Josh Norman seemingly came out of nowhere last season to emerge as an All-Pro and one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. While the Washington Redskins signed him to a contract worth $15 million per season, some have wondered if Norman’s sudden success was a result of a dominant Carolina Panthers defense — specifically the front seven.
As you might expect, Norman strongly disagrees with that theory.
“It’s not that I came from a great defensive line that made me who I am,” he said this week, per Josh Keim of ESPN.com. “I am because I’m the guy you see on the field every week trying to be the best and better in my craft, and I got edge rushers like that out here. We’ll see.”
Norman was quick to shower his former teammates in praise, but he insists they did not make him a shutdown corner.
“Those guys are great, man; they are a great pass rush,” he said. “Who’s going to say they’re not? You got Star [Lotulelei], KK [Kawann Short]. My goodness, those interior guys, I love them. They’re my guys. Charles [Johnson] and Kony [Ealy]. But I’m in Washington, D.C., with the Redskins, and so do we have good pass-rushers on the edge. Look at [Ryan] Kerrigan. We’re going to get big Junior Galette back. Those are motors on the edge. Big-time motors.”
No secondary is going to shut opposing receivers down without their defensive line putting pressure on the quarterback. If a guy can hang in the pocket all day, he’s going to complete passes. That goes without saying at the NFL level.
Norman was a fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2012. He didn’t become a household name until he was 27 and in his fourth NFL season. Does that mean he was a product of a great system and is not one of the best corners in the league? We know one former Pro Bowler who might think so, but Norman will have a chance to silence his critics in Washington next season.
