Heading into Sunday’s game with the Cowboys, word was that the Redskins would continue to have cornerback Josh Norman line up on the left side of the defense whether Dez Bryant was there or not.
Norman’s placement was an issue in the opener as the Steelers regularly went to Antonio Brown when he was covered by cornerback Bashaud Breeland and it was an issue for much of the Cowboys’ 27-23 win this weekend. Bryant had seven catches for 102 yards, many of which came when he was on the opposite side of the field from Norman.
That’s likely why the Redskins decided to change course late in the loss. Norman lined up against Bryant on the right side of the defense, although that didn’t work out well. Norman was flagged for illegal hands to the face, helping the Cowboys on their way to the go-ahead touchdown. After the game, Norman said he wasn’t the man to talk to about the change.
“I don’t know, ask Coach [Jay Gruden] that,” Norman said after the game. “Don’t ask me. I’m one of the soldiers on the field so you’ve got to ask the field generals on the sidelines. ... I don’t know [when the decision was made], I mean, he’s in one time, out one time, I was just doing what I was asked to do, giving it my all no matter what the situation is, who I am facing, who I am not facing. I just want to win so, it really don’t matter to me.”
Norman did force an Ezekiel Elliott fumble, but it wasn’t a great day on or off the field. Norman was asked to take a drug test after the game, something he said, via ESPN.com, he didn’t understand because players “don’t have anything left in the tank.”
Given his history with Odell Beckham, Norman’s spot on the field will be discussed a lot again this week. The same is true of Norman’s team’s need to find something in their tank before they find themselves three games back of the Giants three weeks into the season.