According to Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, cornerback is one of the toughest jobs on an NFL defense.
When a defensive tackle is out of position, Anarumo said that only the coaching staff and the players can spot the mistake. But if a defensive back makes a mistake, everyone can see it.
In the Bengals' Week 9 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Bengals cornerback Eli Apple’s mistake on a 60-yard touchdown reception was easy to spot. Apple allowed Browns receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to run right past him up the middle of the field and make a wide open catch.
Over the last two weeks, Apple’s struggles in one-on-one coverage and his inconsistency as a tackler have resurfaced. Heading into the Bengals' game on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn’t commit to Apple as a starting cornerback.
“I think we've got some depth in that (cornerback) room now,” Taylor said. “We get a chance to continue to evaluate those guys and see what kind of roles they play. Sometimes they don't come in as starters. Sometimes there's other opportunities to get them on the field and feature some of their talents.”
