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Fixing The Secondary

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Even bad players should be able to know their assignments, know how to take good angles, and be able to tackle.

The back seven can’t even do that. It’s COACHING.

Teams like Virginia look way better on defense vs Louisville than we do. And I don’t care how bad recruiting has been, letting up 40+ is not acceptable.

Nobody thinks this back 7 is talented or that they should be winning us games. But it’s not unreasonable to expect them to play a lot more solid than they are, be serviceable, and not blow games for us.

It’s coaching.
 
Start Patterson at Safety

Move Powell to Nickel


Move Porter outside.

Try Richard or Hill at Safety in practice, best one starts at other Safety. Can’t be worse Harris.

Play Williams more on passing downs where his lack of size can’t be exploited.

Not sure if any of that is realistic but maybe benching Harris will light a fire under his ***
 
GojiraCane said:
One hundred percent this.

2020
Safety:
- Avantae Williams (.97) - Transfer after 2023 season
- Jalen Harrell (.92) - Transfer after 2022 season
- KeyShawn Washington (.89) - Transfer after 2022 season
Cornerback:
- Isaiah Dunson (.90) - Transfer after 2022
season
- Marcus Clark (.87) - Transfer after 2021
season

2021:
Safety:
- James Williams (.99) - Three year starter
- Kam Kinchens (.90) - Three year starter
Cornerback
- Malik Curtis (.86) - Transfer after 2023 season

2022:
Safety:
- Markeith Williams (.90) - Backup
- Jaden Harris (.88) - Starter

Cornerback:
- Chris Graves (.94) - Transfer after 2022 season

2023:
Safety:
- Robby Washington (.92) - Converted from WR to safety a few weeks ago
- Kaleb Spencer (.88) - Transfer after 2023 season
- Demetrius Freeney (unranked) - Transfer after 1 season
Cornerback:
- Robert Stafford (.94) - Backup
- Damari Brown (.93) - Starter (injured)

2024:
Safety:
- Zaquan Patterson (.94) - Backup
- Ryan Mack (.90) - Backup
- Isaiah Thomas (.88) - Backup
- Dylan Day (.88) - Backup
Cornerback:
- OJ Frédérique (.87) - Starter
Click to expand...
Pretty sure Washington is a CB.
 
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I’m happy with this season and won’t take it for granted, but I really hope it isn’t a flash in the pan success. I’d rather be a consistent 10+ win team who is always in the conversation.
 
MikeyCanez said:
Louisville was always going to be a tough matchup and the coaching definitely needs to get better. So I actually came away from the win today feeling alright.

But I am having trouble seeing how Mario finds an immediate fix in the secondary.

- Getting Damari Brown back will definitely help.
- Development from OJ Frederique would be massive.
- Hopefully Zaquan Patterson can step up and grab one of the starting safety spots. But it is at least mildly concerning that he cannot seem to beat out Harris for the gig today.
- Robby Washington? Seems a little small. Ryan Mack? Also very small.
- The secondary class is solid, but even if Pickett flips, it is hard to see any of those guys being immediate contributors (Nobody wants to be wrong more than me).

The most concerning piece of this is that really really good cornerbacks don't enter the portal very often. Sure, Caleb Downs is elite. I am not sure I count Travis Hunter since he was always following Deion, I guess Jabbar Muhammad and AJ Harris are probably true impact guys, but after that the pickings are slim.

I know this will be the focus in the offseason and I am sure we will be in on anyone elite that enters the portal, I am just not sure this is an overnight fix. Can I contribute to Derrek Cooper and Justice Fitzpatrick's NIL package already?
Click to expand...

Better execution and not turning the ball over on offense. Cam is good enough to score on every offensive possession, considering he only needs to generate 4 yards per play. He needs to fall in love with the check-down instead of taking sacks or running the scramble drill every play.

That's the most immediate fix there is for this football team, because there's no all-American walking through that door and player-development takes time..
 
FromDeeeeep said:
Start Patterson at Safety

Move Powell to Nickel


Move Porter outside.

Try Richard or Hill at Safety in practice, best one starts at other Safety. Can’t be worse Harris.

Play Williams more on passing downs where his lack of size can’t be exploited.

Not sure if any of that is realistic but maybe benching Harris will light a fire under his ***
Click to expand...
Isn't Harris a natural CB?
 
I think the safeties are so bad they make the CBs look horrible. I am shocked at how bad powell is. There was a pass toward the end that he should have seen and made a play on, but he froze on his line.
 
NicKane said:
Pickett is an immediate contributor if he flips to us. He will start next year, hands-down!
Click to expand...
From Pickett's 247 scouting report:

Likely is going to need some time to get adjusted to the tempo and physicality of big-time Power Four football
 
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