2009 NFL Draft Retrospective: Cornerback Chris Owens

by Dave Choate on Jan 25, 2010 9:45 PM EST in Falcons News Comment 20 comments

This is the first in a series of articles examining players from the 2009 NFL Draft. The Falcoholic will also be putting together a retrospective on the 2009 season when the collective brain trust has sorted out just what happened this season. If the brain trust were a fund, it'd be three nickels and a 1967 penny. Next on our list, third-round cornerback Chris Owens.

While Peria Jerry and William Moore had huge expectations and got injured, Chris Owens had mild expectations and managed to exceed them. Oh, hype train. When will you get to station?

No, Owens didn't start all season. He didn't deliver an earth-shattering hit that popped Josh Freeman's head off his shoulders. He didn't pick twenty passes and win himself a one-way ticket to the Hall of Fame. He just quietly entered the lineup late in the year, piled up a few tackles, displayed some quality coverage skills and picked a couple passes. For a third round rookie on a team with a banged-up secondary, that's pretty good.

He's tough to grade in that regard, though. On one hand, he had limited playing time; but on the other hand, he took advantage of it. On one hand, he intercepted two passes; on the other hand, they were against two teams that looked utterly inept in the passing game for much of the season. He finished up the season with 29 tackles, 2 picks, 2 pass deflections and a fumble recovery; eight of those tackles and both interceptions were in the last two weeks of the season. I know it was caused by injuries, but considering I penned him in as a possible candidate for nickel back, looks like he exceed expectations.

Still, it looks like Owens has earned himself a chance to compete for a starting job in 2010. The Falcons almost certainly will draft another cornerback, but Brian Williams probably will not return, Chris Houston isn't guaranteed a starting spot and there's nobody outside Houston and Grimes that's guaranteed to give him much of a fight. He appears to have the instincts and athleticism to stick around long-term. That, combined with his contributions in 2009, makes me pretty optimistic about his future. I predict that Owens will be starting in 2010, pick 4-5 passes and prove to be a solid if not spectacular starting corner.

Anyone care to challenge that?

Initial Draft Grade: B

Final Draft Grade: B

Poll

How would you sum up Chris Owens' 2009 season?

Great. He was the corner with the kung-fu grip

105 votes

Not so great. He didn't do enough in limited playing time

21 votes

Opinions are for people with opinions

28 votes

His initials are CO? Let's call him Carbon Monoxide!

26 votes

180 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 20 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

At first glance

Owens appeared to be “just another corner”, but he and Grimes played, dare I say, above average most of the time.

We really need a pass rush. Biermann is on a 3 year plan (I read somewhere he still wasn’t where he wanted to be size/strength-wise) and Abe was getting pressure but honestly all he was doing was pushing his man backwards towards the QB. He’s lost some of his spinny, juky, Abe-tacular moves that he once had as a young(er) man.

I’ve been looking over mock drafts the past few hours. The general consensus has us drafting one of three players: Donovan Warren, Sergio Kindle, and Navarro Bowman. Some of the mock drafts have Jahvid Best still on the board and all of the ones I have read have us placed at #19, even though I don’t think the coin flip has occurred yet. While those fill needs, the bigger need is an answer at DE. We can’t be 100% sure Beerman is going to improve and Abe is on the decline. It’s a shame we only get one pick per round (in most cases) we need quite a few players.

I even read one mock that said Stephen Nicholas wasn’t very good. I wanted to backhand the writer. (I think he did a fine job this season)

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jan 25, 2010 11:47 PM EST reply actions

I also agree with the B.

Assuming an ‘A’ would have been Owens Island, I can’t complain with a B.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jan 25, 2010 11:48 PM EST up reply actions

Scott Wright at Draft Countdown, whose opinion I really value

Has the Falcons taking defensive end Carlos Dunlap with the #19 pick. Character concerns aside, he’s freakishly talented and was very productive in college. He’d start almost immediately.

by Dave Choate on Jan 25, 2010 11:59 PM EST up reply actions

The same kind of risk was taken with Percy Harvin

and it paid HUGE dividends at Minnesota. Freakishly talented, but character issues. He gets drafted, stays (mostly) out of trouble, and runs away with ROY award.

I understand college kids can be dumb sometimes. (I’m 21 and have been to a few large colleges, including UNC-Chapel Hill the night they won the NCAA Tournament last year) And stupid, unfortunate stuff does happen. People have also questioned Dunlap’s work ethic. I think he’s one of those whose stock could be largely affected by how well he does at the combine.

I’m still iffy about the character concerns, and I believe that Coach Smith and Comrade will look very hard into character. Nobody around here wants another Michael Vick. Things like Babs’ weed issue I can brush aside, there are much worse things in life that happen every day.

Also wik, I found a mock draft that thinks we’ll take CJ Spiller if he falls to us. I like that idea. :P

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jan 26, 2010 12:09 AM EST up reply actions

The only thing I'm leery of with Dunlap

Character concerns and motivation concerns rarely go well together. Still, he’s undeniably physically talented and was productive in college. Keep in mind that Jamaal Anderson was considered an incredibly hard worker who just needed to add some bulk, and he was also extremely productive at times in college.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that the draft is a complete crapshoot, but everyone knows that. The team will do its due diligence.

by Dave Choate on Jan 26, 2010 12:15 AM EST up reply actions

Complete crapshoot about sums it up.

I have complete faith in our FO to pick the right players. I don’t envy them, however. Deciding whether to pick a freak with potential character issues or a safe pick that may not perform as well would be a raging debate in my mind for weeks.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jan 26, 2010 12:21 AM EST up reply actions

It's tough to judge

how Owens played based solely on the TV picture, without seeing him work away from the ball. I guess we will see a lot of analysis when you guys finish your work. It would be interesting to see not only the number of tackles and INTs but also how many big plays he gave up and things like that. I do realize though that even good CBs give up big plays when there is no pass rush.
what I will remember about Owens in the offseason is the TV picture of him running after a receiver with his head turned 180 degrees in the direction of the QB – very rarely did our CBs do that this season. And also wasn’t it Owens who picked off a Brees pass but they nullified it with a PI penalty?

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Jan 26, 2010 4:22 AM EST reply actions

That was Grimes

3rd Quarter 3rd and 10 at ATL 40 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass deep left intended for R.Meachem INTERCEPTED by B.Grimes at ATL 10. B.Grimes to ATL 10 for no gain (R.Meachem). PENALTY on ATL-B.Grimes, Defensive Pass Interference, 28 yards, enforced at ATL 40 – No Play.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 26, 2010 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

Like I said before,

you have all the answers, orange3b :)

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Jan 26, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

Most bullshit

call of the season

by acie4mvp on Jan 26, 2010 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

Hey Dave

why do you think Brian Williams will not be back in a Falcons uniform? He was the best corner we had last year. Plus he was our veteran leadership at CB. Are you saying that this will be another Foxworth situation?

I think it would be crazy to let another good corner walk when that is one of the team’s issues.

by Fear Me on Jan 26, 2010 3:43 PM EST reply actions

I'll let orang3b handle the stats here, if he's so inclined

But there’s actually ample evidence that Brian Williams was not only not our best corner last year, but after the first couple of weeks was about replacement level for much of the year. I think the Falcons would rather bring in a draft pick and keep the position young than bring Williams back, but I could be misreading the tea leaves.

by Dave Choate on Jan 26, 2010 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

I got to watch most of the games Williams was in

More often than not, the throws didn’t go his way. At least it seemed that way. He did get burned on occasion but I don’t recall him ever giving up any huge plays and he limited the YAC.

orang3b would be able to find all that, though.

It’s been several months since I watched him play, my memory could be a bit off.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jan 26, 2010 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't want to step on your toes

But since I’ve got the green light…

I’m not sure why most folks seem to think Brian Williams was our best CB. Heck, some numbers I could produce would make it seem like he was our worst CB last year. For instance, of the Falcons CB’s:

1) He allowed the highest Catch Percentage (75.9%) to receivers he was covering.
2) He allowed the second highest Average Yards per Target (13.8) – Christopher Owens’ 17.2 was skewed by the one big Braylon Edwards TD, and the fact that he only had 25 Targets.
3) He had more Missed Tackles (6) than Houston (5) in less than half the snaps (317-724) and less than half the solo tackles (17-39).
4) His one interception (in the SF game) was a gift that fell from heaven – Peterson tipped the ball in the air, and he happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Of course, I could find good things to say about him – he isn’t listed with any TD’s allowed in coverage; and Zippo’s right that he was only in the middle of the pack as far as Targets (teams went out of their way to throw at Grimes). He was generally doing a good job keeping things in front of him, but he missed so many tackles that he simply wasn’t getting the job done.

If any of you have access to it, go back and watch the NE game – he got absolutely abused (well, most of the team did, actually). He will be 31 and coming off an ACL tear. I think Dave’s right – we could get close to the same production from a draft pick that would be younger with much more upside (and probably cheaper, too).

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 26, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

You're making Houston seem like he's worth keeping.

I didn’t realize BW’s numbers were so…..ugly. A 76% catch rate? More missed tackles than Chris “Stone Neck” Houston?….In HALF the snaps?

I think Houston would be much more favorable, given your numbers. I’d say let Williams go, if not because he’s getting up there in age.

Orang3b, what exactly constitutes a “missed tackle”? Is it having your arms around the guy and not bringing him down? Or is it something a little more extreme such as touching his foot and not bringing him down?

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jan 26, 2010 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

The Missed Tackle number

Is from Pro Football Focus. I don’t know their specific definition of “missed tackle”, but I would assume it was more of the “arms around the guy and not bringing him down”.

And this may not be popular around here, but yes – I believe 100% that Houston is worth keeping. My early guess would be Owens and Houston (not Grimes) as the starters next season. Remeber, Owens replaced Grimes as a starter, and Grimes only got back into the line-up after Houston got hurt. And the obvious guy that draws the short straw if the team drafts another CB is Tye Hill.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 27, 2010 7:37 AM EST up reply actions

Owens did his job

He stepped it up and played well when he was needed. I guess I am also in the minority of people who like Houston. I would really like for us to sign a guy in free agency who at the very least brings experience to the table. I think at this point, drafting another corner and throwing him into the fire will do nothing more but hinder his progress. Sign a Dunta Robinson to bring the leadership that Owens and Houston need.

by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 28, 2010 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

Really guys?

The corner with the Kung Fu grip? lol

Personally Chris Owens didn’t get enough playing time for my liking. When he did start it was against Sanchez (Rookie) Fitzpatrick (might as well be a rookie) Freeman (Rookie). I’m not stating he wasn’t great, he didn’t get enough time to say, “He’s the guy of our future.” He did look solid in his starts. Houston should be gone this off season given the fact the Falcons don’t have enough in cap space to go free agent crazy.

"And their 1st pick in the 2010 NFL draft...The Atlanta Falcons select Donavan Warren CB University of Michigan

by Edgecrusher211 on Jan 27, 2010 11:11 AM EST reply actions

cornerback horrors

Is it just me or do ALL of our CB’s look, oh how shall i put this…like 3/4 scale models of players compared to just about every #1-2 WR out there. Grimes&Houston 5’10"? Maybe w/cleats&helmets. Owens 5’8"? Ok, that i can believe. Chevis Jackson 5’11" but hes really only shown to be an ok nickel man. Is size the be all end all? No. Ray Buchanan&Deangelo Hall showed that, but the times they are a changing. Big WR’s are becoming the norm. But saying all this, big, quality CB’s are hard to come by. Sean Smith of the Dolphins woulda been nice but…well u know. 2-3 inches of height may not seem like much but they may make the difference in tipping that pass away or watching yet another 25+yard completion on 3rd&18. Stoneneck! I love it!

by aces666high on Jan 28, 2010 12:13 AM EST reply actions