By Joey Esquire
CORNERBACKS
Top to bottom, this is probably one of the weaker position groups in the division, and there is only one team that can really call its cornerbacks a strength for 2017. The draft was a strong class for CBs and the other three teams did take advantage, so we could see some significant improvement in the next few years, but I don’t bank on rookies really improving these units for 2017.
1. New York Giants
2. Washington Redskins
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Philadelphia Eagles
4. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Depth Chart: Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson, Rasul Douglas, (Sidney Jones), (Ron Brooks), (Aaron Grymes), (CJ Smith), (Dwayne Gratz)
2016 Stats:
Cornerback was the weakest position group by far in 2016, and figures to remain so in 2017. The Eagles ranked 2nd overall versus the pass in 2016, but anyone watching could see that was in spite of the corners, not because of them. They were especially bad defending the deep ball, ranking 22nd in the NFL. The 2016 numbers aren’t especially relevant, as the Eagles will be replacing both Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll (and possibly Ron Brooks) in 2017. Jalen Mills, a 7th round pick in 2016, played about 65% of snaps for the Eagles in 2016 with more bad than good, and he pencils in as the No. 1 CB heading into 2017. I am actually higher on Mills than most, but heading into a season with Mills as your No. 1 CB is not really a recipe for success.
After Mills, there are some questions about who will see snaps for the Eagles. The Eagles signed Patrick Robinson as a veteran stopgap, who figures to open the season as the starter opposite Mills. They drafted Rasul Douglas, who I think will wind up as the nickel back and push Mills into the slot in sub packages. Ron Brooks is returning from a ruptured quad and the Eagles redid his deal in lieu of cutting him, so I think they want to see if he can recover from his injury and keep him around if he can, but he’s not a lock for a roster spot if he can’t fully recover. Down the road, if this unit is to improve it will bank heavily on Sidney Jones recovering from his achilles tear, but he’ll start 2017 on the NFI/PUP list and I think he’ll likely redshirt his rookie year.
The ultimate goal for this group (I think) is Jones and Douglas starting outside with Mills in the slot, but that won’t materialize until 2018 at the earliest, and it assumes a whole lot. I think the Eagles are one of two teams in the division on the short list for worst CB groups in the NFL, and if the Eagles are to be successful in 2017, the safeties and pass rush will have to continue to mask the deficiencies of the CB group.
3. DALLAS COWBOYS
Depth Chart: Anthony Brown, Nolan Carroll, Orlando Scandrick, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Marquez White
2016 Stats:
In 2016, this unit held up better than many people would have expected. The Cowboys overall were just 18th against the pass, but the CBs didn’t get much help from the pass rush or the safeties. They particularly did a good job defending the left side of the field and slot WRs. The 2016 stats aren’t especially important for this group, given the amount of turnover, but Orlando Scandrick and Anthony Brown both played over 60% of snaps and will be returning for 2017.
Both 2016 starters Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne left in free agency. To replace them, the Cowboys brought in Nolan Carroll, who is terrible, and drafted Chidobe Awuzie in the 2nd round and Jourdan Lewis in the 3rd. Their depth chart for 2017 is a little unclear at the moment, but I think Brown pencils in as one outside starter and probably Carroll on the opposite side with Scandrick in the slot. It is possible Awuzie beats out Carroll for a starting outside spot, but it would surprise me if he starts the season there. I am curious to see how the handle the slot position. Lewis is likely the long-term plan there and I think he would be capable of playing the slot as a rookie, but Scandrick is the Cowboys best CB and played well in the slot last year. Frankly I also think Awuzie is best suited for the slot as well, so it will be interesting to see how the Cowboys handle what I think is a logjam.
The Cowboys are taking a gamble with this much turnover in their secondary. This was a unit that held together last year, but wasn’t a strength, and it’s difficult to count on Nolan Carroll and rookies as legitimate replacements. The Cowboys best (only?) defense is a good offense, so if they are to be successful in 2017 they’ll have to continue to keep their defense in favorable score situations.
2. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Depth Chart: Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland, Fabian Moreau, Quinton Dunbar, Kendall Fuller, Joshua Hols
2016 Stats:
In 2016, the Redskins were among the worst pass defenses in the NFL. They ranked 24th in overall pass defense, 21st versus No. 1 WRs, 28th versus No. 2 WRs, 25th versus Slot WRs and 30th defending deep passes. And they return many of the same CBs from 2016 for 2017, so I don’t project this group to be especially good, but they rank second on my list thanks largely to Josh Norman, and because I think the change in defensive coordinators should give the defense a boost overall.
The Redskins signed Norman last offseason and they are certainly glad they did. Despite the overall poor numbers for the Redskins defense in 2016, Norman was one of the few bright spots, allowing just a 72.6 passer rating when targeted and defending 19 passes, 5th most in the NFL. Alas, outside of Norman… yuck. Bashaud Breeland is terrible and was routinely outmatched last season, and the Redskins struggled defending the slot all year. They added 3rd round pick Fabian Moreau and 7th round pick Joshua Holsey in the draft. Once Moreau returns from his injury, he could push Breeland for playing time or potentially push Breeland into the slot (where I think Breeland would be better), but I think he starts the year as a backup.
Overall, I think the numbers for the Redskins pass defense should improve with Joe Barry being replaced, and a better scheme will go a long way toward helping out the CBs. Norman is great, among the best CBs in the NFL, the Redskins can’t find a way to generate consistent pressure up front and find another contributor in the secondary to actually cover, QBs are just going to throw it elsewhere, as they did in 2016.
1. NEW YORK GIANTS
Depth Chart: Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eli Apple, Michael Hunter, Valentino Blake
2016 Stats:
This one is not close. The Giants cornerbacks and secondary as a whole were arguably the best in football last season, and were the strength of a defense that finished the season as strong as any in the league. The Giants ranked 4th overall in pass defense. They were 2nd in the NFL defending No. 1 WRs, 5th versus No. 2 WRs and 7th versus slot WRs and 2nd in the NFL defending the deep ball. And this is with Steve Spagnuolo routinely using players from all over the defense as blitzers, meaning the corners were often on islands in man coverage without much help. I was surprised ad just how good Janoris Jenkins was last year after signing with the Giants in FA, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie just continues to be as good as he always has (except when he was with the Eagles). Eli Apple did take some lumps as a rookie, but overall this unit was very strong.
If there is an area the Giants are lacking, it’s depth. If any of the starting three goes down, this unit could be in real trouble with only Michael Hunter and Valentino Blake as depth. (If you don’t know who Valentino Blake is, he used to be called Antwon Blake but changed it last year. If you don’t know who Antwon Blake is either, that’s probably because he sucks.)
The secondary was the engine that drove the Giants defense last year, and really carried that team to the playoffs. I expect they’ll continue to be a strength into 2017.
Up Next: Safeties
