The Shadow Knows Week 6 2018

By Gary Davenport
Gary Davenport

There's little question that the Jacksonville Jaguars possess the best secondary in the National Football League. Cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye just combined to hold the Kansas City Chiefs in relative check offensively.

Sure, the Chiefs put up 30 points on Jacksonville. But that had much more to do with Blake Bortles turning the ball over five times than anything KC did on offense. The Jags even made Patrick Mahomes look human.

See, he's a man! He's not a machine! You can hurt him Rock!

If there was a silver medal for most formidable secondary entering the season, it would probably have gone to the Los Angeles Rams, who spent big money (and some draft capital) in the offseason to acquire veteran cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. That new dream defensive backfield didn't last long though—Talib suffered an ankle injury a couple of weeks ago that landed the 32-year-old on injured reserve.

That injury ruined a reunion tour for Talib this week in Denver, where the Rams will face the Broncos in Week 6. It's in the Mile-High City where we'll begin this week's look at an admittedly light slate of matchups between high-end wide receivers and big-name cornerbacks in Week 6.
 

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos (Chris Harris vs. Cooper Kupp)

Harris admitted to reporters (via Jon Heath of Broncos Wire) that despite the fact that Talib's on IR he's confident the two former teammates will still get after one another a little bit. “If we win or lose, he’s going to talk mess to me if we lose, and if we win, then I’m definitely hollering at him,” Harris said. “It’s all love, but I want to beat them bad though, for sure.”

As of this writing, Kupp remained in the NFL's concussion protocol. However, Myles Simmons of the team's website reported that both he and Brandin Cooks are on track to practice in full on Friday and be cleared in time for Sunday's matchup. Assuming that's the case, it's Kupp who will draw Harris, while Robert Woods would get Bradley Roby—the same Bradley Roby that Robby Anderson of the New York Jets smoked for a pair of long touchdowns last week.

I wonder which cornerback Jared Goff will target more?

Panic Level: 3 (This feels like a Woods week given Kupp's injury and the respective matchups)
 

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos (Marcus Peters vs. Emmanuel Sanders)

As Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire pointed out, since Peters injured his calf a few weeks ago he's been a shell of his usual self—he ranks outside the top 100 corners at Pro Football Focus and has given up a jaw-dropping five touchdowns over the past three games. However, Peters isn't making excuses.

"I mean, it’s football, baby,” he said. “That’s the beautiful thing about it. You’re going to have these weeks like this where it’s going to be a struggle to get in the flow of some [expletive]. They made some plays – some big plays – and just gotta make some plays next week.”

The Denver passing game isn't firing on all cylinders by any stretch—the team had trouble moving the ball downfield against the Jets. But Sanders led the Broncos by a wide margin in that game in targets with 14, and between Peters' injury and the time Sanders spends in the slot there's reason to think he could have at least a passable week.

Panic Level: 2 (Frankly, Denver QB Case Keenum may be a bigger problem than Peters for Sanders)
 

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings (Larry Fitzgerald vs. Xavier Rhodes)

Sunday's trip to the Twin Cities will likely be the final time Fitzgerald takes the field in his home state. He told Darren Urban of the team's website that while wears read and white, his heart will always bleed a little purple and gold.

“I’ve always been a Vikings fan,” Fitzgerald said. “I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t. I pull for them to win when I’m not playing against them. You grow up there, work for the team, get to know people in the organization, that’s just how it is.”

It's been a miserable swan song season for Fitzgerald, who has seen his production fall off a cliff in 2018. A matchup with Rhodes on Sunday doesn't help matters any, but it's far from his biggest problem—he's been playing hurt, the quarterback play in Arizona has been miserable and the entire Cardinals offense outside David Johnson is a dumpster fire.

Panic Level: 22 (If you have ANY other options, Fitzgerald can't be started right now. It's that bad.)
 

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (Tre'Davious White vs. DeAndre Hopkins)

After back-to-back overtime wins, the Texans have gone from winless tomato can to just one game out of first place in the AFC South. However, Hopkins told Nick Wojton of Bills Wire that he and the Texans aren't looking past White and the Bills. “(White) is a good corner,” Hopkins said. “He’s a young guy, he’s made plays for his team, won some games. It’s another week, another challenge.”

White's been pretty solid this season—he ranks 22nd in coverage grade at PFF through five games, has allowed less than 60 percent of the passes thrown his way to be completed and has a passer rating against of less than 80. However, White's also about to face his stiffest test of the season to date—Hopkins is tied for third among wide receivers in targets with 57 and leads the NFL with 594 receiving yards.

Panic Level: 1 (It's Deshaun and Nuk. He'd get targeted 10 times if Jesus was covering him.)
 

Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns (Keenan Allen vs. Denzel Ward)

As Doug Farrar wrote for Touchdown Wire, Ward hasn't really looked the part of a first-year corner this season. "Ward did have a few rocky moments in Weeks 1 and 2 against the Steelers and the Saints, respectively, but he’s locked things down ever since,' he said. "According to Pro Football Focus’ charting, Ward has allowed just eight receptions on 24 targets for 97 yards, no touchdowns and an interception over the last three games. His quarterback rating allowed? A paltry 29.3. So, this rookie has developed into one of the most targeted cornerbacks in the NFL, facing some of the league’s best receivers, and he’s shutting everybody down."

Opponents haven't been even a little bit shy about throwing the ball in Ward's direction—only Philadelphia's Ronald Darby has been thrown at more times than Ward's 41 targets through five games. Combine that, Allen 45 targets through five games and Ward's paltry passer rating against of 52.7, and you get the most interesting WR/CB matchup of Week 6.

Obviously, you're not going to sit Allen—ever. But at the risk of sounding like a Browns fan daring to hope for the first time in years, you might want to dial back expectations a notch. Denzel Ward can play.

Panic Level: 3 (Yes, I'm a Browns fan. Don't you judge me.)
 

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (Richard Sherman vs. Davante Adams)

Here's a stat for you—per Kyle Madson of Niners Wire, Sherman has allowed one reception—this season. "He isn’t racking up PBUs like he did in his prime," Madson said, "but teams just aren’t targeting the 30-year-old. Sherman has only been targeted eight times in four games. Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins threw at him three times, Detroit’s Matt Stafford tried him once, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes tried twice in Sherman’s one half of play, and Arizona’s rookie Josh Rosen threw his way two times."

I'm not entirely sure why opponents are avoiding Sherman that much—he's not the player he once was. But it probably has more to do with San Fran's other corners struggling mightily than Sherman shining. In any event Davante Adams owners can breathe easy—barring a change in strategy Adams will spend most of Monday night lined up on the other side of the field.

Panic Level: 0 (Although whoever starts outside opposite Adams could be looking at a slow night.)