Lorenzo Doss
Tulane, CB
Height: 5.11
Weight: 187
Age: 21
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Athleticism: C+
Has plus athletic ability, but is more of a short area athlete than a distance runner. Shows very good movement in his hips and his ability to mirror receivers off the line and in their breaks. Doesn’t have the long speed or burst to hang with better receivers in college, let alone the NFL. Had to resort to grabbing jerseys in order to keep up vertically.
Coverage: C+
Adept and experienced playing in zone coverage while at Tulane. Has a quick and fluid backpedal with clean hip movement off the line of scrimmage. Lined up in both press and off coverage, showing the ability to mix it up at the line of scrimmage. Gave no quarter to Duke WR Jamison Crowder within five yards of scrimmage and then some. Lacks ideal length and size for press but has the strength and confidence to play press. Ability to click-and-close is underwhelming, though he shows recognition of routes and the ability to jump receivers. Less effective with his back to the football and covering larger and faster receivers one-on-one.
Ball Skills: B+
Greatest area of strength and where he brings the most value in terms of his NFL prospects. Hauled in 15 career interceptions in three years of play. Has good hands, dating back to his days as a wide receiver in high school. Does a good job of staying in phase with his receiver and is able to rake his arm in to break up the pass and turn jump balls into incompletions.
Run Support: D+
Has capable diagnostic ability on running plays in front of him and can deliver some knock-back power on contact. Run game willingness is pedestrian and does not fight off blocks or dig his nose into piles. Can be covered up too easily by wide receiver blocks and is not a heavy tackler who can get receivers and runningbacks on the ground without difficulty. Lazy on backside pursuit.
Instincts: D
Solid instincts for the position and shows good anticipation and understanding of routes. A three year starter as a junior, who quickly made a name for himself at the mid-major level. Biggest concern is with his effort on the field, however. Plays down to the level of competition, as well as the situation (vs. Southeastern Louisiana 2014, being case in point). Might need to go to a team with a demanding position coach that can get the best out of him consistently.
Red Flags: Work Ethic
Bottom Line: Lorenzo Doss is a player who flashes intriguing play-making ability along with a frustratingly selective attitude on the field. Doss also comes with some athletic limitations as well, and may be best suited for a Tampa 2 or other zone heavy defensive scheme where he is not asked to cover too much ground vertically. Ultimately, his success will be predicated on whether or not he wants to give consistent effort on the field.
Comparison: Dax Swanson
Grade: 7.7 (4th Round)
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