Spotlight: Aaron Ross

by Ed Valentine on Jul 7, 2009 8:43 AM EDT in New York Giants News

How good of a player is New York Giants' cornerback Aaron Ross?

Admittedly, Ross, the 21st pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, has not yet become the shut down type corner the Giants hoped they were drafting. But, has he been as bad as Football Outsiders would have you believe?

While Corey Webster built on his 2007 playoff performance and had a huge 2008 campaign, the rest of the secondary was unimpressive. Aaron Ross looked lost for most of the year, taking too many false steps and failing to make tackles downfield. Nickel corner Terrell Thomas looked very good as a rookie, and might end up taking Ross’ job if the former Texas star continues to struggle

Did I miss something? I do remember too many occasions in 2008 when Ross was beaten in coverage. I don't, though, remember thinking that he he "looked lost," or thinking that he was a poor tackler.

I went back to my 'Kudos & Wet Willies' posts from last season to see if, as Roger Clemens would say, I "mis-remembered" how Ross fared last season.

He did have a pair of back-to-back poor weeks early in the season, giving up some long pass plays. And as I have thought it through more I do remember him spending more time defending the slot as the season progressed. But, he did not show up in the 'Wet Willies' category again after the sixth game of the season. That's hardly definitive research, but it's enough for me to think Ross was not terrible in 2008 -- which is what Football Outsiders seems to be saying.

That said, 2009 -- Ross' third year in the NFL -- should tell us a lot about what kind of player he will ultimately be. To justify that 2007 No. 1 pick, he needs to be better.

At 6-foot, 197 pounds he is big enough to compete with many of the league's larger receivers. He is rangy and athletic, and he catches the ball well when he has the opportunity to make a play. He does have six career interceptions.

Yet, I recall watching him trail too many receivers and have to run them down from behind after catches in 2008. Does that mean he is being beaten off the line of scrimmage too often, or doesn't react well to a receiver's cut? I don't know. Is that just instinct, or can it be learned through experience? I honestly don't know that, either.

I do know that 2009 is a huge season for Ross. Hopefully, we will see him take a step toward becoming the elite corner the Giants hoped they were getting when they drafted him.

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Funny that in 2007

Ross was drafted, and according to all sources that meant he was a rookie.

That the guy was even on the field as a rookie is impressive, as Id think many people notice about rookie corners.

SOme are good right away, most take awhile.

C-Web took until the playoffs to show his shutdown ability. Even in those playoffs, the Giants plague of cornerback stone-hands almost cost that Dallass game when he could of return that Romo INT for a TD. but I digress…

Ross is in his 3rd year. In 2009. Doesn’t that seem crazy? Why the hell would Terrel Thomas, a second year player who hasn’t shown anything yet other than being a gunner on ST, take over for Ross who possibly like Webster will “break out” this season, his third season?

Anger aside, Ross needs to stop with the Brandon Jacobs syndrome and getting injured before halftime. Him and C-Webb need to show the rest of the Beast that they are the true dynamic CB duo, and he can’t do that from the locker room.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 7, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

i don't know about ross?

ross seems like he is lost at times defending he’s like a receiver with world class speed and no hands and always playing catchup after the receiver catches the ball i bet the YAC against ross is very high.

by black_man_hungry@yahoo.com on Jul 7, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

When did the Giants sign Chris Webber(C-Webb)

All joking aside tho, A-Ross will be a beast, no doubt about it. That website doesn’t have a clue about the Giants, cmon Thomas as a starter, hes clearly a Nickelback at Best for us this year. Aaron will be just fine, dont worry bout them idiots knockin him.

by jsballer3314 on Jul 7, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder

how much of it was Ross last year and how much of it was the D-line not getting pressure fast enough. No cornerback can stay with his guy forever.

by P. Gibbons on Jul 7, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

Don't know

It’s not the d-line when the corner is in chase mode on a quick slant over the middle. A deep ball, maybe, but not a quick throw.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 7, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

From reading that FO article

I think they mixed up ROss with James Butler.

Other than that Browns game where Ross got torched by Edwards, there really wasn’t too many spots where he looked ‘lost’.

The guy’s one of the surest tackles on the entire defense too, maybe those football outsiders should ask some insiders what goes on before they call a very good CB in his second year ‘lost’

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 7, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

that's true

how does Ross get picked on over Butler, who at last report is still trying to catch Santonio Holmes

by queler on Jul 9, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

With Ross

it seems to be feast or famine through most of the season, and not just game to game, but from play to play. I agree that his third season will allow him to match his considerable physical talents with the on-the-field experience he’s garnered. As a late first round pick and the #2 CB, it’s hard to have much higher expectations than what he’s met so far.

by rzor on Jul 7, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

Hmmm

I guess why this article comes as a shock to us is quite simply because everything we’ve read and heard from the coaches indicates no “uncommon” concern over Ross’s play.

In the NFL pressure cooker no doubt the coaches do have some concern for Ross to make a move before his rookie deal reaches expiration. The simple fact we’ve never had a whole bunch of luck with CB’s taken in similar situations (see Allen and Peterson) just makes the issue all the more noteworthy.

I think the article is more of a prognostication…them highlighting Ross’s risk at least gave us something football worhy to think about, kuddos to the Outsiders…

by nyGTrenches on Jul 7, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously

The guy played bad down the stretch of the season compared to Corey Webster. How many long passes did you see Webster give up all season? I can only count 1, against the steelers and im not even sure that was him…

I can count every team Ross struggled against, Cleveland, Cinncinati, San Fransico, Carolina, teams were targeting him throughout the season

He has to step it up next season, because i do believe he can be a Pro-Bowl caliber corner. Again teams will be throwing his way with the way Corey Webster has evolved his game, and this season he’ll have to do something about it, or else Terrell Thomas will take his spot

Thomas did come on during the end of the season, and has a promsing future, coming out of USC

by JerellB on Jul 7, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

Don't be too quick to jump on the guy

Webster was all set to have a big, fat bust label slapped on him until he woke up in the 07 playoffs. He continued that last year, which is a big reason why Ross was targeted so much. Let’s give the guy the same three years to see what he has. And Thomas was much more than just a ST contributor by the end of last season, he was playing stand up D. I think we will see big things from him this year, and we will have three good young corners. Hopefully we will be able to keep all three long term.

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by bigbluethruandthru on Jul 7, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions