Safeties and DTs -- Are we a complete team for what Hetherman plans to do?

I would watch for Day at that other safety spot. He looks good.

Yeah, I was thinking about him and he's definitely flashed on special teams which is normally a good sign. There's also Wallace or possibly one of older corners could switch positions. The DB room in general has talent and deeper than the DT options. Iron sharpens iron. The talent is there for Heatherman. I'm expecting a massive turnaround.
 
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Who is he going to replace on the outside? OJ, Lucas? I don’t think so, his best chance at playing time is inside.
I don’t get it. Brantley’s done nothing to not earn a starting role. People keep trying to box him into just a nickel corner, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most experienced DBs on the roster. If we’re going by what actually shows up on tape — he’s got playmaking ability, lockdown coverage, and proven production.


The only real argument against starting him outside is because we pushed so hard for Xavier Lucas — and let’s be honest, that’s mostly about size and measurables, not on-field impact.

  • OJ and Brantley should be your outside corners
  • Scott’s locked down the nickel spot based on his Auburn film and versatility
We need Brantley on the field. Period. He’s too talented and too reliable not to be in that top-three rotation.
 
I don’t get it. Brantley’s done nothing to not earn a starting role. People keep trying to box him into just a nickel corner, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most experienced DBs on the roster. If we’re going by what actually shows up on tape — he’s got playmaking ability, lockdown coverage, and proven production.


The only real argument against starting him outside is because we pushed so hard for Xavier Lucas — and let’s be honest, that’s mostly about size and measurables, not on-field impact.

  • OJ and Brantley should be your outside corners
  • Scott’s locked down the nickel spot based on his Auburn film and versatility
We need Brantley on the field. Period. He’s too talented and too reliable not to be in that top-three rotation.

Experienced yes…And I think he'll see a lot of the time.

The problem is he may just be pretty good and the talent/upside of the others is just better. I'm a Brantley fan. But we really added some talent.
 
I don’t get it. Brantley’s done nothing to not earn a starting role. People keep trying to box him into just a nickel corner, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most experienced DBs on the roster. If we’re going by what actually shows up on tape — he’s got playmaking ability, lockdown coverage, and proven production.


The only real argument against starting him outside is because we pushed so hard for Xavier Lucas — and let’s be honest, that’s mostly about size and measurables, not on-field impact.

  • OJ and Brantley should be your outside corners
  • Scott’s locked down the nickel spot based on his Auburn film and versatility
We need Brantley on the field. Period. He’s too talented and too reliable not to be in that top-three rotation.

Experienced yes…And I think he'll see a lot of the time.

The problem is he may just be pretty good and the talent/upside of the others is just better. I'm a Brantley fan. But we really added some talent.
Didnt get exposed at michigan state...

Was a decent corner no doubt, but not a star.
 
I don’t get it. Brantley’s done nothing to not earn a starting role. People keep trying to box him into just a nickel corner, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most experienced DBs on the roster. If we’re going by what actually shows up on tape — he’s got playmaking ability, lockdown coverage, and proven production.


The only real argument against starting him outside is because we pushed so hard for Xavier Lucas — and let’s be honest, that’s mostly about size and measurables, not on-field impact.

  • OJ and Brantley should be your outside corners
  • Scott’s locked down the nickel spot based on his Auburn film and versatility
We need Brantley on the field. Period. He’s too talented and too reliable not to be in that top-three rotation.

Could it be situational where you have Brantley and Lucas or Brown on the field at the same time and depending on the defensive personnel and pre-snap/motion they play different roles? Or is that getting too complicated and risks the DBs ******** up their assignments like last season?

I mean we have a heck of a CB room, not everyone can play. O’Connor isn’t even being talked about much less the freshmen. I was thinking they’d cover the Safety concerns by switching people up some.
 
I don’t get it. Brantley’s done nothing to not earn a starting role. People keep trying to box him into just a nickel corner, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most experienced DBs on the roster. If we’re going by what actually shows up on tape — he’s got playmaking ability, lockdown coverage, and proven production.


The only real argument against starting him outside is because we pushed so hard for Xavier Lucas — and let’s be honest, that’s mostly about size and measurables, not on-field impact.

  • OJ and Brantley should be your outside corners
  • Scott’s locked down the nickel spot based on his Auburn film and versatility
We need Brantley on the field. Period. He’s too talented and too reliable not to be in that top-three rotation.
Oj and Lucas are better. They are bigger and faster and better outside corners. I don’t know what more I can say on that. Brantley isn’t even our best nickel guy becasue we got that guy from Auburn.
 
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I don’t get it. Brantley’s done nothing to not earn a starting role. People keep trying to box him into just a nickel corner, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most experienced DBs on the roster. If we’re going by what actually shows up on tape — he’s got playmaking ability, lockdown coverage, and proven production.


The only real argument against starting him outside is because we pushed so hard for Xavier Lucas — and let’s be honest, that’s mostly about size and measurables, not on-field impact.

  • OJ and Brantley should be your outside corners
  • Scott’s locked down the nickel spot based on his Auburn film and versatility
We need Brantley on the field. Period. He’s too talented and too reliable not to be in that top-three rotation.
The tape doesn't lie. Brantley plays with good technique, confidence, and he tackles. The only real knock on him is he never played a full season health wise. Brantley is a certified baller.
 
Because his skill set is Best inside, he can play outside, but at his height, he can get exposed.
I get it that he is short but he is not a nickel, same thing we saw last season when Porter moved inside. Chuck is an outside CB all the way and possibly the dime cb as well.

He has only played 8 snaps in his career at nickel and it showed in the spring the way Tony was cooking him.
 
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JR --- coming into sr year after coming off his best season ....

I'll just leave this here - regardless we winning and this is a tough convo but yet a AMAZING problem to have


I’m convinced most posters here watch football with their eyes closed. Chuck is a baller and fall camp is going to be competing as ****. I think he will be best as an outside field CB same position as X and let them battle it out.
 
I get it that he is short but he is not a nickel, same thing we saw last season when Porter moved inside. Chuck is an outside CB all the way and possibly the dime cb as well.

He has only played 8 snaps in his career at nickel and it showed in the spring the way Tony was cooking him.
Then he can be a back up on the outside, that’s the best He’s going to find there since we have Lucas and OJ there already.
 
Then he can be a back up on the outside, that’s the best He’s going to find there since we have Lucas and OJ there already.
What do you have against competition lol if X beats out Chuck so be it. If he doesn't then let him come off the bench or maybe even start at free if that gets the best 5 on the field.
 
What do you have against competition lol if X beats out Chuck so be it. If he doesn't then let him come off the bench or maybe even start at free if that gets the best 5 on the field.
I have no problem with competition, Competition is the core to greatness in every sport, but I also know who the better cornerbacks on the outside are and if those cornerbacks play up to their potential, they should win the battle against anybody and that is Lucas and OJ.
 
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I have no problem with competition, Competition is the core to greatness in every sport, but I also know who the better cornerbacks on the outside are and if those cornerbacks play up to their potential, they should win the battle against anybody and that is Lucas and OJ.
As of now, there is no tangible evidence that Lucas is better than Brantley so no you don't "know" that. You're basing this off of strictly measurables. Let them compete in camp and the chips fall where they may.
 
Then he can be a back up on the outside, that’s the best He’s going to find there since we have Lucas and OJ there already.
Thank God for that lol, we finally have depth at CB
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As of now, there is no tangible evidence that Lucas is better than Brantley so no you don't "know" that. You're basing this off of strictly measurables. Let them compete in camp and the chips fall where they may.
Actually, I do know because I’ve seen him play. And he will be our starting outside CB1 this year and you can take that to the bank.
 
ND has alot of talent and great backs but their QB last year bailed them out in all of their close games with his legs. So many drives he would take off running and was very quick which demoralized a lot of Defenses. Without that aspect I think brings them down a level so it’s about stopping the run and forcing the new QB to throw.
 
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