Aaron Colvin: What To Do At Cornerback

Aaron Colvin was an exciting addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2014 NFL Draft. Considered a top talent at his position, the injured collegiate star fell down to the fourth round and the Jags.

General manager Dave Caldwell couldn’t have been more happy.

While the Jaguars didn’t get a chance to see what Colvin could do until the final six games of last year, he made an immediate impact. Colvin had two passes defensed and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. For such a young player and for someone with limited opportunities to impress, he made the most of it and we all saw there was something special.

But he plays cornerback with the Jaguars and that’s a crowded position right now.

Last year’s starters Demetrius McCray and Dwayne Gratz are being challenged by free agent addition Davon House. House expects to be a starter with the Jaguars and both Gratz and McCray are good enough to play outside or inside in the slot if needed. I think McCray has impressed the most at the position so far and should line up opposite House on the outside.

Entering the offseason, Aaron Colvin looks to be the starting nickel corner. As fun as a Colvin vs Gratz challenge would be during the offseason, it’s pretty easy to slot Colvin into the role already, even though the team’s coaching staff is treating him with flexibility. During OTAs, senior Jaguars writer John Oehser notes that Colvin is being used both outside and inside for the Jaguars in drills. While we don’t want to read too much into this so early in the offseason, it is easy to believe that with Colvin’s skills he can play either spot for the Jags.

"“We want to make sure we put our players in a position to be successful, so we’re going to make sure we try guys wherever we need to.” – Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Bob Babich."

Head coach Gus Bradley notes that he is having Colvin work at multiple spots and it is going to be a challenge, saying, “It takes a mindset to do that. It’s a challenge, but if you can have a corner play outside and then come in and move inside that’s a great quality.” That great quality (or high value) is what could set Colvin apart from the rest of the corners on the roster this season. If he continues making plays, having him able to lineup wherever the team needs could prove to be critical in both pass defense and run stopping going forward.

For now, it may be too early to tell on how well he can fill both roles. He has the skill level to do what is asked of him, but being able to do it effectively and to truly understand the nuances of both the outside and inside coverage could prove tricky for a young player. Hopefully we’re seeing the development of an impressive contributor no matter where he lines up.

Next: Blake Bortles Ranked 37th Among Quarterbacks

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