49ers Cornerback Carlos Rogers Showing Value

by Dylan DeSimone on Oct 5, 2011 7:31 AM PDT in 49ers Roster

In 2011, San Francisco's free agent acquisition Carlos Rogers has been showing the league that Nnamdi Asomugha and Jonathan Joseph weren't the only good cornerbacks on the market this past offseason. Upon Jim Harbaugh accepting the 49ers head coaching position, the secondary was destined for a makeover.

Harbaugh brought in three notables in Rogers, Donte Whitner and Madieu Williams this offseason in an attempt to fill some voids with some fresh faces. Rogers has been emerging as the prize amongst the group, replacing the departed Nate Clements better than I expected.

In four games, Rogers has 2 interceptions which is good enough to tie for second in the NFL and 8 pass deflections which ties him for third in the league. The cornerback played well in the memorable week four match against the Philadelphia Eagles.

On the first play of the game, Andy Reid and the Eagles thought they would take a shot at the secondary by going deep to DeSean Jackson. Rogers was there with the speedy wide out every step of the way, breaking up the slightly under thrown ball by Michael Vick.

Not long after, Rogers got his hand in on another pass, except this time he tipped it to himself for his 2nd pick of the year.

Rogers has shown the physical ability to stay with the elite receivers in the league, and even though Jackson had a monster game yards-wise, they didn't come on Rogers and he never scored. What was most impressive was that after the first half, the 49ers defense shut down the Eagles offense, holding them to 3 points.

The cornerback also respects the wide receivers he faces by playing them according to their abilities. For instance, during the Eagles game, Rogers played 7 to 10 yards off Jackson to prevent from being burned by him at the line. This shows a level of intelligence that absolutely helps him become a more complete player.

Also when Rogers was acquired, there was speculation that he would have difficulty getting interceptions due to poor ball skills he displayed in Washington. Not only is Rogers on pace for 8 interceptions this season, but he's contributed to the 49ers as a team having a +8 turnover ratio.

At the moment, I think Niners fans can be satisfied with the play from Rogers and when Whitner returns from injury, I'm sure he will prove to be another underrated value attained by Harbaugh. Rogers will have a challenge this weekend when he goes up against Tampa Bay receivers Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn. San Francisco returns home for week five as they look to improve to 4-1.

Follow me on Twitter: @DeSimone80

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Best FA acquisition since Justin Smith

We’ve needed a corner who can cover for a while and despite Rogers’ age, he can still hang with the speedy, young guys of the league.

by 9thevolution on Oct 5, 2011 7:57 AM PDT reply actions

agreed...

by Sigelvictory on Oct 5, 2011 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions

and J. Smith still dont get any love (besides here in 9ER Nation)

he is one of the best linemen in the league today. that hustle play that helped win the (eagles) game shows how good he is. its all good we know that our D is starting click and that our D is a beast. hopefully our o-line starts to get it going as well. the bucs are going to be a true test.

An ice cold beer, pizza and a 49ERS game is my idea of heaven. =)

by chris z on Oct 5, 2011 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions

He does get some love from people.

But not as much as he should be getting.

Clayton Kershaw, Giant Killer

KEMVP

Kempin' ain't easy

"By now if u don't believe the Niners are for real ur probably not that good at what u do..." - Donte Whitner

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by mikeinsp on Oct 5, 2011 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions

lights out

Not mentioned he is also is a heavy hitting corner just ask Romo. Along with Goldson we are definitely top 3 in secondaries that can lay a hat and force fumbles. I am not sure I can think of a harder hitting secondary beside maybe the Ravens.

by spirit_of_the_niners on Oct 5, 2011 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

Wish we would have locked him up for 3 years

by reedkrase on Oct 5, 2011 8:17 AM PDT reply actions

Don't be surprised if we extend him at the end of the year...

Considering we’re looking at having a fairly successful team moving forward, I don’t think he would be opposed to coming back for a few years. Don’t forget that it was a funky year in FA and most players were on’y going to accept one year deals. He definitely should be retained

by 9thevolution on Oct 5, 2011 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Harbaugh effect

Rogers comes back for a multi-year deal because Harbaugh and Co have given him confidence and showing the Team how to win. Rogers has bought in and will continue to get better because he ‘feels’ needed and an ‘integral’ part of an improving defense.

by Hesperia9er on Oct 5, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions

You may have a valid point here

If the team does well this season, players that signed one year contracts might be inclined to make the 49ers their first priority in order to be a part of a winning franchise.

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 5, 2011 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions

He should be

but we could have locked him up for cheap at the beginning of this season, next year we’re going to have to pay for his production.

by reedkrase on Oct 5, 2011 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

He dropped a LOT of potential

interceptions as a Redskin. Either the change of uniform is doing him some good, or it’s a fluke that he has 2 in 4 games. Either way, we got him for cheap in part because of his stone hands, but his coverage skills are SOLID, and I’m excited for what he’s brought thus far. Way under-rated pickup.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Oct 5, 2011 8:37 AM PDT reply actions

Don't forget that if he had his eyes up....

he could have had another one that bounced right off his facemask. Even if he’s dropping potential INTs, he’s a huge coverage improvement over Clements and that’s what we needed; badly.

by 9thevolution on Oct 5, 2011 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions

yeah...

dropped INT’s are still passes defensed, and at least he is in position to get those. A pick would be better for sure, but at least he is in the neighborhood of the WR most the time.

by Sigelvictory on Oct 5, 2011 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

They are

Even when they are passes defensed with the hands, or the facemask. You are also correct that it at least means he is in the vicinity of the receiver, which is a good sign.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Oct 5, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

dropped ints

I think this shows that his emphasis is on shutting down the receiver, not making a play that gets him on primetime. I don’t mide the odd int. dropped here or there

by reedkrase on Oct 5, 2011 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions

i agree

An ice cold beer, pizza and a 49ERS game is my idea of heaven. =)

by chris z on Oct 5, 2011 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I feel the same

I might face palm in the moment over a dropped int but I will get over it pretty quickly because he still stopped a play from being made. Although they do hurt more when a team bouncing back and burns you in the next few plays.

I'm not feeling witty enough right now

by jonesin25 on Oct 5, 2011 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Need to sign him up before end of year

Or we’re going to have to pay a premium to keep him, which Baalke may not be inclined to do

by mrg80 on Oct 5, 2011 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

I was pleased with this signing when it happened...

…and he’s exceeded my expectations. Looks like 2009 was an anomaly.

by Bigmouth on Oct 5, 2011 8:59 AM PDT reply actions

me too...

by Sigelvictory on Oct 5, 2011 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Upgrade

both on the field and on our books over Clements!!! Nate was a beast at run defence but our front 7 dosent need any help in that department. My only gripe would be that pass
off his helmet in the Cowboys game, that would of easily been a pick 6 and more than likely put the game out of reach for “the boys”

by Frisco_Kid on Oct 5, 2011 9:11 AM PDT via iPhone app reply actions

It's not that Rogers is good...

it’s just Clements was really really bad.

by djfivenine on Oct 5, 2011 9:50 AM PDT reply actions

Wrong on both accounts...

Clements would be the #2 on this team if he was still here. His coverage skills have seriously declined, but he’s not necessarily bad. And it’s not a stretch to say that Rogers is one of the better corners in the league. He could be the #1 on plenty of teams.

by 9thevolution on Oct 5, 2011 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

...combination of both...coaching staff in the mix makes for a trifecta all around

by Hesperia9er on Oct 5, 2011 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Clements couldn't keep up as cornerback

But if he accepted a conversion to free safety? I’d take that.

Today's Justin Smith :: Yesterday's Bryant Young

by OffensiveInterference on Oct 5, 2011 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't go to that extent on the latter, but you're dead wrong on the former.

Clayton Kershaw, Giant Killer

KEMVP

Kempin' ain't easy

"By now if u don't believe the Niners are for real ur probably not that good at what u do..." - Donte Whitner

Follow me on Twitter

by mikeinsp on Oct 5, 2011 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

(IF) the 9ers can beat Buc's and make it 3 win's in a row...

We all start to…BELIEVE!

by BigMar on Oct 5, 2011 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

I'm already believing, I don't need another win to get me to that point (but I sure WANT the win!!!)

After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.

by OldJock on Oct 5, 2011 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

yes i believe as well

i am buying what coach H is selling. more importantly the players are buying into it. i hope we get pay back for that beat down the bucs gave us last year.

An ice cold beer, pizza and a 49ERS game is my idea of heaven. =)

by chris z on Oct 5, 2011 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

paybacks a comin'

Yeah last year versus Bucs, VD and Crabs caught a combined 2 catches for 18yds…That won’t happen again. Go NINERS!!!!!!!!!!

by marylandniner on Oct 5, 2011 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I got a lot of crap for lauding the Rogers signing as a major upgrade over Clements. Well, it appears to be so far. Much better cover corner.

Yes, I just did Twitter. Follow me for ultra intelligent insight.
"I am our future, forget Kory"

by nocal81(Vincent) on Oct 5, 2011 10:08 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Yup!!!

I’m sure you remember me saying the same Vince that after asomugha I wanted Rogers cuz he is an excellent corner! Every corner is gonna get beat here n there that’s the nature of the game but Rogers has been very solid so far and he’s only 28 I say 3yr 18 mil with 9 guaranteed is appropriate…

by Ninersincebirth82 on Oct 5, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions

He definitely has been an upgrade,

and with all the talk about his “stone hands” by the Redskins fans who bombarded our site to laugh at us for getting him, his 2 ints are very encouraging. He seems to be much more disciplined than Clements, and just as good as him besides. He doesn’t jump on double moves, as far as we’ve seen, and he manages to stick just a bit closer to the receiver than good ol nate.

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 5, 2011 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

I wasnt hating on you...I wanted to see what would happen..so far, you have had an excellent prediction

by Hesperia9er on Oct 5, 2011 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought he was 1 of the FA’s we signed for 2 years…or was that some1 else?

by Doni S on Oct 5, 2011 10:35 AM PDT via iPhone app reply actions

we signed whitner for three

by reedkrase on Oct 5, 2011 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I still have to wonder why he wasn't shadowing

Miles Austin after Dez Bryant got injured… I say Dallas never gets back in that game if he was.

by Sigelvictory on Oct 5, 2011 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

Carlos Rogers has been great!

But hows our 3rd round pick doing? Can we get a write-up/analysis on the progress of chris culliver please? It would be greatly appreciated. FAs are great but we need to continue building through the draft as well.

by mazonmafia on Oct 5, 2011 11:44 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

This

by Zintzun22niner on Oct 5, 2011 2:46 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

+1

Today's Justin Smith :: Yesterday's Bryant Young

by OffensiveInterference on Oct 5, 2011 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Culliver

Mentioned briefly, but positively in Maiocco’s defensive player-by-player review.

Today's Justin Smith :: Yesterday's Bryant Young

by OffensiveInterference on Oct 5, 2011 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

From what I've seen.

Cully hasn’t gotten a whole lot of playing time on defense, though he did last week. So there’s not too much to be able to judge him on so far.

Clayton Kershaw, Giant Killer

KEMVP

Kempin' ain't easy

"By now if u don't believe the Niners are for real ur probably not that good at what u do..." - Donte Whitner

Follow me on Twitter

by mikeinsp on Oct 5, 2011 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Best value corner for sure..

I just hope he doesn’t get greedy at the end of the year and want like a ridiculous contracts like them eagles boys.. Like Aldon Smith but I was really hoping we would of got Patrick Peterson.. ImAgine him opposite of Carlos with Donte in there.. That would of been some damn good secondary lock down value… I hope we get a corner in the first round next year..Another O-lineman in the Second if we can’t coach up someone we got already.. Then just nab the best players in the draft 3rd round and up..I think we should sign Carlos anyone who provided great vAlue after we clinch a playoff spot.. Because the whole teams stock goes up dramticAlly if you do well in he post season.. I think we will clinch by week 13.. If all goes right…lol..

by pigskin slapper on Oct 5, 2011 12:01 PM PDT via mobile reply actions