You talk to any defensive coordinator in the league, and one of the first things they proclaim is how much more they can do schematically if they have even one corner that can play man-to-man with no help from either an underneath linebacker or an over the top safety. That player, the man-to-man corner, may be the most vital piece of the defensive puzzle. He shapes the defense tactically, allowing for maximum flexibility with both the pressure schemes and the coverage concepts, especially in those critical third down situations.