New Green Bay Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray sees the immense talent in cornerback Jaire Alexander and believes he has the depth of knowledge needed to get the third-year cornerback to the next level.
Gray’s history developing the position can’t be denied. He named five different cornerbacks who he helped develop into a top player as a coach, including Samari Rolle, DeAngelo Hall, Nate Clements, Antonie Winfield and Xavier Rhodes.
Gray compared Alexander, who intercepted two passes and broke up 17 others in 2019, to both Rolle and Hall.
“You have a young, very energetic guy who made a lot of plays last year on a really good defense,” Gray said during a Zoom call on Thursday. “When I look at Jai, he reminds a lot of Samari Rolle, when I had Samari in Tennessee. They aren’t really big guys but they were physical, they have really great cover skills and excellent ability to see. A lot of times, guys don’t have that vision, to see the quarterback and the receiver at the same time. DeAngelo Hall had that. When you got guys who have that type of skill, that’s a big plus.”
The biggest question Gray asks Alexander: “Where do you want to go?”
Nine years in the NFL – including four Pro Bowl seasons – and a quarter-century of coaching defensive backs provides Gray with all the tools he needs to push Alexander and the other Packers cornerbacks to greater heights.
“I can help him. Like I tell all the young guys, I have the knowledge to get you where you want to go. Now it’s up to you to want to work and get there,” Gray said.
Still only 23, Alexander is ascending as a player and will have an opportunity in 2020 to make the jump from an above-average starter to a legitimate star.
Gray said Alexander needs to follow in the footsteps of his past disciples if he wants to make cement his status as one of the NFL’s best corners.
“They took the knowledge, they went out there and played, played at a high level and became one of the highest-paid guys in the league,” Gray said. “If that’s their goal, I can help you get there. If you want to be a Pro Bowl guy, I can help you get there. If you want to be All-Pro, I can try to get you there.”
While Gray provides the teaching, the player must complete the rest.
“I’ll give you knowledge but you have to put the work in,” Gray said.
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