Redskins Really Need David Amerson

Give Washington Redskins head coach MIKE SHANAHAN credit. The man knew his secondary was chock full of unproven, nearly washed-up, or moderately talented cornerbacks. Plus, the Redskins were the 30th ranked defense versus the pass in 2012. His secondary needed either a star or someone who can help give a face to a secondary that is bereft of big names, even though DEANGELO HALL can still be a force at cornerback. But Hall is not the player he was circa 2004-2008. So, North Carolina State right and left [sides of the field] cornerback DAVID AMERSON was the logical choice as Washington’s first pick (second round 51st choice) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Amerson is a confident, very athletic, and experienced cornerback who at times can be left on an island to bother or cover a receiver. Amerson is strictly a cover corner with the range to play the receiver(s) he’s responsible for all over the field. But he is also a big gambler and very confident in his cover skills which can get him in trouble (as it did many times in 2012, such as in the Boston College game among others). He was not the big play ball hawk that he was in 2011 when he intercepted 13 passes, which is easily the single-season record for thefts in NC State history and one of the better interception seasons in college football’s 143 played seasons (1869-2012).

Amerson was a projected All-American in 2012 and possible first-round draft pick for the 2013 NFL Draft. But he fell off in 2012 as his interceptions decreased by 8 and quarterbacks were more aware of his strengths and weaknesses in the Atlantic Coast Conference (the conference that NC State competes in). He still was a playmaker and still an annoyance to fellow receivers in his junior season of 2012 but it wasn’t as fruitful for him and the Wolfpack defense as in 2011. Speaking of that defense, they fell 22 places versus the pass in 2012 (from 61st in 2011 to 83rd in 2012; of course 61st isn’t much to write home about but it still is much better than 83rd).

When a player is an All-American one season he will be an unmitigated target the next season. Amerson was one of the hottest names in college football in 2011 for the amount of thefts he made that year and so as explained before he was a target in 2012. Being named an All-American can be like a double edged sword. It’s great to get recognition but it also can make a person a target or too exposed which can then hurt them from improving or taking their game to the next level.

In the ACC it isn’t like he wasn’t prepared to deal with what the NFL will throw at him. Because in that league for the last two years, he had a murderers row of receivers to deal with in the stellar Clemson receivers which included DEANDRE HOPKINS (first-round pick and 27th overall to the Houston Texans in this week’s draft) and future first or second NFL draft choice SAMMY WATKINS; Wake Forest talent and possible 2014 NFL Draft pick MICHAEL CAMPANARO; future first or second round pick STEFON DIGGS who is just a true sophomore at Maryland; true sophomore to be receiver QUINSHAD DAVIS at North Carolina; pretty much any receiver who was an alternate or starter at Florida State; PHILLIP DORSETT at Miami (Florida); and the underrated and who is also the owner of some great hands in Boston College’s ALEX AMIDON. Plus there was TOBIAS PALMER from his own team at N.C. State who Amerson faced in practice, and who didn’t get drafted this week but he will find a home in one of the professional leagues someday.

The Redskins have near a dozen cornerbacks (or players who have the range to play there or safety) on their roster currently (Amerson included) and Amerson may be the best of the bunch behind Hall in terms of natural talent. Some say Hall is washed up, but the nine-year veteran can still perform at cornerback and also he can help tutor the younger guys on how to play corner in this defense. Amerson would do well to listen to Hall who is under contract for one more year.

Amerson a three-year starter at NC State, left as the school’s all-time career interception leader with 18. Amerson had nothing left to prove at NC State and that is one of the reasons why he skipped his senior year for the draft.