After a bad performance, team’s need their best players and leaders to pick up the intensity in play and make an impact in their next game. For the Washington Redskins in Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers, cornerback Josh Norman would be the player to have a bounce-back performance after a forgettable prime time showing against the New Orleans Saints.
Many times this season, the seven-year pro has misunderstood his position in the confines of the defense and that has led to criticism from the media and fans. His commitment to football and not being a celebrity was questioned last week by former Redskins player DeAngelo Hall. In Sundays 23-17 victory against his former team, Norman would appear to regain some of his confidence by making his presence felt. He controlled his side of the field for most of the game.
Norman was brought in to the Redskins organization because of his ability to defend and make plays in the passing game by virtually shutting down his opponents.
The Coastal Carolina product against Carolina made several critical plays that would ultimately be a huge factor in the Redskins win. Norman would garner his first interception in 20 games by snagging a ball from Panthers QB Cam Newton that was intended for rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore.
All 3 phases played a role in Redskins 23-17 win over Panthers
He also forced a fumble along with his amassing five combined tackles with one pass defended.
Norman was aware of the criticism coming his way this week and spoke about it after the win from FedEx Field.
“This week was a little bit different, I’m not going to lie,” Norman said. “People came from everywhere, fan base, I was just like, ‘Gosh.’ Checked my phone every time there was an alert or something, it was just the weirdest thing ever. And it’s like I’m playing cornerback versus everybody. Not just the opposing team but the outside team and the noise of just everything. But when I went home, into my nice humble abode, La Grande Evasion I call it, everything shuts off, everything goes quiet. I’m at peace, I really am because I’m going to live my best life regardless of what these people say or what anybody else say. I’m going to do what we do best. My teammates know that. As long as they know we have their back and they have my back, I can stand the test of time. Regardless of what they say or what anyone else says, we going to do us. And we going to do us in a way in which we are going to come out and be better each and every time we step out on the football field. If they have my back and I got their back and they can trust in me and I can trust in them, then that’s all that matters.”
Norman is a big piece to the Redskins success and will need to continue to regain the mystique that he has built up through his career. When he along with teammate D.J. Swearinger plays well the defense unit feeds off of that success. It will be very important for the Redskins to continue to have these type of performances from the Pro Bowl cornerback as Washington will now face another tough opponent in their division rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.