At age 31 with seven seasons in the NFL under his belt, it is reasonable to assume that Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman could be hanging up his cleats within the next few years.
It appears that he could be trading those laces in for a whistle.
After spending some time under Ray Horton, the Redskins newest defensive backs coach, Norman has said that he is finding new inspiration in the game, and it’s encouraged him to pursue coaching someday, according to Redskins.com.
“I’m still learning something each and every day,” Norman said. “If I can get something from Ray and steal a couple of things from him and put it in my toolbelt, man how better off will I be?”
As for Horton, when he looks at the DBs in Washington, he sees nothing but promise from a talented group of veterans. Highlighted by Norman on the edge and Landon Collins roaming the secondary, the Redskins appear to be stout at all three levels. The next step is to gel together on the field and learn to be vocal play in and play out.
“They need to really become coaches on the field and talk more,” said Horton. “I’ve got a very talented group of men but they’re very quiet. They just are. I need them to come out of that shell and be more vocal on the field and dominate. And that’s what I’m looking for: for them to really go, ‘I understand the defense and now I’m going to take command of the defense.’”
It can be tough to come into a new locker room and expect proven veterans to listen to you. Horton is finding a way to reach his players in Washington, and it seems to be working.
