My darkhorse pick to be our 4th CB

[3irty1]

The 4th CB must either play in the slot or push someone else into the slot. Josh Gordy and especially Pat Lee are unsuitable to play in the slot IMO as are Tramon and Shields. Even if Gordy and Lee have improved, its unlikely they'll get defensive roles baring injury to Tramon or Shields.

Pat Lee is a big m2m corner, his agility and c.o.d. measurables are linebackeresk. Gordy has a much better shot than Lee and I could see him raising hell as a blitzer from that slot role but it still doesn't play to his strengths as a player. Jarrett Bush is still a better option in the slot.

[vince]

The 4th CB must either play in the slot or push someone else into the slot. Josh Gordy and especially Pat Lee are unsuitable to play in the slot IMO as are Tramon and Shields. Even if Gordy and Lee have improved, its unlikely they'll get defensive roles baring injury to Tramon or Shields.

Pat Lee is a big m2m corner, his agility and c.o.d. measurables are linebackeresk. Gordy has a much better shot than Lee and I could see him raising hell as a blitzer from that slot role but it still doesn't play to his strengths as a player. Jarrett Bush is still a better option in the slot.

You also have to be able to run with some of the slot guys like Harvin without being able to press them. Most safeties will struggle to run with a lot of inside guys and/or will be targeted and abused. It takes a special player playmaker to do everything that Wood is asked to do. Maybe Burnett can do it, but there's a reason he doesn't play corner.

[3irty1]

You also have to be able to run with some of the slot guys like Harvin without being able to press them. Most safeties will struggle to run with a lot of inside guys and/or will be targeted and abused. It takes a special player playmaker to do everything that Wood is asked to do. Maybe Burnett can do it, but there's a reason he doesn't play corner.

Yeah and that reason could be because the only way we could get him on the field is in dime. If he plays CB its in the slot and we know he's not taking 21's job (who was also a safety). This slot CB position that we have created for Woodson may well best be filled with Safeties. Who knows, Burnett may have filled the dimeback role last year if he had stayed healthy but its even more likely this year IMO with the fully proven Peprah there to man the SS spot in dime.

[vince]

Not quite sure what you're referring to about Woodson being a safety...?

Whoever takes Wood's rover spot needs to be able to run and cover guys like Harvin and Desean Jackson at times. Maybe Burnett can do it but I'm not so sure at this point. I'm not sure Collins could do it reliably, but he'd probably be better than Burnett from what I've seen so far. JMO.

[3irty1]

Not quite sure what you're referring to about Woodson being a safety...?

Whoever takes Wood's rover spot needs to be able to run and cover guys like Harvin and Desean Jackson at times. Maybe Burnett can do it but I'm not so sure at this point. I'm not sure Collins could do it reliably, but he'd probably be better than Burnett from what I've seen so far. JMO.

Chuck spent some time at safety in Oakland and a little bit here as well. I'm just pointing out again that the skill set fits. I don't think Burnett or Collins would embarrass themselves in coverage vs those players even if they weren't as good as Woodson. I'm also talking about our 4th CB season. Dom willing, our 4th corner won't be in a position to cover elite nfl slot receivers on a constant basis.

[Deputy Nutz]

Chuck has spent zero time as a safety in Packerland. He plays the slot and that is where he blitzes from. I would hardly call what he did in Oakland as playing a safety position. He basically played where ever the hell he wanted and did what he wanted. The Raiders would say that they had him playing a rover position, which in the NFL means playing the slot, he does such a nice job in run support keeping the edge, and when needed blitzing. The bottom line is Woodson is a very intelligent football player that watches film and then can rely on his instincts to destroy offenses. A lot of Woodson's picks are because he jumbs routes or puts himself into the spot where the QB throws the ball before the receiver can get there. Very few of his picks are because he was providing blanket coverage down field.

Very few NFL defenders get the freedom that Charles Woodson gets, but that is because of his instincts and the fact that he is brilliant at breaking down game film.

He is not a safety, nor could he ever be considered a safety.

[3irty1]

Chuck has spent zero time as a safety in Packerland. He plays the slot and that is where he blitzes from. I would hardly call what he did in Oakland as playing a safety position. He basically played where ever the hell he wanted and did what he wanted. The Raiders would say that they had him playing a rover position, which in the NFL means playing the slot, he does such a nice job in run support keeping the edge, and when needed blitzing. The bottom line is Woodson is a very intelligent football player that watches film and then can rely on his instincts to destroy offenses. A lot of Woodson's picks are because he jumbs routes or puts himself into the spot where the QB throws the ball before the receiver can get there. Very few of his picks are because he was providing blanket coverage down field.

Very few NFL defenders get the freedom that Charles Woodson gets, but that is because of his instincts and the fact that he is brilliant at breaking down game film.

He is not a safety, nor could he ever be considered a safety.

Well this is wrong. He played safety for us when Bigby went down for a few weeks in 08. He also lined up at Safety in the base D in the NFCC to cover Olsen.

But...this thread is about the type of player we want as our 4th corner or how Morgan Burnett and his skills would fair in such a role.

[pbmax]

I think Nutz and 3irty1 both have a point. Wodson has been the 2nd safety in base D before with Shields/3rd CB taking his spot. But like Butler on Wesley Walls or Sharpe, he was asked to cover, not other more typical safety related tasks.

[HarveyWallbangers]

My man, Gordy. I love jumping on the bandwagon of an unknown--just because the coaches make a positive comment about them.

First-year cornerback Josh Gordy made his first appearance on a No. 1 special teams unit. He was on the kickoff coverage team. He played the spot usually occupied by receiver Brett Swain, who was out with a hamstring injury.