Packers Young Cornerbacks Facing Ultimate Test
By jasonperone
The Green Bay Packers are just two practices into this year's training camp and already there is plenty of buzz.
The coordinators and their rousing speeches, Aaron Rodgers' contract, Mike McCarthy's job security and the usual list of players performing well or not-so-well.
One of the biggest buzz topics is the young cornerback group. Rookies Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson have many eyes on them as they begin showcasing their talents and what they can offer right away.
Our own Zach Jacobson wrote about the duo and some of their initial thoughts after a few practices.
With Alexander being a first-round pick and Jackson a second, both are going to be exptected to contribute on defense this season and right away.
That's easier said than done. Cornerback is one of the toughest positions for young players to learn and play well at the NFL level. Not every rookie can be Jalen Ramsey or Patrick Peterson right away.
Footage came out of a drill where Jackson is covering Randall Cobb and Aaron Rodgers is throwing. Jackson stumbles ever so slightly in transition and Cobb gets by him for what would have been a long completion.
Here is the clip:
Aaron Rodgers▶️Randall Cobb
Welcome to the NFL, Josh Jackson#GoPackGo
pic.twitter.com/MlE2n4JxqI— IKE Packers (@IKE_Packers) July 28, 2018
It's a good illustration of just how tough it can be to play corner in the NFL. Alexander and Jackson have their work cut out for them but both have the tools and demeanor to excel with more time and reps.
The old saying "iron sharpens iron" is especially true when you consider that these young corners are facing the NFL's best quarterback and some top wide receivers every day in practice.
Rodgers is just as competive in practice as he is in game. After being picked off by second-year corner Kevin King, he argued that the play wasn't an interception and that Cobb actually came away with the ball. While it seemed like Rodgers was joking around, he was dead serious.
Nothing will be handed to these young players. Head Coach Mike McCarthy believes players should earn their reps and playing time and Rodgers wants to win every single play. Anything that guys like Alexander and Jackson do will come through hard work and near-perfect execution.
The rookies are getting some good reps in early and often and King is off to a fast start. Add in veterans Tramon Williams and Davon House (assuming both are on the final roster) and this cornerback group could quickly become a strength.
Fortunately, the Packers have enough top talent on the offensive side of the ball to sharpen the iron that is to be the young corners. Come the beginning of the season, that could translate into two rookies who are ready to do big things for this defense.
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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts. You can follow him on Twitter here
Comments (86)
NickPerry
July 30, 2018 at 06:37 am
Jackson going to have more plays like that in the future. Both him and Alexander will get beat in practice. After all they are playing against a few damn fine WR's and the best QB in the NFL. What will matter most after plays like that is what they learn. I'd be willing to bet T Will was talking to him sometime afterwards offering some advice if some was needed.
King, Josh Jones, Alexander, and Jackson all are going to make mistakes especially when facing a QB like Rodgers. It's what they learn from those mistakes that will make em better.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 08:42 am
If 12 keeps making throws like that he could one day be considered in the upper echelon of current NFL QB’s!
TheBigCheeze
July 30, 2018 at 01:07 pm
"If 12 keeps making throws like that he could one day be considered in the upper echelon of current NFL QB’s!"
.......ONE DAY????.........he's THEE best NOW!!!!
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 04:44 pm
Looks like TBC isn’t picking up what I’m putting down...
jeremyjjbrown
July 30, 2018 at 09:35 pm
Maybe one day he'll get it...
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 01:14 pm
Here TK...apparently you need some of these....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 01:52 pm
Are tilde's now the official sarcasm indicator?
Side note, on my display, your string of tilde's run straight across the entire screen beyond the confines of the message area, for whatever reason.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 02:41 pm
Yes, ~~~~ are the official indicators of sarcasm, also known as at least half of anything put out by TK.
And yes, my display looks just like yours...could it be an iPad thing?
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 03:49 pm
That's a negative, ghost rider.
I'm on a PC desktop workstation.
Over.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 02:39 pm
Gracias for the refill, Big D!
Spock
August 01, 2018 at 05:32 pm
Lol, dobber, With TK I don't need it; with others (sigh) I apparently do. :)
RCPackerFan
July 30, 2018 at 06:48 am
What I really like is that these rookies will have to earn playing time. Both Alexander and Jackson will have to compete and perform will to make it onto the field. With Williams and House as veterans they will have to learn how to play quickly to get ahead of them. Also with King returning and having a great first few days to camp they will really have to compete.
There was a play on twitter that I saw Alexander getting torched by MVS. (which was awesome seeing his speed). But what I liked was at the end of the play Alexander turned his head around to make a play on the ball. While the ball was underthrown it still showed that he didn't panic and still made a play on the ball.
Having Rodgers on the opposite side of the ball will only make them better players.
Can't wait for the first preseason game!
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 08:10 am
"Having Rodgers on the opposite side of the ball will only make them better players."
Was it last year's TC or the year before when it was HHCD or Randall or one of the other DBs who said it was "almost unfair" going up against #12 in practice day in and day out?
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 08:39 am
Yes, it was the Brown who said that.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 30, 2018 at 05:13 pm
On the plus side, it was a slight stumble which led to Cobb getting one step on Jackson, and it looked like Jackson did get his head turned around, but the pass was right on the money. It looked like a nice jab step by Cobb.
On the negative side, Jackson couldn't make up the step even though the pass was completed 29 yards downfield. Of course, Cobb didn't run away from Jackson either.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
July 30, 2018 at 08:43 pm
I noticed that as well. Cobb doesn't have great straight line speed but we all know Jackson doesn't either and why he wasn't a first round pick. He will need to work on his hands at line of scrimmage. Remember Al Harris wasn't fast either but strong at the line of scrimmage. I hope Jackson looks up tape of Harris.
GBPDAN1
July 30, 2018 at 07:42 am
"The rookies are getting some good reps in early and often and King is off to a fast start. Add in veterans Tramon Williams and Davon House (assuming both are on the final roster) and this cornerback group could quickly become a strength. "
Glad to hear King is looking healthy and is off to a fast start. King playing well is key while the rookies gather experience.
As far as TW and DH possibly not making the final roster? I'll be shocked and disappointed if TW doesn't. I would also be disappointed if DH doesn't make it, too. Having experienced veterans is ideal and DH also fits Pettine's press scheme
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
July 30, 2018 at 08:51 pm
I understand your point, however experience doesn't matter to me (McCarty's weakness of hanging on too long). Give me the most talented players with the most upside.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 08:57 pm
Ask Jordy if MM hangs on too long.
stockholder
July 30, 2018 at 09:20 pm
scheme
LambeauPlain
July 30, 2018 at 08:04 am
A few years ago many figured the Pack had fixed the holes at CB after Williams, House, and Hayward departed with the drafting of Randall and Rollins.
It seems Capers was intent to pound square pegs into round holes as both guys now seem miscast as CBs and will be better playing S.
Randall is playing S in Cleveland and Pettine has been playing Rollins at hybrid LB early in camp...and you don't play CBs in that spot.
But this is clear, the duo drafted to play CB this year are bonafide CBs in Alexander and Jackson. Throw in Williams and House and pass coverage could be a possible strength this year.
And if the D line can do what we hope with all that depth up front as the DBs prevent completions...the worries about OLB/Edge rushers could be quickly doused, IMO.
porupack
July 30, 2018 at 08:39 am
Yep. Exactly right LPlain.
Not only that, but...…'>the Pettine Factor<'
The ,>Pettine Factor< will have high probability of (improvement over Capers) a more coordinated Dback group, and thus safeties HHCD and JJ with higher consistency and production, and we'll see a HHCD rebound. A few less blown assignments per game, is two to three less big plays and changes the how each unit adjusts thereafter, as opposing offenses get jittery and more conservative, hold the ball longer, and repeating what you imply; CM and NP get to the QB and their 2018 stats should make the OLB starters adequate, if not resurgent.
kevgk
July 30, 2018 at 10:32 am
Lets be fair here, who did Thompson leave him with? Sam Shields and LaDarius Gunter? We know their story, and Dom needed to put SOMEBODY at corner.
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 11:00 am
True, but Gunter was the 5th CB and didn't really step in until after Rollins, Randall and Shields all got beat up in 2016. Rollins and Randall were at least somewhat competent in 2015 as rookies. I don't think any team is ever prepared to lose its top 3 CBs...and no team is prepared for its CBs to return and play poorly.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 11:59 am
facts
Archie
July 30, 2018 at 07:21 pm
I'm still not convinced on Josh Jackson. History shows us that supposed 1st rd talent that falls into R2 is often highly suspect. More than that, Jackson lacked fluidity in the combine, was very stiff in the hips and lacked the speed to recover once beaten. So I wouldn't get too carried away on JJ just yet. Let him prove that he can overcome his physical limitations before anointing him the 2nd coming. Alexander is the real deal.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
July 30, 2018 at 08:56 pm
Wow...give the guy a chance. Lol!
You state let Jackson prove he can overcome his liabilities but then go on to say Alexander is the real deal. Doesn't Alexander have to prove he can overcome his liabilities?
fthisJack
July 30, 2018 at 08:14 am
Jackson went for the fake inside and it was enough for Cobb to get a step on him.... he'll learn.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 08:40 am
I guess Cobb isn’t so slow after all.
Archie
July 30, 2018 at 07:26 pm
Or maybe JJ is the same speed as Cobb. I think we all know Cobb lacks the ability to separate. Lack of speed is part of the reason why. He's also short in the limbs and lacks the super quickness of a Davante Adams. Three bad attributes especially in combination.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 07:34 pm
Yeah, there's a bunch of people who "know" Cobb lacks the ability to separate. Those people are known as "incorrect".
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 08:18 pm
WooHoo! Burned to a crisp.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 08:43 am
The missing caption for the accompanying photo was supposed to read: “Sorry rook, but you aren’t the first guy I’ve toasted”
Chuck Farley
July 30, 2018 at 08:51 am
It's only day two. Hopefully over time he will get faster, considering Cobb ain't. Or he could play off like the others and get beat often.
Please. They said at the draft he lacked speed.
WKUPackFan
July 30, 2018 at 10:34 am
Can you not read?? The article states that he stumbled ever so slightly. Lack of speed had nothing to do with it.
In the 2nd grade we had to write our name on a slip of paper and put it in a jar every time we said "ain't". Apparently you never made it to the 2nd grade.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 12:30 pm
What happened to the names in the jar?
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 12:52 pm
I think the odds WEREN'T ever in their favor...
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 02:45 pm
I’d love to see a “your/you’re” jar, and a “there/they’re/their” jar, and a “lineman/linemen” jar, and a...oh heck, that’s too many jars.
(Or two many jars.)
(Or to many jars.)
(Or tú many jars.)
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 07:35 pm
Thank god there's only one way to spell Jar.
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 08:13 pm
There was one too many Jar Jars...
Archie
July 30, 2018 at 07:28 pm
Lack of speed is why he couldn't recover.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
July 30, 2018 at 09:01 pm
He doesn't need to get faster. He needs better anticipation and using his hands at line of scrimmage.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
July 30, 2018 at 08:59 am
Cobb's ankle surgery appears to have been a great move. Perhaps we'll see a return of his consistent inside burst. So far, so good.
Jackson may need ankle surgery after that play.
Since'61
July 30, 2018 at 09:06 am
I realize that it is early in camp and Jackson is going against Aaron Rodgers but my concern with the clip is that Cobb is allegedly not fast enough to gain separation and yet he blew past Jackson. I realize that Jackson bit on the inside move but he did not close on the play, the way for example Shields would have closed on the play.
Obviously one clip is not enough to judge and Jackson has a huge learning curve. He still deserves every benefit of the doubt but the clip just gave me some concern about his speed for the CB position.
The flip slide is that Rodgers is already making absolutely perfect throws this early in camp. That bodes well for the upcoming season. Thanks, Since '61
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 09:30 am
If you have the ability (and time), find condensed Packers games from the last two years and isolate your attention fully on Randall Cobb. I think you will find he gets separation on a regular basis.
4thand1
July 30, 2018 at 10:25 am
Your right on Oppy, also Adams gets open off the line too. The only concerne I have is these guys get open over the middle and have gotten clobbered for it.
Bure9620
July 30, 2018 at 01:47 pm
Yes Oppy, Cobb was 8th in the league among WRs in creating separation according to PFF.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 01:55 pm
Do you know off-hand how they define "separation", Bure?
Thegreatreynoldo
July 30, 2018 at 05:15 pm
I had a rant against Next Gen's separation stat. I believe Cobb was ranked third in the entire NFL in separation. There was no meaningful correlation between having a good separation stat and being a good receiver. I am just curious: how much separation did Cobb have against Jackson in the clip? 1 yard?
I suppose I might find the energy to watch film on Cobb. He gets his separation numbers on crossers against LBs and safeties. It has been a LONG time since I saw him beat anyone on a vertical route. The last one I remember was not against a CB.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 07:44 pm
TGR, you don't have to be a deep threat burner in order to be a productive WR in the league.
For that matter, I honestly am not concerned with a WR creating a huge amount of separation to begin with.. So long as the QB can/will get him the ball, and he makes something of it- what's the difference?
If Cobb can take a short pass from Rodgers with one yard of separation against a LB crossing the middle of the field and turn it up field for 15 yards, that's as good in my book as Cobb beating a CB on a streak for 15.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 31, 2018 at 01:13 am
I agree: Cobb is still quick and pretty elusive. He showed elusiveness several times last season. I think Cobb is a somewhat above average slot WR. I'd put his over/under for receiving yards this year at about 775 yards. He probably will command $6.5 to $7M AAV next year, unless the WR market continues to spiral upwards and he gets more.
kevgk
July 30, 2018 at 10:38 am
He didn't have great speed in the combine. Thankfully Alexander and King are lightning fast. Jackson will have to perfect his technique, but he certainly looks like he could have a stronger press at the line to make up for it. His skills in zone coverage coming out of college give him a lot of schematic value too.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Jackson's stand out skills are his top-notch instincts and ball skills coupled with long arms and ability to snatch the ball out of the air with one hand and secure the pick. He's critiqued for being susceptible to fakes/double moves at the line (like in the clip- this is something that can be improved upon) and having suspect deep speed. Give him safety help over the top and let him makes plays while mitigating the risks while he's learning the position- oh, yeah, by the way- Jackson just started playing CB in 2015. Upside is huge. :)
Since'61
July 30, 2018 at 01:06 pm
Oppy - I agree with both of your posts. I agree that Cobb does get separation but there have been lots of complaints that he hasn't gotten separation over the last 2 seasons.
As for Jackson, I agree that he has plenty of upside. He needs to adjust to the NFL game. Thanks, Since '61
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 02:13 pm
Definitely a lot of voices talking about the Packers WR's not getting separation (in general). It seems an awful lot of that talk was a way to avoid coming to grips with the fact something was very, very off with Rodgers' play at QB (compared to 'normal' Rodgers level of play) for almost an entire calendar year between 2015 and into the 2016 season.
Lots of residual opining about WRs "not getting open" that is the result of cognitive jet lag for a lot of people, I believe- people know what they know instead of seeing what is. With Cobb, it's a combination of the aforementioned "rodgers funk" misplaced agnst, and the fact his production didn't live up to his paycheck, I think.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 30, 2018 at 05:24 pm
It is a lot easier to give safety help if we're not in single high all the time. Things may change under Pettine.
Archie
July 30, 2018 at 07:34 pm
I'd be willing to bet Cobb will not be a Packer after 2018. And why would a WR needy team let Cobb go? Lack of separation, short limbs and very ordinary speed and quickness. We're not talking Welker here.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 07:49 pm
I'd be willing to bet Cobb won't be a Packer after 2018 as well, and it has nothing to do with his limb length, speed, or ability to separate (which is an utter myth, watch the games with your eyes, he's getting open consistently.) It's because someone will pay him and the Packers need cap space for Rodgers. Unless Cobb takes a big "hometown discount", he's going elsewhere regardless of production in 2018.
Since'61
July 30, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Oppy - I completely agree with your assessment of Cobb. In fact there have been many plays in 2016 +'17 when Cobb was open on plays but other better covered receivers were thrown the ball either by Rodgers or Hundley. I'm not sure why but a review of the game tapes proves it.
I also agree that this will be Cobb's last season in GB but it will be because another team will pay him in free agency, not because of his allegedly poor production. Thanks, Since '61
Thegreatreynoldo
July 31, 2018 at 01:17 am
I agree with both of you. I hope Cobb is allowed to walk because Moore, MVS, or someone proves that he can replace him. Or even someone becomes a nice #2 boundary WR and Graham simply becomes the slot receiver.
Oppy
July 31, 2018 at 11:40 am
Since '61,
I can't tell you how happy I am you went back and saw for yourself.
I go absolutely nuts having to watch the unreasonable amount of plays where Randall Cobb is running loose underneath, WIDE open- the kind of wide open that isn't supposed to happen in the NFL- waving his hand in the air like crazy trying to get Rodgers' attention. Instead, Rodgers holds the ball, scrambles out of the pocket to his right, and Packers fans complain about the OL not giving him time and how our WRs can't get separation. What can you do? Lol.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 09:16 am
You can file Jackson getting burned under "Rookie learning the speed of the NFL game".
You can also bet that if this was a live game rep, Jackson would have had his hands up in Cobb's chest and shoulders at the LOS and it would have been a different rep altogether.
Good experience for Jackson, and as my mother always said, "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted." :)
Lare
July 30, 2018 at 06:47 pm
Jackson's biggest mistake was not getting press coverage with Cobb at the LOS. If a CB is going to play that close to the WR, he has to get contact with him to disrupt his route. Tramon Williams is a master at this, Jackson needs to take some suggestions from him.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 07:50 pm
Are they going full contact on the perimeter at this point in camp?
Cartwright
July 30, 2018 at 10:12 am
The point regarding you earn your playing time is quite valid. If this tape is revealing anything I'd just as soon see the other Josh, Josh Hawkins or Pipkins get some extra reps in and playing time during pre season. They have NFL experience and can possibly build from it. Nothing should get handed to you.
4thand1
July 30, 2018 at 10:20 am
Early play early camp, leaves some posters feelings damp. So he got beat off of the line in press coverage in practice, with no help over the top. I'm surprised we didn't see some posts, where was HHCD, that bum?
Demon
July 30, 2018 at 11:12 am
I see that A Jones has been held out of the last 2 days of practice with Hammy tightness. Ugh I'm thinking (strength and conditioning coach) Mark Lovat is another one of MM's crappy assistants that should have been canned years ago.
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 11:43 am
You're going to have to look pretty far and wide (and maybe under the carpets, too) if you're going to find an NFL team that has all 90 players in pads and on the practice field on any given day. I'd go so far as to say tight hamstrings might be the leading cause of missed practices in the league.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 11:48 am
I’ve got some hammy tightness myself today,but I think it’s due to yesterday’s waterskiing, which I usually only do once a year.
4thand1
July 30, 2018 at 03:08 pm
Well now you have a year to recuperate.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 31, 2018 at 01:19 am
Another couple of years and TK will be down to just tubing.
TKWorldWide
July 31, 2018 at 10:31 pm
Probably so! But not ready to give up yet at “only” 51. :)
Cubbygold
July 30, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Alright, so if Brice just tore his ACL, who we going after in FA? Too bad Boston just signed with the Cardinals...
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 12:38 pm
He just re-injured his ACL??
Cubbygold
July 30, 2018 at 12:47 pm
I hope not, but he got carted off...
Oppy
July 30, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Not good. Well, we have Josh Jones and a few other young safeties. Oak Creek's own Marwin Evans?
I take it you're watching camp from the stands. How does it look so far? I'll be up next week.
Cubbygold
July 30, 2018 at 01:30 pm
I wish, just caught a tweet from someone who is though.
Lots of FAs available too. I lean towards grabbing a vet if Brice really is injured badly. Can't have more inexperience and miscommunication in this secondary. Need to build up these young guys before putting too much responsibility.
Lare
July 30, 2018 at 01:58 pm
Ryan and Daniels also injured during today's practice.
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 04:12 pm
Ryan apparently looks pretty serious. Daniels is OK, by his own account.
kevgk
July 30, 2018 at 04:04 pm
Safety was the position with the least depth imo, tough break to lose a potential starter. A couple depth pieces are availible though, I wonder if they would be good fits.
dobber
July 30, 2018 at 04:14 pm
A couple quality starters still out there.
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 04:49 pm
Kenny Vaccaro?
Eric Reid?
JonathanSpader
July 30, 2018 at 04:52 pm
Eric Reed and Kenny Vaccaro are still out there.
Edit: Great minds think alike TK
TKWorldWide
July 30, 2018 at 06:45 pm
Heh heh
Bure9620
July 30, 2018 at 01:51 pm
I don't expect much from Josh Jackson this season, he needs to refine his technique. Lets not forget the kid has not played much corner. He came to Iowa as a WR. Like his upside though. The talent is there.
Lphill
July 30, 2018 at 04:24 pm
Rollins could play safety, was probably the plan . And by the way that was a perfect throw from Rodgers to Cobb not many could have defended it.