ILB Cory Littleton: Limitations Against the Run
[
bleacherreport.com]
Cory Littleton fits the mold of a modern-day linebacker. At 6'3", 228 pounds, he's a svelte athletic defender who can use his speed to track down ball-carriers and pass-catchers in the open field. The 26-year-old uses his fluid movement to mirror tight ends and cover the middle and seam areas on passing downs.
Despite Littleton's high tackle volume over the last two seasons (259), Pro Football Focus pinpointed a small hole in his game.
"… While potential suitors are going to love Littleton's ability to affect the passing game, he has had his struggles against the run. His 50.8 run-defense grade ranks just 103rd out of 126 qualifiers over the last two years, so that could hurt his value for teams looking for an all-around three-down linebacker," Monson and Palazzolo wrote.
Littleton isn't going to make his presence felt with consistency in the backfield. He's recorded 20 tackles for loss over the last four seasons. Because of his lean stature, teams will need to "keep him clean" with a strong defensive line that occupies blocks, which allows him to burst through clear pathways for stops.
If Littleton plays behind a leaky defensive line that can't stop the run and allows ball-carriers to reach the second level, his tackling may not hold up against bigger or more elusive running backs.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2020 09:18AM by Rams43.
