After historic campaign, Trevon Diggs focuses on raising his game, not critics

Perhaps deleting his Twitter account is paying too much attention to the noise, but if Trevon Diggs’ confidence has ever been affected by the plays he’s allowed, he’s hidden it well.

COOL — Trevon Diggs had had enough of social media during the training camp of the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, Calif..

A video went viral of the sophomore wide receiver Simi Fehokwho didn’t catch a pass as a rookie last year, beating diggsa cornerback All-Pro, on a deep pass in a one-on-one drill. It didn’t matter that there was no pressure on the play, no help from a safety; fueled the narrative that Diggs gives up too many big plays.

diggs he ended up deleting his Twitter account the same day.

“It’s toxic,” he said. diggs of social networks. “Usually I wasn’t on Twitter much, but I’m in camp. I’m trying to focus, trying to focus and just be better every day.”

On the one hand, Diggs’ second season in the NFL was historic for his 11 interceptions. For another, he was the only cornerback to allow more than 1,000 receiving yards against opponents last season, according to Pro Football Focus. diggs is entering his third season in the NFLand sixth as a defensive back, after making the switch from wide receiver in his sophomore year with Alabama.

“I feel like I’ve grown quite a bit,” he said. diggs. “I know a lot about football and I’ve seen a lot of football now now, so it’s second nature to me and I feel a lot better than I did last year.”

Before the 11 interceptions of diggs in 2021, the last player in the NFL in registering so many interceptions in a season was the defensive back of the cowboys, Everson Wallsin 1981. The seven interceptions of diggs in the first six games were the most since the Hall of Famer, Rod WoodsonI did it in 1993.

diggs he also returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns. He added 21 pass deflections, becoming the first player since that stat began tracking in 1984 to have 11 interceptions and more than 20 pass deflections in a season. He became the first cornerback of the cowboys to win first-team honors All-Pro since deion sanders in 1999.

But, on the negative side of the statistical sheet, diggs he was the closest defender in giving up 790 yards on 46-of-86 completions and four touchdowns, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. In a survey conducted by ESPN of more than 50 executives, coaches, scouts and players in the league, diggs he was ranked as the 10th best cornerback. In any case, according to the ratings of the video game “Madden”, diggs he was ranked 19th among cornerbacks.

The Vice President of Personnel for the CowboysWill McClaysaid to join the criticism against diggs it’s just clickbait.

“The position [más difícil en la NFL] he’s a quarterback. The second most difficult is cornerback in the NFL“, he pointed McClay. “Y No. 1, being able to stand up and cover the best receiver like he does sometimes, being able to go for the ball, all those different things that he does, he’s got to support against the run, he’s a player. All-Pro. And there have been very few who have been able to do everything 100 percent completely, at the highest level.”

That’s no excuse for big plays, especially since he’s been susceptible to double moves.

“There’s no one perfect, but trying to be perfect and clean up some stuff on some technical stuff,” he warned. diggs.

To the high school coach, Al Harrislikes to remind people that diggs he is still a young player.

“Guys are going to make plays,” he noted. Harris over opposing wide receivers. “Do we expect our boys not to make plays? No, but [los oponentes] they are going to make plays. There are some areas that we need to clean up and that’s what we’re working on.”

The cowboys they selected diggs in the 2020 second round, after making no real effort to retain cornerback Byron Jones before the start of that free agency. What was the biggest criticism of jones, a 2015 first-round pick? That he couldn’t steal the ball. He had two interceptions in five seasons. Still, in 2019, he gave up less than 400 yards lining up against some of the best wide receivers in the game.

Now, the cowboys they have diggswho had 14 interceptions in his first 28 games, and who is criticized for allowing too many yards.

The interceptions goal for diggs in 2022 is to top his 2021 total. The last time a player posted back-to-back seasons with double digits for interceptions was Tom Keane of the Dallas Texans Y Baltimore Colts in 1952-53. Can the same be expected? diggs?

“You can’t,” he said. Harris. “Me neither, but you know, you have to set high goals.”

The general manager of the Baltimore RavensEric DeCostaHe joked that a team wants “both” when it comes to cornerback. One who doesn’t give up too many yards and who also stole the ball. There just aren’t many of those on the surface of the Earth.

“It’s a very, very challenging position to play, probably one of the most difficult in any sport,” he said. Coastechoing what was said by McClay“You have to have some speed, some athletic ability, but you also have to have a warrior mentality.”

Perhaps, deleting your Twitter account is paying too much attention to the noise, but if the trust of diggs has ever been affected by the plays he has allowed, he has hidden it well.

“Hate comes with success,” he recounted. diggs. “All I can control is what I can control on the field and let my game speak for itself. I can’t answer everyone, so I prefer not to say anything, and just talk about the field.”

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After historic campaign, Trevon Diggs focuses on raising his game, not critics