Defensive Secondary Ponderings

Lay em down & smackem Jackets

Lay em down & smackem Jackets

Flats Noob
Joined
Nov 19, 2003
Messages
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The defensive secondary is obviously our biggest question mark for the upcoming season. I am not as worried as most about them, though (maybe safety). The quickness of our front seven minimizes the exposure of their inexperience. Here are some points/questions.

Cornerback:

1. I predict Kenny Scott as being an All-Conference selection this year. He really finished strong last year and I think his momentum will continue - especially now that he is one of the defensive team leaders - if not the defensive captain.

2. Of course we have Pat Clark. He seems to be the type of guy that will hold the job down, and make a couple of good plays. I think he will be a solid to positive player - rather than a detriment.

3. Laurence Marius. Does anyone have any insight into this guy? Does anyone think he'll play? I think he'll have an immediate impact, unless someone knows something I don't.

4. Jamal Lewis has made some big plays in his day. Additionally, he brings a good bit of experience to the table.

5. Avery Roberson has size, but is he any good? He's seen some action, but not too much. I don't know much about him.


Safety:

1. Joe Gaston seems smallish. He has seen a good bit of action, but there's a reason he hasn't been a starter until now. Granted, Reis and Landry were a great team. Perhaps he can make a mark of his own. Any thoughts?

2. Djay Jones has seen some action. Again - with Reis and Landry, we haven't really seen these guys - the starters were never hurt! Does anyone have any insight into Djay?

3. We have a senior named Sam Williams and a bunch of freshmen and sophomores. All of these guys, I know nothing about. Can anyone give some insight into our safety situation?


Thanks!
 
Based on your thoughts, we need some good things to happen. Two of those things are consistent early pressure on quarterbacks and shutdown play by the CBs.
One thing is for sure. We will find out very quickly where our strengths and weaknesses are.
 
LayEmDown, you need to follow Tech more closely if you're going to talk about football. Gaston tore an ACL in spring practice and won't be playing this year.
 
Leatherjacket said:
LayEmDown, you need to follow Tech more closely if you're going to talk about football. Gaston tore an ACL in spring practice and won't be playing this year.
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Could have just said Gaston tore an ACL in spring practice and won't be playing this year.

That's pretty rough post towards LayEmDown there Leatherjacket.
 
Leatherjacket said:
LayEmDown, you need to follow Tech more closely if you're going to talk about football. Gaston tore an ACL in spring practice and won't be playing this year.
Click to expand...
Also, Jamal Lewis will likely be the one of the starting safeties.

Actually, if you look around (the Hive) you'll find the preseason depth chart has been released.
 
Short version is that we have 3 solid starters.

One CB in Scott that can play with most anybody, and is almost as good as he thinks he is. :p

He's good by anyone's standards.

Lewis and Jones are very solid, but unproven as starters. I'm not worried about them at all. They've gotten reps and have been productive when given the chance.

Superstars? I don't know. Solid and reliable? I feel pretty confident. If one or either broke out as a star I wouldn't be surprised. If they are simply solid, I'd expect that as a minimum.

So - the other corner and a solid nickel...

We have 4 guys that 'could' all be quality but have zilch in real experience - which matters tremendously - at CB as much as any.

Jahi Word Daniels
Pat Clark (not to be confused w/ departed Pat Carter)
Avery Roberson
Tony Clark

All 4 are good athletes. None are Davis, Houston, or Scott.

Roberson is quite the athlete, but is out of position often. This drives Tenuta crazy. If he becomes consistent in his assignments, he will be the starter - if not - then not. I 'think' he's a pretty bright guy academicly so maybe the light will turn on.

The other 3 are newer to the scheme but keep getting a lot of love from the ones who know the difference.

Pat Clark was a WR so he is behind in actual reps, but ahead in literal speed of the game. He's been out there as an offensive starter plenty. He's a good athlete.

Clark and JWD are the newest to the program, but have speed and can play.

If I had to guess the depth chart starts one way and ends at ND in a different way - and likely moves again by mid season.

Marius is big time but simply does not know Tenuta's schemes, and JT is all about understanding your assignments. Maybe a nickel spot, but I wouldn't even count on that for the first few games. It's not a lack of talent though.

My guess would be Carter at the other side of Scott with JWD at nickel, or vice versa. Pretty sure they are the two to beat regardless of the current depth chart. Either way, that position will be the chink in the armor until they get more reps.

Good kids - good athletes - just a lack of experience.

At CB - I've seen the same whipping boy from a previous year - all of a sudden become an All ACC or All SEC CB the very next year. It's all about technique and understanding schemes. All these guys have speed and athleticism at this level.

So - who knows about the other corner or nickel. It's very undecided. I do think you can count on our front 7 and 3 of the other four - - and possibly Mister # 11. Who knows at this point.

The front 7 can mask a weakness at DB against most QB's. Brady Quinn is different. A 3 step drop and the ball is on it's way.

Stopping a run will help - but we have to have quick penetration to get in his head. Other wise he'll eat a weak corner like the Pros used to eat Andre Bruce when he was a Falcon.
 
techfowl said:
Stopping a run will help - but we have to have quick penetration to get in his head. Other wise he'll eat a weak corner like the Pros used to eat Andre Bruce when he was a Falcon.
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You had me until here. Wasn't Andre the bust #1 DE from Auburn?
Did you mean Bruce Whatshisname from Nebraska that stunk it up as a DB?
I could never figure out why an NFL team would draft a DB so high after playing in the old Big 8. Oh yeah, that was the Smith family regime.
 
You're talking about (Booker?) from Nebraska that Reeves drafted. He was also bust of Titanic proportions, but there was another CB bust that played opposite Dieon Sanders back in the day.

You are right that it was not Bruce. He was a DE at AU and then an outside LB for the Falcons in a 3-4.

Now you are gonna drive me crazy trying to remember who it was that single handedly gave away so many games at CB. It was Sanders days or before. I had A Bruce on the brain, but it's not him. How I forgot the name I don't know.

I'll be up all night now.
 
I thought you were talking about Michael Booker also of Nebraska - 1997 draft.

The guy I was talking about also was a Nebraska product from the 1991 draft (same draft as Brett Favre btw).

Bruce Pickens. That guy cost us more games than any one player I remember, and I used to follow the Falcons pretty close.

Thanks for the correction.
 
Thanks Knox - you beat me to it.

Not Aundray Bruce - Bruce Pickens. 2 different busts at 2 different positions.

Booker was the other Nebraska product - another bust, but not as bad as the first 2.

Thanks guys.
 
If I were the opposing team....I'd throw the ball to the guys Kenny Scott is not covering.

Here's hoping the pass rush can hide our inexperience in the secondary.....and here's hoping CJT can get these guys up to speed in a hurry.
 
In fairness, techfowl, the Falcons have drafted so many busts throughout the years that it's pretty hard to keep up with them.
 
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