SANTA CLARA – Perrish Cox has been getting beaten on the outside pretty consistently so far in training camp, and today he was getting beaten on the inside during team drills by Kyle Williams.
Cox’s main value to the team is his ability to play the “nickel back” – the cornerback who covers the slot receiver. The Niners have one very good nickel back – Carlos Rogers – but they need a second one to cover a second slot receiver when a team like the Packers attacks them with four-wide-receiver formations.
Starting cornerback Tarell Brown has been playing some nickel back this offseason, and he’s much better at it than Cox. In fact, Brown has looked terrific at nickel back so far. If and when the Packers line up four wide receivers against the Niners defense in Week 1, I expect Rogers and Brown to line up inside over the slot receivers, and Culliver and Brock to line up over the outside receivers.
Cox seems to be the fifth cornerback on the depth chart right now.
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……i think Cox will fit in the system…..he tackles well…
Is it time to start thinking about trading a WR for a CB or perhaps one of our many LBs for a CB? Is there any value in trading Hunter at this point? I know the kid is awesome but you need to start looking at the schedule, what we have in the stable already and say, what’s best for the team.
Chris – To a man (and one woman – Mindi Bach) every other reporter has said how GOOD Parish Cox has looked. Even D.C. Vic Fangio is quoted as saying its not a matter of “if” but “how much” Cox will play on defense. I would disregard this report.
Those were all the reports I was reading too. It appears Brock is the 5th man and Cox and Culliver are battling for playing time as the 3rd corner. Every player has a bad day now and again. Maybe he did have a bad day, but he’s had a great camp so far
I don’t mean to say that Cox is bad in any way. I am just saying that with our schedule this year against the top 5 passing offenses in the nfl last year, the top 3 rated qbs last year, that we don’t have an answer on the corners yet. We need to spend some big money, which hasn’t been done, on a shut down corner.
That would allow the team to better handle the 4 wide out formations they are going to see.
Again, who to believe. Lynch and Barrows both said that Cox continued to stand out in practice for his excellent play. Are all you guys watching the same thing? This is from Lynch:
“Great battles ensued between wide receiver Randy Moss and cornerback Carlos Rogers and wide receiver Kyle Williams and cornerback Perrish Cox.
The ladder two have been impressive in training camp, picking up from the off-season program”
@Mike #2
That is why we have more than a single source, and bloggers such as yourself letting us get another persons view of what happen.
Another contrary view on Parrish Cox which includes 100% praise from Vic Fangio in today’s press conference:
http://www.ninersnation.com/2012/8/1/3213548/vic-fangio-carlos-rogers-talks-about-perrish-cox-nickel-back-role
The Godfather knows more than just pizza.
Many of you know, Vic Fangio doesn’t B.S. and tends to call it like it is. Here is what he said TODAY about Cox:
Fangio: Cox has good instincts, good short area quickness, capable corner – looked solid so far
I’m not saying Cox is bad. I think Culliver and Brock are better right now.
Do you think Culliver could play the inside slot receiver?
I really like T.Brock but like one Niner said it will come down to who is more physical and who can tackle better. That has been the strength of our defense, tackling and playing physical with limited penalties.
I think Rogers and Brown are the two best nickel backs on the team right now. Culliver is talented enough to do it, but right now he and Brock are best suited to play outside because it’s not as difficult.
I agree with that but don’t like T. Brown inside because of his size. He had improved so much the last few years and really has been lock down on the outside. I’m sure Fangio will find the right compliment in nickel and dime but like you said earlier in the year, if there’s one weakness of this defense is spreading them out with 4 WR sets.
So much will be expected of Cowboy, Ray, Aldon and Brooks. The thing that will be interesting to see is if they take Bowman off in these sets and go with a 4 man rush or 3 and keep the best ILB’s in the game on?