Tag: Robert Rochell

Darious Williams says Robert Rochell has everything ‘to become an elite corner’

Darious Williams expects big things from Rams rookie Robert Rochell.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby8n025panb709 player_id=none image=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Darious Williams is entering just his second season as a starting cornerback in the NFL, but he’s already taken on a leadership role in the Rams’ locker room. He’ll be the No. 2 corner in L.A. this season and with Troy Hill leaving in free agency, the Rams need someone to step up in that nickel role.

One possibility is rookie Robert Rochell, who the Rams drafted in the fourth round at No. 130 overall. The Central Arkansas product is incredibly athletic despite being raw, and projects well as a starting cornerback in a year or two.

Williams thinks even higher of Rochell, saying he has everything it takes to not just be great, but an elite cornerback.

“Scooter, he’s going to be a player,” Williams said Tuesday. “He’s explosive. He’s got everything in his body to become an elite corner. If I can help him, just like anybody else, as much as I can, knowledge, I can give it to him and that’s going to increase their level, their game, that’s what I’m going to try to do. He’s real eager him, Brontae Harris, those younger guys are real eager to learn. They’re really eager to get better. I just try to give them all the techniques I know and let them take off.”

Rochell has been proactive in seeking advice from the Rams’ corners. It wasn’t Williams who went to the rookie trying to help. It was Rochell who sought guidance from Williams, which shows an interest in getting better.

“I just sit back. I don’t really go out and try to approach anybody,” Williams said. “He just came to me to get better. Brontae, same thing. When they come to me for help, I tell them everything I know. Scooter, I think he knows the situation, draft picks, depth and everything. He knows at any moment he can be in, so he knows he can possibly be and needs to be prepared.”

Rochell will have to beat out David Long Jr. for the third cornerback spot, which could be difficult given the disparity in NFL experience. But as Rochell finds his footing, he could push for even more playing time as the season progresses.

Robert Rochell is all about the team, would rather win Super Bowl than make Hall of Fame

Robert Rochell is already embodying the Rams’ “we not me” mentality.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby8n025panb709 player_id=none image=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Robert Rochell hasn’t been a member of the Los Angeles Rams for even a month yet, but he’s already taking the team’s “we not me” mentality to heart. The rookie cornerback out of Central Arkansas is a team player willing to do whatever it takes to help the Rams win.

In fact, he’d rather win a Super Bowl with his teammates than make the Hall of Fame on his own.

“I’m just a team player, selfless guy. I’m willing to do anything it takes to get a ‘W.’ I would rather win a Super Bowl with my team than be in the Hall of Fame by myself, so just having that type of mindset and being ready to work with those guys,” Rochell said in an interview with TheRams.com.

Rochell is a cornerback with good size and length, as well as elite athleticism and leaping ability. Being a former wide receiver, he also has great ball skills, which he’ll be sure to show off in the NFL.

The Rams have another cornerback with those traits in Jalen Ramsey, who’s a player Rochell modeled his game after. He even wears double-sleeves like Ramsey.

“It means a lot just because I was a guy that modeled my game after Jalen Ramsey and really watched him throughout my college career – [got] the double-sleeves from him and all that type of stuff,” Rochell said. “Just coming here and being with a guy I’ve already been watching my whole career and now I get to see him face-to-face and right on the side of him, it means everything. Just being in L.A. and being a Ram, I don’t even know how to feel.”

Rochell is currently the fourth cornerback but he’ll compete for the No. 3 job with David Long Jr. He’s somewhat raw, but don’t rule out the rookie making an impact in 2021 as part of a talented secondary.

Instant analysis: Rams may have gotten a steal with athletic freak Robert Rochell

Robert Rochell certainly doesn’t lack athleticism and could wind up being a steal in Round 4.

Every year, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic releases a list of players he calls “freaks” before the college football season. Some of the players are more recognizable names, like Kwity Paye and Jayson Oweh. But others hail from smaller schools, like Robert Rochell, the newest member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Rochell, as well as Tutu Atwell, was highlighted by Feldman for his bounce, displaying incredible athleticism at Central Arkansas. He backed it up with a dominant pro day, running a 4.39 in the 40, jumping 43 inches in the vertical and posting a broad jump of 11 feet, 1 inch – which is even shorter than what his college coach Nathan Brown said he jumped previously (11 feet, 8 inches).

Athleticism isn’t everything for a cornerback, but Rochell is an outstanding athlete who can cover, tackle and find the ball in the air (10 interceptions in college). His skill set could make him a steal for the Rams in the fourth round.

Rochell earned a third-round grade from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked him 96th overall on his big board, ahead of corners such as Benjamin St-Juste and Ambry Thomas, who were both taken ahead of Rochell.

Although starting as a rookie at cornerback is difficult, Rochell has a good chance to do so with his combination of size, speed and leaping ability, as well as his ball skills. He does need to limit the big plays allowed in coverage when he tries to jump routes, but Rochell has a high ceiling as a boundary corner.

But he doesn’t have to just play outside. He can also give the Rams options in the secondary as a potential slot corner, too, rotating with Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams, who can also move inside to cover certain receivers.

Rochell might not look like a home run right now, but he’s at least a double off the wall given the timing and position he plays. Don’t be surprised if he plays meaningful snaps as a rookie and takes over as a starter in 2022 if Williams isn’t re-signed.

Central Arkansas CB Robert Rochell could provide boost to secondary, special teams

The Los Angeles Chargers would be wise to use one of their selections on cornerback Robert Rochell.

The Chargers are not only in search of secondary help, they’re seeking special teams competency in this year’s draft.

A way that Los Angeles can kill two birds with one stone is considering former Central Arkansas cornerback Robert Rochell with one of their selections.

Rochell was named a first-team All-Southland Conference selection, as well as a first-team All-American selection during his final season, finishing with 10 interceptions and 38 passes defensed over the course of his career.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, Rochell boasts elite athletic traits, having posted a 4.45 40-yard dash, 43-inch vertical, 140-inch broad jump, 4.08 short shuttle and 6.83 three-cone.

Rochell checks a lot of boxes: speed, ball skills, length, fluid mirroring skills, and toughness against the run. He has shown to be most comfortable in man coverage, using his long arms and physicality to jam at the line of scrimmage and speed to stay glued to receivers downfield.

Coming in as a 160-pound wide receiver, he’s still in need of refinement with his technique. But with proper coaching from defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley, he has the physical tools and traits to turn into a starting cornerback who offers inside/out flexibility.

Where Rochell will make the majority of his money early on in his career is on special teams.

In college, he was one of the nation’s best gunners, and knowing that the Chargers struggled to find proficiency in coverage, he would be an upgrade due to his speed and ability to accelerate down the field, as well as his open-field tackling skills.

Rochell projects as a fifth- sixth-round selection, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go late third, early fourth-round after he tested at his Pro Day.

Pro Day preview for March 18: Potential Giants targets

A quick breakdown of the Pro Days being held on March 18 and who the New York Giants may be scouting at each.

The college pro days continue on Thursday with eight schools holding workouts featuring their draft-eligible players. One school – Louisiana-Monroe – did not have any players rated by any of the top draft sites although they had one invited to the Combine in RB Josh Johnson.

Here’s the schedule and some possible players the New York Giants could be targeting.

6 prospects Chargers could target to upgrade special teams

The Los Angeles Chargers will be looking to improve their special teams unit this offseason.

The majority of the attention is shifted to who the Chargers will draft on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, but the special teams unit is just as important, especially for a team that finished dead last in the league last season.

With that being said, let’s take a look at a few prospects that I believe general manager Tom Telesco would like to add who could benefit new special teams coordinator Derius Swinton’s group.

Avery Williams, CB, Boise State

The Chargers are already confirmed to have met with Williams. Named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and a first-teamer for the conference in 2019, Williams amassed nine career touchdowns off returns and 1,990 career return yards. Along with his outstanding return numbers, Williams was incredible on the other side of the ball, finishing with three blocked punts, a blocked field goal, a blocked point after attempt and a forced fumble on a kickoff. Williams could make an impact both returning and in coverage.

Tre Brown, CB, Oklahoma

Starting 33 out of 51 games, Brown made his impact as the Sooners’ outside cornerback. In four seasons, he posted 141 tackles, 31 passes defensed, 8.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions. On top of that, he shined as the teams’ kick returner, where he returned 55 kicks for 1,207 yards (21.9 yards per return). Despite having a shorter stature, Brown is an excellent athlete who possesses speed, explosiveness and quickness. With the Chargers, Brown could be a versatile corner who plays both inside or outside. His special teams experience would serve him well in a variety of roles whether it’s as a returner, gunner or jammer.

Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas

Rochell had 10 interceptions and 38 passes defensed over the course of his collegiate career. Standing at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, Rochell boasts elite athletic traits, having reportedly posted a 4.38 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical, 140-inch broad jump, 3.98 short shuttle, per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. Rochell checks a lot of boxes: speed, ball skills, length, fluid mirroring skills, and toughness against the run. With Los Angeles, he has the versatility to play inside or out. His speed and physical traits could go a long way on special teams.

Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota

St-Juste, a transfer from Michigan to Minnesota, didn’t necessarily fill up the stat sheet. Over 18 games played between the two schools, he only logged 62 total tackles, 11 passes defensed with zero interceptions. However, the numbers don’t necessarily replicate his actual impact on the field. Hailing at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds with over an 80-inch wingspan, St-Juste uses his length and strength to his advantage to jam receivers at line of scrimmage and at the catch point to disrupt throwing lanes. With L.A., St-Juste could be a versatile defensive back who plays on the outside and some safety. His deep speed, length and strength would carry over well as a gunner or jammer.

Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina

In his Gamecock career, Smith appeared in 42 games, posting 171 receptions for 2,176 yards and 13 scores. Smith is a crafty route runner who has the speed, quickness, and yards after the catch ability. Those traits translated well as a kick returner, where he finished with 448 yards on 21 returns (21.3 YPR). With the Bolts, Smith could be a backup slot receiver. But he would make the majority of his money as a returner and in coverage.

Racey McMath, WR, LSU

LSU has done a fine job of dishing out phenomenal wide receivers that have gone on to play in the NFL. While McMath might not be on the level as some of the others, he has the ability to his presence known as a key special teamer at the next level. He completed his career with only 33 receptions for 522 yards and four touchdowns. However, he finished with a whopping 507 special teams snaps. The 6-foot-2 and 225 pounder has the rare combination of size and speed (4.40 40). His speed and toughness should allow him to contribute as a gunner or returner on special teams for Los Angeles.

2021 NFL Draft: 9 players for the Eagles to watch in the Central Arkansas vs. Austin Peay matchup

2021 NFL Draft: 9 players for the Eagles’ to watch in Central Arkansas vs. Austin Peay matchup

College football is upon us and the first official game of the 2020 college football season will be played this evening at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama when Football Championship Subdivision rivals Central Arkansas and Austin Peay square off in a non-conference matchup.

The 2020 Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff is the only game on the slate this weekend, and it pits playoff teams from a year ago with the Governors of Austin Peay (11-4, 7-1 in 2019) who won the Ohio Valley Conference for the first time since 1977 and reached the FCS quarterfinals, losing to Montana State.

Central Arkansas shared the Southland championship with Nicholls State after going 9-4.

Central Arkansas is a five-point favorite and with all of the eyes of the football squarely focused on this game, here’s a rundown of the NFL Draft prospects to watch.

***

1. Robert Rochell (#9), CB, Central Arkansas

An athletic, lanky cover man with ball skills, Rochelle is currently projected in 4th-6th round range after a 2019 season that saw him start all 13 games while leading the team in interceptions (5) for the second consecutive year.

Rochell will have all eyes on him Saturday after he landed on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks” list as the No. 12 overall player.

Feldman: Get to know this dude. He’s a former track stud from Louisiana who has really blossomed at Central Arkansas. NFL scouts are really intrigued by him. He’s a shade under 6-1 (6-0 7/8) and weighs 197 pounds. His coach Nathan Brown says he’s broad jumped 11-8 (!!) and has vertical jumped 41 inches. His 40 time is 4.38, and his short shuttle is 3.98. His 60-yard shuttle time is 10.98. Those are all big-time numbers. In 2019, he broke up 18 passes and intercepted five others.

[vertical-gallery id=639461]

[lawrence-related id=639978,639961,639962,639948]

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9

Meet Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas’ gem of a CB prospect

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Central Arkansas cornerback prospect Robert Rochell

Every NFL team will be scouring the country for diamond-in-the-rough prospects heading into next year’s draft, and Central Arkansas cornerback Robert Rochell should be among their best finds.

One of the best small-school prospects in college football, Rochell recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his preparations for 2020, how he approaches different kinds of receivers and coverages, and what fans can expect from him moving forward.

JM: You had a strong season in 2019, which put you firmly on the NFL draft radar. How can you take a step forward in 2020?

RR: I’m just working on several aspects of my game right now. I’m trying to become a better leader, both on and off the field. My teammates mean so much to me. I’m just trying to push everybody in the right direction. I want to make my coaches proud this year. I’m trying to do the things that maybe I didn’t do last year. It’s all about personal growth.

JM: I heard that you played around 179-pounds last year, but plan to play closer to 195 this year. Is that true?

RR: Yeah, most definitely. I’m currently 195 pounds.

JM: How did you add all that bulk over the summer?

RR: By eating (laughs). I made sure I was eating right. I was just trying to be more consistent with my diet and with my lifting schedule. Being at home, I’ve been able to eat a lot of big meals. You’ll put that weight on quickly (laughs).

JM: Are you concerned the added weight may make you less explosive?

RR: No, not at all. I’ve been working out at this weight for a solid two months right now. I’m very comfortable with the weight.

JM: We saw a few small-school defensive backs make their presence known at last year’s NFL draft. Jeremy Chinn and Kyle Dugger come to mind. They were drafted high, despite being small-school prospects. Can you follow in their footsteps?

RR: I definitely hope to follow in their footsteps. Being at a smaller school, we’re always looked down upon. People think we don’t play against good competition or whatever. Us small-school players are the same types of athletes as the guys at the big schools. We belong in that conversation.

JM: It’s inevitable that you’ll be called a “small-school prospect” throughout the pre-draft process. What’s your reaction when you hear that?

RR: It just makes me wanna go harder. It gives me motivation. I don’t like being frowned upon or doubted. This is why I work my tail off every single day. I’m always working. I don’t want them to doubt me because I went to a small school. I want to take that thought right out of their minds. I try to do everything I can to eliminate that.

JM: What can you tell me about the scheme Central Arkansas runs on defense?

RR: We play a lot of man coverage. That comes first. We try to lock you up in press coverage. We play fast and physical. We don’t shy away from a battle. We’re going to play man on the outside and press your receivers at the line.

JM: Is man coverage your preferred coverage to play in?

RR: I like man coverage, and I also like zone. Zone gives you a great chance to make plays and get your hands on the ball. It allows you to keep your eyes on the quarterback a little bit more than man coverage does. I appreciate the chance to make plays in zone coverage. I really like both of those coverages.

Photo: UCA Athletics

JM: When you’re in man, do you attack a smaller, shiftier receiver differently than you do a bigger, more physical one?

RR: Yeah, I definitely do. Those smaller guys can get in and out of breaks more efficiently than a bigger guy can. You have to be a little more technical with those smaller guys. I can definitely play with a big, physical receiver. I can keep those guys in my pocket. They don’t move as fast, their breaks are a little slower. I enjoy playing against those bigger guys.

JM: Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl, recently mentioned you as a small-school prospect on his 2021 Senior Bowl watch list. How much would that invite mean to you?

RR: That would be a huge opportunity for me. I had to thank him for that. He had some constructive criticism for me. I appreciate that, as well. It just makes me wanna go harder. If that invite comes, I’m going to be ecstatic.

JM: What can fans expect from Robert Rochell and Central Arkansas this season?

RR: From the team, we’re chasing a national championship. We believe in the talent we have on this squad. That comes first and foremost. We’re definitely coming back home with the conference championship. From me, they can expect me to be a more consistent, dominant player. I’m going to be more of a vocal leader on and off the field.

[vertical-gallery id=622311]