Rookie cornerback Ka’dar Hollman has caught the eye of Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine during the offseason workout program.
The Packers’ sixth-round pick remains a work in progress, but he’s standing out among the cornerbacks with impressive press coverage ability this spring.
“I like Ka’dar. He’s intense, you can tell he loves football. He’s a guy that’s been real good at the press man aspect of it,” Pettine said. “He’s had practices where you really have to go back and look to see if a ball got caught on him. He’s done a good job.”
Hollman isn’t just winning coverage battles against the end of the roster types. Pettine said he’s held up against the best the Packers receiving corps can offer early on.
“He’s been up with the ones and the twos most of the time, so it’s not like he’s kicking butt in the JV game and feeling good about it. He’s been up against some of our better guys and more than held his own,” Pettine said. “We’re pleased with where he is. He’s got a long way to go, but love his skill set, love his attitude.”
Pettine was asked about Hollman by Packers.com analyst Larry McCarren, who couldn’t help but notice the young cornerback making plays during Tuesday’s minicamp practice. McCarren even gave the rookie a shoutout in a video breaking down the action.
Hollman, a former walk-on at Toledo, led the MAC in pass breakups last season. He combines a feisty, in-your-face attitude with 4.37-second speed, a 38″ vertical leap and quick feet, giving him the competitiveness and athleticism of a potential starting NFL cornerback.
The next step will be carrying over all the good work he’s done in the offseason workout program into training camp, where the pads come on and the competition level dramatically increases.
At the very least, Hollman has positioned himself to be a player to watch at camp. The rookie cornerback will be competing in a deep position group, but there could be Sam Shields-like potential in Hollman if it all comes together later this summer.
