With the Senior Bowl less than a week away, we have begun our scouting process on identifying good fits for the Chargers from the upcoming class of NFL Draft prospects.
This year, the cornerback position is projected to be one of the groups with the most depth of talent. This bodes well for Los Angeles, which is forecasted to replace key members of the secondary this offseason.
Today, we will be taking a look at Clemson cornerback Mario Goodrich, who has emerged as one of the early tape darlings in the process that will be poised to boost his draft stock immensely with a strong performance in Mobile.
Mario Goodrich | Clemson | #31 | Senior | Kansas City, Mo. | 6’0” | 190
40-yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: Selected to First Team All-ACC and earned Cheez-It Bowl MVP honors this past season. Rose to starting level in his senior year after depth role in previous three seasons. Played in 31 games, achieving 68 tackles, five interceptions, and 15 passes defended.
Red Flags: None
Strengths: Unwavering intensity from snap to whistle. Chippy playstyle that keeps his motor hot and aware. Long arms are used well in press jabs to disrupt route timing and slow releases at the line. Pastes himself to the receiver’s hip, snaps hips quickly for sudden changes in direction, and possesses the long speed to carry his assignment downfield. Stays composed on the boundary and is a hard sell for double moves and other deception tactics. Good vision and sense when bailing to track the quarterback and receiver simultaneously. Gravitates to the ball and assists run game by dispatching blockers with earnest, taking clean angles, and wrapping up the ball carrier with spotless tackling.
Weaknesses: Could get a bit cleaner jostling with the receiver at the top of the route. A bit more muscle to help him stay balanced and provide a bit more substance behind his contact would do him well. Only one full season as a starter.
Final Word: From using his length effectively in both press and zone to working downhill through traffic to boost the run support, Goodrich exhibits a zest to compete in every aspect of the cornerback position. He likely has much more to offer than his one full season, which laid a strong foundation for the well-rounded player that has the athletic traits and tranquil mentality in coverage to grow into an impact role.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
Grade: 2nd
Film Highlights
Goodrich identifies the hitch and uses his length to reach across the receiver for the pass breakup.
Clemson CB Mario Goodrich
We’ve seen Goodrich on the field for only 169 coverage snaps the last 2 years, but he’s been incredibly stingy on the field with his speed and length. He has allowed only 6 of 23 targets to be caught (26.1% catch rate) while combining for 6 PBUs & INTs. pic.twitter.com/O7TdEcy0Iz
— Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) May 11, 2020
Back-to-back examples of Goodrich displaying enthusiasm for laying the boom on runners but also staying coolheaded to reel in his assignment for the pass breakup against Florida State.
Clemson CB Mario Goodrich is the ideal blend of intensity and composure.
Possesses the grit to clobber the quarterback (first play) as well as the patience to dodge the mesh trap and get back in coverage to bat away the ball (second play). pic.twitter.com/DjNyPYhFy5
— Cole Topham (@HamAnalysis) January 19, 2022
Goodrich is urgent and ferocious in blowing up a screen versus Pitt this season.
Heck of a tackle by Mario Goodrich (Clemson DB 31) 👀
Excited to see him down at the @seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/WGBrM9Q6jA— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 11, 2021
