Norman's job...

[lightsout]

While I'm still pondering how the hell we got beat as pathetically as we did, I thought of something. Norman is going to have to face 1 of the 2 great WRs in Atlanta. So, with that, here is his assignment ALL WEEK LONG in practice: Smitty. And not just regular practice Smitty. Smitty needs to take it upon himself to give Norman hell. Make his ass earn anything he gets. Embarrass him as much as possible. Make him DESPISE having ANY receiver open near him. Light a fuging fire so large that people think it's a goddamn terrorist attack. Norman has his work cut out for him, especially after the way he was generally abused tonight. If we're going to throw him into the ocean and say "swim", let's at least spot him. And how do you do that? By repping a pissed off Smitty with him for a week. If that doesn't make him improve drastically, nothing will.

[YoMoney]

Don't blame him. Blame the moron who put us into the situation where we have to start a 5th round rookie (hurney).

[Guest Bwood]

I really wanted Hosely in the draft...

It always hurts to see a player you had a crush on make plays against your team.

[LinvilleGorge]

For a 5th round rookie, the kid has looked solid. I'm not disappointed in him at all.

[lightsout]

Don't blame him. Blame the moron who put us into the situation where we have to start a 5th round rookie (hurney).

Yeah yeah, I know. However, this is the situation we're in. It does us no good to bitch about how we got here, because that doesn't help us get better RIGHT NOW. Again, refocusing on who's next on the schedule. Norman has to at least be able to contain Julio Jones or Roddy White at SOME level. I'd argue neither are better than Smitty and so, if Smitty busts Norman's chops for a week (and by this I mean Norman doesn't do 1-on-1 drills with anybody else at least until This time next week), he should improve, at least a little bit.

[nctarheel0619]

Seriously, what did you guys expect for a 5th round rookie? He has looked really solid in my view. When you are drafted in the 5th round you aren't expected to be Chris Gamble.

[lightsout]

For a 5th round rookie, the kid has looked solid. I'm not disappointed in him at all.

Looked pretty good for a rookie, I agree. However, we need him to get over that rookie-mode quicker than usual. He needs to go from being a solid rookie to being a good CB overall. Sure, it doesn't seem fair, but if we want playoffs, he has to be better than "solid for a 5th round rookie".

[LinvilleGorge]

Not sure how the coaching staff plans to approaching Jones/White (or if they even plan on planning, for that matter), but if they plan on Norman covering Jones, I'm not sure how going up against 5'9" 185# Smitty is gonna prepare him for 6'3" 220# Jones. They're just very different players.

[YoMoney]

It wasn't like Carlos Rodgers was just chillin waiting for a call last year or anything.

[LinvilleGorge]

but if we want playoffs

If we want playoffs, we've got a lot bigger problems than Josh Norman.

[lightsout]

Not sure how the coaching staff plans to approaching Jones/White (or if they even plan on planning, for that matter), but if they plan on Norman covering Jones, I'm not sure how going up against 5'9" 185# Smitty is gonna prepare him for 6'3" 220# Jones. They're just very different players.

I'm talking from a pure toughness standpoint. A large part of being a corner is being able to stick with those scrappy, aggressive types. There is literally nothing that Jones does that Smitty doesn't do better. From a size standpoint, you're right. However, we saw tonight that Norman can get up and bat down balls. So, I'm looking at it like this. If he can stick with Smitty and make plays against Smitty's aggressive style and superb route running and athleticism, he SHOULD be able to do the same with Jones.

[top dawg]

Norman ain't an island unto himself. The whole secondary needs to be better prepared, as well as our LBs on the underneath routes.

And don't forget about Tony. He will probably be their key to move the chains, unless Turner and Quiz run all over us.

Basically, the coaches are gonna have to be Einsteins, and the team is gonna have to step up.

[2jakefansinva]

smitty will have to school him with mostly walk-thru's since they only allow one padded practice a week.

[Proudiddy]

Norman isn't the problem. McDerpit playing us in a soft zone all game is. And it's clear EVERYONE on our team has problems in zone. They don't know where their zone stops and the next guy's starts. Happened all game. All over the field.

Unless Norman has sole discretion in deciding whether to press or back off 10 yards, the problem is elsewhere.