Walter Thurmond once called himself the best slot cornerback in the NFL. But he’s prepared to play either cornerback position for the Eagles in 2015.
Thurmond, who officially signed a one-year deal with the Eagles on Thursday, has primarily played in the slot during his career but is ready to make the move outside if necessary. According to Thurmond, the Eagles haven’t told him their plans for him yet.
“I feel comfortable with both positions,” Thurmond said. “They’re two different worlds. They’re two different techniques that you have to play. That’s why I was saying some guys can’t go outside and inside and vice versa because you have to play two different styles and techniques. I like both positions.”
After Thurmond called himself the best slot cornerback in the NFL last spring, Eagles slot cornerback Brandon Boykin tweeted: “But who is Walter Thurmond?” The two are now teammates.
Boykin has played in the slot for the Eagles since he entered the league in 2012. Eagles coach Chip Kelly has shown a lot of hesitancy to play Boykin anywhere other than in the slot, so it stands to reason that Thurmond will get a chance to play on the outside opposite of Byron Maxwell.
Thurmond, 27, said he has the capability of playing both positions and was even prepared to be a starter outside in 2011 before a leg injury derailed his season.
“Not everyone can play both those positions,” Thurmond said. “Some guys are limited to the outside, some guys are limited to inside. Being able to be diverse and play both sides is very huge for me as an individual.”
NFL
Thurmond spent the first four years of his career in Seattle and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013. Last year, he signed a one-year deal to join the Giants and prove that he could stay healthy. It didn’t happen. Thurmond tore his pectoral early in the season and missed the final 14 games.
Staying healthy has been an issue for Thurmond during his five-year career in the NFL. He missed 10 games with a broken fibula in 2011, 14 games in 2012 with various injuries and 14 games last season.
He's played just 36 games in five NFL seasons.
“That’s just the nature of the game. It’s football,” he said. “We play a vicious sport out here, so I mean if you look at the injuries I’ve had — I broke my leg, that was because of going up for a deep-ball play and the play got blown up by Earl Thomas. When I dislocated my knee in college I was returning a kickoff. That’s just the nature of the game, unfortunately. It’s not soft-tissue injuries. That’s what we sign up for.”
Thurmond said after his short season (two games) in 2014, he’s looking forward to hopefully playing a full season with the Eagles in 2015.
And he’s also looking forward to reuniting with Maxwell in Philly. Maxwell recently signed a six-year deal to join the Eagles. The two became teammates in 2011, when Maxwell was drafted by the Seahawks.
“Maxwell is my guy,” Thurmond said. “Since he came in his rookie year I’ve always liked his ability. Being a later-rounder pick he just came out and he balled. He made a lot of plays. At that time they had to really try him out at the nickel position, he made a lot plays. I’m very happy for him. It’s going to be very fun to be able to play with him on this defense.”
And it’s not just Maxwell. Thurmond is also familiar with Kelly, whom he played for in Oregon. Thurmond is the 10th former Oregon player on the Eagles’ roster. It sounds like a lot but Thurmond said it’s not that crazy; he remembers a lot of former USC players on Seattle, whose coach is former Trojans coach Pete Carroll.
Kelly’s sometimes controlling personality has been a focus of many in recent weeks but to Thurmond, that’s just who he is.
“That’s Chip,” Thurmond said. “It’s just when you meet anybody for the first time. You either gravitate toward or you don’t. The people that [buy in], those are kind of guys he wants in this organization, in this program, guys who are dedicated to creating great habits and wanting to be great and wanting to play for their team. That’s how he’s been so successful as a head coach on the collegiate level and as well as the professional level.”