The Joker Report

Player Profiles - Lionel Mitchell

Lionel Mitchell  #16  CB  (Alabama)

6'2", 184  Junior

OPPONENT:  WESTERN CAROLINA

POSITIVES:

1. Good read on comeback, fluid and quick
2. Good zone, good drive on ankle tackle
3. Great coverage on slant in for pass breakup
4. Great play on slant, tight man, another pass breakup
5. Nice zone on trips wide

NEGATIVES:

1. Late on in route
2. In press coverage, hips could be quicker (no "snap"), couldn't get off block
3. Weak to fight block, forced into wrong side
4. Lost, unsure where to line up
5. Poor blitz
6. Bad footwork, beat inside
7. Too slow on blitz, weak tackle
8. Double-teamed wrong guy on safety blitz, big gain occurred
9. Beat at point of attack, outrun for big deep pass
10. Blitz picked up, "no fierceness"

OPPONENT:  VANDERBILT (1ST HALF ONLY)

POSITIVES:

1. Though playing 1st down line a little soft, had quick close on obvious stop route

NEGATIVES:

1. Has wide turn, let man have inside route, beaten from the start
2. Playing zone, should have switched to man as he knew ball was coming

OPPONENT:  ARKANSAS

POSITIVES:

1. Tight man coverage on slant; usually pretty good on those routes, pass breakup

NEGATIVES:

1. Bit on a hitch and go on 3rd and 1, burned for 40 yard touchdown
2. "Come on."  Toss right to him, nervous squat, barely made tackle with help on 15 yard facemask
3. Busy pointing at nothing, no focus on 3rd and short, play came right at him and he "had" to make the tackle; looks unsure of his ability out there sometimes
4. Playing man, "clueless" in backpedal, watching QB while his man cuts across middle of field for big gain

Player Profiles - Rashad Johnson

Rashad Johnson  #49  FS  (Alabama)

6'0", 186  Junior

OPPONENT: WESTERN CAROLINA

POSITIVES:

1. Occasionally sneaks into box for run support
2. Though position questionable, good coverage on deep man
3. Good hustle on special teams
4. Great penetration and tackle for loss on option play
5. Has speed to cover his side
6. Again, in the area, just not the correct position
7. Decent angle on tackle
8. Tackle out of bounds on solid run support
9. Good speed on blitz

NEGATIVES:

1. In position to make the play on 3rd and 3, didn't make it and missed tackle
2. Needs to learn how to position himself correctly in coverage
3. Awful blitz, huge gain in his absence
4. Let man get deep after beating cornerback
5. Blitz picked up, no elusiveness or actual threat shown

OPPONENT: VANDY (1ST HALF)

POSITIVES:

1. Showing good hustle in run support
2. Played deep ball very well, read QB's eyes, got into position and made pick on underthrow
3. "Awesome" read and react on go-to pass, closed hard to breakup pass and prevent 1st down

NEGATIVES:

1. Denied penetration on bad angle in run support
2. Took odd angle to ball in air, whiffed; if thrown better it's an easy 6 points
3. Bit on underneath man, left true man in middle wide open for reception

OPPONENT:  ARKANSAS

POSITIVES:

1. Good duck under block to make tackle on HB screen
2. Decent squat in run support, assisted tackle
3. There "in case" on many run plays
4. Great read and react on run, solid hit for tackle
5. On blitz, cut off route just in time to make low tackle on ball carrier
6. THough missed tackle, disrupted long run play by good angle, speed, and pursuit
7. Good penetration and tackle on 1st and goal run

NEGATIVES:

1. Not quick enough to read play going to man in motion (his assignment), Saban chewed him up after first down
2. Overcommited on run, missed tackle
3. Didn't play pass protection very well on inconclusive play
4. Arkansas must have read above play, ran play action; Johnson bit, let man get behind him for a touchdown
5. Playing too safe, scared to get juked
6. Didn't judge ball carrier's speed correctly, took late angle for slight tackle out of bounds on long run
7. Missed tackle in goal line run support

Player Profiles - Simeon Castille

Simeon Castille  #2  CB/NB (Alabama)

6'1", 189  Senior

*Underline denotes standout plays

OPPONENT: WESTERN CAROLINA

POSITIVES:

1.       Step for step on overthrown ball

2.       Came up for a good pop, good read and anticipation

3.       Watches QB for signs, then gets into good stance and crouch with squared shoulders

4.       Ability and knowledge to also play slot in most 3WR sets

5.       Barking orders on defense, being a vocal leader

6.       Nice press, crouch turn

7.       Nice zone play on trips wide

8.       Effective blitz, made QB rush throw

9.       Good backfield penetration

10.   Hyped up crowd, then proceeded to blow up a screen pass for tackle for loss

11.   Sat in zone, nice pass breakup and pop hit

12.   Press man, came off route to stick player on swing pass for no gain

13.   GREAT play recognition, playing confidently

14.   Scares offense with blitz, forced false start

15.   Drop zone, solid tackle on short pass

16.   Good pursuit on busted play, tackle out of bounds

17.   Showing good energy out there even in 4^th quarter

NEGATIVES:

1.       Speed factor present; running full throttle just to keep pace with man

2.       A few missed tackles as technique is not always shown

3.       Seemingly lackadaisical when covering slot; never tight coverage, always off line

4.       Does not cover quick slant well

OPPONENT:  VANDERBILT (1ST HALF ONLY)

POSITIVES:

1. Good quick feet, kept man within reach at point of attack
2. Absolutely perfect coverage on out route, hip on hip, used left hand to deflect it away.  "Simply cannot cover any better"
3. Nickel blitz, freed teammates up to make 3rd down stop
4. Came way off man, from behind, to make tackle on streaking ball carrier, trying to strip ball in process

NEGATIVES:

1. Beat on deep go route, top end just isn't there, touchdown if better throw
2. Blocked out of blitz
3. Post/slant route from slot for completion; notorious (to me) for allowing these plays on a consistent basis, especially while at nickelback

OPPONENT:  ARKANSAS

POSITIVES:

1. Tight coverage on quick out
2. Steering block towards play, not getting overwhelmed
3. Quick blitz on outside to force play back in towards tacklers
4. Quick feet and hips, good read and react on run
5. Stood ground on McFadden sprint, tackle made (though he got ran over)
6. Good read on run, playing safe on play action, not overcommiting
7. Body there in pass coverage, but mind is on run and made play on ball carrier though blocked
8. Read motion on McFadden, there in case play occurred
9. Sticky coverage on crossing route, though position could have been better
10. Looked very quick on free blitz
11. When focused on outside man coverage, shows awesome coverage and point of attack hands and feet
12. Excellent play all-around, stayed on man, read trick play; though offensive interference was not called and was pushed, he managed to breakup pass on jump ball in end zone
13. Great effort and hustle on FG attempt made
14. Though didn't wrap up on tackle, "knew" to switch coverage to another man on snap, there for play in the backfield
15. Shed block to lay solid hit on ball carrier
16. Did everything right except close hard on hitch route at 1st down marker

NEGATIVES:

1. On 3rd downs, likes to play off man and not squared up; risky move on most important down
2. "Awful.  Plain awful." Unsure which man ball was going to, chose already covered man, slant could have gone for long TD but man dropped it
3. Easy cross route, not even well run by man, just fell behind chasing from the start.  Terrible coverage, too focused on making a play elsewhere.
4. Blitz allowed for huge gain, couldn't adjust
5. Another reception for man while covering slot.  Another slant=another catch.

IMPRESSION:

Castille is clearly Alabama’s best defensive back.  He shows the desire to make the big plays, good play recognition, great run support, but will wander in zone and therefore take chances.  His top end speed is a worrying factor, though his closing speed is not.  Has a safety mentality, above average tackling, reminding me of a taller, wiry Antrel Rolle.  Good intelligence shows on the field, but his "knack" for creating turnovers and making big plays affects his performance as a reliable cover man, as he's apt to keep one eye on his man and one eye on another.  Biggest technical weakness is any kind of precise slant route from the slot position, and biggest physical weakness is again the limited top speed.  Great corner in the college ranks, but I see a brighter future at free safety at the next level, and he has room on his frame for more bulk.