CTB

[CJD]

(11-28-2022, 12:47 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: He’s had exactly 5 starts, and was thrown into action coming off an injury where he missed half of training camp. And he’s improving every week. A couple of the plays he’s been beat on (the Marshall TD, the Burks deep ball) he’s actually been in perfect position the WR’s just made great catches.

Look at the learning curve with some of the CB’s on our own team. Apple was considered a total bust in NY, and wasn’t much better with the Saints. He’s finally carved out a nice role for himself here though.

Awuzie was also fairly mediocre in Dallas, and he’s ended up becoming one of the best shutdown guys in the league in his 5th season.

I have faith that Lou will develop CTB into a good CB.

This is the biggest thing for me. Lou was a secondary coach before being named our DC and it shows in how well cornerbacks and safeties have flourished under him. Bates had his breakout season with Lou in 2020, Vonn Bell has more interceptions this season than he had in his career previously. Awuzie went from "good position, but never seemed to make the play" to shutdown corner, Mike Hilton has, impossibly, been even better than he was in Pittsburgh, especially against the run, Apple's career has been revitalized after bouncing around the NFL all season and even Tre Flowers, a guy that Seattle just outright waived last season, has come in and played pretty well, especially in his specialized role against tight ends. Jalen Davis played well in the game that Mike Hilton missed too!

It seems like every cornerback that Lou touches, he turns to gold. I have no doubt he'll do the same for CTB and, when he gets more playing time next season, Dax Hill too. 

I know it's mean, but I kind of hope next off season's head coaching search focuses heavily on young, offensive "geniuses" rather than hard nosed DCs, because I really want Lou around here for a long time.