Lions coordinator Teryl Austin impressed with initial impressions from rookie Jalen Tabor
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Following his highly successful playing career in Gainesville, the stock of cornerback Jalen Tabor took a hit in the pre-draft process thanks to some unimpressive measurables from the former Gators standout. While many questioned why Tabor would be putting up such poor numbers, the Lions knew the answer as the former Florida defensive back injured himself working out for the team leading up to the draft.
Using their intimate knowledge of Tabor’s status to their advantage, Detroit used the No. 53 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to select the cornerback. With Tabor eager to show there is much more to his game than his pre-draft numbers would indicate, he’s gotten off to a good start in proving just that.
Following a recent Lions OTA, Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin spoke glowingly of the team’s second-round pick. After having his speed questioned during the majority of the pre-draft process, Tabor showed he could cover the team’s fastest receiver, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. During the practice, Tabor successfully managed to cover Marvin Jones on the lone bomb thrown his way.
“It was (a successful play) because, one, he was in position. Two, he’s long and tall. And three, he’s got really good ball skills,” Austin said. “It was all good stuff. He did a good job closing out the receiver and he located the ball, which is really important.”
It hasn’t just been Tabor’s speed that has stood out to his new coach, but his overall physical traits that give him a strong chance of being successful at the game’s highest level.
“He has size and length, so he doesn’t get swallowed up by the bigger receivers,” Austin said. “He’s able to get in there and really mess with them and get his hands on them and play with them a little bit. I know we’re not bumping this time of year, but there’s obviously a little bit of contact at some point. He does a really good job of getting his body in front of receivers and making it hard for them to get down the field.”
While Tabor’s injury likely forced him to fall into the second round of the latest draft, the Lions now look poised to take full advantage of his drop. The good news in falling to Round 2 for the former Florida defensive back is that he will now have a chance to earn his second pro contract a year sooner according to NFL rookie contract rules. His draft fall may not have been fun at the time, but in the end, it could pay off handsomely for Tabor in the future.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
