Potential Steelers Draft Pick Profiles: Ras-I Dowling, Cornerback, Virginia

by big_jay71 on Feb 26, 2011 5:00 PM EST in 2011 Steelers Draft

As Tim (HSS) and I continue to bring you player profiles of potential Steelers targets in the 2011 NFL Draft, I thought I would shift the focus from the first round to the second round. If the Steelers take an offensive lineman in the first round, or address some other need besides the secondary, then they will definitely have to take the best cornerback available at pick 63. So with that in mind I decided to profile Virginia CB Ras-I Dowling who is a personal favorite of many of you in Steelers Nation.

Rdowling_medium

Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200lbs.
2009 Stats: 58 Tackles, 3 Interceptions, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Sack

Pros: Ras-I Dowling's best attribute is his size. At 6'2", 200lbs. he's ideal size to defend NFL receivers. He also has good but not great hands, at Virginia he had 8 career interceptions. He plays best in zone coverage because of his vision and ability to break on the ball which is a perfect fit for the Steelers defense. He uses the sideline well like Darelle Revis to trap WR's into confining themselves. In run support he is a willing and vicious hitter but still manages to make secure tackles. While not known for his speed he has surprisingly good straight-line acceleration.

Cons: Dowling's biggest issue is his lack of speed which is why many people feel he'll have to move to Safety in the NFL. During the combine if he runs a 4.45-4.50 he'll be fine and may even find himself sneaking into the top 40 picks, but he's currently expected to run about a 4.55 which wouldn't be good for him. A 4.55 or worse means that he'll be a liability in man-coverage and will almost have to switch to Safety. In the NFL he'll definitely have trouble with faster WR's. The other issue is with his health. Dowling's 2010 season was a wash as he only played in 5 games, finishing only 3 of those, and sustained an ankle fracture which ended his season.

Draft Stock: As previously stated Ras-I Dowling's draft stock will be almost entirely dependent on how fast he runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL combine. If he runs slow he could make up some ground if he can get through the cone drills with speed and fluid motion. if he runs well Dowling could go as early in the second as Denver at 36, Houston at 42, Detroit at 44, and to many of the other CB hungry teams. Given that I expect him to run about a 4.55 40 he should be available at pick 63 for the Steelers. Keep in mind through that may teams may view him as a Safety instead which could change his draft stock altogether.

NFL Player Comparison: New Orleans Saints CB/FS Malcolm Jenkins
As with Jenkins Dowling has good size for the position, is great in zone coverage, but his questionable speed will probably facilitate his move to Safety at some point.

Final Word: As with most in Steelers Nation I am a big fan of Ras-I Dowling. He's a tough competitor and a perfect fit for the Steelers defense. His speed, or lack thereof, gives me concern though. While his abilities will help more than it will hurt the fact that he'll get burned by the faster receivers bothers me a lot. However if the Steelers draft him with the intention of eventually moving him to Free Safety I would be overjoyed. But who knows, this weekend at the combine he could run a 4.45 40 and his speed will be a moot point. With his speed and injury problems I wouldn't consider taking him in the first round, although he has first round talent, but at the end of the second I would be very happy taking him if he were available.

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I don't think he can wear the number 19 in the pros

I wouldn’t mind having him play for us. Also his name reminds me of Ra’s al Ghul from Batman Begins.

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"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King Jr.
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by WVPiratesfan on Feb 26, 2011 5:08 PM EST reply actions

If we are going DB in the second round, I would love that pick

by tkired on Feb 26, 2011 5:42 PM EST reply actions

You hit it on the head

I would also love to get Dowling in the second round. As you pointed out his zone skills make him a great fit for us, and I love his physicality. I think that he’ll be a safety in this league if he can’t run faster than a 4.52, but if he can be a corner, I’d love for him to end up with us.

BTSC Obituaries

OldManSteeler, ominously died two days before Superbowl 123 where the Ravens are set to attempt their 7th superbowl win, facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He was 86. His last words are are said to have been "MALOR CAN SUCK IT!!!". Like friends and family, we can only guess what this could mean.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 26, 2011 5:48 PM EST reply actions

Definitely can't wear 19 as a CB.

by HandsofSweed on Feb 26, 2011 6:46 PM EST reply actions

He puts together a really nice article

And that’s all you have to say? lol

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller

by John Stephens on Feb 26, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

Steelers' secondary has two good cover guys with speed...

…and there’s a definite lack of speed among your cover guys other than #43 and #24.

I have seen Dowling numerous times and an impressed with him as a hitter with a nose for the ball…and as a decent cover guy….but his lack of speed does NOT address the Steelers’ cover weakness that Brady and Rodgers and other elite quarterbacks can exploit.

He could well be the safety to replace Ryan Clark down the road…but the REAL need is a cornerback with speed who is a solid cover guy. And he ain’t it.

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson

by Homer J. on Feb 26, 2011 7:11 PM EST reply actions

I think Crez Butler can be that guy

He just needs time to develop.

by WVPiratesfan on Feb 26, 2011 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

picks

I would be extremely happy with Mike Pouncey and Dowling as our first two pick. They both fit our team mentality very well, but I could see both of these players going before we get a shot at them. I wouldn’t be apposed to trading up for Dowling. I don’t think we could afford to go the first two rounds without selecting a solid corner.

by JoeProbowl on Feb 26, 2011 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Trade up

Dowling is definitely someone that I’ve been thinking about as a potential Steeler, but I’d be shocked if he is there at the end of round 2. Maybe they could trade up a dozen or so picks?

by ryan84 on Feb 26, 2011 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Trade up

Like the thought, to trade up in the second, just not for Dowling. I think Dowling will still be there in the upper 3rd round. I would trade up for him then but not any sooner.

"you will hardly know who I am or what I mean"-Walt Whitman

by Pittsblitz56 on Feb 27, 2011 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

I'd definitely like him in the 2nd

Moving him to FS would really give us a nice player there for Clark. & he learned from a good coach in Berstein at UVA too.

by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Feb 26, 2011 8:32 PM EST reply actions

IKE #2?

I do not like the first picture of him all over the receiver and not playing th ball. I have grown tired of pass interference penalties whenever a QB throws Ike’s way, last thing we need is another guy playing catch up and just running into the receiver as the ball gets there, we have at least 3 of those already. We really need TALENT at DB, we cannot continue to make due at that position. We need to go hard after a good FA and move up to get Mike Pouncey, then we can worry about what other Corners we can find. Am I dreaming that Nnamdi Asomugha is sitting somewhere right now thinking how he could really take a pay cut to get on a quality team like the Steelers? Man, I would sell my car and send him the $$, I know it’s only $20,000 – but damn, I would do it!

"I personally don't subscribe to that hocus-pocus. What happened in the other games will have no bearing on the outcome of this game. Each individual performance stands on its own. We're not buying into that."

Mike Tomlin - When asked about beating the Ravens three times in one season in 2008-2009 season.

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Feb 26, 2011 9:20 PM EST reply actions

some things on these ridicoulous statements

1. Ike does not need to catch up to any WR in the NFL
2. Ras is an extreme talent at the CB positin
3. We don’t go hard at FA’s ever and look where it has gotten us.
4. Why would we trade up for an average guard prospect?
5. I agree with your comment about Namdi but it just is not going to happen. But lol about the car.

by seton hall and steelers on Feb 26, 2011 10:14 PM EST up reply actions

yep, yep, yep yep and yep

by OIF3GUNNER on Feb 27, 2011 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

First of all Pouncey is rated as the best interior linemen in the draft. He fills our most glaring hole the past two seasons at RG and would start from day one, a rookie CB will not. He is a true road grading RG with above average pass protection, mobility, and positional flexibility. He is also 20 years old and barring injury will help anchor our line for the next 10+ years.

He also makes keeping Maurkice a sure thing, rather than hoping he doesn’t leave to play with Mike somewhere else.

True we rarely target high profile FAs, but Nnamdi is exactly the type of the player that would merit the pursuit. How much will Foote, Fox, Battle, ARE, Memo, & McFadden make next season? Having Nnamdi replace McFadden I think we could survive without most, if not all, of those other players.

by alistar7 on Feb 27, 2011 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

IMO

I know Legursky and foster arent pro bowlers but I just dont think that RG is a glaring need. Legursky also has positional versatility. I agree we need an upgrade but why does it have to be pouncey in the first round. I also dont believe that Maurkice will follow his brother..What would be wrong with say Marcus Cannon maybe in round 2 or whatever. I think with all the misses we have had at corner it might be better to draft one in the first round that has talent instead of developing another later round pick.

by OIF3GUNNER on Feb 27, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

There are only a couple of sure fire CB prospects, but there is a lot of quality depth in this draft. Picking the right one is of course key, but we will have our choice of a few in the 2nd. I think we will likely take another in the later rounds. I expect Butler to push for the nickle job this season, but we need quality depth for now and the future. Either way, no rookie CB we take this year will learn our scheme and contribute significantly his first year. I think we can still sign both Ike and Nnamdi and that would be our best option along with drafting CBs for the future, one early, one late.

RG has been a revolving door for the past two seasons. After C it was our most glaring need the past two seasons on the line. Foster has won the job but there is room to improve, especially in pass protection, and he is a better RT imo.

Legs is best at center, and while we should keep him due to his backup ability at all inside positions, I don’t see him as starting material over Maurkice, Kemo, Foster, or the G we will draft this year.

Cannon would be a great fit at great value, would likely start right away, and be a long term solution. So now that we have RG shored up what happens when Mike/Maurkice get a chance to play together via free agency? Mike won’t be coming here to play RG, or C, and Maurkice would likely be a serious upgrade at C for Mike’s team.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Mike-Pouncey-meets-with-John-Harbaugh-Mike-Tomlin.html

‘Pouncey is unlikely to be around for the Steelers’ first-round draft pick.

However, he could be an attractive target for the Ravens with the 26th overall selection.

"It’s not looking too good, but there’s free agency in the NFL," Pouncey said.’

If we draft our future RG and his name isn’t Pouncey, the most likely way they will play together is if Maurkice leaves to join him elsewhere. Not worth the risk IMO. Considering pre-draft he is already alluding to free agency if needed to play with his brother I think it’s pretty clear playing together is one of, if not the most important, of his objectives.

It’s not like we are drafting an ‘average guard prospect’ as some here have labeled Mike:

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/mike-pouncey?id=2495216

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/02/26/pouncey-living-up-to-expectations

‘Mike Pouncey said that, after his initial meetings with teams, some teams told him that they couldn’t tell Mike and Maurkice apart on film, with a few saying that Mike actually looked better than his brother on film.’

His coach’s comments also bear noting.

by alistar7 on Feb 27, 2011 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

Nice article

I’d love a double dip draft that features Dowling and Harris. That would be a dream come true.

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller

by John Stephens on Feb 26, 2011 10:12 PM EST reply actions

That would be sweet I agree.

Proud fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams and the Pirates too.

by Black&GoldTrain on Feb 27, 2011 1:53 AM EST up reply actions

Love This Pick Up

I’d love to pick dowling up in the 2nd round. Even without the great top end speed, I think he’d still be a great pick up at corner. I do think that Crezdon Butler will develop into a great corner as well. Depending on how Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark progress (or degress), Dowling could become Troy’s next right hand man. This could be a great long term pick up that I’m hoping makes it to our 2nd pick.

by Black&Gold9 on Feb 26, 2011 11:13 PM EST reply actions

Question

Not challenging a thing, just want to understand from you guys who invest so much work in assessing draft prospects. If he doesn’t run a great 40, and FS is best position for him in the pro game, why take him in Rd 2 when we have such pressing needs at OL and CB, and less pressing but still needs at NT, DE, etc.? I ask this even if we keep Ike, but from what I’m hearing, there is a chance we won’t offer him enough, and that would dramatically increase our CB needs.

by NCSteeler on Feb 27, 2011 9:12 AM EST reply actions

They are panicking after this season, and seem to think rookie CB’s will actually make significant contributions their first year. We don’t know how developed Butler is at this point, he is the most likely to see action especially over a rookie.

by alistar7 on Feb 27, 2011 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

key words being most likely

ANY steelers rookie rarely ever starts…BUT sometimes (Pouncey) they do. I agree that Butler will more than likely start over a rookie BUT what if we get a straight up stud. There is no law that says rookies dont start but you never know. By the way there is no guarantee that the Pouncey brother would start either.

by OIF3GUNNER on Feb 27, 2011 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

Point I was trying to make is

if he doesn’t have the speed to play CB and is better at safety, is drafting Dowling in Rd 2 the best thing to do when we have more pressing needs elsewhere, like CB, OL, NT, and DE? And if his speed isn’t the best, isn’t that the main knock on Clark? So why would we want to use Rd 2 on a safety? This isn’t so much an issue of whether rookies start.

by NCSteeler on Feb 28, 2011 9:49 AM EST up reply actions

“And if his speed isn’t the best, isn’t that the main knock on Clark? So why would we want to use Rd 2 on a safety? This isn’t so much an issue of whether rookies start.”

He would be a huge improvement in coverage over Clark. I doubt any rookie DB prospect will be a starter by the end of his first year, which is the reason I would be ok with this pick. There is a future need to replace Clark, and worst case scenario this will fill that need.

I also think Dad would have a lot more options in coverage schemes with this serious, versatile upgrade. Clark and Troy sometimes switch and/or freelance, having Dowling who can cover far better than Clark will free up Troy even more.

by alistar7 on Feb 28, 2011 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

by NCSteeler on Mar 1, 2011 8:15 AM EST up reply actions

Dowling posted a 4.4 40 at the combine, his speed doesn’t look like much of an issue.

by alistar7 on Mar 1, 2011 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Mike, Cannon, and probably a few other RG/RT prospects would likely start for us next season, if only for the lack of quality play at RG.

by alistar7 on Feb 27, 2011 10:09 PM EST reply actions

Good Pick...tuff guy

I’ve known Ras I since he was about 10, and he has always had a no fear approach to sports. He was a little guy but he always wanted to guard the biggest guys on the b-ball court. I used to tell his mother that he’d get a scholarship someday. Now here we are a few years later and it’s great to see him headed for the NFL. He’s not little anymore :) It’s a plus knowing that he may end up playing for my boys in black n gold!! I wish him nothing but the best.

by VA2Heinzfield on Feb 28, 2011 9:50 AM EST reply actions

Fast 40

Dowling ran a pretty good forty (the time I saw was 4.40 even) which is superb, especially for his size. He only ran once, because he pulled up with a hammy problem. I think that makes his injury history now a bigger concern than his speed, but I still think we should pull the trigger on this guy if he’s there at the bottom of the second round no matter what we do in the first – if we double dip with Jimmy Smith, Harris, or Aaron Williams and also get Dowling I wouldn’t mind terribly.

by JDSpartan on Mar 1, 2011 2:48 PM EST reply actions