On Keionte Scott…

[StevoBevo]

This secondary revamp is huge, I don’t think some of yall realize exactly HOW costly Jaden Harris, Daryl Porter, Zaquan Patterson & Dyoni hill were on their miscues. I can’t remember how many times I watched one of them give up a huge play in crucial moments but it was shocking.

Lucas/Brantley/Oconnor/Poyser/Scott/
Thomas/Antionee/Ewald are excellent additions and I think that talent will allow Hetherman to be more versatile in his coverages…and I expect the DL to eat this year, our DEs will get home now that all that BS stunting is going away.

Our toughest QB/passing offensive opponent will be either Moss/Louisville or Jennings/SMU, we will always have the QB advantage in games this year (once again).

I expect Hetherman to deliver the defenses end of the Bargain.

 

[Juanmanuel V]

My guess is it will be entirely matchup dependent who we play at CB and when, which honestly makes sense given how many high quality CBs we expect to have. The thing about our CB room though is most are longer guys some of whom are bigger - Like Lucas and Damari who you'd prefer to have on bigger and more physical WRs. O'Connor and OJ are more of the overall cover anybody type though Idk about OJs pure long speed... But there is a gap in the short+quick type of WR that I think Brantley would be the preferred match whether on the inside or outside just in terms of actual Covering. So if they have more of a shifter slot they feed the ball to a lot I can see us having Brantley there more. If they are a team that heavily runs the ball and their Slot WR blocks his *** off, I see Damari and Scott playing more Nickel that game...

Of course having said all that I expect us to just be in a lot more zone regardless. So not sure it'll be too extreme matchup based on player, and more so what the opposing offense WANTS to do to attack.

There's what 60ish snaps per game on defense or something like that? Id bet on Lucas and Poyser being on the field for 100% of them. OConnor and OJ for like 65-85% of them. Damari, Brantley, and Scott for maybe 30-50%

And of course injuries happen a lot at CB....

Competition seems to make Demari Respond better , How Will OJ respond ?
He has to Earn the Starting Spot from Two guys Demari & O’Conner he didn’t last year.

 

[cway313]

This secondary revamp is huge, I don’t think some of yall realize exactly HOW costly Jaden Harris, Daryl Porter, Zaquan Patterson & Dyoni hill were on their miscues. I can’t remember how many times I watched one of them give up a huge play in crucial moments but it was shocking.

Lucas/Brantley/Oconnor/Poyser/Scott/
Thomas/Antionee/Ewald are excellent additions and I think that talent will allow Hetherman to be more versatile in his coverages…and I expect the DL to eat this year, our DEs will get home now that all that BS stunting is going away.

Our toughest QB/passing offensive opponent will be either Moss/Louisville or Jennings/SMU, we will always have the QB advantage in games this year (once again).

I expect Hetherman to deliver the defenses end of the Bargain.

You think people don't understand how costly DBs were last year? Are you referring to people with eyes?

 

[Juanmanuel V]

You think people don't understand how costly DBs were last year? Are you referring to people with eyes?

Reading our Db room Names from last year together causes a reaction in my stomach not Pleasant ,am I the only one?

 

[StevoBevo]

You think people don't understand how costly DBs were last year? Are you referring to people with eyes?

Some people don’t know what they’re looking at, also I’m emphasizing that THEY in particular would give up CRUCIAL/big plays, it was hardly ever death by a 1000 cuts.

The point is this secondary Revamp is massive and although Guidry was horrendous, I think our DBs were our kryptonite more so than Guidry was. They were that bad.

Jaden Harris single handily is responsible for 75% of my football PTSD

 

[grover]

Some people don’t know what they’re looking at, also I’m emphasizing that THEY in particular would give up CRUCIAL/big plays, it was hardly ever death by a 1000 cuts.

The point is this secondary Revamp is massive and although Guidry was horrendous, I think our DBs were our kryptonite more so than Guidry was. They were that bad.

Jaden Harris single handily is responsible for 75% of my football PTSD

I'm agreeing with you. But given Guidry was a former DB coach, handpicked Chevis Jackson, brought in Dyoni Hill, thought Savion Riley was good enough to bring in, and didn't backfill when he left, I hold Guidry fully accountable if not directly responsible.

That said, what I believe you are implying is that the rest of the players on defense, including the returners in the front seven, were better than they looked, and that with the replenished DBs and a better defense, should perform much better as an overall defensive unit. If I got that right, I also am in agreement here.

 

[Angry Ibis]

You think people don't understand how costly DBs were last year? Are you referring to people with eyes?

Some even realized it last spring... others remained blind

 

[Juanmanuel V]

Some people don’t know what they’re looking at, also I’m emphasizing that THEY in particular would give up CRUCIAL/big plays, it was hardly ever death by a 1000 cuts.

The point is this secondary Revamp is massive and although Guidry was horrendous, I think our DBs were our kryptonite more so than Guidry was. They were that bad.

Jaden Harris single handily is responsible for 75% of my football PTSD

Come on 75% Jaden Harris ? What about Dyoni Hill not be able to run down lumbering TE/ or Meesh Powell Wiffing on tackles or Kiko as a Nickel Linbacker covering Slot & Tailbacks?
Or The Stunts that never got home?

Give Jaden 45% / Guidry Lack of competent coaching & communication/

 

[cway313]

Some even realized it last spring... others remained blind

Mope!

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

I think a TON of us sat here last May and had conversations essentially like "I'm very worried about the secondary, IDK if any of these kids can tackle in the open field and outside of Porter, do we have anyone we can count on to cover someone" etc. etc. It was voiced over and over on here. I made all those "Our (insert position here) room is filthy" threads about all the groups on offense, and look what happened. But there wasn't much of that on defense, most notably about the secondary.

And our worst fears were magnified by 100, then came true. It was the true, literal worst-case scenario.

 

[cway313]

I think a TON of us sat here last May and had conversations essentially like "I'm very worried about the secondary, IDK if any of these kids can tackle in the open field and outside of Porter, do we have anyone we can count on to cover someone" etc. etc. It was voiced over and over on here. I made all those "Our (insert position here) room is filthy" threads about all the groups on offense, and look what happened. But there wasn't much of that on defense, most notably about the secondary.

And our worst fears were magnified by 100, then came true. It was the true, literal worst-case scenario.

I even saw someone crazy enough to say Porter was concern and his numbers were inflated by how terrible Davis and Couch were the year prior.

 

[BoxingRobes]

Some people don’t know what they’re looking at, also I’m emphasizing that THEY in particular would give up CRUCIAL/big plays, it was hardly ever death by a 1000 cuts.

The point is this secondary Revamp is massive and although Guidry was horrendous, I think our DBs were our kryptonite more so than Guidry was. They were that bad.

Jaden Harris single handily is responsible for 75% of my football PTSD

You don't need to be Steve Spagnuolo to have seen these DBs single handedly lose us games because they blew assignments. It was obvious to any lay person watching.

The revamp was necessary, but we spent more money in the defensive backfield than anyone in the nation. Our DB room is expensive and built from mostly scratch. The bones weren't even good. Outside of Fred, we had nothing. Now we've got P4 starters as backups. We've been looking for a decent nickel since Mario got here and even went and paid for a specific role after practice showed that our glut of expensive DBs weren't best suited to play nickel.

They were bad. Everyone with eyes knew they individually were bad. And we spent an excessive amount of money, time, and resources to fix the room and the outcome of games (hopefully).

This is a coaching staff that believes if they can get on the spectrum of QB play (Beck won't be Ward, but we had to get the most expensive QB in the portal for a second year in a row) and fix the defensive backfield, we are a team that wins the ACC and goes on a playoff run. They did that this offseason. Now lets hope we don't step on our ****s on the way to the playoffs.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

If at bare minimum he has the type of season Jaden Davis has for us at nickel the year before last were in business

I think Tecory Couch was at Nickel that year but your point is well taken regardless.

 

[mlw352]

I think he can be a star if his minds right down here hopefully our culture can bring out the best in him and these other guys we brought in and jell quickly

 

[FrancisSawyer]

You don't need to be Steve Spagnuolo to have seen these DBs single handedly lose us games because they blew assignments. It was obvious to any lay person watching.

The revamp was necessary, but we spent more money in the defensive backfield than anyone in the nation. Our DB room is expensive and built from mostly scratch. The bones weren't even good. Outside of Fred, we had nothing. Now we've got P4 starters as backups. We've been looking for a decent nickel since Mario got here and even went and paid for a specific role after practice showed that our glut of expensive DBs weren't best suited to play nickel.

They were bad. Everyone with eyes knew they individually were bad. And we spent an excessive amount of money, time, and resources to fix the room and the outcome of games (hopefully).

This is a coaching staff that believes if they can get on the spectrum of QB play (Beck won't be Ward, but we had to get the most expensive QB in the portal for a second year in a row) and fix the defensive backfield, we are a team that wins the ACC and goes on a playoff run. They did that this offseason. Now lets hope we don't step on our ****s on the way to the playoffs.

Excellent post! I'll add that Damari Brown came back late and looked very sharp but I believe he took most of his reps at CB. I would expect for Damari to get another look at Nickel. This way we can at least give Scott a bit of competition. I'm a bit puzzled by the fact that we had Brantley, Ewald and Isaiah Taylor at Nickel all spring. Brantley and Ewald are both on the thin side and Taylor although a safety isn't exactly the biggest guy either. Having Scott and maybe Damari Brown there too will give us much more size and physicality at the position. I'm also a bit surprised that we never used spring to experiment with Cam Pruitt at Nickel. I think that move may have potential.

 

[Juanmanuel V]

Excellent post! I'll add that Damari Brown came back late and looked very sharp but I believe he took most of his reps at CB. I would expect for Damari to get another look at Nickel. This way we can at least give Scott a bit of competition. I'm a bit puzzled by the fact that we had Brantley, Ewald and Isaiah Taylor at Nickel all spring. Brantley and Ewald are both on the thin side and Taylor although a safety isn't exactly the biggest guy either. Having Scott and maybe Damari Brown there too will give us much more size and physicality at the position. I'm also a bit surprised that we never used spring to experiment with Cam Pruitt at Nickel. I think that move may have potential.

*Brantley, I think the Coaches are concerned his slight Frame won’t Hold up as a full Time Starter at nickel.
*Also Mario learned the Nickel Postion is a position onto itself you need a Specific Type of Corner that can bring Tackling & physicality.A lot corners simply are not about that.

*Kionte Scott seems to be Ideal & so does Damari Brown. Brown seem to Prefer to play outside CB.

 

[Juanmanuel V]

*Brantley, I think the Coaches are concerned his slight Frame won’t Hold up as a full Time Starter at nickel.
*Also the Mario learned the Nickel Postion is a position onto itself you need a Specific Type of Corner that can bring Tackling & physicality.A lot corners simply are not.

*Kionte Scott seems to be Ideal & so does Damari Brown. Brown seem to Prefer to play outside CB.

I always Wonder if OJ Can play the Nickel as Well. Would like to see how good OJ Fedrique really is.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

I always Wonder if OJ Can play the Nickel as Well. Would like to see how good OJ Fedrique really is.

That's an intriguing idea. From what I saw of OJ last year, he isn't exactly shy about tackling and being physical but there is so much more to that position. I do know regarding the Nickel position that it doesn't lend itself to just any CB. You have to have a knack to play the position and it's not for everyone. For example, when Scott was at Auburn, he exceled at Nickel but struggled playing outside at CB. Daryl Porter was terrible at Nickel for the short time he was there. I would like to see Hetherman experiment with someone like Cam Pruitt at Nickel. He is very athletic and has great lateral quickness for a LB.

 

[Juanmanuel V]

That's an intriguing idea. From what I saw of OJ last year, he isn't exactly shy about tackling and being physical but there is so much more to that position. I do know regarding the Nickel position that it doesn't lend itself to just any CB. You have to have a knack to play the position and it's not for everyone. For example, when Scott was at Auburn, he exceled at Nickel but struggled playing outside at CB. Daryl Porter was terrible at Nickel for the short time he was there. I would like to see Hetherman experiment with someone like Cam Pruitt at Nickel. He is very athletic and has great lateral quickness for a LB.

Yes %, I think Cam Pruitt is a Key Player because he Covers better & is as fast or Faster than most Safeties.
You Could Be a more Physical Team
With Pruitt as your Nickel.

Scott is the answer at Nickel ,has ideal Size , Speed ,Aggressiveness & has extremely valuable 3 years mostly starting in the SEC.

Experience at Nickel & Safety Matters.
football Intelligence( understanding Angles) & Communication .
It killed us in 2024

 

[Lance Roffers]

While I share and appreciate Mario’s hate for the CB room last year, at some point this is overkill lol.

Welcome.

/can he play DT Safety?

I wouldn't understate the impact on special teams. If this kid never played a defensive snap but contributes as an above-average punt returner and improves coverage units, he will have impacted the team quite a bit.

It doesn't get enough attention how pitiful our special teams have been the past several years. Those are real and tangible yards.