Notre Dame Football: Rating the Recruits...WR Chris Brown
Continuing with my series of rating the 2012 recruits this article will look at WR Chris Brown. Previously, I looked at Gunner Kiel and you want to read that article please click on Kiel's name below:
In his signing day press conferenceCoach Kellylikened Brown to an NFL steal of the draft. Coach Kelly has always talked about the need for speed on the Irish and believes Brown is one of those players that can help the team get there. Brown gives Notre Dame an explosive and athletic playmaker who turned down a number of SEC schools to come to South Bend.
In my opinion Brown is one of the most underrated players in the county. As a junior Brown caught 52 passes for 1,098 yards (21.1 yards per catch) and 16 touchdowns. As a senior Brown missed some time due a broken collarbone but still managed 33 catches for 532 yards (16.1 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns in five games. He's also returned both kicks and punts taking each for a score in his junior year.
In case you haven't noticed Coach Kelly's recruits are not only football players, but athletes also. Brown posted the nations best distance in the triple jump as a high school junior and also finished second in the state in the 200-meter dash. But make no mistake, Brown is a football player that also happens to excel in track.
Let's take a look at WR Chris Brown.
Position Size
Brown has good height at 6'2", but at 180 pounds he could use more muscle to take the hits that wide receivers take. Because of this Brown's durability will be in question when he hits the fall practice field as will his ability to stay healthy over an entire season. He'll need to work hard to add some muscle to his body that will allow him to hold up under the rigors of college football.
Currently Brown could struggle blocking in the run game, but adding some muscle to go along with his willingness to block may help him get on the field as a freshman. College corners with good strength may be able to knock Brown off his routes and he must get stronger to prevent this from happening.
Brown does have that length you look for in a wide receiver. And he uses his length well and to his advantage on the football field. His height and length make him a bigger target to his quarterback. Brown also extends his arms well to receive a pass. He'll be able to get to passes that other receivers may not just because of his reach.
The coaching staff will need to work with Brown and teach him how to maximize his length, reach, and his hand. As Brown learns to do that he could be a every down threat for Notre Dame.
GRADE:2 Average: Skill set is solid, but needs to be developed
Athleticism
Brown ran a 4.44 during an Under Armour combine last summer and he plays just that fast if not faster. Bro! wn has b reak away speed and can stretch the field vertically. He's got the type of speed that keeps cornerbacks honest on every single snap. Brown's speed allows him to get past cornerbacks on deep routes which is something the Irish have sorely lacked in years past. His speed also allows him to outrun defenders outside the hash marks which, with his body type, may make him a candidate for the slot receiver.
Brown does a nice job catching the ball in traffic and finding a seam to turn on his speed and break away. Once in the open he accelerates fast and is able to outrun defenders to the end zone. In other words, if Brown gets a step on the defense he will not get caught from behind.
But what is really to like about Brown is that he is more than just a speed player. During the Under Armour combine mentioned above, Brown also posted a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 102 broad jump to go along with his impressive forty time. Combine those with good body control and balance and Brown has the potential to be an extremely dangerous after the catch player for the Irish.
Brown also uses his vertical jump to make a good target on fades in the end zone. He's able to get higher than the defense and use his good hands once up there. He'll be an effective red zone weapon in addition to his other positive traits.
GRADE:4 Elite: Skill setshould allow the player to contribute immediately and possibly start
Receiving
One of the things I noticed about Brown was his good instincts in regards to his hands and pass catching ability. He already seems to understand how to catch the ball away from his! body an d bring it in with his hand. Very few times did I see the ball get into Brown's body. And when he catches the ball he puts it away quickly and starts to run. One area he could use some work on is coming back to the football when is quarterback is in trouble. I don't think it's for lack of effort but perhaps just a lack of understanding which can be corrected with good coaching.
Brown can make the tough catch in traffic and does a nice job of tracking the ball down on deep routes. What I really liked about Brown was that he doesn't slow down on his deep routes and trusts his quarterback to get him the ball as he runs through his deep routes. With his speed, this is what makes him a really dangerous deep threat.
GRADE:3 Very Good: Skill setallows forsignificant playing time
Route Running
Brown's speed allows him to blow by defenders in a hurry, but as previously mentioned, getting off the line may be a problem for him initially at the college level. If he can correct that in a hurry with more muscle he'll be dangerous because when does get off the line well he'll simply run past the defense.
Brown will also need some work on his technique with cuts because in high school, although his cuts aren't awful, he usually just blows by the defense. When he gets that coaching on his technique he'll be able to get separation on the defense and use his break away ability.
Brown can also use some coaching on how to get off the ball. Sometimes he uses way too many steps to get into his routes wasting time. These steps allow the defender to get up on Brown neutralizing his speed. Brown will also need to be coached in just doing receiver things like fakes on d! efenders and using leverage to attack his routes. He'll also need to be coached up in using his own hands to get off the line.
The encouraging part is that all these route running issues are easily coached up to become better. And they are easily correctable in a hurry.
GRADE:2 Average: Skill set is solid, but needs to be developed
Overall
I really like what I see in Brown and understand why Coach Kelly is so enthused about him. Aside from the things he needs to work on what's not to like. He's got speed, athleticism, jumping ability, and natural instincts for a wide receiver.
Brown is the type of play-making athlete that thrives in Coach Kelly's system (think Mardy Gilyard here). Plus he's the type of play-making athlete we haven't seen at Notre Dame in a while, which is a player with tremendous upside to be developed.
Plus, Brown was an excellent punt returner in high school and something he could certainly do his freshman year at Notre Dame.
OVERALL GRADE: 2.75 -Average: Skill set is solid, but needs to be developed
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