Breakdown of Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander

[Dustin]

 

2015 Breakdowns:

 

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE, Oklahoma State

 

Size: Alexander is listed 5'10" 195 lbs and might be smaller than that. He's built like a RB with his compact frame. Doesn't have the desired height you want out of a man-to-man corner, but has the body type to withstand punishment. (3/5)

 

Athleticism: Alexander flashes a nice closing burst. Can run down the field with most receivers, but he also knows his own limitations. Alexander is player with strong agility and change of direction ability. (7/10)

 

Fluidity: Alexander gets his hips flipped quickly in coverage. Very much a quick-twitch athlete. Very good at redirecting himself at the top of the route and often times erases his own mistakes in coverage with his recovery ability. I expect he'll have some of the best 3-cone and shuttle times at the combine this year. He's the anti-Tray Waynes. (8/10)

 

Physicality: Clemson runs a primarily off-man defensive scheme, so Alexander rarely presses at the LOS. In route he hand fights, bumps, and isn't afraid to get physical with WRs down the field. Zone teams will love him for his closing burst and willingness to be an enforcer on the defense. (8/10)

 

Technical Ability: Alexander rarely bites on play-fakes and double-moves. Keeps eyes trained on the WR; doesn't peak into the backfield. Does a good job at pushing WRs to the boundary on sideline routes. Plays all over the field. Probably about 1/3 of the time in the slot. Would like to see him be a little less conservative when facing faster WRs, give them less of a cushion, but I know that's largely on coaching. Can get grabby at times. Also is susceptible to biting on fake screen passes. (7/10)

 

Run Game/Tackling: Willing and able tackler. Isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in the run game. Doesn't shed blocks at all. (3/5)

 

Ball Skills: Does a fantastic job playing the football in the air. Great anticipation. Plays the WRs hands. Due to size concerns, he's probably not his best in jump-ball scenarios. (4/5)

 

Consistency: Gave up a few yards in the FSU game as a result of over-aggressiveness, but usually Alexander is pretty consistent on a play-to-play basis. While his level of play is consistent, so are his weaknesses. (3/5)
 

GIFs: 

 

This remind you of anyone?: http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=258474&gif=CalmRedFlounder

 

Plays the ball well in the air, even if he doesn't get the pick: http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=258474&gif=UnpleasantJubilantAmethystgemclam

 

INT: http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=258557&gif=MajorOddballCobra

 

Uses his positioning to stop WR from completing route: http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=259319&gif=ConstantMiniatureBlackrhino

 

Conclusion: 41 out of 60. A 1st round pick. 

 

Alexander is a small, feisty defensive back who can thrive in most all defensive schemes. He's a physical, albeit sometimes over-aggressive player who can bring not only skill, but attitude to a team's defensive backfield. 

 

NFL Comp: Jason Verrett, SD

[Solon]

I like him. Chuck Pagano can develop cornerbacks. Imagine him after a year or two with Chuck in his ear. No fly zone.

[OffensivelyPC]

Sounds like Jason Verrett, just a skosh bigger.

 

EDIT: LOL didn't see the "NFL COMP at the bottom."  Great minds think alike I guess.

[UKColt13]

I like him.

 

Slightly smaller version of Vontae. (Not suggesting he's as good)

 

His lack of experience in press coverage concerns me though

[COLTS449]

Nice write up Dustin. Are you planning to do one on Noah Spence, Leonard Floyd, or any of the Guards? I really like Alexander. Not counting Ramsey (I see him playing safety) he's my 2nd favorite corner in this class. I wouldn't mind if we drafted him at 18 as long as we've addressed the pass rush in FA.

[NewColtsFan]

4 hours ago, Dustin said:

 

 

Conclusion: 41 out of 60. A 1st round pick. 

 

 

This is a general question and not about McKenzie.....

 

You've got 41 out of 60 being a 1st round pick.

 

Is it always a 60 point scoring system,  or do different positions get different totals?

 

And what is the number for a 1st rounder,....   a 2nd rounder....  a 3rd rounder....   and so on....

 

Just asking......

 

[Dustin]

10 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

This is a general question and not about McKenzie.....

 

You've got 41 out of 60 being a 1st round pick.

 

Is it always a 60 point scoring system,  or do different positions get different totals?

 

And what is the number for a 1st rounder,....   a 2nd rounder....  a 3rd rounder....   and so on....

 

Just asking......

 

 

This may be hard to explain, but here it goes. 

 

It's different for each position. I take the percentage of their score and the round they project to depends on their % in regards to the other benchmarks I have set for that position. In this case Alexander came in at 68%. Anything over 61.6% (as of this year) is a first round pick for a cornerback. And as to keep the ranking constantly updated, the tier's change up every year once more scores are added to the system, so as to get an accurate comparison across draft classes. Once a player hits a low enough threshold, the rounds don't project anymore and they're just labeled as "late round pick" which can encompass any round from 5-7, which is why i try to only do profiles on early round prospects.

 

I know that probably doesn't make much sense. And trust me when I say I'm making it sound waaaaay more scientific than it actually is. It's basically me adding data to a spreadsheet and a script gives me a round number. 

[Dustin]

15 minutes ago, COLTS449 said:

Nice write up Dustin. Are you planning to do one on Noah Spence, Leonard Floyd, or any of the Guards? I really like Alexander. Not counting Ramsey (I see him playing safety) he's my 2nd favorite corner in this class. I wouldn't mind if we drafted him at 18 as long as we've addressed the pass rush in FA.

 

Yeah, I'm doing ones for Spence and Floyd. I actually had one for Floyd, but i hit the wrong button and lost all of my work.

 

I usually don't do offensive lineman, but I'll try to get a few done this year.

[NewColtsFan]

11 minutes ago, Dustin said:

 

This may be hard to explain, but here it goes. 

 

It's different for each position. I take the percentage of their score and the round they project to depends on their % in regards to the other benchmarks I have set for that position. In this case Alexander came in at 68%. Anything over 61.6% (as of this year) is a first round pick for a cornerback. And as to keep the ranking constantly updated, the tier's change up every year once more scores are added to the system, so as to get an accurate comparison across draft classes. Once a player hits a low enough threshold, the rounds don't project anymore and they're just labeled as "late round pick" which can encompass any round from 5-7, which is why i try to only do profiles on early round prospects.

 

I know that probably doesn't make much sense. And trust me when I say I'm making it sound waaaaay more scientific than it actually is. It's basically me adding data to a spreadsheet and a script gives me a round number. 

 

Thanks.....

 

So, roughly speaking are you grades more....    1st day pick,  2nd day pick, and 3rd day pick.

 

Perhaps not exactly this,  more a little more closely,  or can they be refined more sharply so you can distinguish between a 2nd and a 3rd rounder -- both Day 2 picks?

 

 

[Dustin]

2 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

Thanks.....

 

So, roughly speaking are you grades more....    1st day pick,  2nd day pick, and 3rd day pick.

 

Perhaps not exactly this,  more a little more closely,  or can they be refined more sharply so you can distinguish between a 2nd and a 3rd rounder -- both Day 2 picks?

 

 

 

 

For the first 4 rounds, the grade is an actual round number. So depended on the grade they get labeled a 1st, a 2nd, a 3rd, or a 4th round pick. Only after then do they get labeled as "late round picks". 

[tvturner]

Have you watched enough on DeVontae Booker to break him down?

[NorthernColt]

Like him as a player. Don't know if I'd go CB in the 1st though. I guess it would depend whos still on the board.

[MPStack]

I did not see the game, but can anyone tell me if Alexander was covering O.J Howard last night? Howard`s highlights made him look like Amari Cooper 2.0.

[PeterBowman]

3 hours ago, MPStack said:

I did not see the game, but can anyone tell me if Alexander was covering O.J Howard last night? Howard`s highlights made him look like Amari Cooper 2.0.

Alexander actually hurt his hammy early on and missed most of the game.

[krunk]

Doesn't seem like Alexander picks the ball off very much, and he doesn't have the type of size I tend to like. Doesn't mean he can't play because he can, but I'm not sure if he's tops on my list.

[Superman]

On 1/11/2016 at 8:46 AM, Dustin said:

Can get grabby at times

 

Yup.

 

He's aggressive and nosy, almost welcomes contact. I like that he plays inside and outside, press and off man coverage, left side and right. He has great movement, good feet, loose hips, rangy. I don't think he tracks the ball well in the air, he seems to lose it often.

 

I wouldn't give him a first round grade, but I can see it. 

[Superman]

He got picked on a little bit against NC.