| Robert Blanton Scouting Report |
| Robert Blanton - Notre Dame (HT: 6-0¾ - WT: 208) |
Positives -- Tall, athletic and physical corner who looks good in zone coverage... Uses his hands well, doesn't shy away from contact when needed, can be physical with bigger receivers, would be a good fit in press coverage... Shows good ability to make plays on the football, recorded eight
career interceptions, two in all four seasons... Will come up and fill the run fits, can make plays near the line of scrimmage, is a decent open field tackler... Doesn't give up on plays, always competing and gives 100 percent... Has the tools to be a cornerback at the next level but could also undergo a transition to safety, has the mindset to fit there as well... Bounced back well in 2011 after starting just one game as a junior compared to eight as a sophomore the previous season; in total, made 26 starts in four seasons in South Bend.
Negatives -- Takes too many false steps, hops instead of backpedaling at the start of his coverage... Needs to improve upon his technique, can also be victimized by good route runners; poor deep speed, has some issues with faster wide receivers, ran just a 4.70-40 at the combine... Gives too much of a cushion at the line pre-snap... Doesn't sit into his backpedal, stays upright, gets too off balance and can get turned around in coverage... Looks like he thinks too much on the field, just needs to trust his read and react skill... Wasn't asked to play in man very much at Notre Dame.
| |
| Combine Results |
| Height |
› |
6006 |
| Weight |
› |
208 |
| Arm |
› |
31¼ |
| Hand |
› |
9⅛ |
| 40-Time |
› |
4.70 |
| Vertical |
› |
34 |
| Broad |
› |
9'8" |
| Bench Press |
› |
12 |
| Shuttle |
› |
3.97 |
| Cone |
› |
6.71 |
|
At Notre Dame -- (Official School Bio) 2010: Saw action in all 13 games and started against Army... totaled career-best 52 tackles on the season, including seven tackles for loss (third on team)... the seven tackles for loss were the most by an Irish defensive back since A'Jani Sanders had 10.0 during the 1999 season... added one sack and two interceptions... tallied four tackles against Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford including two solo stops in each of those games... recorded two solo stops, one of which was a sack, against Boston College... registered an interception against the Eagles... totaled three solo tackles against Pittsburgh... added six tackles against Western Michigan... helped the Irish against Tulsa with five stops, includ- ing three solo tackles... blocked a punt against Utah and dashed six yards for a touchdown... first Irish player to block a punt since Sergio Brown on Dec. 24, 2008, against Hawai'i in the Hawai'i Bowl... also first Notre Dame player to return a blocked punt for a touchdown since Toryan Smith (14 yards) on Nov. 15, 2008, vs. Navy... the touchdown was the second of Blanton's career... he registered a 47-yard interception return for touch- down vs. Purdue on Sept. 27, 2008... registered four tackles, including one unassisted take-down during the matchup with Army... recorded a season-high against USC with four solo tackles to limit the Trojans... led Notre Dame with career-high nine tackles vs. Miami in Hyundai Sun Bowl... added one interception against the Hurricanes... played 483 snaps on defense.
|
|
