Is Jerraud Powers the Arizona Cardinals’ best option at CB?
Aug 29, 2013, 2:58 PM | Updated: 3:01 pm
How long will it be before Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu are the Arizona Cardinals’ starting corners?
In watching the Cardinals’ three preseason games, I can’t help but cite cornerback Jerraud Powers as an area of concern. And the more I’ve looked into his football past, the more my concern grows.
At 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, Powers is a bit undersized, even for a corner.
In four NFL seasons, he’s missed large chunks of the schedule each year with various injuries.
Last year, quarterbacks racked up a rating of 105 when throwing directly at Powers.
And the fifth-year veteran’s scouting report reads like an NFL horror novel
– Isn’t very strong
– Struggles to get off blocks
– Takes too many chances
– Less than ideal size
– Durability concern
Of course, Powers brings positive attributes to the table as well. He’s a solid tackler for his size. He was a rookie starter for the Indianapolis Colts the year they nearly went undefeated. And he seems to have impressed the Cardinals coaching staff this preseason.
Still, I can’t help but wonder when the Cardinals will grow tempted to see Tyrann Mathieu on the field every down. Ideally, I think they’d like to use the rookie all over the place during the course of a game. Ideally, Powers will lock the down the other corner opposite Peterson. But whether through injury or ineffectiveness, I don’t see it happening.
