A.J. Jefferson Gets Mixed Reviews For Week 3 Performance

by Jess Root on Sep 30, 2011 2:00 PM MDT in NFL Regular Season

The defensive secondary for the Arizona Cardinals has taken a lot of heat for their performance this season, allowing a ton of passing yards up. All the while, cornerback A.J. Jefferson has held his own. However, he has gotten solid reviews and has missed a few plays.

PFF pointed out Jefferson's coverage stats on Sunday. He was thrown at 12 times and allowed 10 catches for 89 yards. It was a fact given as a negative.

But not all things written about Jefferson were critical. ESPN's Mike Sando gave his thoughts on Jefferson, some positive ones.

Sando wrote this:

The Cardinals have suffered through obvious issues in their secondary, especially at cornerback. Jefferson is a converted receiver finding his way in a new defensive system. I can see why coaches wanted him on the field, however. Jefferson supported the run aggressively in this game and wasn't afraid to cut down the Seahawks' power back, Marshawn Lynch, near the line of scrimmage. Jefferson also stood out a couple times on special teams.

Jefferson obviously fits the mold of the type of cornerback that Ray Horton wants. He tackles and covers. as for last week, the observation made on TV was that he was playing a little safer and softer on his man, not making many plays. He, of course, after that comment, almost picks off a pass.

I have been impressed by Jefferson so far. He has been a welcome surprise. Plus, he can return kicks. I like how fearless he is, the way he gets his hands on the ball to make plays. I imagine that by the end of the year, he will have been one of the team's most pleasant surprises.

What do you think of him so far?

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He's got skills!

If Jefferson and the rest of the team show up and just do their jobs, we win!

Go Cards!

Ps. - Pray that Don Baylor is OK.

by AZ retiree on Sep 30, 2011 2:37 PM MDT reply actions

Pleasantly Surprised...

I definitely like his physical tools, I like when he gets his hands on the ball, and I think he shows football intelligence on the field. Did get targeted a lot last week but think his line was actually ok, didn’t give up a ton of yards, no big plays, and got more experience. I think him and PP do play pretty soft right now but that’s understandable as they don’t want to give up the big plays. With time I think they will play tighter coverage and make more plays on the ball…….. especially if the safeties step up and do their job on the back end!! But yes, I’d rather have them start this way than the other way, which would be trying to jump routes for picks which would lead to big plays. CBs will be studs in 2012!!

by CardsRepInChile on Sep 30, 2011 3:09 PM MDT reply actions

Great Teammate :)

by Patrick_Peterson on Sep 30, 2011 4:18 PM MDT reply actions

Dude...

you’re not PP. I’m sure he is a great teammate, but seriously.

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by Jess Root on Sep 30, 2011 4:22 PM MDT up reply actions

It would be funny if he was....

but since he’s not it is kind of annoying.

by GraydonS on Sep 30, 2011 5:28 PM MDT up reply actions

He has been solid so far

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

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by JoeCB1991 on Sep 30, 2011 4:38 PM MDT reply actions

I like Jefferson a lot.

For a guy the team picked up as an undrafted rookie last season to where he is today I am favorably impressed. I don’t believe Horton is blowing smoke when he talks Jefferson up. After watching his returns in Seattle he has gone up in my books by a good margin.

by hadrarius on Sep 30, 2011 6:56 PM MDT reply actions

This might come off as “taking myself up” but I like my 63 yard number far more than the 89 that PFF has credited him with.

It seems like the play of difference between my numbers and those from PFF comes from a screen play late in the game (About 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter) in which Jefferson playing (By design) off man coverage on Rice has been credited with allowing catch and being “targeted” in coverage. The screen resulted in a 23 yard gain.

It is plays exactly like that which made me include my “Screen” category. The play is designed to get a receiver in space, it has nothing at all to do with the ability to the cornerback in coverage, and that is something we are trying to create a picture of in these metrics.

by khodder on Sep 30, 2011 11:48 PM MDT reply actions

jefferson

thus far I have not seen any games on television. I hear he got great physical skills. But if covering and playing soft is an issue, with our poor pass rush thus far not really good.The guy marshall when he signed had great stats for tackling and coverage. Is he getting enough playing time, or is this another case of Whiz playing his guys, as he said after last year playing guys because of his felings toward them?

by naironpalm3 on Oct 1, 2011 7:20 AM MDT reply actions

It sounds like Marshall has been playing a lot as the 3rd corner

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Oct 1, 2011 9:22 AM MDT up reply actions