Prospect Profile: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Evaluation

Disrupting the WR Release

Long and athletic and he takes advantage of this at the line of scrimmage when he presses with a jam. He is very patient, even those receivers with a good plan and impressive change of direction combined with play strength can struggle to beat him at the line and put him in trail quickly. It’s very hard to get him to commit, he waits for the receiver to make the move, even when the receiver makes every attempt to get him to commit with footfires and hesi moves. He always lands his hands with timing and accuracy. He is physical and competitive at the line of scrimmage and he uses his length to disrupt the timing of the route regularly, and he has the play strength to knock the receiver off his path a fair distance. He can match angles and footwork with even explosive receivers running effective moves when he’s in soft press. He is more susceptible to inside moves, he will, under normal circumstances, get his hands on and disrupt but not to the same degree as he does when facing other moves, and he can remain sticky through the route. If he is facing a receiver who takes a lot of mandatory outside releases, he can get complacent and be beaten inside if the receiver attacks his outside shoulder with lean before crossing his face into an in-breaking route. When he’s in off or bail, you’d like to see him process both the receiver and route progressions to react more quickly.

Taking Away Targets from the WR

He is excellent in man coverage and stays in phase through most routes. He is particularly good at staying in the receiver’s hip pocket on shorter routes underneath. When has a feel for the receiver early he can lock on and prevent targets, he has fluid transitions in these scenarios and can use his hip mobility and athleticism to keep the receiver close. When he gives up some more cushion at the line of scrimmage and he is playing on the half-turn, there is some more stiffness in his hips and he can give up more separation. This is particularly pronounced when facing routes with a square-cut like dig routes or out routes. When he’s giving more cushion or in a flat-footed read, he will bite on routes like double moves and pivot routes, run by receivers with good salesmanship. He sells out too much to cover the initial move and is too off balance to recover quickly and stay in phase. He also doesn’t understand Zone concepts as well as he could, he can be attacked by good passing concepts as well as savvy WRs who can get him to play undisciplined.

Making a Play on the Ball

He has length to deploy at the catch-point and when he’s in man coverage, he stays in phase on most routes so has the opportunity to make plays on the ball but he isn’t consistent with getting his hands on the ball. His main issue is timing, he can get there early and give up obvious penalties, or late and allow receivers with good hands to put away the catch. He has solid accuracy with his hands but it’s inconsistent and can be affected by the poor timing he has. There are times when his length allows him to make a play regardless but his lack of on-ball production is not a coincidence given the timing deficiency that shows up on film. This deficiency happens on all types of ball thrown his way.

Defending the Run and Tackling

He is a physical and competitive run defender, who will get involved in the inside running game and make physical tackles on all types of ball-carrier. He’s disciplined as a force player. You would like to see him play with more technique when taking on blocks, he’s forceful but he doesn’t place his hands well or maintain leverage, meaning he can’t always get off blocks and tackle the runner. When he’s faced with an open-field tackle, he breaks down too early and gives the runner too much cushion to make an effective move. He ends up lunging to make the tackle and coming off his feet too quickly. Deceptive and elusive runners can get him to miss completely in space with double moves or lateral quickness. He must come under control and show the patience he displays when pressing receivers.

Ravens Draft Pick Comp
Jimmy Smith

PRODUCTION 
Final year on campus: 50 To. Tackles, 1 INTs, 5 PBUs, 1 QB Hit
SO: 31 To. Tackles, 2 INTs, 6 PBUs
Injury: None

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 4
Intelligence 2
Versatility 2
Grit 5
Scheme 2