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Green Bay — When he was much less confident, when he had much less “swag” two years ago, Davon House admits this is the kind of play he never makes.

During the Green Bay Packers’ two-minute drill Wednesday, the fourth-year cornerback stuck with Jordy Nelson on a cut outside in the end zone to knock away an Aaron Rodgers pass. It was the type of pitch-and-catch the two have made look so easy on Sundays.

“Two, three years ago?" House said, "no."

After practice, coach Mike McCarthy said House is “clearly having his best year” as a pro.

The roots of this can be found in Phoenix where House trained with Darrelle Revis and others. For 3 ½ weeks between minicamp and the start of training camp, House worked with the All-Pro cornerback, Adrian Wilson, Logan Ryan and 10-12 cornerbacks/safeties under the tutelage of DB coach Will Sullivan.

Revis’ swagger, for one, stood out immediately.

“I learned to always have confidence,” House said. “Every time I go up there, I just tell myself ‘This guy’s not going to catch the ball.’ That’s just my mind-set. … His confidence level is just top-notch. I guess you could say it’s how you see 'A-Rod' just go smooth and make everything look so easy. That’s how Darrelle Revis was.”

Beyond this, House also worked on his patience as a cover corner. That’s what stood out most with Revis. The best cornerbacks don’t waste steps, don't overreact. They stick with a wide receiver square.

House compares it to a Foosball table where the players all move laterally.

“They stay in one place but they move side to side,” House said. “That reminds me of Revis. A receiver tries to go this way and he’s going to stay in one place and shuffle one way. Working with him, I’ve learned a lot on just staying patient.

“Joe (Whitt) talks about it a lot, too. Stay square, stay balanced. It’s just something you have to continue to work on and I’m on the field trying to do it, too. There were a few times the last couple days where I kind of got away from what I wanted to do. Yesterday, I could look on film and see what I was doing wrong.”

Entering a contract year, House hopes he’ll peak at the right time. In 2012, a sizzling start to camp was derailed by a shoulder injury Aug. 9 at San Diego. He proceeded to miss six games, finishing with a string of 13 pass break-ups in six games. And in 2013, House did manage to stay healthy for all 16 games (five starts) with 32 tackles, 13 break-ups and an interception.

Yet, for now, House is on the outside looking in.

Sam Shields was signed to a four-year, $39 million contract extension. Tramon Williams returns off a strong finish to 2013. And Casey Hayward is entrenched as the slot cornerback.

Strictly an outside receiver, House hopes to will himself onto the field somehow.

“How do I get on the field?” House repeats back. “Make plays. Catch picks. Should’ve done it last year.”

In Phoenix, House endured self-imposed two-a-days. He’d lift weights in the morning and work on the field in the afternoon with Sullivan, Revis and company.

Being in a contract year does heighten his focus.

“Yeah, it does,” House said. “It was either ‘I’m going to be here next March or I’m going to be gone.’ So if I want to be here, I have to make some plays and change some stuff up.”

McCarthy brought up that 2012 San Diego game on Wednesday. House was on the fast track to a starting job then, before Shields turned his career around.

“He’s a big, long, strong corner,” McCarthy said. “He does a lot of good things. I love that whole secondary, just our depth, competition. And I think Davon is off to an excellent start.”

Added Nelson, "He has always given me fits. It’s kind of a joke around the locker room with it. But he’s long, he’s fast, he’s physical. He’s someone who’s figuring out how he needs to play."

Nelson, who has played with Charles Woodson, Al Harris and others acknowledged this is the deepest group of Packers cornerbacks he's seen since arriving in 2008. After House blanketed the wideout on two straight incompletions in the two-minute drill, Jamari Lattimore shouted House's name from afar, taunting Nelson.

Injuries have vaulted him into action — House has started 10 games the last two seasons. Still, the 6-foot, 195-pound corner will need to continue performing on special teams where he considers himself “an elite guy.”

And whenever he does get his shot at cornerback, he’ll try to adopt that patience learned from Revis.

With, maybe, a new nickname of his own.

“If this year plays out the way it should, there should be,” House said. “Don’t come knocking on my front door or something.”

(Journal Sentinel photo by Mark Hoffman)