Woodson - Slot Corner

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I'll check with Fedya to see if you spelled it right.

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Mix one part cornerback, one part safety, one part linebacker and you have the “Woodson”. The Woodson is aptly named for Charles Woodson, whose unique skill set makes it work, and he has become the key cog in Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ 2-4-5 defense. The Packers run the 2-4-5 as their base and it all hinges upon Woodson’s ability to blitz, take on blocks, and cover. He’s not the first player Capers has coached with that type of ability, as he used Carnell Lake in a similar manner when coaching in Pittsburgh and Jacksonville in the 1990s. Lake played linebacker in college while doubling up as a cornerback and safety in the NFL. Like Woodson, he often played the slot where his coverage ability, smarts, and toughness made him a perfect fit. Perhaps Lake was the inspiration for Woodson’s new role, though Capers’ use of five defensive backs on every down was certainly new territory for the NFL.

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For Woodson, covering has always been a strength and in his best years, he was acknowledged as the best cover-cornerback in the league. As he has aged, instead of playing on an island, he has moved closer to the action and redefined the slot cornerback position. Season 2009 proved the pinnacle as he graded at +19.4 in coverage and +15.4 against the run. He successfully added “run-stopping linebacker” to his resume that year and 2009 should remain the standard for all aspiring “Woodsons”.