Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Rookie free agent profile: Quinton Pointer, DB, UNLV


Quinton Pointer 5'9" 186
CB, UNLV

Rankings:
58th-ranked cornerback by Pro Football Weekly. Graded as a player who should make an NFL training camp.
NFLDraftScout: 42nd-ranked CB, #374 player overall, preferred free-agent grade.

Biography/honors:
2011: Team captain. Played in all 12 games, with 2 starts at corner and 6 at strong safety. 59 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and a blocked kick.
2010: Granted medical hardship waiver by NCAA.
2009: Started all 12 games. 72 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks, one forced fumble, 4 pass breakups, no interceptions. Also returned 5 kickoffs for a 19.8-yard average.
2008: Started 11 games. 44 tackles, 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions.
2007: Played in all 12 games, starting 8. 50 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble, 2 pass breakups and 2 interceptions.

Major: recreation and leisure studies. How did I miss out on this when I was deciding on a college major?

Injuries:
2010: Missed season due to torn ACL. Original injury believed to have occurred during fall camp. 2009: Missed spring practice due to surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Original injury believed to have occurred in 2007.
2008: Dislocated elbow during fall camp and missed season opener. Wore a brace throughout the season.

Pro day results: (NFL Combine CB averages in parentheses)
4.42 40 (only three CBs at the Combine were faster. Average CB run was 4.57.)
1.50 10-yard split (fastest published time was Janoris Jenkins' 1.47)
39” vertical jump (would have been 2nd-best jump. Average was 34.5.)
10'8" broad jump (would have been top 5 of all DBs. DBs averaged 10'0”.)
7.22 3-cone drill (would have been a bottom-5 time. DBs averaged 6.92.)
4.13 20-yard shuttle (4.12 was average for CBs)
12 bench press (DBs averaged 15)

 
Positives: Fast, competitive and plays physical. Likes to hit. Breaks on the ball well. Makes up for his size with good instincts and aggressiveness. Pro day performance showed elite speed and explosiveness suggesting he's over his ACL injury from 2010. Hard-working, smart player who knows all his teammates' roles on every play. Contributes as a blitzer and a run supporter and can return kicks. Has the athletic ability and mindset to compete for a backup spot.

Negatives: Extensive injury history. Undersized. Already 24. Does not play as quick as his timed speed suggests. Doesn't have a good first step or initial burst. Plays too high and has poor balance. Doesn't turn and run well, doesn't mirror well and is pretty easy to fool with a fake. Chops his feet, doesn't change directions well and takes too long to regain top speed. Receivers routinely beat him vertically and he's slow to react to passes in front of him.

Compares to: a shorter Justin King (I am so sorry). 

Fun Facts: You'd think someone who majored in recreation and leisure in Las Vegas would have an exotic hobby like skydiving or parasailing, wouldn't you? Maybe mountain climbing? Not Quinton, who says about all he does in his down time is watch TV and maybe play a little basketball. Geez, if Las Vegas only had more things to do there... 

RamView: How appropriate that Quinton went to school in Las Vegas, where they chase long shots for a living, because making his living in the NFL looks like just that. I won't question his athletic ability, desire or smarts. Can the new coaching staff turn a player with Quinton's skills into a solid pro? It's not impossible. If somebody says they see a lot of Cortland Finnegan in him, I don't blame them. But you already know who I see. A player with elite physical ability but who is also oft-injured, doesn't turn and run with receivers well, gets beaten deep, doesn't react well to plays right in front of him... if the Rams really think they can coach up a player with Quinton's profile, they probably should have just kept Justin King. Making the road even tougher, the Rams have a pretty deep logjam at corner, and I don't see what in Quinton's profile translates to a good NFL safety. My apologies to Quinton, and may he prove me very wrong.

Chance of making roster: 5%. 

Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, CBS Sports, UNLV athletics, National Football Post, New Era Scouting, Las Vegas Sun, NFLMocks.com

Photo: Pro Football Weekly

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