Because of its many nuances and intricacies, cornerback may be the hardest position on the football field to both play and evaluate at any time, behind quarterback. No other position lies more readily at the mercy of the scheme or philosophy of its unit. No other position requires the player to mirror and/or react to two players’ decisions simultaneously, while maintaining comprehension of what they’re trying to accomplish and how they’re trying to accomplish it. And the very best CBs need to possess an otherworldly sense of timing, anticipation, mental processing and physical fluidity. That’s why of all the players who’ve been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, only ten of those played cornerback exclusively — all in an era that was much less strict about how those players got the job done.
How Sean Smith can redeem himself in 2017
