MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples likes what he’s seeing in his room as fall camp keeps moving, and it starts with a group that has bought into rotating, competing and helping each other instead of treating every rep like a solo job.
Steeples said the room’s mindset has changed since spring, when the staff was still evaluating players and the players were doing the same thing to themselves. Now, he said, the standard has become a group responsibility, and the corners are performing with that in mind. He also pointed to the depth in the room as a reason he expects “a pretty healthy rotation of corners.”
When asked who has taken the biggest step since spring, Steeples said everyone has had a moment, but Cai Bates stands out most. He said Bates is “playing to his size” and described it as “big corner football.”
He also mentioned Jai'mier’s continued growth and instincts in coverage, J- Rob becoming more vocal as a leader, and Bryce’s versatility on the outside. Eric Fletcher also came up as someone who has kept pushing himself.
Fletcher, Steeples said, has been “pretty dynamic so far” while adjusting to a system that differs from what he has played in before. Steeples said much of the development focus has been mental, with players working on what they tell themselves before a snap and on the information they gather from the offense. Fletcher, he said, has embraced that challenge and even turned down the easier path at times in favor of learning “the Wisconsin way.”
Javan Robinson has also left an impression. Steeples called him “a computer, but he's a burner,” and compared his preparation and processing to Floyd Mayweather.
In Steeples’ view, Robinson knows his opponent before the matchup begins and keeps adjusting within the system once the play is live. That blend, he said, is a big reason teammates have rallied around him.
Steeples also stressed that the corners need to be complete players, not just cover specialists. He said the way Wisconsin’s receivers are coached forces the defensive backs to bring it every day, whether the work is in the pass game or the run game. He likes that his group competes and takes pride in the dirty work instead of avoiding it.
As for the so-called battle for the second cornerback spot, Steeples doesn’t see it that way. He said the top group in the room is going to play, and the message has been more about being ready for your moment than trying to knock someone else out of the lineup. With camp still ongoing, he said several players are earning trust and earning the right to play.
The biggest sign of progress for Steeples has been the communication on the sideline. He said the conversations are more productive now, with players feeding each other information, pointing out what they’re seeing and sharing tips in real time.
That has created a more solution-based environment, he said, and one built on real respect inside the room. He added that the corners spend plenty of time together off the field, too, which only makes them easier for him to find.
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