Question about Deion Sanders

[dmoore]

I'm 22 years old, but I remember vividly the glory years of Dallas in the 90s. My Dad got me interested in football early, and I took to it like water. While I understood what I was seeing, I'm not so clear as to why things were the way they were. My football IQ wasn't what it is now. Figured maybe some of the old guys could help me out.

Deion Sanders completely shut WRs down to the point where QBs didn't even think about throwing his way. He basically shut down a whole side of the field. I've never seen a CB since him that even came close to doing what Deion did. I'd say Champ Bailey from 5-6 years ago was about the closest. In recent years, I wouldn't even classify the top CBs in the game as "shutdown" corners. You have guys like Newman who are pro-bowlers, but they don't exactly frighten QBs from throwing their way. Is the drop off between guys like Deion to what we see today mostly because of Deion being a superior talent or because of rule changes? Will there ever be a CB who's as dominant as Deion again?

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Newman is one of the least targetted CB's in the NFL if not the least so what the hell are you talking about.

 

[LeonDixson]

I'm 22 years old, but I remember vividly the glory years of Dallas in the 90s. My Dad got me interested in football early, and I took to it like water. While I understood what I was seeing, I'm not so clear as to why things were the way they were. My football IQ wasn't what it is now. Figured maybe some of the old guys could help me out.

Deion Sanders completely shut WRs down to the point where QBs didn't even think about throwing his way. He basically shut down a whole side of the field. I've never seen a CB since him that even came close to doing what Deion did. I'd say Champ Bailey from 5-6 years ago was about the closest. In recent years, I wouldn't even classify the top CBs in the game as "shutdown" corners. You have guys like Newman who are pro-bowlers, but they don't exactly frighten QBs from throwing their way. Is the drop off between guys like Deion to what we see today mostly because of Deion being a superior talent or because of rule changes? Will there ever be a CB who's as dominant as Deion again?

IMHO I think Deion was just that much better than anyone else who has played the position. He was just a phenominal athlete. Will there ever be anyone as good or better than him? Probably,in time, but I don't see them from where I'm standing.

 

[dmoore]

Newman is one of the least targetted CB's in the NFL if not the least so what the hell are you talking about.

There's a difference between being one of the least targeted CBs and Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders DIDN'T get thrown at. Are you old enough to remember Deion? I'm not saying Newman isn't a great player, but Deion's on another level from everyone I've seen.

 

[AdamJT13]

In his prime, Deion's shutdown numbers were incredible. Nobody else has come close to what he did -- especially not Champ Bailey, who has had only one or two seasons with even decent shutdown numbers.

STATS LLC started tracking what cornerbacks allowed back in 1995, which means they didn't track that kind of stuff for the first half of Deion's prime. But here's what they have Deion allowing from 1995 to 1998 --

1995 -- 16-for-47, 158 yards, 0 TD (9 games)
1996 -- 22-for-46, 225 yards, 0 TD (16 games)
1997 -- 12-for-39, 159 yards, 0 TD (13 games)
1998 -- 20-for-42, 198 yards, 0 TD (11 games)


Now let's compare Champ Bailey's first eight seasons (I don't have STATS' numbers from 2007 yet) --

1999 -- 54-for-113, 830 yards, 4 TD (16 games)
2000 -- 42-for-81, 488 yards, 0 TD (16 games)
2001 -- 40-for-91, 613 yards, 5 TD (16 games)
2002 -- 52-for-98, 567 yards, 2 TD (16 games)
2003 -- 50-for-88, 684 yards, 3 TD (16 games)
2004 -- 49-for-83, 768 yards, 6 TD (16 games)
2005 -- 49-for-97, 680 yards, 5 TD (14 games)
2006 -- 50-for-95, 610 yards, 2 TD (16 games)

No, Champ has never been a shutdown cornerback anywhere close to what Deion was. And neither has anyone else since Deion was in his prime.

 

[Doomsday101]

Deion was one of the best of baiting a QB and using his great speed to come back and pick you off. Many times when guys would look to be wide open Deion would be in better position to make a play on the ball than the WR using great speed and anticipation.

One thing I don’t think Deion gets enough credit for is how much a student of the game he was, teammates would say Deion would spend hours watching film and knowing the WR and all their moves or and weakness or little things they did that may tell you what rout they were going to run. Deion had great talent but he worked hard as well

 

[Champsheart]

I'm 22 years old, but I remember vividly the glory years of Dallas in the 90s. My Dad got me interested in football early, and I took to it like water. While I understood what I was seeing, I'm not so clear as to why things were the way they were. My football IQ wasn't what it is now. Figured maybe some of the old guys could help me out.

Deion Sanders completely shut WRs down to the point where QBs didn't even think about throwing his way. He basically shut down a whole side of the field. I've never seen a CB since him that even came close to doing what Deion did. I'd say Champ Bailey from 5-6 years ago was about the closest. In recent years, I wouldn't even classify the top CBs in the game as "shutdown" corners. You have guys like Newman who are pro-bowlers, but they don't exactly frighten QBs from throwing their way. Is the drop off between guys like Deion to what we see today mostly because of Deion being a superior talent or because of rule changes? Will there ever be a CB who's as dominant as Deion again?

Yes there will be someone to come along as dominant as Deion, it may not be in my life time, but it will happen.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Deion was the best cover corner I have ever seen, bar none.

 

[viman96]

Teams did not throw his way for two reasons:

1. He would either get the INT for deflect the pass
2. No one on the opposing team wanted to see him dance.

The #2 reason is legit. Nobody wanted to see Deion show them up. Teams were scared to attack him. He walked the talk and teams knew it.

 

[Clove]

I have never seen a guy absolutely not allow a WR anything like Deion didn't. You threw his way, you could expect a TD the other way. Incredibly smart player with superior talent, was like Einstein with a Cheetahs athletic ability.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I was also very young in the days of PRIME and remember his dominance. It was a big deal when people would throw the ball at him. Its funny though how one of the most vivid memories I have of him is a game in which we were getting beat by the giants and he dropped a sure INT. I guess we have tendencies of remember the bad things.

 

[Big Country]

There was not a term "cover corner" until Deion Sanders came into the league... before that, it was plain old cornerback

 

[viman96]

I'm 22 years old, but I remember vividly the glory years of Dallas in the 90s. My Dad got me interested in football early, and I took to it like water. While I understood what I was seeing, I'm not so clear as to why things were the way they were. My football IQ wasn't what it is now. Figured maybe some of the old guys could help me out.

Deion Sanders completely shut WRs down to the point where QBs didn't even think about throwing his way. He basically shut down a whole side of the field. I've never seen a CB since him that even came close to doing what Deion did. I'd say Champ Bailey from 5-6 years ago was about the closest. In recent years, I wouldn't even classify the top CBs in the game as "shutdown" corners. You have guys like Newman who are pro-bowlers, but they don't exactly frighten QBs from throwing their way. Is the drop off between guys like Deion to what we see today mostly because of Deion being a superior talent or because of rule changes? Will there ever be a CB who's as dominant as Deion again?

BTW I think the answer to your question is a little of both.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Prime Time......was a good one......not much run support

 

[dre1614]

In his prime, Deion's shutdown numbers were incredible. Nobody else has come close to what he did -- especially not Champ Bailey, who has had only one or two seasons with even decent shutdown numbers.

STATS LLC started tracking what cornerbacks allowed back in 1995, which means they didn't track that kind of stuff for the first half of Deion's prime. But here's what they have Deion allowing from 1995 to 1998 --

1995 -- 16-for-47, 158 yards, 0 TD (9 games)
1996 -- 22-for-46, 225 yards, 0 TD (16 games)
1997 -- 12-for-39, 159 yards, 0 TD (13 games)
1998 -- 20-for-42, 198 yards, 0 TD (11 games)


Now let's compare Champ Bailey's first eight seasons (I don't have STATS' numbers from 2007 yet) --

1999 -- 54-for-113, 830 yards, 4 TD (16 games)
2000 -- 42-for-81, 488 yards, 0 TD (16 games)
2001 -- 40-for-91, 613 yards, 5 TD (16 games)
2002 -- 52-for-98, 567 yards, 2 TD (16 games)
2003 -- 50-for-88, 684 yards, 3 TD (16 games)
2004 -- 49-for-83, 768 yards, 6 TD (16 games)
2005 -- 49-for-97, 680 yards, 5 TD (14 games)
2006 -- 50-for-95, 610 yards, 2 TD (16 games)

No, Champ has never been a shutdown cornerback anywhere close to what Deion was. And neither has anyone else since Deion was in his prime.

Adam do you have Deion's stats from 1998 till he retired?

 

[AdamJT13]

Adam do you have Deion's stats from 1998 till he retired?

1998 -- 20-for-42, 198 yards, 0 TD (11 games)
1999 -- 29-for-53, 425 yards, 2 TD (14 games)
2000 -- 31-for-63, 463 yards, 1 TD (16 games)
2004 -- 10-for-21, 92 yards, 0 TD (9 games)
2005 -- 26-for-41, 333 yards, 3 TD (16 games)

Remember that he wasn't a full-time player in 2004 and 2005. He played only 21 percent of the time in 2004 and 48 percent of the time in 2005.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

In his prime, Deion's shutdown numbers were incredible. Nobody else has come close to what he did -- especially not Champ Bailey, who has had only one or two seasons with even decent shutdown numbers.

STATS LLC started tracking what cornerbacks allowed back in 1995, which means they didn't track that kind of stuff for the first half of Deion's prime. But here's what they have Deion allowing from 1995 to 1998 --

1995 -- 16-for-47, 158 yards, 0 TD (9 games)
1996 -- 22-for-46, 225 yards, 0 TD (16 games)
1997 -- 12-for-39, 159 yards, 0 TD (13 games)
1998 -- 20-for-42, 198 yards, 0 TD (11 games)


Now let's compare Champ Bailey's first eight seasons (I don't have STATS' numbers from 2007 yet) --

1999 -- 54-for-113, 830 yards, 4 TD (16 games)
2000 -- 42-for-81, 488 yards, 0 TD (16 games)
2001 -- 40-for-91, 613 yards, 5 TD (16 games)
2002 -- 52-for-98, 567 yards, 2 TD (16 games)
2003 -- 50-for-88, 684 yards, 3 TD (16 games)
2004 -- 49-for-83, 768 yards, 6 TD (16 games)
2005 -- 49-for-97, 680 yards, 5 TD (14 games)
2006 -- 50-for-95, 610 yards, 2 TD (16 games)

No, Champ has never been a shutdown cornerback anywhere close to what Deion was. And neither has anyone else since Deion was in his prime.

can you post Newmans numbers?

 

[alby]

Prime Time......was a good one......not much run support

whenever the running back was coming his way, he had to make a business decision. =]

 

[AdamJT13]

can you post Newmans numbers?

2003 -- 46-for-116, 590 yards, 1 TD (16 games)
2004 -- 47-for-98, 577 yards, 7 TD (16 games)
2005 -- 35-for-81, 394 yards, 1 TD (16 games)
2006 -- 42-for-78, 587 yards, 3 TD (16 games)

Like I said, I don't have 2007 from STATS LLC yet.

And you might notice that they have him allowing a TD in 2005, when Parcells and the rest of the team said he didn't. They're counting Eddie Kennison's 47-yard TD catch against him because he was the closest defender on the play. I leave it in the numbers even though it's wrong, because their numbers might not be entirely accurate for other players, either. So as long as they're about equally wrong for everyone, it makes for a more accurate comparison to leave it in.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

whenever the running back was coming his way, he had to make a business decision. =]