Aaron Ross is a rare prospect - a tall CB who is also a fluid athlete, with electric return skills. At 6'1" and just under 200 pounds, Ross has the size NFL teams covet today at corner. In a division that features Plaxico Burress and "you know who" in Dallas, the Eagles surely could use some more height and speed in the secondary. Ross fits the bill.
Ross is not comfortable as a press corner, but he has great catchup speed, and turns and runs well. He can plant and drive out of breaks. He is best in mirror and trail technique rather than bump and run -- but I think with more upper body strength and somebody coaching him up he can develop into a guy who could play press down the line. Ross adjusts to the ball well in the air. Some guys can stay in close contact with a receiver but can't make the play on the ball down the field. Ross excels in this. His great hands and ball awareness are reflected in his stats -- 33 passes deflected at Texas, and 10 INT's.
Jim Johnson doesn't ask his corners to play a huge percentage of press coverage. He uses alot of off coverage, and Ross can backpedal, mirror and turn and run with most anybody. Ross is willing to throw his body around, but he's not a force CB, or a physical tackler. He would be a poor fit as a cover 2 CB, say in the Colts and Bucs schemes, where the CB's are primary run defenders. Ross does seem to lack a great feel for zone coverage, and adjusting on the fly to the switching involved. Most of his big plays given up were either from this lack of instinctiveness in zone coverage. He also had a bad habit of grabbing jerseys downfield -- a "non-no" at the NFL level. These things can be improved with good coaching at the next level -- you can't teach his 4.45 speed and explosion. He has that second gear, and actually plays faster than he times in the 40.
Ross is a dangerous punt returner, and this adds great value to his selection late in round 1. He has the change of direction skills, good hands, and true burst needed to break long returns at the NFL level. If taken by the Eagles, Ross would help right away as a speedy, tall defender in nickle and dime packages, and as a punt returner. Down the line, he and Lito Sheppard could form a very exciting, athletic tandem at CB. With Bethel Johnson as kick returner and Ross as a punt returner, the Eagles would feature the speed and homerun hitting ability in the return game to keep special teams coaches on the other sideline up at night. Check out Ross' highlights from his days as a Longhorn here - http://youtube.com/watch?v=9nVjwzOCxQU
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