Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Prospect Profile: DE Cornelius Washington - Georgia



Name:  Cornelius Washington
Height:  6' - 4"
Weight:  265 lbs.
Class:  Senior
Date of Birth:  9/10/89 (23 yrs old)
Hometown:  Hephzibah, GA
High School:  Burke County

Bulldogs Career

2012 Senior Year:  Appeared in 14 games making 10 starts and had 22 tackles, 13 quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery....Blocked a field goal that was returned by teammate Alec Ogletree for touchdown in 3rd quarter vs. No. 2 Alabama in SEC Championship....Had two tackles and a fumble recovery vs. No. 3 Florida....Had four tackles vs. Tennessee....Had five tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss at Missouri....Had four tackles, including half of a sack against Buffalo....Named to Preseason Butkus Award Watch List....Recipient of the J.E. and W.S. Hickey Football Scholarship.


2011 Junior Year:  Appeared in 12 games making six starts recording 17 tackles including 6.0 TFL and 5.0 sacks while also notching 29 QBPs....In SEC, ranked tied 13th with 0.42 sacks per game. ...Earned Athletic...Director's Honor Roll distinction for fall semester....In SEC Championship vs. No. 1 LSU recorded three tackles including a six-yard sack and had two QBPs....Missed the Tennessee and Vanderbilt games while serving a two-game suspension....Had four tackles including two sacks vs. Mississippi State....Named preseason All-SEC Fourth Team by Phil Steele. ...Recipient of the J.E. and W.S. Hickey Football Scholarship.

2010 Sophomore Year:  Appeared in 12 games making eight starts recording 24 tackles and six quarterback pressures. ...Had a career-high seven tackles at No. 24 South Carolina....Had four tackles, including a sack, vs. No. 12 Arkansas....Recipient of the Rebecca and Leon Farmer, III, Scholarship....Recorded five tackles in G-Day game. 

2009 Freshman Year:  Appeared in 13 games with one start making 13 tackles, including four sacks, and 13 quarterback pressures....Posted season-high three tackles vs. No. 25 Auburn & vs. Texas A&M....Made first-career start vs. Tennessee Tech and had two tackles....Missed spring drills following due to forearm and shoulder injuries....Recipient of Rebecca and Leon Farmer, III, Football Scholarship.

2008: Redshirted.

2012 Senior Highlights:


2011 Junior Highlights:


Strengths:
+ Looks the part...chiseled physique, with ideal measurables and length
Disruptive pass rusher with a very quick get-off....timed 4.55 40 yard dash at the Combine
Has the ability to be explosive with a 39" vertical
Versatile defender who has enough foot speed and quickness to play in space
Sure tackler who uses his length to lasso and drive down ball carriers
When his hands are active, he is effective in disengaging blockers
Flashed against top competition during Senior Bowl week
Purported leader in the locker room of a very talented and deep Georgia defense


Weaknesses:
- Did not produce much during his 4 years in Athens compared to his athletic talent
Plays with very inconsistent pad level, losing all leverage and power
Stiff athlete may be too muscled up...doesn't have much bend or flexibility
Very very passive on the field....needs to get more aggressive
Zero impact against the run....was taken out on short yardage and obvious running downs
Doesn't have a go-to pass rush move or any development in that area
Lacks on-field awareness and has underdeveloped instincts


Player Comparison: DE Allen Bailey - Kansas City Chiefs


Combine Numbers:
40 Yard Dash: 4.55*
Bench Press: 36 reps*
Vertical Jump: 39"*
Broad Jump: 128"*
* Top Performer

Draft Analysis
Cornelius Washington is one of this year's workout warriors of the Combine.  He ran, jumped, repped faster, higher and more than anyone anticipated based off of his career as a Bulldog.  Much like Allen Bailey when he was at Miami, Washington most certainly looks the part.  He has the prototypical size and length of a 4-3 DE.  His workout numbers would indicate that he would pose as a matchup problem for most OTs because of his speed and strength.  Like Allen Bailey, Washington had an underwhelming career compared to his menacing physique and strength.

Washington's main issue is that he needs to develop consistency in his technique.  His lack of understanding and executing pad level and the usage of his hands greatly hinders his ability on the field.    The other big knock on Washington is his lack of football aggression on the field.  He doesn't play with much of an edge and for someone who is capable of being physically dominant, it doesn't translate on the field because he plays so passively.  If Washington can get coached up, he certainly has the physical traits to be a very good player.  It could become very frustrating for the team that drafts him if the light bulb never turns on.

CBS Sports big board has him currently pegged as a 3rd-4th round pick.  A team will be enamored by his abilities, but at this point in time, he has a high rate of bustability.


Raiders Outlook
Even with the current need for pass rush help, the Raiders are going to have to look long and hard at Washington.  Though he has the ability, there are too many negatives in his game right now to warrant a 3rd or 4th round pick with the current number of picks.  Not to say that Reggie McKenzie needs to play it safe, but there are too many question marks in Washington's game to warrant a pick for the Raiders.  Washington's best case scenario is to get drafted on a team with the intention of using him as a rotational player and letting him develop as a pro.  In the case of the Raiders, it would be Andre Carter who would take on that task.  Washington represents high potential, but the Raiders need as many plug and play picks as possible.

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