Damarious Randall - 2015 Packers Player Report Card
By pointerjeff
Damarious Randall
- Age: 23
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Born: 8/29/92-Pensacola, Florida
- Height: 5’ 11”
- Weight: 196
- College: Arizona State
- Rookie Year: 2015, 1st round
- NFL Experience: Rookie
Expectations coming into the season: Packers General Manager Ted Thompson surprised almost everyone by selecting Randall number one in the 2015 draft as a safety out of Arizona State University. The plan all along was to convert him to cornerback. Although not a household name, even among draftniks. Was expected to add depth to a depleated position and add athleticism to special teams.
Player’s highlights/low-lights: Claimed the starting outside cornerback job opposite Sam Shields in week five and remained there throughout the season. Randall blew coverage in overtime during the Arizona playoff game when he somehow lost Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald on his crossing route which resulted in a 75-yard catch-and-run on the second play of overtime.
Level of expectations met: Anytime you have a rookie draft choice come in and win a starting cornerback job and perform admirably you have met or exceeded expectations. That was the case with Randall.
Grade: B
Player’s contribution to the overall team success: As a starter Randall settled in to Tramon Williams' old job and for the most part handled this duties well. He has a high upside and should be a solid contributor for Dom Capers for years to come. He lead the secondary with four interceptions and recorded 18 passes defended. Played better early on and tailed off as the season wore on. Allowed a team-high 12.5 plays of 20-yards or more. Statistically ranked the Packers fourth best cornerback and number 62 overall by Pro FootballFocus.
Grade: C+
Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Randall made a highlight reel interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter of the playoff game in Arizona. Mental errors got the best of him later on. When it mattered most Randall didn’t measure up with a costly rookie coverage mistake that sealed the Packers fate vs. Arizona when he lost track of reciever Larry Fitzgerald in overtime.
Grade: D+
Intangibles/Miscellaneous: Just a rookie Randall has the potential to be something special. He will need to master the play book and reduce mental errors in order to take the next step but has the right demeanor and competitive nature that you like to see in a future star. The bonus is that Randall has the tools to play any position in the defensive backfield. Not one to lack confidence Randall was recently quoted as saying "My expectation going into next year is going to be very, very high. I'm probably going to hold myself to nothing less than making the Pro Bowl next year."
Grade: B+
Overall Grade: B-
Comments (20)
Bearmeat
January 26, 2016 at 03:12 pm
Yeah, he screwed up in OT in the playoffs. But lots of people screwed up before him or we wouldn't have been in that position in the first place.
I'm VERY high on Rollins and Randall and Gunter going into next year. I think it's gonna be a helluva a secondary. Thankful TT doesn't listen to the masses when drafting. Kendricks was good - but Randall was better.
jeremyjjbrown
January 26, 2016 at 04:35 pm
I'm looking forward to what an off season in the NFL is going to do for those guys.
DrealynWilliams
January 26, 2016 at 06:25 pm
I don't think it was his fault.
Lol, just to play Devil's advocate here...
Kendricks probably would have been in zone coverage on that play and would have played it MUCH better than Peppers did.
All jokes. I love our top 2 picks of this past draft. The 2 have a legit shots at starting.
hybridauth_Facebook_1152407456
January 26, 2016 at 03:14 pm
Harsh grade for a rookie. I think he will be very good
NickPerry
January 27, 2016 at 07:27 am
Totally agree!! I love, love, love this kid!! When it was the Packers turn to draft I was doing backflips because Malcom Brown was sitting there for the Packers. Some thought he was the BPA, filled a need for the Packers, and was a slam dunk for a pick. Randells name was called and I thought huh?? The more I read about him the more I liked the kid. After watching him this season I couldn't be happier Thompson picked him. He can play anywhere in the secondary and will only get better with Joe Whitt coaching him up. Did he screw up in Arizona? Yup sure did, but he also saved the day against the Chargers, came up with the INT against Cam in the 4th quarter in a game if Rodgers looks left from the 2 it's a TD to Cobb and a possible win, and really helped hold together a secondary when Shields went down for 4 games.
Tundraboy
January 27, 2016 at 08:51 am
Well put.
Thegreatreynoldo
January 28, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Randall looks like a solid 1st round pick. The jury is still out on the Malcom Brown vs. Randall debate, and we will never know if TT could have traded back a few slots and still have gotten Randall.
NickPerry
January 29, 2016 at 05:50 am
Yup I though about that too but saw on a few sites he was about the 30th best player in the draft. Who knows about those rankings but I was surprised how well he played after being a Safety for the last few years in School. I know he played before but still....
NickPerry
January 29, 2016 at 05:50 am
Thanks Tundraboy
Gianich
January 26, 2016 at 03:16 pm
He's going to be lock down!
SpudRapids
January 26, 2016 at 03:26 pm
I think this grade is to critical as well... he was a rookie who had to transition from a safety position. If he works at his technique and get's comfortable they'll have such a solid secondary! Imagine the blitz scheme Dom will come up with if he can have Shields, Randall lock down the top 2 receivers on every team.
Packer_Pete
January 26, 2016 at 03:46 pm
I think the grade is right. Doesn't matter whether he is a rookie or not, the player should be evaluated.
Overall I couldn't be more excited about the young guys in the secondary. Not only have they already proven that they can be solid contributors, but they also have shown the ability of making game changing plays - INTs, and let's also not forget the pass break-up at the end of the Chargers game on 4th down by Randall, sealing the win. And Rollins had a couple INTs as well, Gunter played well when called upon.
I am so glad Ted did get those guys, especially Randall!
Lphill
January 26, 2016 at 04:08 pm
He was so good in College he was only moved to safety so he could get some action, nobody threw his way when he played corner so my point is he is a natural corner not a safety .
Michael Dietz
January 26, 2016 at 04:43 pm
The grade is too harsh, particularly the playoff grade. You're giving him a D+ for basically giving up the long play to Fitz but not accounting for the INT in the end zone and the PD that unfortunately led to Floyd's TD. He also had a great game against Wash, setting a career high in tackles and another big PD against D Jackson. CBs are going to give up big plays in today's NFL, it's just going to happen. For me, Randall was one of our best players in the playoffs.
Tundraboy
January 26, 2016 at 06:35 pm
Very fair grade and in the overall scheme of things, being a rookie, he did a very good job. Made a lot of critical plays in critical situations.
NitschkeFan
January 26, 2016 at 09:43 pm
These are some pretty inflated grades. Did you write that PFF ranked him the 62nd best CB? Aren't there only 32 teams in the league, and if they have 2 starting CB's where does that place the 62nd best CB?
Ok we can disagree with PFF and move him up 20 spots, but that would still rank him lower that 40 others.
That is not deserving a B- .
croatpackfan
January 27, 2016 at 06:27 am
PFF are jokes. You can only laugh on them... They should never be taken as serious when you are grading players...
RCPackerFan
January 27, 2016 at 06:36 am
Far surpassed my expectations.
When he was drafted, i really didn't know much about him because everywhere I saw he was considered a Safety. So I didn't spend much time looking at him before the draft.
While he had rookie mistakes, and made mistakes while playing a new position, he really came in and played well. There wasn't any real difference or drop off from Tramon Williams to him.
With more experience he should really develop into a really good player.
I am really looking forward to seeing our young DB's develop.
Since'61
January 28, 2016 at 08:26 am
For a rookie in today's pass happy NFL I think that Randall stepped in and did a very solid job. I would have given him a B or maybe a B+. In any case we should have a solid DB Randall for years to come. As for the Fitzgerald play in OT, I would argue that Shields and not Randall should have been on Fitzgerald and not Randall. Why do we have a rookie DB covering an 11-12 year veteran and probably future HOFer in OT with a playoff game on the line? Not to mention that we have enough experience in CM3, Peppers, Burnett, and HHCD that someone should have told the kid (Randall), stay with Fitzgerald no matter what. That is what veteran field leadership should be doing and that seems to be missing from this Packers team in critical situations. Anyway, I have expectations for a bright future for Randall. Thanks, Since '61
J0hn Denver's Gavel
February 07, 2016 at 09:05 pm
the guys a beast and a playmaker.