Jason Verrett needs to refine his technique

Even the best football games are imperfect. Missed tackles, dropped interceptions, and blown assignments happen. That’s natural in football. It’s expected. It’s a volatile sport that asks athletes to consistently play at their highest level for more than 60 plays per game. This is why when studying players transitioning from college to the NFL, one must keep in mind that even a player’s best game, like a young painter’s artwork, is a work in progress.

When first-round rookie cornerback Jason Verrett was asked what his best college game was mere minutes after being selected by the San Diego Chargers, he immediately thought to his performance against the LSU Tigers. He broke up three passes against the Tigers’ talented receivers, including the likes of New York Giants first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. But even in that game, which Verrett says he showed plenty against SEC receivers, there were times when he wasn’t always at his best.

Look at the completion he gave up with less than three minutes left in the second quarter.

After standing a yard from the line of scrimmage on second-and-11, Verrett took five steps back as the clock ticked to 2:32 and watched, waiting for the quarterback to snap the ball. He was in zone coverage six yards from Beckham Jr.

Verrett backpedaled at the snap with his arms hanging, knees creased, and rear low, waiting for the LSU receiver to break his route left or right after running straight nine yards. When Beckham Jr. planted his right foot at his own 30-yard line and opened his right shoulder, Verrett wasn’t ready; his legs straightened out, causing his feet to flatten, waist to bend, and his shoulders to hover parallel to the field like he was punched in the gut.

As he hopped back to regain his stance, he extended his 30 ⅝” right arm and tried to grab the receiver, who crossed his feet and flattened his route two yards from the first down marker. A yard separated the two players, enough room for Beckham Jr. to leap and clutch the ball with both hands.

In zone coverage, Verrett’s responsibility was to keep the receiver and the ball in front of him. He did that, but he would have prevented the catch by staying on the front half of his purple cleats.

He does that often, with his legs stiffening up like two canes, making it difficult to stay balanced regardless of zone or man coverage.

The next play Verrett was in man coverage from the slot, his projected position in the NFL. It was third-and-4 and against Odell Beckham Jr. again.

Lined up directly across from the receiver, Verrett’s arms hung in front of his crouching knees. The positioning of his arms was vital in press-man coverage. Like many NFL cornerbacks, he riskily kept them low until the snap, making it difficult to immediately jam the receiver.

Beckham Jr. jabbed right and dashed left, leaning left of the stadium logo between TCU’s 20- and 30-yard lines. Verrett ran with him, then wrapped both arms around the receiver at the 23. Verrett raised his shoulders, stood up and lost all his leverage. Two yards later, he lost his balance too when Beckham Jr. cut left on a shallow crossing route, causing the young cornerback to fall.

For a cornerback to play his best, his technique has to be consistent for more than 60 plays a game. It starts from the ground up: balanced on the front half of your feet, knees bent, hips square, hands up, and head on a swivel… when the time is right.

Verrett stood three yards from Beckham Jr. in a side-saddle stance at the 50, showing zone coverage as he awaited the snap.

He shuffled his feet at the beginning of the play, staying at Beckham Jr.’s hip and keeping his hands on the receiver’s right shoulder. As they passed the first-down marker, Beckham Jr. turned outside while Verrett looked back for the ball. Verrett kept his right arm on Beckham Jr.’s right shoulder to keep track, but his arm rapidly stretched as he fell behind on each step. The separation intensified as Beckham Jr. ran farther outside. Eventually Verrett recovered, showing his 4.38 40-yard dash speed to bat the pass away. If the throw didn’t loose zip through the air, it would have been a completion.

Young cornerbacks, like Verrett, are quick to turn their head to make a play. They don’t realize that the more their head moves, the slower they become. That’s why they’re taught to keep their head pointing at their assignment until they’re shoulder-to-shoulder or the receiver is looking back for the ball with his hands up.

These are the situations when they make plays, when the time is right to look back and play the ball the best way.