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Su’a Cravens: Prospect Breakdown (with GIFs)

By Nick Hjeltness

Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; USC Trojans safety Su'a Cravens (21) looks on before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; USC Trojans safety Su'a Cravens (21) looks on before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pros, Cons, and a Summary of Su’a Cravens

Sep 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans linebacker Su’a Cravens (21) carries the ball on a 32-yard interception return in the third quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans linebacker Su’a Cravens (21) carries the ball on a 32-yard interception return in the third quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Pros:

  • Can thrive in space, weave his way around blocks
  • Capable in both man and zone coverage
  • Good instincts, reactionary quickness
  • Able to take on blocks against WR’s and RB’s, sometimes TE’s
  • Disciplined, only three penalties in two seasons
  • Disrupts QB throwing lane, deflect passes
  • Productive college career
  • Special teams contributor
  • Can get square, tackle in 1-on-1 situations
  • Great motor, always eager to get into the mix

Cons:

  • Tweener; not athletic enough for safety, small for a LB
  • Poor athletic testing in speed, agility and strength
  • Struggles to shed blocks, fight through traffic against OL
  • Fooled by read-options and play-actions
  • Can take on a block, but then misses the tackle. Rarely does both

Summary:

As you can see with his chart, Cravens had a terrible day at the Combine. He tested as a poor athlete, and this is comparison to OLB’s. He has the size to be a safety, but his lack of athleticism is an even bigger detriment at that spot.

For that reason, Cravens is definitely a tweener. That’s the most difficult part about projecting him at the next level; where he is going to have success?

Cravens can play in space as an outside linebacker, roaming around the line of scrimmage, but his lack of size and strength becomes an issue when he has to shed blocks or fight through traffic. He showed some ability here, but it was mostly against RB’s and WR’s. When matched up with a offensive lineman, he had very little success.

On film, his athleticism looks better than he tested at the Combine, but it’s definitely not a strength for him. Because of this, safety doesn’t seem like an option either.

Some believe he is best suited in a Deone Buchanon type of role, but he isn’t near the player that Buchanon is. While Buchanon is lacking in size, he is much more explosive and also has elite instincts.

Lavonte David and Thomas Davis are other comparisons that have been thrown around. David works from a size standpoint, but David is a better athlete and had much better film, particularly when it comes to shedding blocks and playing physical.

With all that being said, Cravens’ film shows that there is something to work with. He did some nice things and should find a role in the NFL, but again, it’s hard to figure out what that role will be, or how impactful he can be.

I think the best role for him is going to be as a weakside 4-3 linebacker. Even though his athletic testing is pretty bad, he does look more athletic than that on film. He showed off decent range, and should have enough athleticism for the linebacker position. I could see him as an ILB in a 3-4, but only on passing downs.

In the four games from 2015 available to watch on Draft Breakdown, there were limited coverage opportunities for Cravens. He mostly floated around the line of scrimmage, but in plays where he was asked to cover, he did look capable in both man and zone.

Also, his production during his USC career shows that he has a nose for the football. He’ll struggle to cover slot WR’s in man, but he should be able to cover TE’s without too much issue. Ideally, using him in zone coverage is probably going to be the best way to utilize him.

To quickly summarize Cravens, I think he does a lot of things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular facet. The biggest argument for him is “he’s just a football player” but unfortunately, it’s not that simple. If he could just be plugged in to any system or position and thrive, then that would be true. But it’s not.

The second-round is too early for him, in my opinion. As a tweener with limited athleticism, I don’t see a lot of upside with Cravens. Somewhere towards the end of the third-round is the earliest I would feel comfortable taking Cravens. So at pick #75, I’d want Oakland to look elsewhere.

I know that won’t be a popular opinion amongst Raiders fans because of the USC fandom, but let me know where you disagree if you do, and where you see Cravens having the most success.

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