It's been more than a year since Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson spent time wondering why he wasn't taken in the 2010 NFL draft. He's not devoting many waking moments now worrying how long it will be before coach Ken Whisenhunt replaces him with Patrick Peterson, the fifth overall pick this year.
"He (Whisenhunt) told me I just had to compete and that I had an opportunity," Jefferson said. "I've just got to make the most of it."
That Jefferson is the starting left cornerback, even for now, is an indication of the upheaval at the position for the Cardinals.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is gone, traded to the Eagles as part of the deal for quarterback Kevin Kolb.
Peterson seemed the logical replacement, and still might be, with free agent Richard Marshall pushing Greg Toler for the right corner spot.
But through three weeks of camp, Jefferson and Toler remain in the starting lineup.
"I think they know they are competing and it's been reiterated to them," defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi said. "That's what football is all about. The best players play and that's what will happen when we line up against Carolina (to open the regular season)."
There are many new faces in the defensive back meetings at camp, including Cioffi's.
After last season, Whisenhunt fired his defensive coordinator, Bill Davis, and didn't retain his two secondary coaches.
The new defensive coordinator, Ray Horton, was given a large say in selecting the new secondary coaches, pending Whisenhunt's approval.
Cioffi came to the Cardinals after spending 14 years on the Bengals coaching staff, including the past eight as assistant defensive backs coach. Former Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend, who retired after last season, was hired to assist.
The coaching changes are a result of the Cardinals defensive breakdowns in 2010, most of which were caused by poor communication, Whisenhunt said.
"Everybody wasn't playing the same call the same way," Whisenhunt said. "That's basically what hurt us."
Whisenhunt was not referring exclusively to the secondary, but that's where miscommunication was most obvious.
The Cardinals didn't set out this off-season to renovate the cornerback positions, but that's what happened.
Coaches have liked Jefferson since the day he signed as a rookie free agent. And they figured Peterson, Toler, Marshall, Michael Adams and Marshay Green gave them plenty of options.
"The depth of this group is better than what I've had in the past, from top to bottom," Cioffi said. "You can never have enough corners."
Jefferson played well against the Raiders last week in the preseason opener. He was beaten early on one play, then bounced back and knocked down three passes.
Jefferson played in just two games as a rookie, so coaches are trying to get him as much work in the preseason as possible. To keep his job, Jefferson has to maintain consistency in work habits and performance, Whisenhunt said.
Given Peterson's draft status, it's logical to assume he could replace Jefferson by the start of the regular season. But Whisenhunt has shown that he prefers to bring rookies along at a slower pace.
Peterson is the fifth first-round selection during Whisenhunt's tenure. Of the other four, only offensive tackle Levi Brown was a starter on opening day.
"A.J., if he gets his head together and really knows what he is, he's just as good as a lot of other guys out there," safety Kerry Rhodes said.
