Rewind to three years ago, Paulson Adebo was taking the Pac-12 conference by storm. The redshirt-freshman had cracked the Stanford Cardinal lineup all year, and according to Pro-Footballreference.com recorded 64 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 17 passes defensed earning himself 1st team all conference. He was receiving recognition on a national level, with Mel Kiper declaring a “future 1st round pick” for the NFL. The real questions here is, where is the love for Adebo now that he has declared for the draft?
After his freshman year, he entered 2019 as a highly touted starter. His production, numbers wise, was similar. He recorded 33 total Tackles, 4 Interceptions (Conference lead), with 10 passes defensed once again earning himself 1st team all-conference. According to scouts, Adebo’s technique fell off though and he would need to have a bounce back season in 2020 to have his draft stock remain elevated. However, with the Pac-12 delaying their season this last fall, many players elected to forego their final season and to start training for the NFL draft. Paulson was one of the opted-out players. Leaving 2019 as a sign off season for his collegiate career. When researching the Defensive back prospects, Adebo’s name jumped off the list after reading up on his accolades and stats. It just made me think, how can a guy with all this production and accolades have slipped out of the 1st round?
Most reports I read mentioned that Paulson was far too stiff in and out of his breaks, and bit too hard on double moves. I decided to pull some tape to see how Paulson fared on the field. Stanford was able to provide a wide array of looks, playing everything from press-man at the line, to off-man coverage, to a variety of cover 2 and cover 3 looks. When you watch the tape, the first thing that jumps out with his ability is in zone coverage. Whether its manning the deep third in cover 3, or playing the flat in cover 2, it is very clear that Paulson is extremely comfortable rotating through zones and has a knowledge of who is threatening his zone and when to read the QB. The main play that caught my attention was vs. USC in 2019, with about (4:39 seconds left in the first quarter) when the QB’s extending the play zig-zagging thru out the pocket and Stanford was rotating their zones towards the play’s action. A running back had leaked out late and threatened the back-side zone (Adebo’s). The QB was searching downfield, with no luck, so he turns right and went to dump off to the half back. Paulson had rotated with the coverage almost 15 yards down field but caught the QB trying to take the easy dump off (image below illustrates the gap). He closed on the running back like a missile and made the tackle for no gain. This recognition and burst in zone coverage is absolutely elite, and is only one of many instances showing he can read and diagnose pass concepts on the back end in zone coverage.
Next up I decided to take a look at his fluidity in man coverage. This is part of Adebo’s game that I can agree, will take the most work at the next level. In press, I noticed Paulson is very quick to give up outside leverage. Which makes it more difficult for receivers to break inside but leaves him susceptible to outside breaking routes. With QBs having stronger arms at the next level, they’ll be able to make more of these throws with ease. I don’t believe he has as tight of hips as many scouts will mention. I often times seem him able to play sticky coverage staying on the back hip, even on comeback routes. Sometimes he will get a little to sticky, catching receivers rather the contacting them and remaining engaged with his hands. Even with off man, the results will vary. Many times, you can see him stick with WR’s with ease, able to break up the pass. The next he’s not able to get hands on the WR, and the receiver comes back to the ball for the catch. I do believe he still has potential in man as you can work on his hand placement with his jam (has strength with 18 bench reps at his pro day) to help disrupt routes and stick with receivers better, and placement of his hands in coverage. I also believe if you can coach his technique up to not have him lose outside leverage so easy, it will help him getting his eyes back to the QB when the ball is being released.
Last part of his game I watched, was his willingness as a tackler. It didn’t take long to figure if Adebo had would it took in the run game. Flip on the Oregon film from 2018, Oregon often times when with closed formations front or back side (no receiver to that side, only TE). This would bring Paulson back to the box, almost lined up as a stack LB. He showed zero hesitation taking on blocks in the box against Guards and Tackles in this situation (!?!). Early in the game, you can even seem him weave through blocks and make play at the line of scrimmage. He’s not afraid to do the dirty work and get after who ever the ball carrier is. Whether it’s a WR in the open field or Running back swinging outside the tackle box. He is an asset on the field with his physicality.
When it is all said and done, I still don’t understand the fall of Paulson Adebo. This is a man who played at a high level, at a Power Five conference, for two years. There is only one part of his game that needs work, while he is pro-ready in all other facets. He may be a product of recency bias, and if that’s the case his next team is getting a big-time steal. He can help a zone-heavy team immediately and be a high impact-starting player right off the bat. Many don’t see him going until the 3rd round, I have him graded right behind Greg Newsome (between 1st-2nd round grade). If he fits your scheme, don’t be afraid to go get him to lock down the left side of the field. Paulson Adebo is a playmaker in every sense of the word, and I’d pound the table for him come draft night.
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