You know what we love most? Motherfuckers who make excuses. Cue Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall.
Randall was one of the best cornerbacks in the league in week 1 and one of the worst in weeks 2 and 3. His terrible play reached an apex when Minnesota Vikings’ receiver Stefon Diggs went off for nine and 182 (a career high) with Randall primarily in coverage in week 2. The Lions’ Marvin Jones went over 200 in week 3, but that was only partially Randall’s fault, as Josh Hawkins gave up 73 of those yards.
Nonetheless, all eyes are on Randall. He needs to play better if the Packers are going to play better, particularly as long as Sam Shields is sidelined.
So what does he have to say for himself? You’ll love it!
Excuse No. 1: league rules
“I think that’s what the NFL wants to happen because with all the rules and stuff that they have that we can’t touch guys and I know a lot of guys don’t like getting flagged. Obviously, they let most receivers get a last little tug at the end and the receiver catches the ball and the fans start hollering, ‘Yay! Touchdown!’ But I just think it’s great for the NFL. I just think it’s great for those guys that are catching passes and that’s why corners get paid as much money as they do whenever there are great, great corners.”
Excuse No. 2: got tangled up
“We just both happened to get tangled up, and if it was the other way around and the receiver fell and I end up catching the ball, they probably would have threw a flag. So just for the most part I mean that’s just a play you can’t really correct nothing in the film because I was in perfect coverage. I was right there. I was in perfect coverage most of the night, even the one that he caught the one deep ball on me. I was there, and he just made the play. Sometimes guys are going to do that because that’s this league. For the most part, I feel like I played pretty well against the Lions.”
Right, perfect coverage. Except you fucking fell down!
Randall did take some blame. In fact, he threw some shade at the two receivers that torched him the last two games in the process.
“I know we’ve been struggling, me in particular, and the great thing about that is I’m not struggling because of the receivers. I’m struggling because of myself. Just knowing that, I know I’m going to bounce back. That’s really the best part about the bye week is to know that it’s me. If it was the other way around, then I would be in trouble. If I was doing everything perfectly great and I was still getting passes caught on me, that’s when I would be worried and probably think my name might be coming down (from the locker).”
We don’t really know what to think about Randall right now. Obviously he needs to play better, but his comments certainly suggest he’s thinking too much.
That seems to be the problem: focus.
Guys go one of two ways when they’re playing badly and getting blasted for it. The lose their confidence and play worse or they refocus and pull it together.
Sunday’s match-up with ODB should be a good barometer of which way Randall is going.