Tariq Castro-Fields

Tariq Castro-Fields

CB

Penn State

Strengths

6'0"

Height

Weight

194

Vertical	Hand	Arm	Wingspan

Bench	Vertical	Broad Jump	3-Cone

40-Time	10-Time-1	20-Time-2	20-Shuttle

Final Grade

7.3 Injury History

Games Evaluated

@Ohio State (2021), vs. Auburn (2021), @Wisconsin (2021)

Team Fit

PHI

NYJ

Solid coverage CB that attacks receivers in man-to-man situations with patience and good overall aggressiveness. Flashed positive traits in press coverage situations that allowed him to play receivers well in man coverage. Has the ball skills to close onto the football and swat it down when quick slants or underneath routes are thrown in his direction. Good overall speed and quickness that allows him to play against all types of receivers. Will communicate pre-snap with his fellow teammates and point out plays developing like screens or draws.

Weaknessess

Being able to not get drawn into in breaking routes thrown in his direction when in zone coverage needs to improve. Being a complete defender that can wrap up and bring down ball carriers at a consistent rate is not present in his game. Is not going to make huge play when playing against the run. Allowing the receiver space when releasing off the line has to also improve by using his hands more to jam the receiver. The action of turning and tracking the ball as to happen more often as well when deep down the field.

Big Picture

Tariq Castro-Fields is not only a senior but is a 6’0” 194-pound CB out of Penn State that is an overall solid coverage prospect. Castro-Fields plays the game with a good level of mixed confidence, aggressiveness, and patience. This is a CB that plays better in man than zone coverage, but he is still able to do both because of the level of experience/playing time he has had in his career at Penn State. Castro-Fields was able to shine at recovering with his quickness in man coverage when defending the flat-zone area of the field. He does do a good job at attacking the football with a simple swat down. Areas where he needs some more improvement is when defending routes deep down the football field. There were incidents where Castro-Fields would not turn his head and get called for a PI. Being able to not get sucked into a route that develops right in front of him in zone coverage needs to improve. Being more discipline and following the play call will help. This is also not a CB that is going to make a huge impact tackling or in the run game. The ability to have a clean wrap up and finishing the tackle needs to happen to take that next step. Overall, Castro-Fields flashed a good level of talent in the ability to be a solid coverage CB that an NFL team can work with. This is a CB that has traits that you can develop and he can make an impact for your team.

Player Comp

Jalen Mills

Athleticism:

7.35

7.25

Pure athleticism to move and make plays in coverage is present in his game. Is not a CB that has blazing fast speed, but he does have the ability to close on receivers with solid quickness. Moves laterally at a god rate but more fluidity would certainly help. Many times, he was able to defend/recover quickly to back shoulders or 10-yard curls that were thrown his way. Having complete balance at the LOS in press situations does need to improve however because he was beaten off the LOS quickly at times. Not an overly strong CB that can be an asset in tackling.

Foot Quickness	Lateral Agility	Speed	Play Strength	Balance
7.75	7.75	7.5	6.75	7

7.46 Coverage Ability:

7.25 Big Play Ability

Press Coverage	Man Coverage	Zone Coverage	Hand Fighting	Recovery	Hip Fluidity
7.5	8	7.5	7	7.5	7.25

Was able to attack with aggressiveness and good overall patience in press coverage. The problem was his ability to react and allow the receiver to have space when they would be releasing off the LOS. Attacking quickly to close the gap needs to happen. More presents of firing his hands at the receiver need to be incorporated and would help his game. This is a CB that plays better in man coverage than zone coverage. A few incidents of being overly aggressive and taking a crosser when he was supposed to be covering the deep corner of the field did pop up. Has solid hip fluidity but there is still more area of improvement there to grant him a better ability to move around the field. Can recover with plays in all areas of the field, even when beaten in coverage.

Playmaking:

7.75

Closing Quickness	Ball Skills	High-Point Ability
8	7.75	7.5

When pressed on a receiver in short areas of the field, he was ale to close onto the football at a high rate. Will close on receivers at a good level when running across the field as well. Does a good job at swatting at the football but more action of turning his head deep down the field needs to happen or PI calls will be resulted in the play.

7.25 Run Support:

6.83

7.25

Not an CB that is going to make powerful tackles at a consistent rate. Many of his tackles were hits or misses. The ability to wrap and bring the ball carrier to the ground has to happen more often. Too many times he would not complete a tackle and the ball carrier was able to break free. Took good pursuit angles at times but struggled at breaking off blocker.

Pursuit Angles	Engage with Blockers	Tackling
7.25	6.5	6.75

Competitiveness:

7.5

An aggressive CB that does not shy away of playing off or right onto a receiver. Can tell by his play that he wants to always be in a one-on-one situation and play the receiver rather than the field. Moves around with confidence but all-around consistency moving forward has to happen more often.

Aggression	Confidence	Consistency/Motor
7.75	7.5	7.25

Intelligence:

7.58

7.25

Ability to read screens and short underneath routes did flash on film at times. Reading routes do need to improve but he was still able to close on the play at a good rate. Was a versatile CB that was played at either boundary CB or even in the slot on TEs in bunch formations. Showed some communication with his teammates pre and post snap.

Play Recognition	Position Versatility	Communication
7.5	7.75	7.5