Some Redskins cornerbacks are experimenting at different positions during organized team activities to make the defensive personnel more versatile on game days.
DeAngelo Hall is practicing some plays at safety and as the slot cornerback under new defensive backs coach Raheem Morris. Josh Wilson has played some safety, and so has Kevin Barnes.
“Raheem has stressed everybody just learning everything, so if push goes to shove – motions, whatever – I could wind up playing safety one play, nickel, whatever,” Hall said. “So it’s giving us a lot more flexibility.”
It’s a work in progress, of course. During 11-on-11 drills Thursday, Santana Moss caught a touchdown from Robert Griffin III on a flag-route near the back left pylon with Wilson trailing the play over the top and cornerback Cedric Griffin in coverage.
Hall doesn’t have extensive experience playing in the slot, but he has dabbled there before, including early in his Redskins tenure.
“Just trying to find ways to get some playmakers around the ball,” Hall said. “Myself, Josh, KB, we’re all just mixing it up loving a chance to broaden our football knowledge. There’s a lot of things that come up in that slot that really don’t come up out there on that corner. It’s definitely a different world out there, but at the same time it’s a lot of chances to make plays.”
Hall likes to play with vision so he can make plays on the ball, which can be difficult against a receiver with a two-way go in the slot. Hall believes he’ll be able to keep his eyes on the ball, though, because the Redskins have changed some of their cornerbacks’ techniques.
Part of that includes emulating how the Green Bay Packers use cornerback Charles Woodson.
“The technique has been kind of changed, a lot of that C-Wood-type, where you don’t ever see C-Wood running down the field not looking for the ball,” Hall said. “He’s always either underneath blitzing, has some kind of zone coverage underneath to where he can see the ball, make plays, really instinctive-type football ability.”
Hall sounded quite enthused about the new technique. After all, his three interceptions last season were his fewest since he had two as a rookie with Atlanta in 2004.
