Run Defense
While corners aren’t generally drafted for their run defense (they certainly shouldn’t be), players do need to be able to hold their own in this regard – and while there are definitely times when Thomas-Oliver looks about as keen to get involved as you might expect from a converted receiver:
He is actually quite a good run defender. He does a reasonable job of using his arms to keep defenders away from his frame:
And while he could do a better job of wrapping up at times:
He is generally a good technical tackler:
What is really encouraging about his run and screen defense, however, is his ability to set the edge and prevent the ballcarrier from getting outside on plays:
As good as this is, this won’t be what moves the arrow for him as a player, but it is encouraging that he both shows a willingness to take on blockers and an understanding of the importance of forcing the run inside.
Evaluating cornerback prospects is extremely difficult for a variety of reasons, and while it would be foolish to describe Thomas-Oliver as anything other than a roll of the dice, given the encouraging traits he shows on tape and the fact that his relatively inexperience goes some of the way to explaining his technical imperfections, this looks to be a very worthwhile roll, and at a point in the draft where his upside is more than enough to merit the risk of the investment.
