The New York Giants chosen Kentucky cornerback Andru ‘Dru’ Phillips within the third spherical of this 12 months’s NFL draft to fill a serious emptiness on their protection.
That emptiness is on the surface at boundary cornerback, throughout from final 12 months’s prime decide, Deonte Banks. One drawback, although. Phillips is not going to be assuming that function.
On the Giants’ organized staff actions (OTAs) this spring, that function is being stuffed by third-year defensive again Cor’Dale Flott, a 6-foot-2, 177-pound enigma of a participant.
Flott is lengthy and lean however his sport depends on his aggressiveness and intelligence. The Giants are shifting him from the slot, the place Phillip will play, to the surface this 12 months. They’re assured.
This week, secondary coach Jerome Henderson informed reporters that if the season began right now, Flott can be within the beginning lineup on the surface.
“The younger man is a employee, a conscientious child, he needs to do proper, he needs to play nicely, he’s naturally powerful,” Henderson stated. “If he was 200 kilos, he can be hell on wheels.”
Flott is hoping to get to 180 kilos first. He started his profession two summers in the past as a 174-pound, 20-year-old third-round select of LSU who the Giants inserted into packages and within the slot in his first two seasons.
“I’m at 177 proper now,” stated Flott. “The aim is 180 clearly. However clearly to get comfy within the weight. I don’t need to acquire weight and or not it’s dangerous weight and be off form and never be capable to transfer round. I really feel good to this point, proceed to construct with the weights workers.”
His transition to exterior nook has been a gradual course of however now could be on the quick observe. He’s working with Banks and Henderson to hone his abilities to develop into the perfect participant he might be.
“We’re two several types of corners,” Flott stated of him and Banks. “So, with this transition, Tae, be taught from him and his press strategies. Nickel, you’ll be 5 yards off moderately up on the road and in addition use the sideline as a nook, too. Simply taking notes mainly from every man and the opposite veterans within the room and that’s what I’ll proceed to do.”
Flott reminded reporters that, “I’m nonetheless 22. A whole lot of the rookies are nonetheless older than me.” He’s acquired quite a lot of rising to do on a number of fronts. What helps is the arrogance the staff is displaying in him this spring.
“It offers me confidence too that the coaches trust in me, that the staff has confidence in me,” he stated. “Like I stated, simply proceed to be the perfect model of myself.”
