| 09 April 2010
During the Senior Bowl week the Chicago Bears were in touch with numerous NFL prospects. Some of which I have listed in the prospect visit list on the left hand column of this blog. Always doing their due diligence the Bears met with an extremely fast receiver from the Clemson Tigers. While Jacoby Ford may not be in the Bears' direct draft plans, he was nonetheless a prospect the Bears met with. For that reason it's of my due diligence to make sure there is a scouting report for as many prospects the Bears have scouted or spoken to as I can. Ford is likely the fastest player available in the 2010 draft, but it can be argued that straight line speed may be all he has to offer at the next level. In this scouting report Jonathan Dove takes a look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of Ford's game.
Jacoby Ford- WR- Clemson
5-9 186lbs
Pros:
Jacoby Ford played a wide array of roles for the Clemson Tigers. He mainly played wide receiver but was also used out of the backfield and on kick/punt returns. Ford performed in the ACC against tough competition and was able to earn second team All-ACC Honors. Ford fits the mold of recent Bears picks.
Ford’s top quality is speed and he has a ton of it. In 2009 Ford was the 60-yard dash NCAA Track and Field Champion. Clemson moved Ford around a lot in efforts to utilize his speed. In his career he had three kick/punt returns for touchdowns and probably would have had more if CJ Spiller wasn’t at Clemson. Ford had seven touchdowns of over 50 yards which primarily shows his best attribute his big play ability. His speed and stout frame make it difficult for defensive backs to jam him at the line. Any team choosing Ford will look to focus his efforts as a deep threat and return man. Ford’s versatility makes him attractive to many teams.
Cons:
Ford only has 27 career starts under his belt at Clemson. That coupled with the fact that Clemson moved him around a lot means he has limited experience at the receiver position. This limited experience has affected his route running ability. Ford was often asked to run straight go routes or other deep pass oriented routes. He was rarely asked to run shorter routes to the outside or across the middle. During his college career Ford allowed a few balls to reach his chest resulting in bobbles and drops. The drops are not a major concern because he does have good hands.
Ford's biggest weakness is he doesn't have that wiggle, the agility or the quickness a receiver needs to get separation in and out of his routes. As a receiver in the NFL, you need more than just straight line speed
Teams that draft Ford shouldn’t expect him to come in and completely understand the offense in his first season. He is going to need a lot of coaching to learn the ins and outs of the position. He will benefit from learning to read the defenses and finding the holes in zone coverage. Ford will need this extra coaching if he wants to become a complete receiver.
Fit with the Bears:
In my opinion Jacoby Ford has a lot in common with Johnny Knox. Both players are around 6-0 and 190 lbs and both run around 4.3 40-yard dash. They both excel at stretching the field and have some developing to do in the shorter to intermediate routes. Add in the return ability and the Bears would be looking at having three players with the same skill set, Devin Hester being the other. I believe that Ford is on the Bears radar and would draw heavy interest if he is available when the Bears pick in the fifth or sixth round. However, is believed to be off the board no later than the end of the third round. With the current make up of the Bears roster it would be tough to sell me on picking Ford in the third or fourth round. Those picks would be better used on upgrading the safety and offensive line positions. If the Bears do draft Ford he be battling for a roster spot with Rashied Davis and Juaquin Iglesias.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
