Effective on corner/nickel blitz (3 sacks, 3 hurries in 2009)
Played a lot of press man coverage
Well coached
Intense football player
Wonderful skill set
Still has some upside
Weaknesses:
Lacks some awareness and instincts
Could anticipate routes better
Sometimes loses focus
Vulnerable to inside moves
Some question listed height
Unimpressive in zone
Summary: Joe Haden is a very talented cornerback with a very well-rounded game, but some teams might be scared off by his lacking instincts, which is critical at the NFL level where pro receivers are great route runners. Haden’s level of production and consistency will get him drafted in the top 15 picks. He is one of the better cornerback prospects in the last couple years. He shut down Alabama receiver Julio Jones in the 2009 SEC Championship.
Player Comparison: Leon Hall. Similar size, speed and skill set. Hall is also a great player against the run.
