Panthers Claim DB (S) Demetrious Cox

[Saca312]

Another guy to bolster secondary depth.

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Cox-fits-Bengals-formula-drafted-or-undrafted/2b396551-6078-4812-b208-a11e7b620ecf

It was after the first practice after his first NFL game and even though he came up with the Bengals’ only turnover in Friday night’s win over Tampa Bay, here he was. No cameras or mikes. Just a lone scribe watching him finish in a puddle of sweat.

“Getting out of breaks is the most important thing for a DB,” Cox said. “I stay after as much as I can. I’m just trying to get more fluid, better at getting in and out of breaks.”

The 6-0, 200-pound Cox comes out of the shadows Saturday night (7 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 12) in the Bengals’ second pre-season game against the Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium. With three safeties potentially out, Cox is going to get plenty of snaps in his uphill climb to become the fourth safety on a team with four veteran safeties.

But he’s very much on the prowl. And if you’re looking for the prototypical undrafted or drafted prospect favored by the Duke Tobin-Marvin Lewis regime, look no further than Cox.

“We tell the guys it doesn’t necessarily matter how you got here, but take advantage of your opportunities,” said Lewis, who has noticed Cox is in the right spot most of the time. “With the injuries we’ve had at safety, he’s been able to get more reps and more opportunities, which make you more and more comfortable about what you are doing. He’s got to feel good about what he’s been doing.”

- Used to big-time competition? Check. (Head coach Mark Dantonio’s program in East Lansing has been one of the best in the last decade. And don’t forget a highly competitive prep career in Pennsylvania’s famed WPIAL, where he was Class AA Player of the Year for Jeannette High School in football-mad Pittsburgh.  

- Experienced? Check. (He spent five years at Michigan State and played in 51 games with 25 starts.)

- Versatile? Check. (He started 14 games at safety and nine at cornerback while also playing slot corner. And he scored 1,000 career points for Jeannette basketball.)

- Productive? Check. (166 tackles, four picks, 5.5 tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups.)

- Leadership and smarts? Check. (A Spartans captain as a senior.)

...

Under Barnett, the Spartans DBs keep coming. Seven have been drafted, including two first-rounders (Dennard and Waynes), and 10 have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. In 2015, Michigan State became just the sixth school to have cornerbacks selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in consecutive years, joining Alabama (2012-13), LSU (2011-12), Miami-Florida (2005-06), Ohio State (1999-2001) and Notre Dame (1993-94).

“He played for a big program, so this isn’t too big for him,” Livingston said. “He played multiple spots, he’s bright-eyed, he’s attentive. The best thing about him is if he makes a mistake, he doesn’t make it again.”

Just like on the interception against the Bucs, where he plucked himself and the ball off the ground for a 37-yard return. On the play before he couldn’t catch a tipped ball.

“Straight zone,” Livingston said. “First pre-season game. Pretty vanilla. Read the quarterback. He’s probably been doing that since middle school.”

And the guy who has been watching him since middle school got the ball.

“I gave it to my dad,” Cox said. “We’ve got a case for all that memorabilia. He was up here for the game, so I gave it to him.”

[KillerKat]

lol

[Catufb85]

6'1 197 ran 4.55 at MSU pro day. On paper looks good. Don't know much about his play

[*FreeFua*]

*yawn*

[JawnyBlaze]

oh well now I see why we didn't go after Ward.  Didn't realize we could fit another Cox in there....

[Saca312]

Just now, Catufb85 said:

6'1 197 ran 4.55 at MSU pro day. On paper looks good. Don't know much about his play

Was a leader. Versatile. Looked good in preseason.

Shot in the dark.

[KillerKat]

So how much better is he to Southward? I feel like we're making unnecessary lateral moves when we could've kept the guys that were already here at around the same talent level.

[Arroz con Panther]

Also, avoided jail time earlier this year. Not that I care, but I know the organization as a whole is not big on people getting in trouble with the law.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/01/12/demetrious-cox-assault-case/96512286/

[Lemory]

"and thats why I think he will be the greatest safety in NFL history."

[YoungPanthers89]

Quote

Police records indicate the 22-year-old Cox was drunk and lost when he punched a cab driver during the early morning hours of Nov. 24, breaking the driver's nose.

The driver told police that Cox gave him directions "exactly to where he had been picked up" and eventually became aggressive. At one point, Cox refused to pay for the cab ride, set down a burrito and began punching him, the driver said.

Cox had a blood-alcohol level of 0.22 (holy poo) after being taken to the East Lansing Police Department lock-up, the records indicate.

 

[Saca312]

 

[Hogmolliesmaht]

2 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

So how much better is he to Southward? I feel like we're making unnecessary lateral moves when we could've kept the guys that were already here at around the same talent level.

Hopefully, he can tackle better than Southward.

 

[Nails]

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/01/12/demetrious-cox-assault-case/96512286/

Not sure if this is good (no more Mr. Nice guy Panthers and will take calculated risks), bad, or means nothing, but it's out there.

Walter Football at least had him draftable, but way down the list at 24.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2017S.php

Our front 7 better bring the heat and our CBs better grow up fast.

[KillerKat]

Just now, Hogmolliesmaht said:

Hopefully, he can tackle better than Southward.

 

At least Southward could cover well. And as far as his tackling, he still held on and brought the guy down. I wish we would put more emphasis on coverage at the safety position.