If the Buccaneers go with a pass rusher in the first round, might they go with a corner in the second? Artie Burns might be worth a look.
The Buccaneers need help on the outside, and Vernon Hargreaves is likely to be available in the first round. Although many of the mock drafts are sending Hargreaves to the Bucs, many others believe he is a bit small, and that the pass rush is a more important position to address with the team’s first pick.
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Well, what about the second round? Is it time to address the cornerback position at that point? It just might be, and here is a guy that the Bucs might want to consider. Today, we take a look at Artie Burns from Miami.
Here are the stats:
Defense & Fumbles
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2013 | Miami (FL) | ACC | FR | DB | 9 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | ||
| *2014 | Miami (FL) | ACC | SO | DB | 13 | 24 | 16 | 40 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | Miami (FL) | ACC | JR | DB | 12 | 26 | 10 | 36 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 6 | 34 | 5.7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career | Miami (FL) | 65 | 28 | 93 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 7 | 37 | 5.3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
The numbers don’t lie. Burns has ball skills. Those six interceptions led the ACC and were good for sixth in the nation. Those are the numbers of a player that can make a play on the football.
MEASURABLES
HEIGHT: 6’0″
WEIGHT: 193 pounds
ARM LENGTH: 33 1/4″
HANDS: 9 1/2″
Burns didn’t do a great deal at the combine, but he did post a 4.46 in the forty yard dash.
Here are the strengths and weakness from his draft profile:
"Strengths: Premium athlete with long, angular build and preferred blend of size and speed. One of the top 60-meter hurdlers in college track and field. Wakes up every morning with natural ball skills to flip the field. Got hands on high number of targeted throws, including six interceptions this season despite playing in a cornerback rotation. Will bait quarterbacks into trap throws. Has soft hands and catch radius of a receiver when it is time to take the ball away. Possesses brash, cocky demeanor. Length and physicality from press can be extremely disruptive. Burst on the throw is NFL-worthy. When he’s dialed in, has talent to be impactful. Usually finishes when he makes contact as tackler.Weaknesses: Tape isn’t his best friend. Extremely raw and undisciplined. Leggy and grabby in routes. Flagged for four pass interference and two unsportsmanlike penalties. Upright in backpedal and plays with very little bend. High center of gravity prevents fluid change of direction. Coasts on athleticism and talent over proper technique. Turns motor off and on from game to game, and play can be lackadaisical. Would like to see him attack blockers rather than waiting for running back before disengaging."
Let’s look at the tape:
Straight line speed is not a bad thing for a corner. Burns is not beaten by anybody. The type of speed that he has will help at the next level, especially when trying to correct mistakes. He also has a nose for the football. He can get his hand up just at the right time to knock the ball down, and has excellent hands. There is a reason why he was able to post six interceptions in 2015.
What I don’t like is that although he has good skills with his hands, he uses them a bit too much. He is a little too hands on, you might say. Another term would be “grabby”. He will find himself on the wrong end of penalty flags with the flag happy refs. Burns is also a bit stiff in the hips. His technique is raw, and needs to get better. He may exploited by some of the league’s best receivers.
Next: Bucs' Draft Profile: Daniel Lasco II
Hey may be raw, but Burns’ playmaking ability is unquestionable. If he is available in round two or three, the Bucs should definitely give him a look.