We did it guys, we made it all the way to the second lowest graded unit on the team…the corners. The one and only reason that this unit is rated higher than linebacker in my eyes is that there are a couple of players who showed some potential. Both units have the same story though; both corner and linebacker have a single player who is a starting caliber player on a contender. For the cornerbacks its Keenan Lewis, AKA ‘West Bank’. Beyond him? Well, you know… let’s take a look.
CORNERBACKS:
Keenan Lewis: 37 tackles, 4 assists, and 2 picks.
I have made it a habit to save the best players of each unit for last for most of these reviews, but in this case I want to start with the singular bright spot on the unit. Keenan has demonstrated over the last two years that he is not only one of the greatest bargains in the NFL, but is absolutely a number 1 corner in this league. Keenan repeatedly shutdown top receivers this last year, and while he didn’t necessarily always deliver, he was still easily the best (read: only) option at the position on the team. The Saints secondary was a disaster this year, but Keenan was probably the one guy who can raise his hands up and go ‘what you want me to do?’. Keenan saw some drops in production (in other words gave up some plays) later in the year, but a lot of that had to do with him fighting through a pretty awful knee injury. Give Keenan a pass rush and competent guys around him and he will be mentioned among the elites in the league at his position… he is that good. I don’t do many individual grades… but Keenan is an A-rank player guys and we are lucky to have him (go Beaves!!!!).
Patrick Robinson: 37 tackles, 7 assists, 2 picks.
Robinson is the only player on the team that I have graded at two different positions where there is a major difference between the grades. As an ‘outside’ number 2 type corner Robinson has the second lowest grade on the entire team, at any position, period. His first few games this year were an absolute disaster. Any player who gets benched and replaced by the unmitigated disaster that is Corey White, probably shouldn’t even be in the league. However, there is actually a scenario where I not only could see him back next year, but want him. Intrigued? I hope so. Robinson was eventually moved to the Saints nickel/slot role and may have finally found his place in the league. Playing that role Robinson is able to use his gifts (tremendous athleticism and quickness with good instincts) without having to rely on his weaknesses (knowing the play call, moving the receiver to the right spot, and playing the ball at the right time). P-rob was damn near dominant at times in the slot this year and his elite quickness allows him to cover guys who have given the Saints a ton or problems the last few years. If the team brings him back in that role (and that role ONLY) I am all good with it. If they even think of putting him back on the outside…get your torches ready folks!!
Brian Dixon: 15 tackles, 3 assists, 1 forced fumble.
Dixon demonstrated something to me that no other player not named Keenan showed at any point all year…good technique. Brian Dixon might be the only guy among the young corners who has a pro-ready skill set. It is an incredibly underestimated part of the position and Dixon looked not only skilled but comfortable. Dixon isn’t ready to start yet, and it is my belief that the coaches new the season was done and passed him up on the depth chart to preserve his confidence towards the end of the year. At this point it’s just potential which is why I am not proclaiming him anything at this point other than a ‘could be’, but considering everything else at the position…he really is the only bright spot. Dixon’s potential for the team as maybe its number 2 of the future can actually be summed up in 2 plays he was beat on. There was a play on the right sideline against AJ Green and a TD against Steve Smith last year where he demonstrated near perfect coverage. The AJ Green play in particular he just got beat by a perfect pass and catch, but his execution was basically flawless. On the Smith play his inexperience was the only reason he didn’t pick the ball as he had position and had great coverage on one of the biggest pains in the butt in the league. Dixon has a ton of growth potential, but unless he turns that potential into a reality he will be nothing more than a nice ‘what if’.
Terrence Frederick: 14 tackles, 2 assists.
Please don’t bring him back. Please, Sean…please? He isn’t the worst corner I have ever seen, but honestly… he isn’t a starting corner in this league. I didn’t see really any kind of decent play from outside of playing Chicago… and I could have covered them against Cutler at that point. The kid just doesn’t have great technique and while he is certainly athletic (and MAYBE could be developed eventually) the Saints don’t have the kind of window to wait on a long shot. Especially not with two others on the team in SJP and Delvin Breux.
Stanley Jean-Baptiste : N/A
Barely played a snap and was obviously being held and developed to later. This isn’t the first player Payton has red-shirted, and we can only hope he pans out next year. Jean-Baptiste has the measurables and upside to be a top-level corner in the league, but there are only so many paper champions you can rely on before you have to take it all to the shredder. Jean-Baptiste isn’t at that point yet, but if he can’t crack the active roster next year then he is almost definitely a bust. I hope for his sake (and ours) that he is putting in the work and that new assistant Dennis Allen can help to develop him to the point where he can live up to his high billing.
Delvin Breux: N/A
He is on the roster and if Baptiste doesn’t work out, this kid might. He has gotten a decent amount of hype and if he can live up to his own billing as a ‘top five pick’ then the Saints already netted the steal of the off-season. Only time will tell.
Corey White:50 Tackles, 3 assists, 2 picks, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack…and over 9000 blown coverages.
White is the ‘Grand PooPa’ of the ‘how’d he make the team’ parade. That is perhaps a slight exaggeration of him as a player, but not by much. Go back to when he was drafted out of the 5th round and the first thing he says is he can’t wait to pick Drew off in practice, to the way he has played since then and you will notice two things. First of all he has a ton of physical gifts and its why the Saints took a flyer on him, but secondly (and more importantly) Corey hasn’t improved his technique as a corner a single bit. He still jumps the wrong routes, makes mistakes in coverage, forgets who his man is, gets flat out beat, and commits dumb penalties. Corey White in my mind should not be brought back even as a back up for the team, not if they have any postseason aspirations. At the end of the day what separates good corners from the rest is technique… he has none. White had repeatedly demonstrated an ability to make boneheaded mistakes at the worst possible moments with no understanding of the greater game around him (just think the Golden Tate play… and realize it wasn’t an isolated incident). Wish him luck in his future endeavors, shine up that boot, and kick him off the team.
Position group grade: F+
How does a group with an A-rank player like Keenan get an F? By having players so bad that they are nearly guaranteed to give up a completion. Robinson and White on the outside were horrendous on a level that boggles the mind, and even though Robinson improved greatly once he was sent to the slot… White looked even worse than he did. There are some players on the roster who COULD become useful pieces, but based on what we have at this moment this group is awful outside of Keenan.
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