The Dallas Cowboys’ defense is set for a shake up, as a defense ranked twenty-third against the pass and seventeenth against the run (Football Outsiders) will be faced with crucial personnel questions this offseason. Byron Jones and Anthony Brown are both pending free agents and it is plausible neither make a return to Dallas in 2020. Subsequently, it isn’t out of the question for the Cowboys to look towards the draft, especially with the loaded group of cornerbacks this class has to offer.
Dallas will most likely be looking for a cornerback of the same archetype as Jones to best offset his potential departure. One way to maximize value this spring would be to target Bryce Hall in the draft’s second round.
Hall was touted by many as preseason CB1, and displayed quality play during his senior season before suffering a severe, season-ending ankle injury in a loss to the Miami Hurricanes. Once a projected first rounder, Hall’s stock is in question and a fall to Day 2 is more than possible.
An injured player with first-round pedigree? In Dallas?
The 6-foot-1, 200 pound cornerback is more experienced as an outside CB, but his play suggests a move to the inside is plausible if called upon. If Kris Richard remains a part of the defensive staff, Hall’s fit in the single-high scheme shouldn’t see much turbulence, but his game is well-rounded enough to play in a Cover 2 scheme as well. A look into his film provides a better picture of his strengths and weaknesses.
Games Watched: Pittsburgh (2019), North Carolina State (2018), Duke (2018)
Strengths
Hall is at his best when in low zones, where he can stay close to the line of scrimmage and rely less on flipping his hips. He has made a habit of breaking up short and intermediate passes. With his eyes on the quarterback, Hall shows his best flashes of mental processing and utilizes good knowledge of passing concepts. Additionally, he can manipulate the passer to create turnovers. That doesn’t mean he struggles in high zones, though. He may not have the quickest hips, but his athleticism is adequate for holding down deep zones without being beat over the top. It is clear Hall is primarily a zone corner, but his strengths expand to make him a multi-faceted defensive back.
When given the opportunity, Hall showcases impressive ball skills. His five career interceptions reveal his ability to make an impact. While Jones’ lack of interceptions is far from a reflection of his play, the Cowboys would surely appreciate the additional possessions. Twenty-one passes defended reflect upon Hall’s innate ability to play physical through the catch point (Sports Reference). He can knock the ball out from seemingly any angle and give himself chances to make a play, even on reps where his coverage was lacking.
His aforementioned physicality is yet another strength of Hall’s, who consistently plays bigger than his size. He can successfully take on receivers who hold physical advantages over him, such as Kelvin Harmon. Hall remains physical throughout at the catch point and during the route, without the reckless abandonment that racks up penalties. This amplifies his ball skills and protects his defense from the exploitation of mismatch targets.
Moreover, this physicality comes through in his ability to play the run and make an impact at the line of scrimmage. He is willing to get his hands dirty in the box and is a strong tackler. Where other corners lack the competitive toughness to stop the run, Hall gives his defense an additional advantage. He won’t get washed out of plays by wide receivers. His play against the run supports a move inside, where he would get more opportunities to help in run defense, rather than being isolated on the boundary.
Hall may lack elite athletic traits, but his play speed is above average for the position. He possesses good recovery speed and showcases his flashes in pursuit, per the clip above. On an island, he may struggle against elite vertical threats, but his physicality can mitigate athletic deficiencies. It is yet to be known if Hall will test at the NFL Combine, but teams can fall back on intangible parts of his game to compensate for these concerns.
Weaknesses
Hall is much more pedestrian in man coverage, particularly when backed off the line of scrimmage. When he is not able to stuff vertically stemming routes, he can be bested upon horizontal breaks. Quality route runners can find success at rates higher than future defensive coordinators would like to see. Average man skills discourage play in Cover 1 schemes, especially with the long-term health of his ankle, and thus his athletic profile, in question.
While his play is typically better as he approaches the line of scrimmage, Hall is surprisingly limited in his ability to press. Schematically, he wasn’t asked to press too often, and his inexperience shows. He is not an experienced hand fighter at the line of scrimmage and has allowed early separation subsequently. Currently, it stands as a point of weakness, but his general physicality makes one think development here is likely.
Furthermore, Hall’s lower half has caused him problems throughout his collegiate career. He mirrors well, but has trouble flipping his hips and running with receivers, a la Jalen Mills. At this point in time, he may not have the footwork to handle the expansive route trees he would see while playing inside. It’s a cause for concern, but like his pressing ability, not something to consider a long-term limitation.
The last true weakness in Hall’s game arises in his mental processing skills. An aspect of his game that is much stronger in zone than in man, Hall is not consistent with his click-and-close speed, at times breaking on routes too late, to a point where his recovery speed cannot make up the difference. This may prolong his transition to the NFL, but is not as large of a concern if he is played to his strengths.
Summary
If selected by Dallas, it would be easy to see Hall receiving starter-level snaps early on. He has the upside to be a fringe Pro Bowler and at worst will provide solid depth across the secondary. Moving forward, it would not be surprising to see him earn reps inside, to take advantage of his capabilities against the run, especially if Brown departs this offseason. He will make plays with his physicality and ball skills, creating turnovers at an encouraging rate.
Though he is much stronger in zone than man, Hall has the versatility to play in both single-high and Cover 2 schemes, retaining his viability regardless of potential staff changes. Subsequently, his play is reminiscent of Xavien Howard, who has unequivocally found success in his role with the Miami Dolphins. A potential first round talent, the Cowboys could find themselves great value on Day 2, but his ankle injury is a red flag to be wary of.
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