Christian Gonzalez NFL Draft Profile – Oregon Cornerback Breakdown

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Christian Gonzalez

NFL Combine Results

2022 Stats (Via PFF) + (Sports Reference CFB)

Games Watched: (2022) @ Georgia, (2022), (2022) @ Colorado, (2022) @ Washington State, (2022) vs Utah, (2022) vs UCLA, (2022) vs Washington.

NFL Comparison: Jimmy Smith

SIZE/ATHLETICISM

Rare combination of size & physical traits
Nearly 6’2” and almost 200 lbs paired with disreputable reach
Has the prototypical stature and fluid athleticism to compete with bigger or smaller receivers
Possesses elite and effortless long speed to cover deep routes
A bit of a long strider, but has the ability to quickly flip his hips, comfortably shuffle, an transition left or right
Outstanding leaper with impressive body control
Despite his size and athletic profile he’s not the strongest nor most physical corner

GRADE 9.2

RECOVERY SPEED

Former track athlete sticks his foot in the ground and gets straitline in no time
Does a good job of staying in phase but when he does lose hold of his man he has the burst to close space immediately
Playing speed matches the 40 time, has the ability to cheat more often due to the confidence he has in his ability to make up ground
Has really sound and efficient footwork which helps him along with his natural speed to stay in hip pockets
Reaches top speed in a hurry with limited steps
Knows how/when to put a kick step into play to gain easier acceleration

GRADE 8.6

TACKLING

Willing tackler in run support but doesn’t play as physical as his size & athletic profile would lead to expect
Won’t always wrap up more of a shoulder tackler, sometimes (Just does enough)
Only was tagged for 3 missed tackles over this past season, but has a tendency to allow ball carriers to bring the collision to him to often and will find himself committing to many drag down tackles
Will get the job done, but needs to get stronger and more physical at the point of attack against blockers when it comes to disengaging and making plays. (Could find himself in a Cover 2 Scheme)

GRADE 8.4

INSTINCTS/BALL SKILLS

Intelligent Corner that does an overall solid job of read & reacting
Routinely gets his head around and plays the ball, knows when to play the receiver and when to play the ball. (difference between a PBU and a PI Call
His athletic patience as well as eye discipline give him more opportunities at making plays
Soft hands, and highpoints the ball very well
Height blended with long arms, agility, and 41 + inch vertical allows Gonzalez to always be in position to take the ball away
Technically sound when going up with the receiver to break up the pass gets his hand between the receivers hands and bats the ball down as taught
Needs to go after the football more
Will play for the pbu when he has just as much opportunity to take the ball away
Will watch and bait the QB better than any corner i’ve seen coming out of College in sometime
Seems to have issues (instincts wise) with playing the underneath routes as well as he does everything else in regards to the boundaries, perimeter, and deep quarters of the field

GRADE 8.8

MAN COVERAGE

Possesses all of the physical traits of a shutdown man corner and utilizes them all well
Plays the receiver to the boundaries with good body lean all while avoiding penalties and still being in phase to disrupt the catch
Hard to beat as a QB with a bad throw or late! Recovers well and is too physically gifted, will find the football.
Very patient and technically sound within 5 yards, plays with impressive balance, stays even, keeps the gate closed, and will ride the receiver where he needs to in order to disrupt the timing of the route
Very seldom out of phase and always within arms and speed reach of the man he’s covering
Will occasionally allow receivers to cross his face (cardinal sin in man coverage) and give up plays he really shouldn’t

GRADE 8.7

ZONE COVERAGE

Struggles with consistently reading/diagnosing, making a timely decision and breaking downhill
Can move a little clunky when playing too far off. Could be indecisiveness on what’s going on in front of him, not comfortable out of phase, or he could just have an issue with planting and exploding forward
Not as patient in Zone has a tendency to open up too early, lose route leverage and give up easy completions
Has the quick twitch and hip fluidity to become better in
Short Zone responsibilities

GRADE 7.7

POSITIVES: Size, athletic profile, rare combination of both/ natural ability to mirror and play the receiver/ instinctive player

NEGATIVES: Zone limitations? Physicality in run support, underneath coverage, 1 year of decent ball production

OVERALL GRADE 8.5

Tanner McKee Position: QB School : Stanford Class : Junior Height : 6-6 Weight :

Christian Gonzalez School: Oregon (Via Colorado Transfer) Conference: Pac-12 Position: CB Class: Junior Home State:

Jalen Carter Position: DT School: Georgia Class: Junior Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Background Former 5

This past Sunday the Detroit Lions set out to prove that their week 1 rushing

Jalen Carter Position: DT School: Georgia Class: Junior Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Background Former 5