Given that the gold standard for cover corners played for the 49ers in one Deion Sanders, his early predecessor, Jimmy Johnson, the hardest hitting CB around in Ronnie Lott, and one of the best pure cover guys in Eric Wright, the question today is, are there any real shutdown cornerbacks left in the NFL? Jimmy Johnson was one of the first corners considered a shutdown corner, as he was studiously avoided by just about every head coach in the game back then. Of course, ‘back then’ meant jamming WRs at the line, hand-checking down the field, and grappling with the WR until the ball was in the air.
The culmination of the ‘anything goes’ era of defensive backfield prowess came in the form of Mel Blount. At 6’3, 205 lb, and 4.5 speed he had the power and quickness to take on anyone and everyone the NFL had to offer in the way of WRs. And he won most of the battles. In a 14 year career, he amassed 57 picks and left countless broken WRs in his wake. This led of course to the Mel Blount rule change of not being able to bump or impede the WR after the WR gets 5 yards off the line.
This led to smaller and quicker CBs like Champ Bailey, Darrell Green, Eric Wright, and yes, Neon Deion. Guys who could read and react quickly to WRs adjusting routes, and close fast once the ball was in the air. These guys were not necessarily known as tacklers (Deion? Please! He avoided contact like the plague), but made their bones covering the #1 WR on a given team and taking away half the field available to the opposing QB. Sure there have been outliers, Mike Haynes, Lester Hayes, big guys that got it done, but the trend was these guys to be strictly coverage, and let the safeties clean up the runs. Especially with the even newer rules around covering WRs. The line of engagement is now ONE yard as opposed to 5, so the onus is even higher to cover WRs without incurring a penalty.
Now? Well, Richard Sherman is now the standard to what the prototypical CB should be. Big, strong, and fast. Sherman is (well, was) excellent in run defense, zone coverage, and press coverage. The whole package. Thing is, he and his Seattle compatriots seemed to get away with grabbing, roughing up, and impeding WRs. Why they got away with this is a different matter, but their success as a whole, and Sharman’s in particular certainly has changed how GMs and scouts look at corners in college. They want rangy, fast, and tough CBs.
It remains to see if we got the real deal here, but Sherman is better than what we had. He may not be a true cover corner, but he’s as close as we can get.
Forty Niners Forever 
This could get interesting. The Packers just cut Jordy Nelson.
Does anybody here like this as much as i do
http://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/114493-richard-sherman-warns-critics-judge-49ers-contract-soon/
Seeing reports of Bridgewater to NYJ. They’re another team that could snag QNelson if that’s the case.
Bills to grab Lotulelei and that could impact their ability to pay ILB Preston Brown.
Be a nice add if they’re interested in an instant option to Foster….just say’n.
DE Adrian Clayborn, LT Greg Robinson and OG Shawn Lauvao aren’t yet committed anywhere from the looks of it either.
Could be some bargains with Post FA cuts too.
Same goes for OGs Jonathan Cooper in Dallas and Jack Mewhort in Indy.
Jets also got T. Johnson and the RB from the Browns, kinda looks like they are serious about contending but I think they are gonna have to draft a QB for the future.
Buffalo is putting pressure on the NYJ to grab the QB with Pick 1 Winder.
If Buffalo can swing a deal to leapfrog them, it would sure be epic.
Division rivals sharing NY.
It doesn’t get more intriguing than that 😀
Top 10 should be very busy this year.
Browns and Bills will see to it I think.
I saw that too , never thought Lotulelei would become a free agent at this point
Deep Class of DTs coming next month Rob.
Cheaper/Younger options.
Donte Moncrief to Jags is being reported – Another WR off the radar if true –
Mo Wilkerson to GB too –
Looks like Carlos is gone ! If so a RB at #9 seems like the way this is going !
Actually it looks like a pretty good running back class so trade down is still an option . Now RB Pass rusher and WR are on my short list in rd. 1
http://walterfootball.com/draft2018RB.php
From a Q&A with Todd Mcshay
11. What if the 49ers, who traded for Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this season, get a top-two pick? Should a QB still be in play?
McShay: No. I think Garoppolo can be a starting-caliber quarterback in San Francisco. He’s only 26 years old. He needs a better supporting cast around him. Wide receiver and offensive line are two of the 49ers’ biggest needs, and because there isn’t an elite lineman or wide receiver worthy of the top pick, the first thing I would do is put the pick on the block for the highest bidder that is looking to move up to take one of the quarterbacks. The 49ers’ rebuild will take some time, and they need multiple picks.
And this one
If my team needs a ______, we’re in luck in this draft.
McShay: Running back. It’s a very deep draft at the position. Barkley is No. 1, but LSU’s Derrius Guice, Stanford’s Bryce Love and the Alabama duo of Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris are really good, too. I have nine backs with grades that would put them in the first three rounds.
McKinnon on board from MN
Scat back with good Receiving skills.
Good morning !
Shows how smart I am ! We just signed Mckinnon ! I guess he’s a better receiver out of the backfield than carlos . Must be why we swapped out backs !
“Carlos Hyde was a deliberate, physical runner. In that sense, he wasn’t a great fit for Kyle Shanahan’s outside zone scheme that thrives with explosive, one-cut-and-go running backs.
That’s what the team got by signing former Viking Jerick McKinnon. “
Holy crap
McKinnon’s running stats don’t leap out at you, but I suppose it’s all about fit. He’s a good receiver. With Hyde gone, someone will have to carry the running load. Williams? A draftee?
Williams. McKinnon will be splitting time with Williams. Brieda as backup.
New thread is up.