King will get paid. Bucky Brooks article.
NICKEL CORNERS: Compensation finally matching production?
If you haven't noticed, the NFL is turning into a league full of specialists, and decision makers are beginning to pay top dollar for elite role players. The slot corner or nickel corner, in particular, is viewed as the 12th defensive starter on most teams, and recent signings of Justin Coleman (Detroit Lions) and Kenny Moore (Indianapolis Colts) only confirms the emerging trend in war rooms.
Coleman, a fifth-year pro with 19 passes defensed and two pick-sixes over the past two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Lions to handle nickel duties for Matt Patricia's squad. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound cover corner displays an exceptional combination of instincts, awareness and ball skills roaming between the numbers. He is comfortable shadowing slot receivers with cat-like quickness while also showing enough courage and toughness to mix it up against the run.
"Playing nickel corner takes special skills," a former NFL defensive coordinator recently told me. "You need the quickness and agility to handle shifty slot receivers while working through all kinds of traffic over the middle of the field. You also need to be tough enough to handle the run support duties when teams attempt to run the ball against a light box. ... Some scouts view it as a 'throwaway' position or a stash spot for little guys, but most defensive coaches will tell you the nickel corner should be the most complete defensive back on the team."
The Lions' new CB3 was pegged as an ideal nickel corner as a collegian at Tennessee following a solid career and a handful of spectacular performances in pre-draft workouts (4.53-second 40-yard dash, 3.98-second 20-yard shuttle drill, 37.5-inch vertical jump, and 10-foot-4-inch broad jump) that highlighted his natural traits for the position. Coleman excelled in a sub-package role for two different teams, which is a testament to his versatility and adaptability as a defender.
Moore, a former undrafted free agent from Valdosta State, has emerged as a key defender for the Coltsas their nickel corner. No. 23 has not only started 20 games over the past two seasons but has picked off four passes with 16 passes defensed during that span. As an explosive athlete with A-plus quickness, movement skills and agility, Moore excels at maintaining hip pocket positioning on receivers, particularly on option routes and crossers between the numbers.=
While this certainly comes as a surprise based on his entrance into the league as an undrafted player who failed to make the New England Patriots' roster, he certainly flashed intriguing traits during a pro day workout at Valdosta State, where he reportedly clocked a 4.47 40 time with a 6.86-second three-cone drill, 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-7-inch broad jump.
Considering how Coleman and Moore have ascended to the top of the position as twitchy athletes with outstanding instincts and ball skills, scouts will begin to check off specific boxes when looking at nickel corner prospects down the road. Slot defenders must display outstanding lateral quickness and movement skills in coverage while also flashing a knack for getting their hands on the ball. Additionally, the premier nickel corners will also display solid tackling skills and run support ability as edge players.
"It's all about putting guys in the right roles," said the former defensive coordinator. "Everyone can't play inside (slot corner), so when you find one who can do it, you need to keep him."
With the league trending towards more specialization, we are finally seeing the compensation match the production at nickel corner.
NICKEL CORNERS: Compensation finally matching production?
If you haven't noticed, the NFL is turning into a league full of specialists, and decision makers are beginning to pay top dollar for elite role players. The slot corner or nickel corner, in particular, is viewed as the 12th defensive starter on most teams, and recent signings of Justin Coleman (Detroit Lions) and Kenny Moore (Indianapolis Colts) only confirms the emerging trend in war rooms.
Coleman, a fifth-year pro with 19 passes defensed and two pick-sixes over the past two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Lions to handle nickel duties for Matt Patricia's squad. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound cover corner displays an exceptional combination of instincts, awareness and ball skills roaming between the numbers. He is comfortable shadowing slot receivers with cat-like quickness while also showing enough courage and toughness to mix it up against the run.
"Playing nickel corner takes special skills," a former NFL defensive coordinator recently told me. "You need the quickness and agility to handle shifty slot receivers while working through all kinds of traffic over the middle of the field. You also need to be tough enough to handle the run support duties when teams attempt to run the ball against a light box. ... Some scouts view it as a 'throwaway' position or a stash spot for little guys, but most defensive coaches will tell you the nickel corner should be the most complete defensive back on the team."
The Lions' new CB3 was pegged as an ideal nickel corner as a collegian at Tennessee following a solid career and a handful of spectacular performances in pre-draft workouts (4.53-second 40-yard dash, 3.98-second 20-yard shuttle drill, 37.5-inch vertical jump, and 10-foot-4-inch broad jump) that highlighted his natural traits for the position. Coleman excelled in a sub-package role for two different teams, which is a testament to his versatility and adaptability as a defender.
Moore, a former undrafted free agent from Valdosta State, has emerged as a key defender for the Coltsas their nickel corner. No. 23 has not only started 20 games over the past two seasons but has picked off four passes with 16 passes defensed during that span. As an explosive athlete with A-plus quickness, movement skills and agility, Moore excels at maintaining hip pocket positioning on receivers, particularly on option routes and crossers between the numbers.=
While this certainly comes as a surprise based on his entrance into the league as an undrafted player who failed to make the New England Patriots' roster, he certainly flashed intriguing traits during a pro day workout at Valdosta State, where he reportedly clocked a 4.47 40 time with a 6.86-second three-cone drill, 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-7-inch broad jump.
Considering how Coleman and Moore have ascended to the top of the position as twitchy athletes with outstanding instincts and ball skills, scouts will begin to check off specific boxes when looking at nickel corner prospects down the road. Slot defenders must display outstanding lateral quickness and movement skills in coverage while also flashing a knack for getting their hands on the ball. Additionally, the premier nickel corners will also display solid tackling skills and run support ability as edge players.
"It's all about putting guys in the right roles," said the former defensive coordinator. "Everyone can't play inside (slot corner), so when you find one who can do it, you need to keep him."
With the league trending towards more specialization, we are finally seeing the compensation match the production at nickel corner.
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