Monday’s 38-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers suggests that while Norman may provide a boost in pass defense, there is weakness throughout the rest of the secondary that Norman cannot cover up. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger attacked Norman only five times, completing three passes for 30 yards. The cornerback also broke up two passes, both intended for star receiver Antonio Brown. For most of the game, Brown instead went to work on right cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who surrendered both of Brown’s touchdowns.

As you can see below, on 3rd-and-3, the Redskins aligned in press coverage across the board, with Breeland (No. 26) working against Brown (No. 84) at the top of the screen. On that down-and-distance, the defense typically expects a short pass, but Brown easily wins an outside release – Breeland cannot even get a hand on him – and Roethlisberger arcs a deep pass for the score.

Washington’s pass defense will only be as strong as its weakest link, and offenses will be all too happy to avoid Norman.

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Some pundits suggest Norman is not a true shutdown corner because he rarely follows the other team’s best receiver. The 28-year-old stayed on the left side of the field for all but a handful of snaps Monday, allowing Pittsburgh’s offense to dictate the matchups.

It is tempting to say Norman should follow the other team’s best receiver around the field, but that solution poses problems of its own. If an offense shifts both receivers to the right side, the run defense responsibilities change for Norman and whomever must play contain to the left side. Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry presumably would prefer to keep things simple for his defense, which allowed 4.8 yards per carry in 2015 (31st in the NFL) and 4.9 against Pittsburgh on Monday.

Barry can maximize Norman’s impact and improve Washington’s pass defense as a whole by varying pre-snap looks on defense as Sean McDermott, Norman’s defensive coordinator in Carolina, often did. One of Washington’s few bright defensive plays came courtesy of such pre-snap deception:

Unusually, Norman shadows Brown, following the receiver as he runs in motion before the snap. Offenses use motion to induce the defense to reveal whether the coverage is man or zone; if a defender follows the receiver, the coverage is generally man-to-man. In this case, however, Norman follows Brown, but then drops into zone after the snap. Roethlisberger appears confused by the disguise and hesitates, giving the pass rush time to get home, and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan strip-sacks the quarterback.

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Norman can have an impact on the game even if opposing teams continue to line up their best receiver against Breeland while Norman takes the number two receiver. The Redskins can opt to leave Norman on an island and shift their help to the right side. The $15-million man should have little difficulty locking down an opponent’s second-best receiver, so the safeties can cheat to Breeland’s side, giving help over the top.

On this play, the ball is on the left hash, where receivers Brown and Eli Rogers (No. 17) line up in a tight split. Norman matches up against Sammie Coates (No. 14). As the play develops, Norman and Coates are alone outside the right hash mark, while six Washington defenders clutter the other side of the field. This congestion confuses Rogers, who makes the wrong adjustment to his route, causing Roethlisberger’s pass to land in Breeland’s hands for an interception. Even if the Redskins prefer not to have Norman travel, he can lock down one side one-on-one, which creates favorable numbers on the other side.

In many ways, Norman thrived in his Washington debut, as he locked down the left side of the field all night. That is cold comfort for Redskins fans, who saw the Steelers lay waste to their defense elsewhere. Barry will need to make adjustments or the team will not get its money’s worth no matter how well Norman plays. Washington can get more value out of Norman’s skills by sprinkling in more deception, cheating coverage away from Norman’s side, and having the star cornerback follow big-time receivers in man-to-man situations such as third-and-medium. Pushing the right buttons can unlock the full potential of Washington’s $75 million man, and might fix the defensive woes on display Monday night.