A CB With Serious Speed But No Takeaways
May 1st, 2021
One of the Bucs’ seventh-round picks, Chris Wilcox, a corner from BYU, got a lot of playing time but doesn’t have much to show for it.
He played in 31 games for the Cougars but doesn’t have an interception. But damn he can tackle. His last known mis-tackle came in the 2017 season.
What Wilcox lacks in takeaways he makes up for in speed. He ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at his pro day.
“My name doesn’t come up a lot,” Wilcox said. “I think I am an underrated corner in this draft.”
In his profile in Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” found on The Athletic, Brugler believes Wilcox is a guy who could be a developmental corner but his spot in the NFL is destined to be on special teams initially.
STRENGTHS: Top shelf speed to run with anyone on the football field…accelerates quickly to make up lost steps…looks explosive when he drives or closes on the catch point…excellent height/length combination to match up downfield…looks natural with his lateral transitions to match different types of routes runners off the line…widens his base and gets his man on the ground as a tackler…you have to go back to the 2017 tape to find his last missed tackle…nice job avoiding blocks to put himself in position to make plays in run support.
WEAKNESSES: Average fluidity in his feet, lower body and hips…shifty route runners can force him to turn his hips early, creating a hitch in his reactions…late to turn and locate due to questionable instincts…below average ball production with zero interceptions in 41 career games played…makes tackle attempts harder than they need to be by hugging high and not using proper form…prefers to avoid roadblocks and needs to develop more of a bad temper when taking on blocks…suffered a season-ending fractured ankle (November 2018) and required a second surgery (February 2019), which sidelined him for most of the 2019 season.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at BYU, Wilcox played right outside cornerback in head coach Kalani Sitake’s defense, playing mostly zone coverage. A high school safety, he moved to cornerback in Provo and his career was split between intriguing flashes and nagging injuries. Wilcox didn’t have the most entertaining tape because he wasn’t targeted very often (2.6 times per game in 2020), which contributed to his lack of production. But regardless, eight passes defended and zero interceptions over 41 games played are not the numbers you want to see. Overall, Wilcox has outstanding size and speed, but he is very raw instinctually and technically with immature ball anticipation. He projects as a developmental cornerback who will need to show out (and stay healthy) on special teams.
Two things you cannot get enough of: pass rushers and speed.
Wilcox is speed.
Wilcox has very few highlights but there are a couple in the video below in a Utah TV feature with an overexcited sports anchor.
May 1st, 2021 at 7:05 pm
Wonder if he can return kicks?
May 1st, 2021 at 7:07 pm
They played mostly zone coverage, talk about a diamond in the rough, this guy has a chance to be a player, you can’t teach speed, and this kid isn’t scared to hit, this pick is intriguing
May 1st, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Gunner
May 1st, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Gunner and nothing else.
May 1st, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Gunner who can’t tackle…no thanks. He’s camp fodder and nothing more.
May 1st, 2021 at 7:50 pm
Buc 50
You must have missed this in the article.
But damn he can tackle. His last known mis-tackle came in the 2017 season.
He is a perfect gunner….this is Ryan Smith’s replacement.
May 1st, 2021 at 7:53 pm
Buc50, you may want to re-read the article. The kid hasn’t missed on a tackle since 2017. He’ll be an outstanding gunner.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:13 pm
lol. I just finished the story about not drafting DB
May 1st, 2021 at 8:23 pm
If he couldn’t get into in college I don’t see it getting better in the NFL unless the opposing QB hands it to him. ST’s sounds great.
May 1st, 2021 at 9:16 pm
From what I saw on tape he’s a passive tackler. Unless he develops pronto, I see him reserved as practice team player. I hear his words but watched his actions. We need a corner who’s not timid n can tackle. He kinda reminds me of a poor man’s Jamel Dean who I’m not sold on. Dean plays passive n hesitant.
May 1st, 2021 at 9:58 pm
Hmmm, seems like a project but can play gunner for now. Size, speed sounds like the real deal. Guess we will find out what Bowles can do with this kid. One thing to note, seems like he was not targeted often in college. A also read another scouting report that says he is a lockdown corner so not sure why when he played zone mostly. Also, BYU underutilized their cornerbacks from a scheme perspective. Could be lack of opportunity vs lack of production.
May 1st, 2021 at 10:29 pm
Speed! Just like the linebacker pick. Seems like a special-teams guy who will develop over the next season or two.
Go get ‘em!
May 1st, 2021 at 10:32 pm
The data say he hasn’t missed a tackle since 2017. But yeah, some of you experts go ahead and say he can’t tackle. Maroons.
May 1st, 2021 at 11:31 pm
Marons. Reread the article people. He’s a sure tackler.
May 2nd, 2021 at 1:09 am
Joe (Steve) you killed it at his Zoom conference. Best questions of the session.
May 2nd, 2021 at 1:15 am
4.39 and good size, I read he’s a safe player, bend don’t break – doesn’t make many mistakes but doesn’t make plays either. I’m OK with that in a late round pick. At his size and with that speed and with that scouting report, I’m kind of surprised he wasn’t taken earlier.