CB dept. : Revis ~ ~ ~

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The cornerback position will always feature some of the NFL's top athletes, but the position is evolving. Speed will continue to be the calling card, but teams are looking for that same speed in bigger corners who can compete with the size and quickness of today's wideouts and support the run.

RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 cornerbacks for '09:


1. Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders. Asomugha is the best cover corner in the league and just entering the prime of his career. He's a fantastic athlete with outstanding speed whose skills are featured in the Raiders' man cover scheme.

2. Cortland Finnegan, Titans. Finnegan started out hot in 2008 and then teams stopped throwing his way. He can turn and run with receivers, closes quickly on the ball in zone coverage and is a scoring threat with the ball in his hands.

3. Champ Bailey, Broncos. Until last year's groin tear, Bailey was a model of durability in his 10-year career. He's scheduled to be back at full health this year, but he'll also be 31. Expect him to be tested early in the season, but his instincts and natural cover skills will keep him among the elite.

4. Asante Samuel, Eagles. Samuel didn't set a career high in interceptions in his first year in Philly, but he broke up a personal-best 24 passes and was extremely active in the Eagles' aggressive scheme. Philadelphia had one of the best pass defenses in the second half of the season and will be better this year.

5. Nate Clements, 49ers. Clements' numbers were down in 2008, but he is still one of the best all-around corners. In addition to outstanding cover skills, he's an excellent tackler who is strong against the run and can play any position in the secondary.

6. Darrelle Revis, Jets. Revis flashed a lot of talent in his first two seasons. He's a ballhawk who displays good technique, size, instincts and toughness and will excel in Rex Ryan's zone coverage schemes.

7. Antonio Cromartie, Chargers. He was criticized heavily for his poor play in 2008, then it was revealed he had played the entire season with a fractured hip. Coordinator Ron Rivera runs an aggressive scheme, which will help Cromartie in coverage. There is some talk he might not start, but if the Chargers put him on the field and he's healthy, he'll make big plays.

8. DeAngelo Hall, Redskins. Attitude and off-field persona aside, Hall can flat-out play. He revived his career with the Redskins after bombing in Oakland, and his ball skills and cover ability in man and zone schemes will help him excel behind an improved front.

9. Antoine Winfield, Vikings. Winfield is an aggressive, physical corner who loves to mix it up at the line of scrimmage and knock receivers off their routes. He is also an excellent tackler and run-support player.

10. Rashean Mathis, Jaguars. Injuries have stolen much of the past two seasons from Mathis, who needs to stay healthy and play within the scheme. He has a host of physical tools and natural talents, but has tried too hard to make things happen and his overaggressiveness has led to mistakes in coverage.

11. Marcus Trufant, Seahawks. He can shut down the top receivers with his ability to cover long and close quickly on shorter routes. Those skills will play well in the Seahawks' cover 2 looks under new coach Jim Mora. Trufant has good hands, is a dangerous runner after the catch and will be helped by a renewed pass rush.

12. Terence Newman, Cowboys. Newman is explosive and athletic and shows great speed and agility. He can be overaggressive in coverage at times but has been playing with more maturity and better technique recently.

13. Dunta Robinson, Texans. He has great athletic ability but needs to stay healthy. He has shutdown ability and can make big plays all over the field.

14. Charles Woodson, Packers. As age and injury work against him, Woodson may make a move to safety at some point. But he's still an excellent bump-and-run corner who plays tight man coverage but is also comfortable in zone schemes. He led all corners in interceptions last season and is a willing tackler against the run.

15. Leigh Bodden, Patriots. Bodden is big and fast and a strong player near the line, both as a press corner and in run support. Though he struggled last year in Detroit, he'll be a superior player in Bill Belichick's system.

16. Kelvin Hayden, Colts. Hayden has good range and speed, closes quickly and makes plays on the ball. He's an excellent fit in the Colts' cover 2 system.

17. Bryant McFadden, Cardinals. McFadden has some serious big-game experience to go with excellent ball skills and tackling ability. Best of all, he's only 27. A broken arm in 2008 hurt his free-agent value, but he is a good all-around player and will be a good fit in a much-improved Arizona secondary.

18. Al Harris, Packers. Harris is an excellent press corner, even at 34. However, he won't be as quick as Woodson to adjust to the zone schemes the Pack will play in their new 3-4. Harris will have to adjust to playing off receivers or the Packers may have to alter the scheme to fit his skills.

19. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cardinals. As a rookie, Rodgers-Cromartie flashed impressive athletic ability and rare ball skills. He has a unique combination of size and speed and adjusts well to the ball in the air. With McFadden in the lineup and a year of experience under his belt, Rodgers-Cromartie should be better in 2009. He just has to prove 2008 wasn't a fluke.

20. Eric Wright, Browns. Wright is fast and athletic, willing in run support and aggressive getting to the ball. He has also shown the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. Opposing quarterbacks shied away from him last season when they found an easier target in Brandon McDonald, but Wright is an improving young talent.

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Few problems with the list, Champ Bailey is not a top 3 cb in the NFL anymore. He was hurt last year, you can't just ignore the last year just because you want to, things happen and therefore he isnt a top 3 cb based on last years stats. Again with Nate Clements, you can't ignore the last years stats because you want to. in regards to Samuel, I think Revis is better than him, even if he did set a career high in pass breakups last year.

Antonio Cromartie again is placed high because of ignoring 08 play. Deangelo Hall was horrendous last year, and yet he is top 10? I don't think so.

My rankings has Revis as the #2 CB in the league with Finnegan right on his tail. Nnamdi is still leaps and bounds ahead of either though. He is just on a different level than any other corner in the game.

 

Revis: Definately a shut down corner, expecting big things from him this \year

 

Exactly what I was gong to post. Nice analysis.

I'd have Revis at 2/3/4 with Finnegan and Samuel, but as far as potential for the upcoming season is concerned, he's easily #2 behind Nnamdi.

 

You don't need any more proof that a site is worthless. No wonder jeaux loves it.

 

stupid how finnegan is rated so high (HE SUCKS). he even says it in his article, teams started throwing his way more often, and he was exposed.

 

me too, but with webster , not finnegan as 3.

 

What?!

The article says, quote:

It does not say that he was exposed. Second, Finnegan does not suck, he is in the top 5 corners in the league.

But anyways, this article is a bit confusing. Their ranking the best corners in the league yet they do not take last season's performances in consideration. A wise man once said, your only as good as your last game was.

 

sporting news is a joke. They always seem months behind whats really going on and their analysis is never truly insightful.

Way too many "well he's been hurt for two years but..."

 

you're right, I did read it wrong, but I still maintain that he is terribly overrated.

 

i don't know - Finnegan's pick against the Jets last season was pretty nice.

He's been making plays since his rookie season as a late round pick. He's an absolute steal.

 

What about Nate Clements, I think he is definitely over rated in this article.

 

Finnegan is most certainly NOT overrated. He's a very good CB, I'd rank him tied with Revis at #2.

Totally agree on what was said earlier about Champ Bailey. He's no longer the same CB he once was. Samuel gets burnt a lot because he tries to jump routes, but he's not a shutdown corner by any means.

I think Bailey, Clemens, Samuel, Cromartie, and Hall were overrated. Woodson, Trufant, and DRC should've been higher on the list as well.

 

Asomugha is a freak of nature. Guys over 6'3 and 210 lbs. aren't supposed to be able to move their hips and breakdown and run with speedy wideouts like that. He's the exception.

After him, I woud say Finnegan with Revis close on his heels ready to take over as one of the premier corners in the league.

Finnegan is an absolute pest of a corner. I love the way he plays up in the WR's face except when it's against our team. Hopefully Revis can emulate that this year.

 

This is a projection of how well RealScouts think they will do in 2009. I suspect they also take into account the defense they are on, how much pressure the front seven will put on the QB, etc....

I noticed the Leigh Bodden, the former free agent we didn't even look at and ended up signing for next to noting in NE is in the top 15, but Lito Sheppard isn't.

BTW Kelly, is that really a pic of you in your sig? If so, pretty! Get rid of the sunglasses, they're hiding one of your best feature. Also, I just realized we celebrate our birthday on the same day. :up:

 

I don't think Leigh Bodden should be on that list, and I also think Champ Bailey and Samuel are ranked too high. But if you think about it, it is really hard to compare players and rank them in a list. I think the best way to do these rankings is to compile a few lists, such as "Top 5 CBs", "1st tier CBs", "2nd tier CBs"

 

Is that the reason Corey Webster didn't make this list?

 

Yea, I was kinda surprised to see him off the list

 

The only corner I'd take over Darrelle Revis is Asomugha. I disagree with that list, and also hasn't it been established we play more man coverage in RR's blitz-happy schemes. Some people need to do their homework before posting trash like this.... I've heard numerous fans complain about Nate Clements' underachievment since signing with SF.

I agree with poster that said Finnigan is overrated. He had a huge number of INTs, and a nice PD count but the truest stats for a CB have been posted on this board before. I forget the source, but it broke down the completion %, YDs allowed, and TDs against for every CB in the league last year. The rankings in that article are the truest evidence of how each CB played. Revis is #2 or #3 as of last season.