NFC focus: Cornerbacks
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:31 pm
Niners corner the market
1. 49ers
Nate Clements will be the team's first shutdown corner since the mid-1990s. Walt Harris is a tough ball hawk with solid coverage skills. Nickel back Shawntae Spencer would start for many teams.
2. Cowboys
Coaches want Terence Newman to take the final step toward stardom. Anthony Henry (6-1, 208) is big with good ball skills. Nickel back Aaron Glenn is solid but struggles on deep balls.
3. Eagles
Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown complement each other. Sheppard is a gambling playmaker; Brown is a solid cover corner and a punishing tackler. William James replaces Rod Hood at nickel back.
4. Packers
Al Harris is great in bump-and-run coverage. Charles Woodson isn't that fast anymore but has great ball skills. In an unproven pool of backups, Will Blackmon has the most talent.
5. Buccaneers
Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly are Pro Bowl-caliber starters. After that there's a big drop-off to Phillip Buchanon and Sammy Davis.
6. Bears
Coming off his finest season, Charles Tillman (6-1, 196) has the size to shut down big receivers. Nathan Vasher is a ball hawk on the right side. Ricky Manning is comfortable in the nickel role.
7. Vikings
Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin are physical, but Winfield's status is in question after he skipped most offseason activities. Dovonte Edwards and rookie Marcus McCauley will compete for the nickel spot.
8. Panthers
Ken Lucas has the skills to be top-notch in coverage but must make tackles consistently. Though Chris Gamble makes big plays, he gets beat too often on deep passes. Richard Marshall could challenge for a starting spot.
9. Falcons
Lewis Sanders and rookie Chris Houston are two adequate options to start opposite Pro Bowl corner DeAngelo Hall. Sanders has been a starter, and Houston locked down top college receivers last season.
10. Redskins
Shawn Springs is an elite corner when he's healthy and happy. Carlos Rogers can be a solid starter but must bounce back from a sub-par second season. Nickel back Fred Smoot is back after two seasons with the Vikings.
11. Seahawks.
Marcus Trufant could emerge with better safety help. Kelly Jennings is talented but unproven. Rookie Josh Wilson is more explosive than Jennings and could push for a starting job.
12. Saints.
Mike McKenzie, Fred Thomas and Jason Craft gave up too many deep passes and didn't make enough big plays in 2006.
13. Rams
Tye Hill must improve his tackling. Fakhir Brown has experience and good cover skills. Nickel back Ron Bartell showed big-play ability late last season.
14. Cardinals.
Key for this group is the development of Antrel Rolle and Eric Green, who were inconsistent in their first two seasons. Rod Hood will compete with Green for a starting job.
15. Giants
Sam Madison has lost a step, and Corey Webster struggled in his first two seasons. Nickel back R.W. McQuarters is a playmaker but doesn't have Webster's speed or Madison's instincts.
16. Lions
Coaches aren't sure who will start, which doesn't bode well. Among the candidates -- Fernando Bryant, Stanley Wilson and Travis Fisher -- none has blazing speed, but each supports the run well.