Roster Breakdown: Nickel

[skeeter]

In this system, S's are extremely important. Both sides have to drop, creep, rotate from half to post, understand when they are a COP (Contain Outside Player), when they are the fit in C, when they are a robber, and when they are C3 or C4. Among other responsibilities and rules.

We do need studs at that spot as well. I'd rather have that position with 8's & 9's and find a nickel amongst our other options that can be 8's or 9's at that spot than turn our S's from 9's to 7's.

But I understand the appeal and allure of the nickel position needing to be a stud in this system. This system needs excellent secondary players or extremely smart secondary players to function at a high level (both is, of course, ideal).

Hussey? Or purely safety?

 

[Calinative]

How was Poyser not mentioned?

I think any of the safeties (I cluding Dunnigan) could be fits at Nickel. But I think Fitz is just better as deep safety. And I think depth wise we are just better at CB. So ideally it's really be nice for a current CB to really try to win a heavy rotational nickel job - I'd think Damari. But Antoine, any of the freshman, Ewald....

I think we will rotate in nickel like 100x more than last yr. I think we will def see Poyser, Thornton, Day, all there at some point. I think Dunnigan and Waters can be impact freshman. And again if Damari or Xavier alucas are willing to slide in.... They could be there too along with Ewald

 

[E1k]

Just get portis in the weight room and ready by week 5

 

[canes732]

I think Day might win this job. I think he is a tweener at safety and fits the nickel and he’s a 4.4 guy. But Omar is for sure gonna play there too

 

[skeeter]

How was Poyser not mentioned?

I agree I kinda like his skillset for nickle too… But "how" he wasn't mentioned is obviously because none of these guys think or are hearing anything else but safety for him, which also makes sense because although he wasn't a star last year…He was above average as a true sophomore on national championship game defense. They may just think that highly of him at safety.

 

[rok]

Conrad Hussey was omitted and I'd like to know why

 

[Felonious Monk]

 

[Calinative]

I agree I kinda like his skillset for nickle too… But "how" he wasn't mentioned is obviously because none of these guys think or are hearing anything else but safety for him, which also makes sense because although he wasn't a star last year…He was above average as a true sophomore on national championship game defense. They may just think that highly of him at safety.

He was a RS sophomore.

Thornton was probably legit not very good at Nickel when he played there last year though. And regardless Poysers role needs to be different than last yr given Fitzgerald needs more snaps and His biggest strength obviously appears to be deep safety compared to the rest of our safeties…

Obviously depth at Safety is the bigger concern which is why I think we need a current cb (and a younger guy like Dunnigan/Waters/etc) to also step up and earn rotational snaps there this yr.. but it think Poyser and Thornton if both on the field together, best strategy is Poyser at Nickel… unless Fitz just isn’t on the field

 

[Lance Roffers]

He was a RS sophomore.

Thornton was probably legit not very good at Nickel when he played there last year though. And regardless Poysers role needs to be different than last yr given Fitzgerald needs more snaps and His biggest strength obviously appears to be deep safety compared to the rest of our safeties…

Obviously depth at Safety is the bigger concern which is why I think we need a current cb (and a younger guy like Dunnigan/Waters/etc) to also step up and earn rotational snaps there this yr.. but it think Poyser and Thornton if both on the field together, best strategy is Poyser at Nickel… unless Fitz just isn’t on the field

Options abound. I like Poyser as the communicator at S who keeps everyone lined up back there and vocal, but I think he has the talent to win the nickel role as well.

No matter who they choose, I believe there will be more rotation than last year based on situation. They don't have anyone the level of Scott who can do everything like he did.

At least to my eyes (which are often wrong).

 

[skeeter]

He was a RS sophomore.

OK…No biggie.

Thornton was probably legit not very good at Nickel when he played there last year though.

Lol…They obviously saw something they liked because they scooped him up **** early in the portal and he is been mentioned in the competition for nickle literally since we started recruiting him from the portal. Why are you thinking he wasn't good in the portal?

And regardless Poysers role needs to be different than last yr given Fitzgerald needs more snaps and His biggest strength obviously appears to be deep safety compared to the rest of our safeties…

Obviously depth at Safety is the bigger concern which is why I think we need a current cb (and a younger guy like Dunnigan/Waters/etc) to also step up and earn rotational snaps there this yr.. but it think Poyser and Thornton if both on the field together, best strategy is Poyser at Nickel… unless Fitz just isn’t on the field

Again it's whatever with your arguments, I even agree with some of the points, I'm just telling you why the authors of this post likely chose not to mention him. They don't see him in the convo for that position. Simple stuff.

 

[Calinative]

OK…No biggie.



Lol…They obviously saw something they liked because they scooped him up **** early in the portal and he is been mentioned in the competition for nickle literally since we started recruiting him from the portal. Why are you thinking he wasn't good in the portal?



Again it's whatever with your arguments, I even agree with some of the points, I'm just telling you why the authors of this post likely chose not to mention him. They don't see him in the convo for that position. Simple stuff.

Uh they can like Thornton at Safety to fill Thomas’ role as well as being ABLE to play Nickel. But it seems clear to me he isn’t CLOSE to the pass defender at Nickel that Scott was. At all. Run defense we will see. I think he likely will be good in that area. In pass coverage he’s a better fit with the tasks asked of our safety.

Poyser played 23 less snaps at Nickel than Fitzgerald did. Yet he doesn’t get mentioned especially when it should be clear that the role Fitzgerald is likely to play if not Nickel is the one Poyser predominantly played… so something’s gunna have to give there, and I know which Id choose…. Poyser will play a lot of safety obviously, but imo i think we’re more likely to see Poyser at Nickel if both he and Thornton are on field.

Also it’s like everyone talks about Damari at Nickel how come they never mention Lucas? Lucas played 18% of his snaps in the slot/box/safety (11% were slot)…. Damari only played 9.5% of his snaps out of the slot/box/safety (and only 1.5% of those were slot)…

 

[skeeter]

Uh they can like Thornton at Safety to fill Thomas’ role as well as being ABLE to play Nickel.

Uh yes they CAN…Doesn't mean they DO

But it seems clear to me he isn’t CLOSE to the pass defender at Nickel that Scott was. At all. Run defense we will see. I think he likely will be good in that area. In pass coverage he’s a better fit with the tasks asked of our safety.

If that is correct…Then he will be a factor at safety.

Uh they can like Thornton at Safety to fill Thomas’ role as well as being ABLE to play Nickel. But it seems clear to me he isn’t CLOSE to the pass defender at Nickel that Scott was. At all. Run defense we will see. I think he likely will be good in that area. In pass coverage he’s a better fit with the tasks asked of our safety.

Then your opinion differs from DMoney and Lance. They literally described how Scott was used less and less in conference in coverage outside of things like jumping screens, etc as the year progressed. So if you are concerned about Thornton in coverage, maybe nickle with all the blitzing and run fits is more of his game.

Poyser played 23 less snaps at Nickel than Fitzgerald did. Yet he doesn’t get mentioned especially when it should be clear that the role Fitzgerald is likely to play if not Nickel is the one Poyser predominantly played… so something’s gunna have to give there, and I know which Id choose….

Because he played a lot smaller of percentage of total snaps at nickle than Fitz did. Also notice you chose yotal snaps for Fitz vs. Poyser but percentage for DBrown vs. Lucas

Also it’s like everyone talks about Damari at Nickel how come they never mention Lucas? Lucas played 18% of his snaps in the slot/box/safety (11% were slot)…. Damari only played 9.5% of his snaps out of the slot/box/safety (and only 1.5% of those were slot)…

I would guess because Lucas looks a little smoother turning and running and has more long speed. And again these guys are merely talking about who they would have at nickle/has traits they are looking for combined with what they are hearing. So Damari's strengths and weaknesses, combined with the fact the staff wanted to give him a long look there last year but he seemingly was hesitant.

Basically to sum it up…He isn't getting mentioned because the 3 guys who made that post and discussed the position see others as a better fit OR are telling you what they are hearing. I think Poyser has some nice nickle traits too, but the staff may just ******* feel comfortable with him t safety? What is so tough about this?

Also when you are giving all these stats…Remember other guys besides our assigned nickle can line up in the "slot"

 

[Calinative]

Uh yes they CAN…Doesn't mean they DO



If that is correct…Then he will be a factor at safety.


Then your opinion differs from DMoney and Lance. They literally described how Scott was used less and less in conference in coverage outside of things like jumping screens, etc as the year progressed. So if you are concerned about Thornton in coverage, maybe nickle with all the blitzing and run fits is more of his game.



Because he played a lot smaller of percentage of total snaps at nickle than Fitz did. Also notice you tchose otal snaps for Fitz vs. Poyser but percentage for DBrown vs. Lucas



I would guess because Lucas looks a little smoother turning and running and has more long speed. And again these guys are merely talking about who they would have at nickle/has traits they are looking for combined with what they are hearing. So Damari's strengths and weaknesses, combined with the fact the staff wanted to give him a long look there last year but he seemingly was hesitant.

Basically to sum it up…He isn't getting mentioned because the 3 guys who made that post and discussed the position see others as a better fit OR are telling you what they are hearing. I think Poyser has some nice nickle traits too, but the staff may just ******* feel comfortable with him t safety? What is so tough about this?

Also when you are giving all these stats…Remember other guys besides our assigned nickle can line up in the "slot"

Nust further evidence of how you just choose to make dumb arguments out of nothing lmao. Not including Poyser is plainly stupid in the nickel conversation

Poyser was our starting safety and Scott was our starting Nickel. So of course as a percentage Poysers is going to be low at Nickel. As the season went on and they got more comfortable with Fitzgerald he became the primary backup nickel. However any reasonable view of Fitzgerald and answering where he likely fits best to maximize his talents isn’t to have him at nickel.

The percentage comparing Lucas and Damari is a direct comparison for an outside Cn and actually shows utilization of how our bigger outside CB were actually used all season and accounting for Damaris injury. Pretty reasonable and directly shows something everyone has completely ignored. That Lucas was used far more in a more similar role role than Damari actually was. You can ignore that though.

 

[skeeter]

Nust further evidence of how you just choose to make dumb arguments out of nothing lmao. Not including Poyser is plainly stupid in the nickel conversation

So it's stupid that those 3 guys didn't include Poyser? Even though they are closer to the program than you, offer an opinion that he is a proven safety and reasons why they like him there, while listing traits for others that make them a better nickle than safety?

Poyser was our starting safety and Scott was our starting Nickel. So of course as a percentage Poysers is going to be low at Nickel. As the season went on and they got more comfortable with Fitzgerald he became the primary backup nickel. However any reasonable view of Fitzgerald and answering where he likely fits best to maximize his talents isn’t to have him at nickel.

I agree… And even in their breakdown they mention a few times. However you can't ignore that he did some good things at nickle too and the fact they are listing him over Poyser as a POSSIBILITY means that they would be surprised if Poyser is moved to a new position after enjoying success on a successful defense at the position he played.

The percentage comparing Lucas and Damari is a direct comparison for an outside Cn and actually shows utilization of how our bigger outside CB were actually used all season and accounting for Damaris injury. Pretty reasonable and directly shows something everyone has completely ignored.

Literally not one person is ignoring this…You absolute ******* s-chmuck.

And no you are using percentages at one position to further you point, while using snap numbers in another comparison to further your point because percentages wouldn't do so in that case.

That Lucas was used far more in a more similar role role than Damari actually was. You can ignore that though.

Again, has nothing to do with their article, literally nothing.

You pout like a spoiled 9 year old brat because people (And in this particular case more respected posters than you) aren't listing the players you want them to at the positions you want them to.