The fact of the matter is that not everybody is going to get to start. However, Phil has also shown a great willingness to package guys more to give them packaged reps. If they can make the most of their special teams and packaged reps ... that can grow Phil's trust in them. Thus, when the situation arises ... the guy can find themselves getting sent out on the field, playing more meaningful snaps.
Here's the intriguing thing about our current group of CBs:
Hankins: multi-year starter (definitely well within Phil's circle of trust) - the improvement for Hankins as been incremental ... and injuries last year impeded some of his development ... however, he's poised to have his best season in '20.
Moss: Has around half a season of starts and was Iowa's #3 CB in the latter half of the season once he returned to good health.
Brents: Injuries derailed his '19 season really before its start ... however, he saw a lot of quality action in '18 (including nearly half a season of starts) and he's a guy who Phil really seems to like.
Roberts: He's a young man who has been continuing to "climb the ladder." He saw a lot of reps in the first half of the season, when our secondary was depleted due to injuries. It strikes me that he's a guy who's been continuing to earn Phil's trust ... and he has the advantage of receiving the tutelage of Jovon Johnson (and Bob Sanders) - so he knows what to expect from Phil.
Harris: He's a guy who seemed to be jumping onto Phil's radar last season ... particularly when our DB situation was a bit depleted. He was definitely in the proverbial "bull-pen" last year - and can definitely continue to work himself into the picture through the coming years.
McKinney: I honestly don't know what to expect from McKinney. It sounded like LeVar liked him in the return game - but I hadn't heard a lot about his progress as it related to positional action. Phil does seem to have a little extra connection to the Detroit guys he recruits - but they have to earn his trust every bit as much as the other guys too.
Here's the intriguing thing about our current group of CBs:
Hankins: multi-year starter (definitely well within Phil's circle of trust) - the improvement for Hankins as been incremental ... and injuries last year impeded some of his development ... however, he's poised to have his best season in '20.
Moss: Has around half a season of starts and was Iowa's #3 CB in the latter half of the season once he returned to good health.
Brents: Injuries derailed his '19 season really before its start ... however, he saw a lot of quality action in '18 (including nearly half a season of starts) and he's a guy who Phil really seems to like.
Roberts: He's a young man who has been continuing to "climb the ladder." He saw a lot of reps in the first half of the season, when our secondary was depleted due to injuries. It strikes me that he's a guy who's been continuing to earn Phil's trust ... and he has the advantage of receiving the tutelage of Jovon Johnson (and Bob Sanders) - so he knows what to expect from Phil.
Harris: He's a guy who seemed to be jumping onto Phil's radar last season ... particularly when our DB situation was a bit depleted. He was definitely in the proverbial "bull-pen" last year - and can definitely continue to work himself into the picture through the coming years.
McKinney: I honestly don't know what to expect from McKinney. It sounded like LeVar liked him in the return game - but I hadn't heard a lot about his progress as it related to positional action. Phil does seem to have a little extra connection to the Detroit guys he recruits - but they have to earn his trust every bit as much as the other guys too.