Hezekiah Masses' journey to the Las Vegas Raiders' roster is an intriguing tale of football IQ and ball skills. While his athletic abilities may not be elite, his intelligence on the field could be his ticket to success in the NFL. The fifth-round draft pick from Cal has an impressive football IQ, which is evident in his ability to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate routes and throws. This intelligence allows him to make plays on the ball, as seen in his five interceptions and 13 pass breakups last season. Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked him highly, with a 20% forced incompletion rate and a 7th-best PFF coverage grade among ACC cornerbacks.
What makes Masses' performance particularly fascinating is his ability to adapt to different coverages and route concepts. In one play, he uses his peripheral vision to read the route concept and jump the route, intercepting the ball. In another, he follows the receiver to make the quarterback think the fade route will be open, then attacks the route to intercept the ball. This level of intelligence and adaptability is what makes him a valuable asset to any team.
However, Masses' lack of athleticism could be a concern. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 3.39 is not elite, and he may struggle to develop into a starting NFL cornerback. But his football IQ and ball skills could make up for this, and he may be able to carve out a role as a valuable backup. In my opinion, the Raiders are taking a calculated risk by drafting him, and if he can improve his technique and consistency, he could be a key player for the team.
One thing that immediately stands out is the importance of football IQ in the NFL. While athleticism is crucial, intelligence on the field can make up for a lack of physical ability. This is especially true for cornerbacks, who need to be able to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate routes and throws. In my experience, players with high football IQs are often the ones who can make the most plays on the ball and adapt to different coverages and route concepts.
In conclusion, Hezekiah Masses' journey to the Las Vegas Raiders' roster is an intriguing tale of football IQ and ball skills. While his athletic abilities may not be elite, his intelligence on the field could be his ticket to success in the NFL. If he can improve his technique and consistency, he could be a key player for the team. From my perspective, the Raiders are taking a calculated risk, and I'm interested to see how he develops in the coming years.
