PFF: Josh Norman 3rd in the league in YPCS (.01 behind Sherman), Bene tied for 11th

[toldozer]

Please ban moose87 someone who can. Pimping himself in every single thread is sad.

[bigdog10]

Norman needs a contract extension ASAP.

He is a player and is the best thing we've had at corner in a long time.

He definitely has his faults but his play is continually improving on the field.

[Mr. Scot]

Discussion about Norman all too often leads to a single question.

Did he just now get this good or was he always this good and Rivera just couldn't see it?

[t96]

Discussion about Norman all too often leads to a single question.

Did he just now get this good or was he always this good and Rivera just couldn't see it?

 

He started 12 games his rookie year and was nowhere near as good as this. And he fuged us over early in 2013. I think he was properly benched and has worked his way up to where he is now. I hate how you and a lot of others on here find every little fuging thing you can to twist into a way to criticize Rivera. Pretty outrageous. 

[ItsPantone278]

Discussion about Norman all too often leads to a single question.

Did he just now get this good or was he always this good and Rivera just couldn't see it?

He's always had ability. He had quite a few impressive off season performances. The guy obviously had and likely still has a lot to learn about being a pro and being ready to perform for your team.

If anything I view Norman as an ode to Rivera and his staff to develop young DBs. Steve W has probably had a lot to do with it as well. Some guys just take time.

[LinvilleGorge]

Boston, Bene, and Norman are proof positive that 40 times can be overrated.  All three guys had their draft stock hurt by their 40 times.

 

Boston:  4.59

Bene:  4.63

Norman:  4.66

 

Pretty amazing that 3/4s of our secondary coming down the stretch (a secondary that played pretty damn well I might add) were 4.6 guys who were drafted in the 4th and 5th rounds, two of whom were rookies. 

 

I suppose it's also worth mentioning that the other 1/4 of that secondary was Roman Harper and I seriously doubt he could break a 4.8 these days.

[CRA]

Discussion about Norman all too often leads to a single question.

Did he just now get this good or was he always this good and Rivera just couldn't see it?

Non Panther fans who have followed him would ask one additional question....

In farines. But that question wouldn't be popular and would invoke rage

[ItsPantone278]

Boston, Bene, and Norman are proof positive that 40 times can be overrated. All three guys had their draft stock hurt by their 40 times.

Boston: 4.59

Bene: 4.63

Norman: 4.66

Pretty amazing that 3/4s of our secondary coming down the stretch (a secondary that played pretty damn well I might add) were 4.6 guys who were drafted in the 4th and 5th rounds, two of whom were rookies.

I suppose it's also worth mentioning that the other 1/4 of that secondary was Roman Harper and I seriously doubt he could break a 4.8 these days.

Sadly that lack of speed was on full display in divisionals

We've got some great pieces, but we've gotta get faster on both sides.

[LinvilleGorge]

Discussion about Norman all too often leads to a single question.

Did he just now get this good or was he always this good and Rivera just couldn't see it?

 

IMO, it likely came down to discipline.  Until the coaches could trust Norman to go out there and not freelance or do something extremely stupid, they felt that they couldn't afford to play him.  Not sure if that was the right call or not seeing how bad some of our CB play has been, but I think that's the reasoning behind why he didn't play more sooner.

[LinvilleGorge]

Sadly that lack of speed was on full display in divisionals

We've got some great pieces, but we've gotta get faster on both sides.

 

I agree, but I don't think any of the three guys I mentioned hurt us due to a lack of speed.  The lack of a second safety who could cover deep hurt us and not having any speed in the WR corps hurt us.  Seattle was jumping routes all game long because they didn't fear any of our WRs beating them deep.  To be honest, it was our lack of speed at WR and the lack of a LT that hurt us more than anything else in that game.  The D gave up some plays, but overall, I thought they played well enough for us to win the game.

 

Since we're talking Seahawks, might as well mention that Richard Sherman was a 4.56 guy and Chancellor was a 4.62.  Both guys really benefit from having Earl Thomas and his range covering their backsides, quite literally.

[Bj-Monster23]

RR: SS

Collins at 25 could be in play. That's about where Dix went last year.

Oh how I wish we can land Landon Collins at 25. That would be huge for our secondary!

[RelaxImaPro]

I remember that 2013 offseason we thought Norman had jumped to the next level... constantly making plays like this in camp

 

 

Then preseason rolled around and he absolutely DOMINATED every moment he was on the field... I think he intercepted/deflected/forced a fumble nearly every attempt that was thrown his way.  He was quickly popping up on outside radars, being considered the best performer of the 2013 preseason by a lot of media outlets.  Then comes week 2 at Buffalo and he blows the game-losing TD where he's forced into action, and we really don't see or hear much from him again until the middle of this past season, where he finally picks up where he left off in the 2013 preseason.

 

So I wouldn't necessarily say his rise came out of nowhere.  He just had an unfortunate situation sideline him for a pretty long time.  Hell, even his rookie year he was showing out at camp and giving Smitty a run for his money IIRC.  I remember him showing a lot of flashes his rookie year... along with his share of rookie mistakes.  He just so happened to start off his sophomore season with a HUGE mistake, and seemed to get penalized every other time he got a shot afterwards.

[LinvilleGorge]

Oh how I wish we can land Landon Collins at 25. That would be huge for our secondary!

 

Not gonna lie, the recent track record of highly drafted safeties makes me a little gun shy.  He reminds me so much of Mark Barron and I know we really liked Barron when he was coming out.  I've even heard that we would've taken Barron over Kuechly had he still be available, though there's likely no way of knowing that for sure.  Thank you, Buccaneers! 

[Mr. Scot]

He started 12 games his rookie year and was nowhere near as good as this. And he fuged us over early in 2013. I think he was properly benched and has worked his way up to where he is now. I hate how you and a lot of others on here find every little fuging thing you can to twist into a way to criticize Rivera. Pretty outrageous.

Did I make a statement about which side was true or did I propose a discussion question?