Insiders rank CB tandems - CBS Sportsline - 6/18/08

[dcfanatic]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10870259

Oakland's CB tandem No. 1? Insiders rank five better
June 18, 2008
By Clark Judge
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Clark your opinion!


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]DeAngelo Hall is wrong. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]When the Oakland cornerback said in an ESPN.com interview that the Raiders had the best set of corners in the league, he erred. The Raiders aren't the best at anything unless, of course, you're talking about losing. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Their 19-61 record the past five years is the worst in the league. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]

DeAngelo Hall was more trouble than production in Atlanta. (Getty Images) [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]As for their cornerbacks, they should make for a good tandem, and, yes, they could wind up being one of the league's best. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]I said could. Because while Nnamdi Asomugha is terrific, Hall is erratic and unreliable -- a talented player who thinks he's better than he is and who is coming off two subpar seasons. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"He's the Chad Johnson of defense," said one NFL assistant. "He's too far gone to know he's gone." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Plus, he hasn't played a down in Oakland, so there's no yardstick here. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]All I know is the Raiders better hope Hall plays as tough as he talks. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"The only way the Raiders are the best pair of cornerbacks," said an AFC defensive coordinator, "is when Hall is doing the evaluating. It's like he's a self-proclaimed Muhammad Ali. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"But Oakland has its cornerbacks playing man-to-man most of the game, and that's tough. So you're going to notice them, just as you're going to notice cornerbacks in schemes that depend more on that position than in defenses like Indianapolis, Tampa Bay or Chicago." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Still, Hall and Asomugha are not in a league of their own. Not yet anyway, though one secondary coach conceded that "if Hall plays to his potential and (Asomugha) has a good year they might be the best." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]And that got me to thinking: What's the competition? What are the tandems Hall and Asomugha are trying to catch? And where is the company they will try to keep? [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Read on. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Green Bay Packers [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Charles Woodson deserved better last season. Before suffering a toe injury, he was the Packers' top defensive back and one of the top defenders anywhere. Yet somehow he was left off the Pro Bowl team. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Big mistake. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]So Woodson isn't as fast as he once was. He still can cover speed receivers, and he knows how to find the football. A year ago he recovered a fumble and returned it for the game-clinching touchdown against Washington. Then he picked off a pass against Kansas City and took it to [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]the end zone. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"With Woodson and Al Harris," said a player personnel director, "you're getting veteran, talented leadership. Both are on the downsides of their careers, but both are still scary to face." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Ah, yes, Al Harris. I almost forgot. He was named to the Pro Bowl, and he has been solid for years. He and Woodson make a compelling case for numero uno -- provided, of course, Woodson stays healthy. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]OK, so there's the age thing, too. Woodson turns 32 this season and Harris 34, and that's an issue. But they're hardly The Over the Hill Gang. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"The way (critics) look at people who are 31," Woodson said last year, "it's like me and Al are prehistoric." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Maybe they should talk to Green Bay's opponents. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]San Diego Chargers [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]The difference-maker here is Antonio Cromartie, now entering his third season. Most observers will tell you that Quentin Jammer, Cromartie's partner, hasn't lived up to pre-draft expectations and is little more than an ordinary-to-good cornerback. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]But Cromartie is different. Antonio Cromartie is an All-Pro waiting to happen. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"He's probably one year away from joining (Champ) Bailey as one of the league's special players," said an AFC personnel director. "He has speed, instincts and youth. I don't expect him to have 10 interceptions again, but I do expect him to get better, which means he pushes Bailey as the best at his position." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Cromartie last year led the league in interceptions, and he didn't start until the second half of the season. He has great ball instincts. He's quick. He's fast. And he's a game-breaker, with skeptics urged to cue up his interception return in San Diego's playoff defeat of Indianapolis. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"To me," said our player personnel director, "Jammer is just a guy. But Cromartie has no holes. The sky is the limit for him. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"Even though Jammer never lived up his draft hype, he's a good complement to (Cromartie). You're talking about tandems, right? That means you include Cromartie. This has to be one of the best." [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Denver Broncos [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]

Champ Bailey remains the standard at cornerback. (Getty Images)

Champ Bailey is still the platinum bar of cornerbacks, the standard by which others are measured, and I don't care if you buy into it or not. Most GMs, coaches and personnel directors do, and that's good enough for me.

"He's an elite player," said one general manager. "He not only makes all the plays; he makes whoever plays with him better."

That would be Dre' Bly, and there's nothing extraordinary about him other than he takes too many risks ("for every five plays he makes, he'll miss on two others," said one GM). But pair him with Bailey, and, suddenly, the conversation changes.

"Dre' Bly is nothing better than OK," said an AFC offensive assistant, "but having him with Champ Bailey makes him look better than he is."

Yes, Bailey was hurt last year. He still was second-team All-Pro. That should tell you something. So should this: He has been chosen to eight consecutive Pro Bowls and four straight All-Pro teams.

"The guy is special," a pro personnel director said. "There's no downside to him."

Dallas Cowboys

With the addition of Pacman Jones, the Cowboys have the "wow factor" owner Jerry Jones craves. Only -- who knows? -- it might be, "Wow, I can't believe he got arrested again."

That is one reason experts hedge on the Cowboys. With Jones and Terence Newman in the same secondary, Dallas seems to be equipped to defend itself against Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, who shredded the Cowboys for seven TDs (including the playoffs) last season.

"Newman is a good, solid corner," said an AFC player personnel director, "but I don't consider him special. Pacman has special qualities, but he's a ding-a-ling. He's a better player than Bly, but he will take the same chances. Yes, he makes spectacular plays, but he also gives up big plays."

When Jones was with Tennessee he was more effective as a returner than as a cornerback. In fact, the Titans were a better defense with Nick Harper at corner than they were with Jones.

You can look it up: In 2006 they had the 27th-ranked pass defense; last year they were 10th.

I'm not blaming that on Pacman, but at the very least he was a factor.

Harper isn't as talented, but he is more consistent -- and he proved it last season.

Nevertheless, expectations are high in Dallas, where fans believe Jones' addition could allow the Cowboys to be more aggressive on defense.

Maybe, but keep this in mind: He hasn't suited up for a game in 18 months.

"It makes you wonder if he's the same player," said one scout.

Philadelphia Eagles

A year ago the Eagles had 11 interceptions and 19 takeaways, good for dead last in both categories. That must change, and it will -- primarily because the club hired former New England star Asante Samuel as a cornerback.

Samuel is a ballhawk who pulled down 16 interceptions in two years and returned three more for touchdowns in the playoffs, tying an NFL record.

Say no more about what he can do for Philadelphia. The Eagles' defense didn't produce one TD off a return in 2007.

"My favorite defensive back in the league is Asante Samuel," said Giants wide receiver David Tyree, "basically because he can do everything."

So the Eagles noticed. Samuel intercepted them twice last season, including one he returned for a 40-yard touchdown, and was a member of the team that defeated Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.

"When you have an opportunity to get the best one in the business then you need to look at that," said coach Andy Reid.

Samuel will be paired with Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard will be the first cornerback off the bench. Sheppard is a two-time Pro Bowl pick. Brown should have been named to a Pro Bowl but was not. Samuel is an All-Pro.

DeAngelo Hall, you have company.
-----------------------

I hate Hall and any article putting him in his place is a good one if you ask me.

Wade finally has two CB's who can play man to man at an elite level so it's going to be interesting to see how aggressive he is with the defense this season.

[/FONT]

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I stopped reading the article when they where bashing hall but then say he is Chad Johnson on defense,,,,,

 

[CATCH17]

When all is said and done Dallas will be top 3 on this list and probably already have the best secondary in the league.

 

[Hoofbite]

Hmm.

I thought I saw a thread a while back that had the breakdowns of the CBs play. I could have swore about 3 or 4 guys on this top tandem list were ranked pretty low.

 

[Hoofbite]

I stopped reading the article when they where bashing hall but then say he is Chad Johnson on defense,,,,,

I'm not sure there is a offensive equivalent to Hall. It takes a special kind of player to get your butt handed to you week in and week out and keep that mouth running.

 

[SacredStar]

For Green Bay:

Woodson.....without a doubt, a top notch CB.

Harris.....big doubt. He got consistently burned last season, and consistently flagged.

 

[theogt]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"Newman is a good, solid corner," said an AFC player personnel director, "but I don't consider him special. Pacman has special qualities, but he's a ding-a-ling. He's a better player than Bly, but he will take the same chances. Yes, he makes spectacular plays, but he also gives up big plays."[/FONT]

It's amazing that people who hold opinions like this actually have jobs as NFL personnel directors.

 

[28 Joker]

The AFC guy must come from a bottom feeder club. Terence Newman is a special player. He is the best in the NFL in the slot. Newman has elite speed, quickness, agility, and toughness. He plays the run and the flats strong. He covers short, medium, and long. He excells in man-to-man and zone. He can play off or press. He can check Steve Smith all over the field and shut him down. Who else has done that in the NFL? Newman shut him down twice in 2005 and 2006. He is just as good of a person as he is a player. This guy doesn't know what he is talking about. The other teams will not even throw the ball his way. There is a reason Anthony Henry was thrown at 102 times and led the league in that category one year. It is number 41. Newman prevents big plays and catches, and when Adam Jones starts on the other side of him, teams will be forced throw more to his side. When they do, they will pay.

Nick Harper is not even close to being the player Adam Jones has been and will still be. Jones won about three games for the Titans by himself in 2006. He was in the process of becoming an elite player before his off the field trouble. For this guy not to give A. Jones credit for the way he played cornerback in 2006 exposes his lack of insight into the position or his biased opinion. Hey, Fisher. Do you want Nick Harper or Pacman?

Is Plaxico Burress still destroying Al Harris? Oh, wait. That is T.O.

LOL.

AND P.S.

The fact that Newman was not in the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2005, and 2006 is the biggest rip-off in NFL history. It was a joke, and the people who voted should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It's amazing that people who hold opinions like this actually have jobs as NFL personnel directors.

there's only one thing that can team the 2 of us together

idiocy

I agree

 

[SacredStar]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"Newman is a good, solid corner," said an AFC player personnel director, "but I don't consider him special. Pacman has special qualities, but he's a ding-a-ling. He's a better player than Bly, but he will take the same chances. Yes, he makes spectacular plays, but he also gives up big plays."[/FONT]

What?

When?

Where?

 

[pugilist]

I stopped reading the article when they where bashing hall but then say he is Chad Johnson on defense,,,,,

why? deangelo hall is one of the most overrated players in the league.. not surprising that he overrates himself :laugh2:

 

[Bluefin]

How am I supposed to take an article seriously when it doesn't even mention our starting right corner, Anthony Henry?

Adam Jones, if he gets fully reinstated, will challenge to be our nickel corner on the outside when Terence Newman covers the slot on passing downs and the story reads like it's just him and T-New in Big D.

Jones hasn't played the game in over a year, so why act like it's a given that he will be on the field with Newman?

No mention of Amp or first round selection Mike Jenkins.

Weak.

 

[JPM]

It's amazing that people who hold opinions like this actually have jobs as NFL personnel directors.

I wonder if he ever used the term ding-a-ling in a war room ?

 

[Ender]

why does everybody think Al Harris is a great CB, what the **** has he done

 

[AdamJT13]

I thought I saw a thread a while back that had the breakdowns of the CBs play. I could have swore about 3 or 4 guys on this top tandem list were ranked pretty low.

The other list was based on performance. This one is based on opinions.

Champ Bailey might have a mediocre season or even a bad season, and plenty of NFL scouts and GMs still will consider him the best.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Talking about Adam Jones.....

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] keep this in mind: He hasn't suited up for a game in 18 months. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"It makes you wonder if he's the same player," said one scout. [/FONT]

Please. 18 months at his age is nothing.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

why? deangelo hall is one of the most overrated players in the league.. not surprising that he overrates himself :laugh2:

the fact that CJ has been one of the best WR the past 5 or 6 years is something that made me not even read the article.

 

[JBond]

"Newman is a good, solid corner," said an AFC player personnel director, "but I don't consider him special. Pacman has special qualities, but he's a ding-a-ling. He's a better player than Bly, but he will take the same chances. Yes, he makes spectacular plays, but he also gives up big plays."



I'm just guessing, but I'd say this a a Kansas City Chief scout.

 

[theogt]

"Newman is a good, solid corner," said an AFC player personnel director, "but I don't consider him special. Pacman has special qualities, but he's a ding-a-ling. He's a better player than Bly, but he will take the same chances. Yes, he makes spectacular plays, but he also gives up big plays."



I'm just guessing, but I'd say this a a Kansas City Chief scout.

Oakland? They just spent too much money on a "special" corner.

 

[peplaw06]

I wonder if he ever used the term ding-a-ling in a war room ?

Or in a locker room?