Isn't Norman playing out of position as a slot corner a better option on Beckham than Colin Jones?

[Sam Mills Fan]

You know Beckham is already salivating at the thought of us having to trot Colin Jones out in coverage again on Sunday because of Bene and Tillman. Here's my question and maybe someone can explain it if it's coming across as a stupid one: isn't it smarter to have Norman shadow Beckham even if they put him in the slot than to have Colin Jones try and cover him? I know Norman doesn't do that, but surely that's a better option than having Jones even with safety help? We've seen what receivers have done to Jones all season including DeSean Jackson. Even if Norman gets burned a few times working against the slot which would (oh no!) hurt his PFF score, that's a better option than having Beckham run right past Colin Jones for an 80 yard score, no?

 

Note: Even though I see this as a glaring possible mismatch, I have full faith we're going to beat the Giants by 3 scores or more. Doesn't mean I can't recognize this matchup for what it is.

[Piff]

Cortland Finnegan?

[MVPccaffrey]

Josh/Peanut/Cortland and pray no one gets injured

[Jmac]

S.M and R.R I'm sure are aware of this mismatch and hopefully have something in mind. They will probably put 2 guys on OBJ at all times....a least try and disrupt his routes and cause him problems.

[panthers55]

We have done something that that before in 2008 in the Arizona game after we gor burned several times by Fitzgerald.  I think we should play man against these guys all day and run blitz the crap out of them.  If they run we stuff it.  If they throw we keep going to the quarterback and get a sack.  Our linebackers can play zone and also stop the run while playing the corners in man with a 1 high safety if we get burned.  I dont see them scoring 30 on us but I fully expect we will do that on them.

[*FreeFua*]

They better figure something out for these slots guys or we're going to get eaten alive. 

Just looking ahead... we'll immediately see Doug Baldwin in the playoffs who has been on a tear ever since Seattle went back to their pre-Graham offense.

Then it's possible we see possibly the fastest guy in the NFL in John Brown for Arizona who also lines up in the slot. 

[Bartin]

OBJ plays about 1/3 of his snaps from the slot in case anyone is wondering. That's 20-25 plays where Norman will not be on him.

[VerticalThreat]

I think you'd rather play everyone in their spots and cover up one deficiency with scheme that try to play someone where they're not comfortable (even though JNo could handle it). Just the way I'd play it if it were my choice.

Love you guys, 

Sean McD (wait, no I mean Joe Smith)

[LinvilleGorge]

It definitely seems like in recent weeks teams are starting to have their best WR take quite a few snaps out of the slot likely to try to avoid Norman.  It's the weak spot on our D and the strategy makes sense.

[PanthersGOATFan336]

[JawnyBlaze]

absolutely.  from what I could tell, outside of ONE play (that Jones took for like 50 yards), Norman followed Jones wherever he went on Sunday.  Even when Jones was in the slot (I noticed him there a few times with Norman staying with him).  So hopefully the gameplan will call for the same thing with OBJ.

[Moose Hoover]

So if we play Colin and Shaq at nickel....why not Tre? Couldn't we run a three safety look with Harper, Coleman and Boston?

[juliosantos]

have norman on him all game every single play idc 

[Jase]

I doubt any of our guys will be one-on-one on an island with a slot guy. Typically there would be two different guys with zone responsibilities for the slot depending on pre-snap keys.