Who will start in the secondary next year?

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gtfan09

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I think the corners will be Morgan Burnett and Jahi Word-Daniels.... but who in the world will be the safeties? I have no clue what so ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'd guess Butler and Word-Daniels at corner, and Burnett and Tarrant at safety. We won't know anything until spring practice, though. Donley could come back. One of the freshmen could emerge (I'd say the darkhorse is Brandon Leslie right know).
 
fattyjackson said:
I'd guess Butler and Word-Daniels at corner, and Burnett and Tarrant at safety. We won't know anything until spring practice, though. Donley could come back. One of the freshmen could emerge (I'd say the darkhorse is Brandon Leslie right know).
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Tarrant was moved to Corner sometime ago.

Burnett and Willie White may be the safeties...unless Donley returns. Blackwood, Frierson, and Jasper are also in the mix.

In which case Burnett would possibly join JWD at corner. Butler, Reese, Tarrant, and Peterson are also candidates.
 
Burnett and JWD at corner initially, but hopefully Tarrant can supplant Word-Daniels...... (I actually think Tarrant and MB would be best at FS, but both have the skills to play CB so we'll see where Womack wants them).

Obviously best case is for DJ to return and pair with Willie White to make our safety tandem for the next 2-3 years, but if not we'll have to look at Jasper or one of the frosh (Leslie maybe?)
 
I fully expect Burnett to be playing CB for the remainder of his career. He shined in his time there and would be a great anchor for our secondary. He made some great plays as a safety but was lights out at corner.

Alot of questions go away with Donley staying.
 
jahi, burnett, terrant, reese/peterson/butler unless a fresh makes a splash.

I would also look out for Peterson to make a splash...if reese does move to offense mike peterson could beat butler or be starting nickel.

Right now though....placing my money on the Butler...wasted a year playing him too on sp teams. UGH. That is one thing I won't miss...blowing a year doing that.

LBs
I like AT, Brad Jefferson, and a battle between Bowen, Griff for the last spot.
 
The Jacket said:
Alot of questions go away with Donley staying.
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Even IF Donley comes back...he will be Redshirted, he knows that and is ok with that. Staff said you can't miss spring.

Point...no one expect DJ to see the field this year...period. Lets just hope he comes back for 2009.
 
couple of things:

1- It is a new staff with no depth chart going into spring supposedly. However, I highly doubt we replace a senior who has been a multi-year starter in Word-Daniels. He actually plays pretty well...he is physical (which PJ loves)...and this year there will be more support for our CB's unlike the island mentality in the past. Also note that our safeties blew some coverages at times which can make CB's look bad for no reason.

2) We need a senior to win the position as the other side will likely have a freshman or sophomore there. Likely a Mario Butler....maybe Michael Peterson. Tarrant has also looked good there and Reese could get in the mix...after his tryout at QB in the spring.

3) Burnett is a valuable 'QB of the defense'. With him lurking at FS he will get the opportunity to use his natural instincts and athleticism to see the entire field and get some picks. At CB he does shut down one side, but people will also go away from him. I like having him where he can make more plays...but I am not the coach.

4) Strong safety is the question mark. You would hope Blackwood could come in as a R-Jr and get it done. You want your program to work that way. However, a lot of folks could get looks there including Frierson, White, etc. It is really too bad that DJ has left the team temporarily.
 
Word Daniels is a lock and deservedly so IMO.

Burnett is the finest DB I have ever seen at Tech this early in his career. It is so nice to have a big time CB, I'd hate to move him. He and Word Daniels would make both sides exceptional.

But if he moves to safety then of course it just must be.
 
hiveredtech said:
couple of things:

1- It is a new staff with no depth chart going into spring supposedly. However, I highly doubt we replace a senior who has been a multi-year starter in Word-Daniels. He actually plays pretty well...he is physical (which PJ loves)...and this year there will be more support for our CB's unlike the island mentality in the past. Also note that our safeties blew some coverages at times which can make CB's look bad for no reason.

2) We need a senior to win the position as the other side will likely have a freshman or sophomore there. Likely a Mario Butler....maybe Michael Peterson. Tarrant has also looked good there and Reese could get in the mix...after his tryout at QB in the spring.

3) Burnett is a valuable 'QB of the defense'. With him lurking at FS he will get the opportunity to use his natural instincts and athleticism to see the entire field and get some picks. At CB he does shut down one side, but people will also go away from him. I like having him where he can make more plays...but I am not the coach.

4) Strong safety is the question mark. You would hope Blackwood could come in as a R-Jr and get it done. You want your program to work that way. However, a lot of folks could get looks there including Frierson, White, etc. It is really too bad that DJ has left the team temporarily.
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Personally, if you can have a corner that shuts down one receiver, and prevents the offense from ever throwing to that side, that is a HUGE advantage for the defense. No, MB probably wouldn't make many plays, but he'll help dictate what the offense does, not the other way around.

Of course, I won't be upset if he plays Safety, as a good FS is a huge weapon too. Basically, I'm glad Burnett is on my team :)
 
Ask After The Spring

The competition really is wide-open at every position on the field.

JWD has to be a favorite at cb, but he will have to prove it on the field. His resume won't let him start.

Burnett may play S, QB, or CB. I think in that order of probability. But it depends on what the whole team shows on the field and where Burnett would help us most.

I am really interested in the Butler/Peterson competition, or whoever leapfrogs them. It may be the most important competition of the spring. It would allow Burnett to move on, and secure one of the team's most worrisome on-paper weakness.

I dunno who will play rover. To quote Tah-noo-tah, "That's what spring ball is all about."

We need the kids to step up. JWD is the only upper-classman with the hips to really play cornerback. That cost us dearly last year. It is a tribute to Burnett that he stepped up and played as well as he did, but he was clearly playing out of position.
 
I have been impressed with JWD the last couple years. He is rarely out of position in coverage. But, what has bothered me in the past was the receiver taking the ball away from him. I have seen this happen to him at least three times where he had the ball secured high above his head and then the receiver simply plucks it out of his hands.:pat:
 
Blackwood? I think he'll be nailed to bench unless he makes Special Teams.

Are we forgetting about Willie White? Will he make an impact at Safety or move back to WR?
 
southernhive said:
I have been impressed with JWD the last couple years. He is rarely out of position in coverage. But, what has bothered me in the past was the receiver taking the ball away from him. I have seen this happen to him at least three times where he had the ball secured high above his head and then the receiver simply plucks it out of his hands.:pat:
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I think that's a solid observation. His problem was losing out on jumpballs moreso than getting burned over the top.
 
WaCoJacket said:
Blackwood? I think he'll be nailed to bench unless he makes Special Teams.

Are we forgetting about Willie White? Will he make an impact at Safety or move back to WR?
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Agreed on the first comment.

WW won't beat out Tarrant IMO; the S's will be burnett and tarrant.
 
This situation is the MOST critical for the PJ era imho.
The Offense will get the attention and probably will evolve.BUT
the defense in general and the secondary in particular are going to be the key to success.The DEf line next yr is ok and prob the run def even with weaker LBs.But the DBs could kill us(as we found out last yr) and negate any improvement in our OFFensive success.
Burnett is the best young DB I've seen since Randy Rhino.If Donley had stayed (at DB)it would prob have meant one more win per yr but now... lots of bodies but very questionable if a stable unit will emerge next yr.
 
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