Hanson Not Giving Up Nickel Job Without A Fight
A lot of people already seem to have penciled in fourth-round pick Brandon Boykin as the team’s nickel cornerback this season. But Joselio Hanson doesn’t intend to give up that job without a fight.
Hanson Not Giving Up Nickel Job Without A Fight
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
A lot of people already seem to have penciled in fourth-round pick Brandon Boykin as the team’s nickel cornerback this season. But Joselio Hanson doesn’t intend to give up that job without a fight.
Hanson, 30, is entering his seventh year with the Eagles. He was signed out of NFL Europe in 2006. Under the tutelage of the late Jim Johnson, he developed into one of the league’s better nickel corners.
"Jim really made me who I am," Hanson said. "A lot of teams at the time weren’t big on putting small guys in the slot. I feel like I changed the game. After Jim put me in there and I played well, teams started drafting smaller guys to play inside."
Last year was difficult for Hanson. With the arrivals of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, he became expendable. Or so the Eagles thought. Released before the season, he was re-signed a few days later, but spent the first nine games as the team’s fourth corner as new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo tried to do a square peg-round-hole thing at nickel with, first, Asomugha, and then, Rodgers-Cromartie.
Hanson returned to his nickel role in mid-November after Rodgers-Cromartie went down with an ankle injury. Not coincidentally, the Eagles’ defense started playing much better after that. They won five of their final seven games. Held four of those seven opponents to 10 points or less.
"It was a tough year, but I felt like I proved a point to them," Hanson said. "You can’t just put anybody inside. It’s a totally different position. When I got in there for good in the second half of the season, we ran off some wins. That was a good feeling."
If Hanson wants to experience that good feeling again, he’s going to have to beat out Boykin, a talented rookie out of Georgia who is a younger, faster version of Joselio.
Hanson said Tuesday that he was told by one of the team’s defensive coaches that he will be competing with Boykin for the nickel job. Whichever one wins that competition will open the season as the team’s nickel corner.
"I’m just trying to come out here and do my job," Hanson said. "I feel I’m still the best nickel on the team. I continue to grow. I’m not at the max of my mental ability to play this game, play this defense. I’m in the mental prime of my life. Not a lot of things confuse me out there."
This was a waste of an article.... Lots of wasted energy on a guy who was cut last year, resigned, and played on a lousy pass defense. Hanson was a nice player, but not a game changer. At this point, he is no more than a camp body trying to be signed by another team. Check out the YouTube footage on Boykin. ... He is a game changer. Hanson would be an average corner in the SEC today... Next article.....move on...— Lawlessj- This is the 'feel good' good story of the year...and maybe Mcnabb can be our backup QB.... Had Hanson been in this years draft he'd be undrafted....he is not overrated... He is unrated
— Lawlessj - They'll need hanson at the top of his game bc who knows with injuries. Also, Boykin will be focusing on special teams and just trying to learn the defense. Don't be so quick to write him off. He's a solid player.— sore richard
- WHOOOO Nellie,, Hanson, for a moment there was "one of" the best nickel corners in this league. Having him and Boykins is a blessing for the Birds. This gives them the ability to bring the rook along slowly and get his teeth into the punt returner job. Good job in putting this talented roster together. Now just get some coaches who have a clue (not Morningbum,, nor Damn Juan) and this could be a superbowl run. GO BIRDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— phillyroni
- With all the positive 'glass half-full' comments about Hanson...for a moment... I thought I was on eagles.com reading a 'rosey' Dave Spadaro article...ihope Hanson plays well, just don't be disappointed when he's cut. gO BIRDS!— Lawlessj
Jose has been a decent slot DB for us but I agree with squaretee on many of his points. I felt that the past few years many took advantage of his height. This kid Boykin has tremendous hops, speed and experience playing the slot... he is a clear upgrade over Hanson, I guess we will see how it all plays out. Not a bad idea having Boykin learn from Jose and be brought in later in the season.- Al Harris was the Jim Johnson nickel who helped change the game. Hanson has nothing on Harris.— PHLtoLAX
- Murdock is right. Hanson is solid. If Boykin can beat him out, then the Eagles have improved. Gotta love Boykin's potential as a returner, and if he is special on special teams and as good as Hanson at corner, Hanson will probably be traded. But he will play for someone in the NFL, guaranteed.— armchairGM
- @dragoon6 -You need to calm down pal. Joselio has been above average playing the slot/nickel role. Eagles have made enough boneheaded moves on the defensive side of the ball, and putting Boykin in as the starter would qualify as boneheaded, he hasn't played a single down of NFL football.
@Lawless J Your comment was a waste of time. You should've stayed on YouTube that way you could've checked out video's of Trevor Laws in college. Why would you even mention college video. Who cares! you have to be a very special player to start at corner in the NFL as a rookie. YouTube Videos????? Should I laugh now or later. Joker
— auspitz.paul - Auspitz- if I recall, Patrick Peterson was a pretty decent rookie corner last year....let me ground you with a reality check... Hanson was cut to start 2011. If he was an above average slot corner, why was he cut? At the end of the day, Hanson will be playing elsewhere in 2012. boykins will be the slot corner. Hang on to my comments....they will be reality. And I you haven't seen the game footage 'highlights' of Boykins on YouTube, you're really missing out. Open up your eyes....Hanson hasn't been the same since he got cut for being on the juice...tahe away his roids and it took away his game— Lawlessj
- I get Hanson's point - he got kicked to the curb for the hot chick that everyone wanted to date but it turned out she had no personallity etc. He did get the job done better so he has a point. Is he the best in the league - i dont think he said that. Is he better at the slot than the outside guys that is an obvious yes. Better than the new guy we will see. The more i read about this season the more questions i have about juan castillo who i think is a great stand up guy but might fall under a bit of the good old boy hiring mentality. Good guy loyal works hard but maybe not the right guy to be defensive cordinator. The sales pitch of i have been loyal forever and deserve a shot might not have been the best sales line. Maybe he is not as "cerebral" as all those really smart football players like Kelce etc...— JL68
