Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is imparting to his young players just how talented their competition in the NFL is going to be. At the Cardinals’ rookie minicamp, Gannon is stressing to his defensive rookies just how talented NFL wide receivers are.
Gannon said that he wants his defensive backs to be aware of the fact that NFL quarterbacks and wide receivers have talent far beyond what they experienced week to week at the collegiate level.
“Arguably the best athletes on the field, they’re covering them. A lot of times they don’t have a lot of help,” Gannon said of his rookie cornerbacks covering NFL receivers, according to Pro Football Talk.
“There’s good receivers in college and there’s good quarterbacks in college — what I’m about to say, I don’t want that to be misconstrued. But this is the best of the best. If you get beat the ball’s going to find you.
“Whereas in college I don’t see that all the time. The quarterbacks here can stand in the pocket and deliver the ball accurately, on time — that’s an adjustment for those guys. There’s not a lot of time to make up ground throughout the down to win that down up here.”
One of the rookies Gannon, is warning is former Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson, who Is’t happy about falling to the second round in the draft, but is happy to be where he is.
“Super exciting. I mean, that scheme is amazing,” Johnson said. “It’s a cornerback’s dream. So I’m excited to play in it, I’m excited to get comfortable with it and just learn more about it. I’ve learned a good amount so far, so just continue to learn and get comfortable in it and make a lot of plays.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.