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The Packers snuck a bit through last season using 3 CB's extensively but rarely reaching for that 4th CB. I have a feeling that guy will see the field however on week 1 vs NO. As we know our nickle defense utilizes Charles Woodson in the slot exclusively while Sam Shields and Tramon Woodson roam the sidelines. It takes a special player to be able to do this and the Packers have the luxury of having the best player in this role in the NFL.
In the slot you'll be tasked with matching up against slot receivers which varies from Wes Welker waterbug type guys, Percy Harvin type burners, and Jermichael Finley type TE's that are split out wide. You must also be able to prevent big plays from these characters without the use of the sideline. This takes an impossible combination of change of direction skills and size that Woodson and few others possess. The slot corner must also be an above average run defender simply because they are standing in the middle of the field. Woodson tackles like a linebacker. On top of it all he's got elite ball skills.
Why am I bringing up Woodson to talk about the dime corner? Because adding a dimeback means two guys playing in the slot. Up through the superbowl that guy was Jarrett Bush for us. He's got decent size and can change directions well but lets not kid ourselves--all the advantages that come from putting a playmaker in the middle of the field are lost with Bush. Well since the position is so challenging and its such a schematic advantage to put a great player there, it makes sense that one of the other DB's will rotate to that spot. This has the added advantage of keeping the cornerbacks lowest on the depth chart on the outside where they will have help from the sidelines.
Shields is a poor choice, he's small, lacks exceptional tackling ability, and is inexperienced enough that you'd like to give him help from the sidelines. Tramon would seem to make some sense, he's physical, has ball skills, can cover and tackle alright. But this isn't madden and if Tramon could do this his coaches would be way ahead of me. Pat Lee is at least as adequate on the outside as bush is inside so, Tramon must not be up to a role in the middle of the field. Who then? Morgan Burnett is my pick.
1) He meets all the qualifications. The guy is huge for a corner, has superhuman c.o.d. skills (3.92 s on the 20 yard SS), can tackle, and has great ball skills.
2) He's got a starting caliber player behind him. We'll hardly miss a beat at the SS position by moving Burnett down to CB in the dime subpackage because of Charlie Peprah. This gets our best 6 on the field at once.
3) He's done it before. In College Burnett was moved from S to CB to play the slot in the Georgia Tech nickle package.
In the slot you'll be tasked with matching up against slot receivers which varies from Wes Welker waterbug type guys, Percy Harvin type burners, and Jermichael Finley type TE's that are split out wide. You must also be able to prevent big plays from these characters without the use of the sideline. This takes an impossible combination of change of direction skills and size that Woodson and few others possess. The slot corner must also be an above average run defender simply because they are standing in the middle of the field. Woodson tackles like a linebacker. On top of it all he's got elite ball skills.
Why am I bringing up Woodson to talk about the dime corner? Because adding a dimeback means two guys playing in the slot. Up through the superbowl that guy was Jarrett Bush for us. He's got decent size and can change directions well but lets not kid ourselves--all the advantages that come from putting a playmaker in the middle of the field are lost with Bush. Well since the position is so challenging and its such a schematic advantage to put a great player there, it makes sense that one of the other DB's will rotate to that spot. This has the added advantage of keeping the cornerbacks lowest on the depth chart on the outside where they will have help from the sidelines.
Shields is a poor choice, he's small, lacks exceptional tackling ability, and is inexperienced enough that you'd like to give him help from the sidelines. Tramon would seem to make some sense, he's physical, has ball skills, can cover and tackle alright. But this isn't madden and if Tramon could do this his coaches would be way ahead of me. Pat Lee is at least as adequate on the outside as bush is inside so, Tramon must not be up to a role in the middle of the field. Who then? Morgan Burnett is my pick.
1) He meets all the qualifications. The guy is huge for a corner, has superhuman c.o.d. skills (3.92 s on the 20 yard SS), can tackle, and has great ball skills.
2) He's got a starting caliber player behind him. We'll hardly miss a beat at the SS position by moving Burnett down to CB in the dime subpackage because of Charlie Peprah. This gets our best 6 on the field at once.
3) He's done it before. In College Burnett was moved from S to CB to play the slot in the Georgia Tech nickle package.
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