Why was Josh Norman a one hit wonder?

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

Saw a rankings of the top 10 one hit wonders in NFL history and he was on there, so I made this thread.

Was an unknown player before, balled out in 2015 (was a top 3 defensive player that year) and quickly fell back to obscurity. Was it just 2015 magic? Or his supporting cast?

[t96]

I wouldn’t say he was a system CB but leaving us definitely hurt his career. He fit so well in McD and Rivera’s defense, was still solid in Washington just not quite as good. Also he was elite in his playing time in 2014 so more of a 2 season wonder. Still one of my favorite all time Panthers despite the shorter tenure, loved watching that guy play.

[Racist Cat Lady]

Product of a good d line and scheme.  Went to another team that didn’t have said line and scheme.

[Castavar]

Great pass rush + zone scheme. He was a VERY good zone CB. in 2015, he didn't have to man up. He could just sit back in zone and read the field because our pass rush was going to get there. When he went to the Commanders, they paid and played him like he was an elite man to man CB, which is not what he was at all. Not enough speed nor twitch for that. Then after that father time got him.

[TheRumGone]

I thought he had a really good season in 2016 with Washington. 

[OneBadCat]

I think part of it was honestly Ron being Ron and keeping Norman in the dog house when he very well could have started 2 years earlier and been a big contributor.  By the time he broke out and signed his big contract in Washington he was at the eclipse of his prime and he wasn't exactly a man cover corner to begin with.

Edited August 21, 2022 by OneBadCat

[TheBigKat]

He was a late bloomer in a contract season. That happens

[Snake]

He was just a really good zone CB. If he would have stayed with us I think he might have been a HOF CB. The Cummanders were not a great fit for him. 

[GOAT]

confidence, a chip, a contract season, good coaches, good supporting cast.

recipe for success.

[Wolfcop]

Zone and the pass rush, like some of you said 

[DaveThePanther2008]

21 minutes ago, Racist Cat Lady said:

Product of a good d line and scheme.  Went to another team that didn’t have said line and scheme.

This happens to many vets that move on.  They believe that their success is based on their personal performance and not the team.  Many players are a product of the scheme.   Josh was really good in McDermott's defense but was mediocre in Washington's D.

We have Wilks back so if he was available I would like to see him here again. 

[CarolinaCat89]

Josh was 2nd in the league last year with 7 FF's lol.. wild 

[therealmjl]

He finished 2014 elite and carried it into 2015 and even a solid 2016. But yeah, ultimately he was a product of a system and supporting cast.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

Luke and TD pretty much locked down the entire middle and underneath while KK and the rest of the past rush feasted. In reality, Kurt Coleman benefitted the most in 2015.