Indians and Royals postponed, will play double header Sunday
April 26, 2013
While We’re Waiting…Scouting Mingo and McFadden
April 27, 2013With the 68th selection in the 2012 draft the Cleveland Browns selected CB Leon McFadden from San Diego State. McFadden signed with the Aztecs originally as a wide receiver but switched on over to the defensive side before his freshman season began. McFadden earned 1st Team All Mountain West honors in each of his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. His senior campaign included 61 tackles, 12 passes defended, three interceptions, and two touchdowns off of those interceptions.
McFadden is the son of former professional baseball player Leon McFadden, Sr who played four years in the Astros’ organization.
Here is the NFL.com’s analysis of McFadden.
Analysis
STRENGTHS
Possesses quick feet and good speed. Fluid hips help him transition from pedal to close, also to adjust to out routes after opening up. Good awareness as a zone defender, jumps underneath routes but also keeps an eye on the quarterback and can adjust to make plays on receivers running behind him. Contains well on his side of the field, has the closing speed to track down runners before they reach the sideline. Displays the hands to snatch interceptions over his head and away from his body and fluidly transition into the return. Competitive in 50-50 situations, active hands make it tough on receivers to complete the catch. Possesses some thickness and cuts down backs in space with authority and is willing to stick a shoulder into an unsuspecting receiver. Adept special teams player on coverage and block units and has the hands and quickness to get a shot on punt returns.
WEAKNESSES
Struggles to always get a good jam at the line of scrimmage, which gives him some issues in recovery. His size gives him some issues against bigger, more physical wide receivers. A bit gun shy in handling blocks from lineman in the screen game. Doesn’t wrap up, often times attempts the cut tacke, which wont always be effective against stronger, more elusive NFL ballcarriers.
NFL COMPARISON
Brent Grimes
BOTTOM LINE
McFaddens a tenacious three-time All-Mountain West selection possessing the strength, quickness, attitude, and ball skills required of NFL starters, even if his size is not ideal to handle the physicality of veteran wideouts. Many shorter corners who play with similar strength and temperament have succeeded at the next level, which will help him nail down top-75 grades from scouts.
[Related: NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Select Barkevious Mingo]
33 Comments
this guy’s not very strong but he is quick. Not sure how much we can expect out of him. I wish they took the Honey Badger. That dude’s got swagger.
This guy doesn’t look frail like Buster Bust, so that is a plus. I think we all wanted the Honey Man. I thought we would pull the trigger on the Honey, seeing as how the Cleveland Browns are now a felonious NFL franchise (owner, prostitutes, Desmond Bryant).
Agreed. Honey badger worth the risk in 3rd.
NFL Comparison: Brent Grimes. Oh sweet irony.
Wanted nothing to do with Mathieu, but would’ve preferred Blidi Wreh-Wilson or Logan Ryan due to size. I really hope that McFadden projects to be an outside DB in the team’s eyes—his ball skills are solid, I just don’t know if he can stand press coverage which will be key. I’ll be very disappointed if they just drafted a nickel DB. BWW would’ve been perfect IMO.
Just spoke to someone who pointed out that SDSU blitzed a ton and McFadden was frequently left on an island. This is encouraging. He’ll be a widely-watched guy come August.
Shoulda took HoneyBadger. This guy was a 4-5 rd rated corner. A reach I’m afraid
“This guy was a 4-5 rd rated corner”
Per who, exactly?
Mathieu, while electric, isn’t a cover corner. He’ll be primarily used in zone sub packages and the return game. Fits in ARI, not in CLE. I get that he has a fun nickname and everything, but he doesn’t fit what the Browns need.
What are the chances we pick Barkley in the 4th?
He must be pretty good if they picked him over Wreh-Wilson and Logan Ryan. Those guys are bigger and were looked at more than McFadden who said his only contact with the Browns was with the West Coast scout.
His production is great, and if he’s a starter on day 1, I love the pick. But if he’s a guy who they see as a slot corner, I’m gunna be a little disappointed.
Honey Badger can’t cover. He produces a ton of turnovers, but I don’t want him playing on the outside covering Torrey Smith or AJ Green, or even a number 2 WR
Fun Nickname? We just drafted Leon “Sandcastle” McFadden!
I said the same exact thing before I read this.
I hate that this kid gets to use the name Honey Badger. A top 5 most baddest animal does not deserve to have its name dragged down by some kid whose high school friends were too high and spent toouch time watching Animal Planet to come up with an original and proper nickname. And shame on all of you lazy people who perpetuate this ill gotten name out of some desire to achieve a level of status for yourself.
Honey Badger is the name of an animal thar would make you wet your pants if you had to deal with it.
Tyrann Mathieu is the name of a kid that would sell you fake weec. Stop confusing the two things.
To reiterate if you refer to this kid as Honey Badger you are a tool. You are the same as people who meet Mike Junkin and still call him Mad Dog. Ronnie Lott doesnt have a nickname neither should this kid. Stop freakin calling him Honey Badger
Not exactly irony, but a funny coincidence.
Okay, “tool” is way too harsh, but c’mon, stop callin this kid by a name he doesn’t deserve. There hasn’t been a player/nickname mismatch this big since Harold Miner. (Jeez, do I have to tell you wippersnappers everything? His nickname was baby jordan)
None
Still not as bad as the Bungles though…
This pick should work out. For FS in the 4th I think the Browns should draft Rambo. He’d fit in well with Mingo as a hard-hitting defender from the SEC with a cool name.
I kinda can’t believe how much people are so hung up on a draft bust from 25 YEARS AGO.
Speaking only for myself, I wanted nothing to do with Mathieu. This team has enough distractions already without bringing that impending train wreck into the fold.
So much for cribbs in az?
“Tyrann Mathieu is the name of a kid that would sell you fake weed”
Awesome.
let’s try it in other way, http://sandiegoairporttaxi.org
Watched some videos of him… from what I saw, he’s susceptible to double-moves, but he’s fantastic in zone coverage and seems to have good ball skills. I don’t have a ton of faith that he won’t get burnt from time-to-time but I guess every CB does. I like that he seems to want to improve and work hard to get there.
You don’t live in Cleveland you live in Skincinnati!!!!
About as useful as he had been the last 4 years in Cleveland.
ok porkchop
Dude get over it. The you tube honey badger video came out right when this guy blew up at LSU. Also, he had the blonde streak in his hair which was half the reason for the nickname.
Do you like….raise honey badgers or something? Your obsession with this is scary.
I think you are taking me a little too seriously. Dude
Scott Johnson I think you missed the point. The mention of Mike Junkin, Scott Johnson, was not to be hung up on his bustiness. The point, Scott Johnson, was that Mathieu has done nothing to merit people still using the nickname, it seems weird to me to keep calling the kid by this animals name. In fact Scott Johnson, it seems adolescent at best for grown men to refer to another grown man they don’t even know by such a name. It would be hard for me to respect another man if I heard him constantly calling another man “honey badger”. I hope this clears things up for you Scott Johnson.