Secondary worries

Jorge

Jorge

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Much discussion has taken place about our strengths: the stable of A and B-backs, Nesbitt, the TO, etc.

I am a little worried about the secondary, however. UGA torched us for 400+ yds. with a good passing QB last year. Burnett is definitely a player, but he can't be everywhere. I felt the CB's were a little below par last year.

Any thougths on this unit?
 
Looking at the bright side everyone of our starters from the secondary return. (JWD was hurt most of year). We also add Jerrad tarrant which will give us more depth. Jon Lockhart has been playing well in the secondary. Also Kamaron Riley has been looking good according to some of the players.
 
Jorge said:
Much discussion has taken place about our strengths: the stable of A and B-backs, Nesbitt, the TO, etc.

I am a little worried about the secondary, however. UGA torched us for 400+ yds. with a good passing QB last year. Burnett is definitely a player, but he can't be everywhere. I felt the CB's were a little below par last year.

Any thougths on this unit?
Click to expand...

UGAG torched our secondary with the #1 NFL draft choice at QB, a 2nd round NFL WR draftee and a future 1st round NFL WR draftee.

I'd keep things in perspective.

We were incredibly young in the DB last year, even worse so after JWD and Reese went out. We may not be world beaters back there this year, but we'll be much improved.
 
Tarrant will help. We've also recruited well at DB the past few years. We were starting true freshmen last year out of necessity. I think we'll be a lot deeper this year and will see better coverage. It might not look like it though if we can't get as good a pressure due to DL losses.
 
Jorge said:
Much discussion has taken place about our strengths: the stable of A and B-backs, Nesbitt, the TO, etc.

I am a little worried about the secondary, however. UGA torched us for 400+ yds. with a good passing QB last year. Burnett is definitely a player, but he can't be everywhere. I felt the CB's were a little below par last year.

Any thougths on this unit?
Click to expand...

I'm less worried about the secondary than the LB corp. Burnett is obviously a stud, but if you look at the experience we got last year for the young guys it's going to be a pretty experienced group. Reese is totally underrated - I think he's going to have a breakout year. With Tarrant back, we've got a guy that can replace Jahi. The second corner position may be our weakest, but we've got good depth with Butler, Peterson, and Rashad Reid. The guy who is playing the best will get the most time. Throw in Cooper Taylor, and I believe we've got 7 guys that can play the four positions, all with good game experience.

I wouldn't sell Cooper short - he played great for being a true freshman, and it seems that his measurables are off the chart. It wouldn't surprise me to see Burnett play some corner with Cooper at the Safety position. Burnett was our best safety and our best corner last year.

I've about given up on Frierson, but Jon Lockhart, Brandon Leslie, and Kam Riley are all waiting in the wings as well. In my opinion, we've got several great players (Burnett, Cooper, and Reese) and 7 guys that are good and can play.

LB is a different story, especially in the ACC. LB play, IMO, is more important because there are more QB's that can beat you with their feet. Our DB's did get picked apart last year by Stafford, but there is no Stafford in the ACC. One of our biggest issues last year in conference was LB play - they were a step behind alot. Other than Brad Jefferson (stud) and Sedric Griffin (stud), we're pretty thin. When we go with the Wolf position we're fine, but when we go with 3 LB's its tougher. I thought AT Barnes played good last year, and I think Kyle Jackson looked a step too slow. If one of Sylvester, Machen, and Monroe can step up we'll be just OK. If two of them can step up I think we'll be fine. But, if we still have trouble containing the QB on designed spread QB option plays, we may lose a few that we shouldn't.
 
Jorge said:
Much discussion has taken place about our strengths: the stable of A and B-backs, Nesbitt, the TO, etc.

I am a little worried about the secondary, however. UGA torched us for 400+ yds. with a good passing QB last year. Burnett is definitely a player, but he can't be everywhere. I felt the CB's were a little below par last year.

Any thougths on this unit?
Click to expand...

I don't remember our secondary getting burnt as much as our LBs. In the second half we dropped MJ quite a bit to fill passing lanes. It was the screen pass that did most of the damage in the 4th quarter.
 
Jorge said:
Much discussion has taken place about our strengths: the stable of A and B-backs, Nesbitt, the TO, etc.

I am a little worried about the secondary, however. UGA torched us for 400+ yds. with a good passing QB last year. Burnett is definitely a player, but he can't be everywhere. I felt the CB's were a little below par last year.

Any thougths on this unit?
Click to expand...


You have nothing to worry about with the secondary although they will give up some yards this year if the DL cannot get some push.

Those worried about the LB corps need not worry either.

Everyone seems to forget how banged up our secondary was by the time UGA rolled around. Dominique Reese tried to play injured and immediately left the game when he lost his receiver for a big play as he was in too much pain. Reid was playing banged up...and he was a true freshman playing banged up. Coop was forced into action as a true freshman as well.

LB's were falling like fly's. Brad Jefferson missed 5-6 weeks and never fully recovered from a speed/strength standpoint but is now healthy. Sylvester was forced into duty as a true freshman. Right when Bowen was coming up big he was injured and missed the remainder of the season. AT Barnes tried to play the UGA game with a small crack in his leg and ended up hurting it worse and left the game.
Sed Griffin was hurt for many of the games...and missed some.

Everyone should just stick to worrying about the DL and OL.
 
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The starting five of Burnett, Taylor, Reese, Reid, and Butler/Tarrant does seem like a solid group to me...maybe more than solid considering how bad-ass Morgan is. But outside of Burnett, who is ready to be more than a "solid contributer?" Someone needs to if this unit is going to be a true strength of the team.

I do worry somewhat about depth. We have plenty of numbers, but who has any game experience outside of Edwards? Peterson is the only other who even has a minute amount of PT. Tarrant, who we seem to be expecting a lot of this year, has yet to even see the field.
 
Most of the people who question the secondary only have UGA to point to their worries.

MIA, Clem (with the exception of Word-Daniels pulling the hammy and allowing the TD), VT, MSU, and other games our secondary did fine in IMO for how young they were.

Let's not dwell on the UGA game. There were many factors a lot of players had not yet experienced going on in that game and it's a skewed observation.

I am more worried about the linebacker play.
 
Calvin forever said:
The starting five of Burnett, Taylor, Reese, Reid, and Butler/Tarrant does seem like a solid group to me...maybe more than solid considering how bad-ass Morgan is. But outside of Burnett, who is ready to be more than a "solid contributer?" Someone needs to if this unit is going to be a true strength of the team.

I do worry somewhat about depth. We have plenty of numbers, but who has any game experience outside of Edwards? Peterson is the only other who even has a minute amount of PT. Tarrant, who we seem to be expecting a lot of this year, has yet to even see the field.
Click to expand...

our secondary situation is much better than most.

We have excellent play from the top five in Burnett, Reese (future All-ACC), Taylor (future All-ACC), Reid (future All-ACC), and Butler. All indications are that Tarrant will step right onto the field and contribute for a sixth player.

Peterson and Jasper were forced into action earlier than hoped last year because of the number of injuries we had....that puts the number to eight in term of known ready players. Eight players in the secondary that are game ready is hard to find anywhere in the country.

All reports have Riley, Lockhart, and Leslie as now being read for some PT and to be introduced to the field some as redshirt freshmen.

Also remember Martin Frierson. He was doing well at CB as #2 on the depth chart when he was injured and missed the remainder of the season.

Even Correy Earls is a game ready and experienced college player. Despite this experience nad natural athleticism, he has not found the top two spots on the depth chart.

That is 13 options for 4 positions....all assuming we redshirt Sweeting, Richardson, and Miles.

Don't even get me started on the infusion of secondary talent coming in the fall of 2010! :biggthumpup:
 
The starting five of Burnett, Taylor, Reese, Reid, and Butler/Tarrant does seem like a solid group to me...maybe more than solid considering how bad-ass Morgan is. But outside of Burnett, who is ready to be more than a "solid contributer?"
Click to expand...
We have four solid contributors and one rockstar.

That's not All World, but it's more than we've had in years past.
 
Our secondary in 2007 was (hopefully) the worst it will ever be again.

God, what a wasted year of football.

Every starter going into this season looks like an All-American compared to the starters of 07'.
 
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