Josh Norman?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I watched Norman at Coastal because the college team I work for is Coastal's rival. I do stats and scouting (to an extent) so I had every play of Norman's college career at the click of a fingertip and though I'm not a fan of Coastal, I was a fan of Norman's.

 

Norman was known for playing physical at Coastal, but unfortunately he has average to below average speed. I was one of the few that was ecstatic when we signed Drayton Florence because Florence will definitely help Norman develop.

 

The problem with Norman last year stemmed from the fact that he had to play at a seven yard cushion on receivers because he wasn't fast enough to jam them at the line like he did in college. On top of that; he was never really forced to back-pedal at Coastal because he would jam the receiver, let them go, and then kind of strafe them.

 

I fully expect Florence to teach Norman how to jam NFL receivers while not having great speed. I also expect Norman to be a much better back-pedaler than he showed last year.

 

In my opinion, 2014 will mark the beginning of the Josh Norman era.

 

Side note: For those wondering about the Bears game. We were playing a prevent defense while guarding the sidelines. It's not a bad defense to play when there is less than 45 seconds on the clock. However, there was too much time on the clock and with the Bears only needing a field goal; it wasn't a great game plan.

[La Pantera]

Normans been playing in nickel formations. I'm not sure if Cap is sliding over and playing the nick (like last season) while Norman plays the outside. Or if he's actually playing the nick back.

[Kuech the Sneak]

This is a guy who ill only buy into the hype once I see it during games, he was so frustrating to me last year I still resent him playing so soft on receivers. Playing off so far is just like your giving them the first down

[koolkatluke]

I can't get the bears game out of my head where they ran the same play at him all the way down the field for the win.

And the falcons game that Nak gets so much blame for but people forget it was Norman that got smoked and burned by Roddy on that play.

And call it coincidence but we went 4-0 with him on the bench.

 

We were also without Gamble and we all know he was the Best CB on this team. So that doesn't mean much.

 

[JawnyBlaze]

This teams best chance of winning is with Norman on the sidelines. I really don't get the obsession with him other than he's a loud mouth who constantly gets beat. I wouldn't let him cover my food while I go to the restroom.

 

This is true only if Norman hasn't gotten any better.  If he hasn't learned anything from last year and is no better, he absolutely needs to be on the bench.  I don't expect that to be the case though.  CB isn't the easiest transition to the pros.  Most CBs struggle early.  Two years ago Patrick Peterson was a terrible CB.  Last year Claiborne wasn't very good.  CB isn't a position that guys usually come in completely NFL ready.  If Norman progresses, he's our best option to be a starting CB.  Captain is a solid player, an above average nickel, but he just isn't good enough or big enough to cover most NFL WRs.

 

And I half blame the Bears fiasco on Rivera.  It seemed the coverage that was called demanded the sort of off-play that Norman got burnt on so much.  Rivera (or one of the more experienced players) should have fixed that after the first quick slant to Marshall. 

 

[TNPanther]

Great potential he has. But there was a reason he was a 5th round pick. He doesn't have the best speed and gets beat too often.

Sent from my SGH-T999

[Seltzer]

I was surprised Gamble retired although he seemed to not really to be into playing in 2009 and 2010 and he play showed.

He seemed resurgent (and the stats bore it out in 2011).

He would probably gotten at least 3-4 million on the open market even at his age & coming off an injury.

Glad we never had to see him play for anybody else. One of the more under appreciated players of the last decades. Deserved at least a couple of Pro Bowls.

[JawnyBlaze]

This is a guy who ill only buy into the hype once I see it during games, he was so frustrating to me last year I still resent him playing so soft on receivers. Playing off so far is just like your giving them the first down

 

Yea, for sure.  That soft poo was annoying.  I wonder if he was told not to press and play tight or was just afraid of getting burned and played that way on his own.  I dunno, but I hope he fixes it.  His arms are so long he'd be great at jamming WR and disrupting their route.

 

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Normans been playing in nickel formations. I'm not sure if Cap is sliding over and playing the nick (like last season) while Norman plays the outside. Or if he's actually playing the nick back.

 

That's interesting, Norman doesn't have great speed and the player the nickel usually covers the slot receiver.

 

Maybe they think that Norman can jam the little'r receivers.

[beastson]

Norman is a physical corner who struggled in a zone scheme. Why yall acting like you didn't see last year and how we played

 

They just posted a thread about our defensive schemes 

[DaCityKats]

That's interesting, Norman doesn't have great speed and the player the nickel usually covers the slot receiver.

 

Maybe they think that Norman can jam the little'r receivers.

 

i think in the nickel he comes in and plays outside, while pushing Captain into the slot. also im glad you mentioned we jumped into a prevent/ cover 4 look on that last bears drive which was beyond dumb especially when all they had to do was get into field goal position. again, after the first couple of plays, why the coaching staff didnt get the message to him to play closer or tighten up is beyond me.

 

also in the falcons game, we looked to be playing cover 2 on that deep ball to Roddy. which is why Norman allowed Roddy to get behind him, because he was no longer in his zone. he did run with the WR because no one else threaten his zone, but still that is the safetys zone.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

This teams best chance of winning is with Norman on the sidelines. I really don't get the obsession with him other than he's a loud mouth who constantly gets beat. I wouldn't let him cover my food while I go to the restroom.

 

It's the David Gettis factor. You see flashes of what he can do, he has the measurable, and his potential is through the roof. But regardless of all that, he's raw. Most raw talents don't make it big time.

[AceBoogie]

You can't teach speed. I'll be the first to congratulate Norman if he turns it around this year, he's a panther so I don't want him to fail, but he was noticeably awful last year. It seemed like every qb had the same scouting report "throw it to the receiver being covered by norman." When Rivera's job was at stake he sat him down. Having the tools is one thing but remember what Charles Johnson said last year about some players not preparing. He seemed to be talking about Norman. I hope he proves me wrong I really do, but I'd take Captain any day of the week. He may be smaller but he made a lot of key plays last season.

[Carolinaboy1979]

Great potential he has. But there was a reason he was a 5th round pick. He doesn't have the best speed and gets beat too often.

Sent from my SGH-T999

Yes, still a padawan he is....