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Why are cornerbacks so short?

G

gtexan02

Working?
With WRs becoming progressively taller and faster, do you think we'll start seeing more 6'0+ corners? It must be tough for a 5'10 guy to cover a 6'5 guy, especially when they both run the same speed and have the same vertical capabilities
 
Vinny said:
backpedal....NFL corners need good hips and the ability to sprint backwards. Its harder to sprint backwards and turn and run smoothly with extremely long legs.
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Why do I have a vision of seeing this same post here 10 years from now?

No offense gtexan--it's just that the logic of big doesn't play near as much of a role as the logic of reaction time and closing speed. There is a huge difference between knowing where you are going and reacting to where someone else is going.
 
I do think it's a legit question why every position seems to get bigger and taller while retaining athleticism while CB seems to stay about the same size. Unless they were 5'6" 160 on average 30 years ago. Wasn't alive back then so its possible..

Or are these guys the ones getting their shot at WR even when they aren't that reliable catching the ball?
 
brandon browner is 6'4 to

is he still on the broncos roster, anyone know?

i remember i wanted the texans to pick him so bad in the 05 draft
 
dunta23 said:
brandon browner is 6'4 to

is he still on the broncos roster, anyone know?

i remember i wanted the texans to pick him so bad in the 05 draft
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Broncos | Browner waived from team
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:43:14 -0700

The Denver Broncos announced SS Brandon Browner has been waived from the team.
 
jason allen could be moved to corner this year in miami. he's 6'1, 213. cromartie is a big one. this year, you have mccauley. i'd say corners are progressively getting bigger, just like every other position.
 
With the shift in the NFL towards a Cover-2 Shell (and even more so in a Tampa-2 Zone), you see CB's who are either not responsible for WR's downfield or at least get help over the top from a safety downfield. This is why teams are looking more and more into 6'+ safeties (not CB's). Since most jump balls (where height is a advantage) would occur downfield, players who have height are being converted to safety from CB.

DB's who are tall and rangy could still be effective CB's, but putting them at safety would maximize any height advantage they may have.
 
Part of this is also where they get slotted/pegged in high school and college. Taller guys are developed as WRs. Shorter guys with the same speed are developed as CBs.
 
I think that TexMexVato has a good point also.

I think coaches see people who are extremely fast, agile and tall and think "Hey this guy would be an awesome WR." Therefore people with that body type are pushed towards the offensive side of the ball. I think there is a bias towards wanting the great offensive weapons.

Correct me if I am wrong but take an awesome athlete like Calvin Johnson, do you not think he could turn and close??
 
GoPats said:
Part of this is also where they get slotted/pegged in high school and college. Taller guys are developed as WRs. Shorter guys with the same speed are developed as CBs.
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There is probably some truth to that. And everyone wants to play offense and get the ball, so more taller guys probably want to play receiver than D
but are more apt to get their wishs than the shorter guys beause of the built in bias in favor of the taller players.
And taller guys don't have just longer legs, but perhaps they are also disproportionatly longer to their bodies. This would tend to restrict their general mobility in such maneuvers as the backpedal as compared to the shorter players.
And taller players make for a bigger target for the paser: more reach, more extenstion, etc.
 
great question gtexan,one i was wondering when i was looking at all the cb's height and weights.

Another reason i think is that while the WR needs to be taller..to catch the ball. The CB is successful if he just deflects it. So I think if they can jump a good bit they can just get a hand in there and it'd be fine. If the wr just gets a hand on it...he'll get cut sooner than later. lol
 
Vinny said:
backpedal....NFL corners need good hips and the ability to sprint backwards. Its harder to sprint backwards and turn and run smoothly with extremely long legs.
Click to expand...

infantrycak said:
the logic of big doesn't play near as much of a role as the logic of reaction time and closing speed. There is a huge difference between knowing where you are going and reacting to where someone else is going.
Click to expand...

Good replies. It's simply a matter of physics.
 
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