I've been around this site for awhile now, and usually most of my writing and posts are about the off season. More specifically I watch a ton of college and high school tape and do draft analysis as a hobby. There is one situation in the NFL that perplexes me the most though, and it's Nnamdi Asomugha's major drop off in production. I didn't understand how one player could go from being a star, compared to Revis as best CBs in the league. I went back, rewatched games I could find of him in Oakland and Philadelphia and their is one major glaring difference.

It's not the scheme, its not the coaching, it's not even the offenses "picking on him more" because of less talent on the opposite side as him. The major problem with Nnamdi is the safety help. Contrary to popular belief, I don't see Nnamdi as loosing a step and not as fast. It's the lack of solid safety play in place to make sure he doesn't get burnt over the top and a lack of confidence in the team around him.

In 2010 Nnamdi was only targeted 28 times and gave up a QBR of 98 to opposing QBs during those targets. That's not very good compared to many others in the league, the reason why he was targeted so infrequently? Most teams used burners against him and tried to beat him over the top. This is the smart way to beat Nnamdi, giving his lack of a speed, the problem with that in Oak was that he had Tyvon Branch or Michael Huff above him. Oakland almost always had a safety up top covering zone, they rarely used safeties for more than that purpose.

Now I understand Michael Huff is not an elite talent by any means, but he is entirely more reliable than Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. Some players need to be a key piece, and others need pieces to help them. I believe Nnamdi can be saved, but he isn't the top CB we were lead to believe either. The point of this post is not to try and say we must keep him, that I want to keep him, or to excuse his poor play. I'm honestly impartial, I think we can live without him but I wouldn't be upset if we restructured and kept him either. The point just needs to be made that some CBs in this league need help, and some don't need as MUCH help.