Mailbag question: Cornerback vs. Safety

Here is my question. I see a lot of discussion about how some players are better suited to play safety and some are better suited to play cornerback.

Can you tell me what makes one player a better prospect to play corner or safety, e.g. height, weight, speed etc? Or better yet, if you could create the ideal safety/corner back what would such a player look like as far as size and speed.

Great Blog, keep up the good work.

Thanks,

Mike

----------------------------

Thanks for the question.

This is an important question and the answer is not as cut and dried as say 50 years ago. One method of approach in answering this question is to first acknowledge that scheme is a factor in what coaches want out of defensive backs and discuss, as Exhibit A, the current defensive scheme of Michigan.

This spring Michigan played mostly cover 2 with some cover 4. In cover 2, the safeties are responsible for playing the deep coverages.

In general, each safety is responsible for 1/2 the field. The cornerbacks are responsible for defending the boundary and funneling wide receivers back into the middle of the field.

These are general guidelines, of course, and strategy and assignments will change depending on the particular defense called. So teams like UM look for players who have the skills to accomplish the above assignments.

In general, a safety must be a player with the speed and reactions sufficient to cover large amounts of field. Safeties must also be solid open field tacklers.

High-level cornerbacks must be physical players, who can jam and press at the line of scrimmage. Corners must be strong enough and have quick enough feet to reroute wide receivers to protect the safeties.

Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
If you have any questions please E-Mail

Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine