Former NFL Corner Otis Smith to the Chiefs as an Advisor

“Say, Brandon Carr’s play on the sideline,” he said. "He did what he was supposed to do and covered the receiver and the receiver went up and basically won with the ball in the air. I thought Brandon was coming down with it.

That’s almost exactly what I said the other day. Carr IS the real deal in terms of stickin’ down the sideline, gettin’ his head around and goin’ for the ball. He just didn’t win the battle for the ball or at least stop the WR from winning. But he’s the real deal in terms of speed, size and 90% of the technique. Just a little fine-tuning and he can play inside leverage against ’most ANYBODY IN THE LEAGUE.

Hard to say for sure which “young DBs” Haley means, since they’re ALL young, except for Brown. The thing about CB in this league is there is no substitute for talent. And Leggett and Washington are possibly the most gifted athletically in the entire corps. They need to play better technique.

I also think it possible that in Pendergast’s scheme there might need to be more who than where in the coverage assignments. Flowers against the smaller, quicker guys, and manhandlin’ ’em, for instance, and Washington against the bigger, tougher WRs (he matches up well against Bowe, IIRC).

Also issues with the secondary scheme with regard to “Who’s got the inside slant and why isn’t anybody jammin’ inside?” Leggett’s given up quite a few big plays with big cushion against which opponents ran the slant. That being said, he’s also given up big plays against the slant when in press coverage.

Generally, I just feel like the corners oughta use more inside leverage, force QBs to make perfect passes toward the sideline, rather than fearing losing contain so much, and so letting QBs just throw straight upfield over the middle. If they can force more of the passes to the outside, just by formation and technique, completion percentages automatically drop, and if you can get the offense thinking perimeter only, you can then change it up and break on the outs and WR screens (like everybody’s doing to US).

Flowers is about the only exception to this. I think he’s weaker against the outs and out-and-ups, but is EXCELLENT at breaking for the ball on the slants and crossing routes. Leggett’s breaks are improving, but he’s STILL just a whisker away from scaring anybody from testing him over the middle – so use your body to make the WR go around you if he wants inside or force the QB to make the perfect pass to the edge. Then your safeties can play a little wider (if necessary) and it takes more coverage pressure off your LBs in “the shallows.” \<—— Texas Chief