though blocked out of quick screen, shows good effort to fight block towards man
10. Good read on run, in position to make tackle
11. Seemingly plays as a nickelback/linebacker
12. Nice squat in zone, laid off man perfectly trying to bait throw
13. Cheated in on run play, good tackle on QB for short gain
14. Good block shed, showing great awareness out there
15. Covered TWO guys on trips wide, good quick close and pop for tackle
16. Excellent coverage in slot forced QB to look elsewhere
17. I like this: first time in the game he covered flank, but he still showed up in run support on other side of the field.  Shows effort and will.
18. Decent read and react on swing pass...little late to the party but there nonetheless
19. Shadowing man well after losing inside position

NEGATIVES:

1. Though lined up directly across man on LOS, just lets him take reverse hand off.  Basically gave his assignment to someone else
2. Lax coverage in slot, unsure whether to blitz or cover, loafed after man who made long 3rd down catch
3. Step for step in pursuit but getting blocked the entire time?  "Make a damn play!"  Allowed 1st down.
4. Pulled in goal line situations
5. Almost got thrown on his butt on WR block, forced way out of play
6. Needs to tighten up and focus more before snap; stance indicates average passion
7. Had to be told where to lineup by safety, no will to pursue plays not directed at him
8. Put head down for weak tackle, not wrapping up
9. Not in position to make tackle on his side
10. Bit hard on fake reverse
11. Sometimes shows casual reaction even if read correctly
12. Slow turn at deep point of attack, can be weakness as season goes on
13. Though one could blame coaches on short zone call, he needs to adapt on 4 wide when man goes deep; after all, two safeties can't cover four men
14. Stiff hips, lets man get inside position
15. Playing soft in slot, slow to react and close, hesitant chase on man and pass completed for 1st down across middle

RESULT:

Here we have a case of a veteran cover corner in Jenkins versus a young run-stopping nickelback in Powers.  Jenkins has better height and size for his frame while Powers is small and thick in stature, which reflects in his hip turn.  Though Powers is surprisingly consistent as a sophomore and a good asset in run support, Jenkins has next-level coverage skills as he's asked to do one thing, which he does well---stay on your island and cover your man.  The only time he was tested in the air, he had the speed to be there on a deep ball to deflect the pass.  He is a liability at stopping the run and tackling ball carriers, but when forced to he'll grudgingly do the job.  Personally, I'm not a fan of finesse, one-job-only cornerbacks, but he does his job and he does it well.  Powers, on the other hand, is a willing participant in run support and shows good aggression in tackling, but he neither has the size nor the speed to be a consistent cover corner, and he still has the usual mistakes shown on the field reflected by lack of experience.  I see him better suited as a strong safety in Auburn's future, however---he plays the slot BETTER than Simeon Castille does at Alabama, and he is an above-average all-around cornerback (including special teams) who can be "teached up" to better himself in the coming years.

The winner of the second VERSUS battle is Mike Jenkins.