TOPackerFan
Cheesehead
Interesting to say the least.
From Cliff Christl's blog at jsonline:
"WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2006, 11:37 a.m.
Is Carroll better than you think?
Most fans aren't going to believe this, but Ahmad Carroll isn't the only cornerback who seems to get toasted on a consistent basis. In fact, he's pretty far down the list among corners who got burned the most last season.
Stats Premium Statistical Service among its many breakdowns of players has a catgeory that shows the number of times a defender was targeted by the offense and the number of times that defender got beat. Carroll was tied for 89th last season. There were 71 cornerbacks in the league burned more often than he was, including Atlanta's DeAngelo Hall, the eighth pick in the draft the year Carroll was drafted 25th; Marcus Trufant, Seattle's third-year corner and budding all-pro; Chris Gamble, who was chosen three picks after Carroll in '04; Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh's third-year starting corner; and even Mike McKenzie and Al Harris. Carroll was the targeted defender on 62 passes last season. He was burned 30 times for 432 yards.
Taylor was burned 64 times for 900 yards; Hall, 60 times for 751 yards; Gamble, 54 times for 866 yards; Trufant, 50 times for 572 yards.
That's the life of a cornerback in today's NFL. Even the best are going to get burned. And that's why many of Carroll's critics sound like babbling fools when they suggest that he's the only corner who ever gets beat. They even sound dumber when they criticize the draft pick. Gamble has struggled just as much as Carroll. Hall is in the Pro Bowl and he has had his problems.
That's not to say Carroll has arrived as a starting cornerback or that he's even a solid starter at this point. Statistics aren't always an accurate barometer of a player's worth. But the jury is still out on Carroll. Like most young players, he wasn't a ready-made starter. He needs to grow up and improve his technique. But his biggest failing has been his propensity to get flagged, not any lack of ability. Carroll drew four pass interference calls last year to rank fourth in the league. He also had three holding penalties.
Carroll has first-round ability. That's obvious. Whether he'll fulfill thatl potential remains to be seen. But he's not exactly way behind schedule."
From Cliff Christl's blog at jsonline:
"WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2006, 11:37 a.m.
Is Carroll better than you think?
Most fans aren't going to believe this, but Ahmad Carroll isn't the only cornerback who seems to get toasted on a consistent basis. In fact, he's pretty far down the list among corners who got burned the most last season.
Stats Premium Statistical Service among its many breakdowns of players has a catgeory that shows the number of times a defender was targeted by the offense and the number of times that defender got beat. Carroll was tied for 89th last season. There were 71 cornerbacks in the league burned more often than he was, including Atlanta's DeAngelo Hall, the eighth pick in the draft the year Carroll was drafted 25th; Marcus Trufant, Seattle's third-year corner and budding all-pro; Chris Gamble, who was chosen three picks after Carroll in '04; Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh's third-year starting corner; and even Mike McKenzie and Al Harris. Carroll was the targeted defender on 62 passes last season. He was burned 30 times for 432 yards.
Taylor was burned 64 times for 900 yards; Hall, 60 times for 751 yards; Gamble, 54 times for 866 yards; Trufant, 50 times for 572 yards.
That's the life of a cornerback in today's NFL. Even the best are going to get burned. And that's why many of Carroll's critics sound like babbling fools when they suggest that he's the only corner who ever gets beat. They even sound dumber when they criticize the draft pick. Gamble has struggled just as much as Carroll. Hall is in the Pro Bowl and he has had his problems.
That's not to say Carroll has arrived as a starting cornerback or that he's even a solid starter at this point. Statistics aren't always an accurate barometer of a player's worth. But the jury is still out on Carroll. Like most young players, he wasn't a ready-made starter. He needs to grow up and improve his technique. But his biggest failing has been his propensity to get flagged, not any lack of ability. Carroll drew four pass interference calls last year to rank fourth in the league. He also had three holding penalties.
Carroll has first-round ability. That's obvious. Whether he'll fulfill thatl potential remains to be seen. But he's not exactly way behind schedule."