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Its hard out there for a Big 12 cornerback.In a conference full of innovative offenses and gun-slinging quarterbacks, the job of the defensive back can seem impossible at times. They have to play faster, smarter and tougher than ever before. And when they dont, they get embarrassed.In 45 conference games last season, Big 12 quarterbacks attempted throws of 20-plus yards more than 600 times. No other Power 5 conference comes close to matching that barrage. A year ago, the QBs in the conference produced 18 touchdown passes of more than 60 yards during league play. After just 15 games this season, there have already been 10.Only one Big 12 team (Baylor) ranks among the top 60 in FBS in pass defense. Everybody else is just trying to survive the week.Welcome to the island and the many challenges of playing corner in the Big 12.The challenge of being The GuyOklahomas Jordan Thomas had a hunch his junior season might play out like this.Hes arguably the best cover corner in the Big 12. He proved that with five interceptions in his breakout sophomore campaign. Todd McShay projects Thomas to be a top-10 pick if he comes out. But Thomas knew what comes with that hype.Its just what I expected out of this year of being The Guy, he said. Theyre going to see if he really is The Guy. Theyre gonna throw what they can at me.Thomas has nearly twice as many pass breakups this season (11) as any other defensive back in the Big 12. Hes also given up five touchdown passes. Comes with the territory.His game against Texas is a fine example of the boom-or-bust nature of the job. In the first half, Thomas shut down everything thrown his way. In the opinion of Bob Stoops, Thomas played as well as anybody thats been here. In the second half, Texas receivers outran him for scores of 63 and 45 yards.Thats how it goes. The great days can always get spoiled on one or two mistakes.I laugh about it, he said. Its not funny, but at the same time, youve just got to forget about it. Why complain, moan, cry about it? You just keep playing.Hes trying to help Oklahomas young corners learn that mindset. Four different players have tried to hold down the Sooners No. 2 corner job this season. For now, its true freshman Jordan Parker.Even if the young guys do everything the right way in film sessions and practice, they still need the right instincts come game day. As Thomas puts it, Bow your neck and be a player.Yeah, its difficult. Everyone loves to throw the ball around, he said. Everyone watches film. Whatever weakness you show, theyll attack it. When youre out there by yourself, you find out how good you really are. At the same time, its exciting and a fun thing to live in.The challenge of all these receiversOne thing that amazes Oklahoma State cornerback Ramon Richards about playing in this pass-happy conference: the variety of dangerous pass-catchers.These arent regular receivers, he said.Every day in practice, he has to face an All-America-caliber player in James Washington. Some days, they have to stop speedsters like Baylors KD Cannon, Oklahomas Dede Westbrook and West Virginias Shelton Gibson, who can run right past you. Other days, the 5-foot-11 Richards gets physical 6-foot-5 pass-catchers like Iowa States Allen Lazard and OUs Mark Andrews. The Big 12s leading receiver, Texas Techs Jonathan Giles, does his damage from the slot.And its not just the star power that bothers Richards, who has played in 31 games and grabbed seven career interceptions. Its the depth of these receiving corps.The Big 12 currently has 34 receivers with 200-plus receiving yards and 37 whove caught more than 15 passes. Sixty have recorded at least one catch of 30 or more yards. And their coaches are rotating all of them in and out frequently to keep them fresh.Were playing 80 to 90 snaps a game, and sometimes you do have to play every snap, Richards said. These guys are moving fast. You have no choice but to go the whole drive. You have to stay on your toes.The challenge of inexperienceWest Virginias defense held the most-prolific passer in college football to 10 points last week. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards (his fifth-fewest in a Big 12 start) on 44 attempts before being pulled in the fourth quarter of a 48-17 loss to the undefeated Mountaineers. On paper, West Virginias cornerbacks shouldnt have stood a chance against Mahomes.Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is relying on four former transfers -- Rasul Douglas (junior college), Antonio Crawford (Miami), Maurice Fleming (Iowa) and Elijah Battle (juco) -- and veteran backup Nana Kyeremeh to survive.Its a totally new group, Gibson said. Thats the one position where we had nobody coming back who played any meaningful snaps.How was going through an offseason with essentially a brand new group of corners?Very scary. Especially in this league, Gibson said. Maybe if we were in the SEC, it wouldnt be as bad. In the Big 12, you better have a whole stockpile of em.Gibson credits first-year cornerbacks coach Blue Adams with getting all five players ready to contribute. They had big shoes to fill after Daryl Worley -- now a rookie starter for the Carolina Panthers -- decided to go pro. There might not be as big a star in this group as Worley was, but theyre winning on depth and learning as they go.Theyve got to play with extreme confidence and, no matter how good or bad the last play was, move forward, Gibson said. Because stuffs going to happen to you in this league. Thats one thing we stress a lot.The challenge of getting beatTexas was supposed to have one of the best groups of cornerbacks in the Big 12 this year. Davante Davis and Holton Hill both earned preseason all-conference recognition after showing serious promise as true freshmen.Six games into the season, Davis is now a backup and Hill is mostly playing special teams. The Longhorns gave up 15 touchdown passes and 15 yards per completion over their first five games. Charlie Strong has had to make changes. And he doesnt make excuses for how hard it is to be a Big 12 corner.If you do your job, its not very hard, he said. The thing you cant do is give up the deep ball. You cant allow guys to run past you.Kris Boyd and John Bonney, the Longhorns new starters, didnt give up those bombs. Theyve gone back to basics: Keep the ball in front of you and make the tackle.Bonney, a sophomore, admits he didnt play with much confidence in the nickel spot last year. Now hes outside on the island, all by himself, against the conferences best. Hes trying to get comfortable in that role while knowing if he gets burned, someone else can take his spot. Hows that for pressure?I dont think its for everyone, Bonney said, or else everybody would be doing it.The challenge wont ever get easierAs one of the offensive masterminds making these cornerbacks jobs harder every week, Kliff Kingsbury can appreciate their plight. The high-tempo Big 12 offenses continue to evolve in ways that only further stress defensive backs.The fast tempo is a problem. The quarterbacks getting the ball out in just a few seconds is a problem. The popularity of quick screens and those easy access throws Kingsbury and so many other coaches utilize to build rhythm means a corner has to be able to think fast at the line and make tough one-on-one tackles. And when defenses start taking that away?Now youve got to take your deep shot and throw it over their heads, Kingsbury said, and then here goes some star receiver running as fast as he can.And with the touchy-feely nature (Kingsburys words) of how officials call pass interference these days, the risk-reward is in favor of taking that shot. The receivers chances of getting either a big catch or a big gain off a penalty make it all worthwhile. The job of the Big 12 cornerback isnt getting any easier anytime soon.My hats off to all the guys who play that position in this league, Kingsbury said. I dont think they get enough credit.I wouldnt want to play that position, I can tell you that much. 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Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday.We will reflect on the Netball Grand Final, reveal the Sportswoman of the Month and countdown to the Womens FA Cup final. After a thrilling Vitality Superleague showdown at Londons Copper Box Arena, we will have all the action and reaction as defending champions Surrey Storm retained their crown with victory over Manchester Thunder.We will also hear from England head coach Tracey Neville following the announcement that the Roses will host a tri-series against Jamaica later in the year.As usual theyll be a full round-up from the LET, after the Lalla Meryem Cup and the Tours plan to play more events simultaneously with the mens tour. Theres also action from the LPGA Classic in Alabama.We get the latest from both the Chelsea and Arsenal camps ahead of the Womens FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday aand we hear from Leicester Citys owners of the impact of their female CEO Susan Whelan.dddddddddddde are at a community project run by AFC Wimbledon in conjunction with the Football League Trust aimed at getting women active and theres news as we continue our countdown to the Olympics - we are live at a UK Sport event to find out about the latest medical and technical advances being used to prepare Team GBs athletes for Rio.Well also reveal the winner for the Sportswoman of the Month vote for April - voting closed at midday on Sunday and we will tell you who emerged victorious from the contenders - Nicola Adams, Lucy Garner, Charley Hull, Jade Jones, Siobhan Marie OConnor and Emily Scarratt.Sportswomen is live on Sky Sports News HQ every Tuesday at 11.30am and on Sky Living every Sunday at 11.30am. ' ' '