The STAR was not invented by Staley--you are right.
Ramsey is not even first Rams do it. it is, as you say,
the slot CB, which is that hybrid position.
Technically, it's a SAM or WILL
In old days, and can show pics, Isiah or Ken Geddes
would walk out to the slot.
Eventually the slot receivers got to good for a LBer to
cover man or zone out there, so a nickel back had to come
in.
There are several ways to handle it.
Rams used to have the CBs go to one side and have a
safety come in as the "nickel" and one of the CBs was
the slot--thik about Eddie Brown in Super Bowl giving
up the TD. He was the nickel back, but played safety
Rod Perry was the slot CB, because the formation
Stallworth was in--he was the slot.
Jump to 1999 Super Bowl--who was the STAR that year?
Todd Lyght. Dre Bly was the nickel and he'd play outside
Lyght would move inside.
Then next Super Bowl--again Bly was nickel, would play
outside. Aeneas would play the STAR
In 2018 Super Bowl, a little difference, generally, Robey-Coleman
would come in and not only was he the nickel, he was the slot.
The of course, last year. Ramsey, often, no always, would be the STAR
So, there are 5 Super Bowls and 3 ways to play the slot.
1999, 2001, and 2021 were the same.
One thing is for sure, someone has to play the slot. It is where
the plays that hurt the team happen the most often in today's NFL.
And it happens to be where Ramsey makes a lot of plays. And he
does not do it all the time, less this year than last.
And there is an irony to this, and you will understand, the slot
is not part of the shell...the slot lines up close to the line of scrimmage
and matches faster than the other cornerbacks. There is no
cushion in slot. They'd know that if they looked at the stills
I show. Most of the time slot = tight
So when Ramsey is the STAR he's doing exactly what they want done
but they also say he should not be the STAR.
Go figure.
