Sunday, April 18, 1999
3. CORY HALL, S, FRESNO ST.
Bengals think they have successor to Shade
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
The Bengals believe they drafted the successor to Sam Shade on Saturday night when they selected Fresno State safety Cory Hall (ESPN profile) in the third round.
“They play the same defense we play, so I was intrigued by that,” said Bengals defensive backfield coach Ray Horton. “The second thing that caught my eye was that he reminded me of a young Sam Shade, a guy that is aggressive after the ball, will chase sideline to sideline and almost the same type of body.”
That's high praise, considering how Shade developed in Dick LeBeau's zone blitz defensive package.
The Bengals like Hall because he had 90 tackles last season, ran under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in Indianapolis and is 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds.
Hall was considered a question mark in the draft. Almost every team in the league came in to work him out individually at Fresno after the combine, but some scouting services considered him only late-round or free-agent material.
Mel Kiper's Draft Report had Hall rated as the No.20 safety available; Jerry Jones' Drugstore List had him No.25.
When Hall was selected, Florida safety and Cincinnati-native Tony George, generally considered one of the top four or five safeties in the draft, was still available.
“We looked at the board and felt he was the best player out there,” Horton said. “We thought he could come in with his qualities and be a force for us right now.”
Hall impressed Horton by turning in a 4.45 40-yard dash on a grass surface in his individual workout despite having been worked out by clubs the previous two days.
Hall thought Philadelphia might select him with the 64th pick in the draft and was starting to get discouraged when the Eagles passed on him.
The feeling didn't last long. The Bengals took him at No.65.
“When I looked on my caller ID and saw an unknown caller, I didn't know what to think,” Hall said. “But when I found out it was Ray (Horton), I was really excited.”
Join the discussion at our Bengals forum
Bengals turn down treasure chest of picks for Smith
Smith already has grudge with Browns
Late bloomer Fisher may find himself starting
Why Brown said no to 9-for-1 deal Tim Sullivan column
Did Bengals get it right this time? Paul Daugherty column
Smith vows he won't hold out
3 Buckeyes go in first round
Patriots draft George
DRAFT PICKS BY ROUND
DRAFT PICKS BY TEAM