Washington Redskins 2018 defensive stat predictions
CB Josh Norman
Some people believe that because Josh Norman didn’t register an interception last year, he played poorly. Don’t be like those people. Norman did everything a “shutdown” corner does in 2017. He eliminated an entire side of the field.
Pro Football Focus showed that Norman was targeted one time for every ten times he dropped into coverage. The league average for pass attempts per game is around 35, which means Norman roughly saw 3-4 passes into his coverage per game. How can you expect to see someone register an interception if they’re given less than five opportunities a game?
Norman has a nose for the football, so I don’t expect the interception drought to last very long. He’s also smart with his hands, possessing a knack for punching the ball out and hitting it out of the air. Norman will fill up the stat sheets in 2018. He’s still one of the league’s premiere shutdown corners, and should be respected as one.