Does the Packer historical preference for taller corners create a systemic shortage of slot cover guys? I had always assumed slot cover guys were smaller and quicker than the traditional corner. Perhaps this is incorrect.
It would seem that Ballentine have comparative advantage to others (except to Alexander who is blessed with incredible quickness)
Originally Posted by: Martha Careful
My short answer would be that the Packers historical preferences certainly haven't help getting good slot CB, though the Packers did have Hyde and Hayward.
Good slot CBs need better quickness and change of direction because in the middle of the field there is more direction for the receiver to run, where the outside CBs can use the sidelines to sort of take away one direction.
And smaller players happen to be quicker and better change of direction, that being said, if a bugger player has those skills even better, but they're harder to find.
Also complicating matters, is spot CBs have a run gap or run fit that they need to be able to ask sort of like a LB and try to fill, which a lot of smaller CBs aren't nessarily the best at.
So for slot CB, you're looking for someone with IQ, quickness, change of direction, toughness and willing to play physically.
I'm not sure why, but Packers seemed to believe CB Douglas could fill in at slot due to his great IQ, quickness and toughness, but he clearly didn't have the change of direction skills.
Also, in the Packers newest scheme, it's thought or assumed that we'll be seeing a lot more blitzing and a lot more attacking, so the slot CB will also have to be able to do that.
As for Packers preferences go, I'm wondering if that's changing under Gute, as this off-season, he said ideally the Safeties and slot CB will be interchangeable and the last two years we have drafted some Safeties with slot coverage experience.
But seems like the Packers are certainly looking at options that would be considered more physical than the average slot CB. So I'm guessing we're going to see them blitzing or run blitzing off the edge, and/or have a higher responsibility against the run. But at the same time, they might not have as much change of direction as the average slot CB.