SmashMouth

Rookie cornerback Natrell Jamerson knows his spot on the New Orleans Saints isn't guaranteed. So the fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin knows he has to fight his way onto the final 53-man roster.

And he's doing so at a new position. Jamerson spent most of his final college season at safety, and statistically, that was his most productive year for the Badgers with 51 tackles, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions.

But the Saints think he fits their system as a cornerback.

"Being able to let him be a corner full-time is going to help him a lot," Saints defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn said. "Because he does have the athletic ability to play the position."

Jamerson said that's been the biggest adjustment he's had to make since joining the Saints for OTAs. He said getting into the mindset of playing cornerback is the main thing he has to do to successfully make the transition -- that and listening to his coaches.



"Trying to transition back to the corner mind-state, it's a lot of things that I'm not used to doing because of playing a different position," Jamerson said. "But whether it's (Aaron Glenn) or a vet or another coach that's coaching me on something, you know, I'm taking it all in and making sure I don't make the same mistakes over and over. I'm just trying to show 'em that I can go out there and play."

He said he'll have to polish off techniques he didn't have to utilize as much playing safety such as press coverage.

"Making sure I'm good off the line with my backpedal and things like that," Jamerson said.

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