Sir Purr
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- Mar 16, 2019
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The safety position is also more involved in run defense, a new wrinkle for the 6-foot, 190-pound Cockrell.
“At safety, you’re involved in the run, a lot more than when you’re at corner,” Cockrell said. “You actually have gap responsibilities. Fill pulling guards. Fill on fullbacks and stuff like that. That’s a different physical aspect of the game that you have to get in touch with.”
These are all new responsibilities for a guy that still kind of feels like he’s a newcomer. He never even put on a game jersey last season. But Cockrell prides himself on being a playmaker. The coaches expect that of him.
With the red zone period winding down Monday, Cam Newton looked left and began to cock back to throw. The same corner, though one field over, where players knelt in prayer over Cockrell a year ago.
Newton stepped forward. He had an open receiver in the corner of the end zone.
Then, in a flash, he didn’t. Cockrell was there.
Cockrell was back.