The Minnesota Vikings All-Pro cornerback recently took some time to go over how he uses game film to prepare for some of the best wide receivers in the NFL today.
Since he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2013, Xavier Rhodes has developed into one of the absolute best cornerbacks in the NFL. This hasn’t been a result of just pure talent though, Rhodes has put in the long hours on and off the field to get to where he is today.
As much as he prepares his body for each season in the weight room and out on the practice field, getting his mind right in the film room is just as essential to his success each year.
Recently, Rhodes took some time to sit down with NFL Media’s Brian Brian Baldinger and Ron Jaworski to go over how he uses game film to help him get ready to cover some of the top wide receivers in the league.
During his session with Baldinger and Jaworski, the Vikings corner explains how some of the smallest details can reveal what route a receiver is going to run. Rhodes can also tell within seconds if the ball is going to be thrown in his direction or not.
Quarterbacks are typically the position group that is featured the most during film sessions like these. So it’s refreshing to get the point of view from the other side of the line of scrimmage and learn that Rhodes has to spend as much time in the film room to perfect his craft as his teammates on the offensive side the ball do.
The extensive work done by the Vikings cornerback in the film room has definitely played a big role in him experiencing a high amount of success during his pro career.
In the NFL, the difference in skill level isn’t really too high between the majority of the league’s players. So the work that guys do in the film room is something that can separate the good players from the great players in the NFL.
For Rhodes’, his film study has certainly helped him take his game to a very high level over the last few seasons.