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dodgerram
Looked so promising last season. Can not be worse than Kendrick.
I would love to answer, but I need more data.
First what we know: Durant is much faster than Kendrick. Durant ran a 4.38 at the combine. Kendrick did not participate in drills at the combine; on his pro day he clocked a 4.79. So yes, it is much more likely that Durant can cover a guy on a fly pattern than Kendrick.
However, the Rams know that this is a weakness in Kendrick's game and as far as I know they don't ask him to cover one-on-one on downfield routes. They have a safety over the top, and plays where you see Kendrick get beat deep it is typically because the safety didn't get over to help in time. (I posted an example from the Commanders' game elsewhere on this board and I refer you to a couple of JimYoungblood53's comments from that thread: [
ramsrule.com] , [
ramsrule.com] )
Despite that blazing speed Durant was the 31st rated CB in the 2022 draft with a production score of 56. [
www.nfl.com]
In that same draft Kendrick carried a production score of 78 and was the 9th rated CB. [
www.nfl.com]
My takeaway from that: it takes more than track speed to be a CB.
Now, what we don't know:
Does Kendrick know the playbook better?
Is Kendrick better at reacting to adjustments that EJones calls out at the line?
Is Kendrick better at recognizing plays based on the formation the offense shows?
Is Kendrick better at diagnosing plays once the ball is snapped?
Is Kendrick better at mirroring a WR in a short zone?
Is Kendrick better in run support?
In short, is Kendrick a better CB within 20 yards of the LOS?
Answer those questions and you will likely have your answer to "Why is Coby Durant not playing more?"
AlbaNY_Ram
