http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...uzz/index.html
The Raiders' surprising decision to release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall after only eight games is another example of a free agent not being an ideal "fit" for a team's scheme. Hall, the eighth overall pick in the 2004 draft, was acquired in the offseason to join Nnamdi Asomugha in forming one of the league's top cornerback duos. But Hall didn't play up to his all-star status in the man-to-man scheme, losing his job in midweek but reportedly signing on with the Redskins at week's end.
"[The Raiders] didn't get what they thought they were getting," said a former NFL secondary coach. "He has skills, but he is not the kind of shut-down corner they envisioned."
In the Raiders' aggressive "bump and run" scheme, Hall and Asomugha were expected to maul and shut down receivers at the line, thereby disrupting the timing of the opponent's passing game. When used in conjunction with a blitz-heavy pass rush, the scheme forces the quarterback to complete a series of low percentage throws under duress. The scheme has been a hallmark of the Raiders since the days of Hall of Famer Willie Brown, and Hall was expected to thrive in it due to his exceptional athleticism.
However, the marriage appeared flawed from the beginning because of Hall's preference for playing "off" coverage. Although Hall has the speed and athleticism to excel as a "bump and run" corner, the "ball hawk" is at his best when allowed to sit back and read the quarterback. By using the "clue" technique, Hall aggressively jumps short-to-intermediate routes while reading the quarterback's drop. He mastered the technique while playing in a zone-based scheme in Atlanta and has used it to tally the third-most interceptions (18) in the league since 2005. He was leading the Raiders with three interceptions and ranked third in the league in passes defensed (16).
"He wasn't playing well," said an NFC personnel director. "But it wasn't as poorly as it has been portrayed."
It's important to look at how teams successfully targeted Hall during the first eight games. According to data compiled by STATS LLC, Hall allowed 40 receptions for 552 yards in 66 pass attempts thrown in his direction this season. That's the most of any other defender in the league, and is not acceptable for a player who was viewed as a "shut-down" corner by the organization.
"When you paying a guy top dollar, you expect to get big time results and he wasn't playing to that level," said a former NFL secondary coach.
While the transition to a new scheme partially contributed to Hall's disappointing performance, other factors played a part too. Hall, who spent the first four seasons of his career as the Falcons' top corner, was targeted more often at Oakland due to the presence of Asomugha on the opposite side. With Asomugha emerging as one of the league's top "bump and run" corners, offenses opted to take advantage of Hall's soft coverage. Thus, he spent the first half of the season under siege, and the pressure of the relentless attacks likely led to him losing some of his confidence.
"Whenever you get that much attention and you give up a few plays, it's going to cause you to play tentative at times," said an NFC personnel director.
But don't be surprised if Hall regains his Pro Bowl form with Washington. The 'Skins feature a blitz-heavy scheme that encourages its corners to aggressive play short-to-intermediate throws. Hall's knack for reading the quarterback should fit in nicely within the scheme. In addition, his new position coach (Jerry Gray) is one of the best at teaching the nuances of the position. If Hall takes to his coaching, he will learn how to properly gamble in the back end without exposing himself to negative plays. Gray transformed Samari Rolle into a Pro Bowl player as a Titan, and he could take Hall's game from good to great in Washington.
