ExtremeRavens Posted August 4 Posted August 4 Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr told Nate Wiggins to try and think back. Try to picture himself on his initial visit to Clemson, walking down those bright orange halls in South Carolina. He probably saw more than a few photos of DeAndre Hopkins leaping over defenders like him in the end zone for noteworthy touchdown catches. Now, the rising sophomore cornerback is guarding Hopkins in practice. “He just started laughing and smirked at me,” Orr said. The Year 2 version of Wiggins is more ready for that kind of challenge — and all the other top-flight receivers he’ll see this season — than he’s ever been. “Nate, he’s one of those guys that’s not afraid to line up against whoever,” safety Kyle Hamilton said, “a nameless, faceless opponent. ‘Line it up, and let’s run it,’ [in] man [coverage], zone [coverage], whatever it may be.” Wiggins admitted that he relied a bit too heavily on natural talent as a rookie. It produced 13 pass deflections, one interception (a pick six) and 33 tackles. This year, “it’s going to be a totally different ballgame.” He’s seeing route concepts better. He has a feel for where his teammates are and where the help is coming from on the back end. Everything is slowing down for Wiggins. “Now he’s figured out, ‘It’s third-and-8. It’s one of these two plays based on the personnel, based on the formation, motion, all those kinds of things,’” senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano said. “So, just consistency.” Training camp has provided a taste of what’s to be expected. It might become one of the lasting images of a month otherwise devoid of much drama — so far, at least. Wiggins had just deflected a Lamar Jackson pass for the second time that practice. He ran over to find new teammate Jaire Alexander, and in harmonious synchrony, they pulled an imaginary seatbelt from their shoulders across their chests, down to their hips — Alexander’s patented seatbelt celebration. One is an unproven cornerback with a voice so soft a microphone in front of his face still might not catch it. The other, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is boisterous and the most confident defensive back Zay Flowers has ever seen. “He and I,” Wiggins said of Alexander, “we’re buddies.” Wiggins is at his best when feeding off that type of energy, be it the opportunity to go mano a mano with Hopkins or an ensuing Alexander taunt. “Since Jaire [Alexander] came in, that’s the guy I’ve leaned on because he’s a playful dude, [and] I’m a playful dude,” Wiggins said. “He took me under his wing when he first came in, and we never looked back.” It’s starting to manifest on the field. Wiggins knows what’s expected of him, and he’s got the support system to match. “He is just more locked in on his technique and fundamentals,” Orr said. “I can’t be even begin [to describe] how happy I am with Nate and his maturity and his growth.” "This year, I know the defense, so now it's just about playing fast and just going to get the ball and taking the ball," Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) All signs point to a breakout year for Wiggins, whom Orr called “one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks” he’s seen. Those in the building have gushed about how he showed up to camp sharper in meeting rooms with a much better grasp on the details. What Wiggins has put on tape during training camp practices thus far helps round out the early returns. There were the two pass breakups early on. He picked off Jackson on Saturday on a wayward ball intended for Rashod Bateman. His closing speed has been on display in one-on-one drills the past two weeks. Hopkins has gotten the better of Wiggins a handful of times, despite sticky coverage, because that’s what All-Pros do. Others have burned him before, too. “I’m not perfect. I mess up from time to time,” Wiggins admitted. “Last year, I really didn’t know the defense [well]. I was just out there, like I said. So this year, I know the defense, so now it’s just about playing fast and just going to get the ball and taking the ball.” That comfort allows him to be more aggressive. His teammates are eager to see how that translates to the season. “I think he’s probably going to have one of the bigger jumps from last year to this year of anybody on the team,” Hamilton said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article Quote
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