The Top 5 leaps we need from defensive players

LuCane

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1. Leonard Taylor - This is based on talent and opportunity. If he gets comfortable with the new expectations (and that will require he take some lumps), with what's around him, he can almost single-handedly change down and distance for our opponents.

2. Chase Smith - He's supremely talented. He'll now have a much clearer idea of what to do. Let him run.

3. 2nd Corner (pick a player) - This is based mostly on opportunity. Opposing teams will otherwise find this spot on the field and pick on it. Whoever jumps into the other outside CB role will need a leap.

4. James Williams - Whether at Safety or, more likely, at multiple spots on the field, he can be a true 3rd down terror for us. His ability to rush the passer while looking like he could drop in coverage gives us one of our best chances to get off the field.

5. Darrell Jackson - He's 19. He's still growing. Whether he becomes a star or not, a leap in front of Jordan Miller makes us capable of playing all the fronts we'll need.

Prior to Darrell Jackson's signing, simply because of the dynamic of missing pieces, I would have had Harvey and perhaps another DL (Agude, Haye, Chantz) on the list. As mentioned on the "DL pieces" thread, Jackson sends ripple effects across the entire DL. Now, Mesidor (who's not on the list because I think he's a more known commodity) can play outside, if necessary. And, both our base and sub-packages become far more flexible.

5 months ago, I was deathly concerned about what our defense would look like for '22. I imagined Kevin Steele and crew would have to work absolute magic. They still will need to be creative in covering up some holes, but given our schedule, there is more hope.
 
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.…5 months ago, I was deathly concerned about what our defense would look like for '22. I imagined Kevin Steele and crew would have to work absolute magic. They still will need to be creative in covering up some holes, but given our schedule, there is more hope.

So was I.

Fortunately we’ve plugged some holes by adding usable talent.

The defense may still be a work in progress early in the year, but we’ve got the right group of coaches to maximize our still somewhat limited, but better than a few months ago, potential on defense.
 
I would add Jahfari Harvey to the list...

Adding Agude & Mesidor at DE gave us two solid upperclassmen vets, but in terms of pure ability Harvey can be a very good pass rushing specialist if he can maturate & live up to his potential.

The CB group will be interesting to see how it develops, we got 4 coming in the Fall & none of the current 6 who were available for Spring entered the Portal, so we could essentially have 9-10 CB’s for Fall with Blades Jr basically being used as a Nickel, but he can also play Field & Boundary.

And with having so many bodies for essentially 3 spots, there should be no reason for us to have bad CB play this year, there’s way too many rotational variations to throw out there to justify struggling in coverage. Even our Dime packages can have a legit 2-deep rotation, barring a rash of injuries, we should have the most depth at CB we’ve had in years...

What we need the most from the Secondary whether it comes from the CB or Safety group, is a dynamic Ballhawk. Someone who can make QB’s pay for being over aggressive when attacking one side of the field.
 
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I don’t see one guy getting huge numbers
But ic mesidor/agude/Taylor getting 7-9 range
Then Jackson I see in the 5-7 range and so it’s gonna be more by committee
If you mean combined that's atrocious and it will be a long season. If you mean individually that would be remarkable that all double career highs.
 
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I would add Jahfari Harvey to the list...

Adding Agude & Mesidor at DE gave us two solid upperclassmen vets, but in terms of pure ability Harvey can be a very good pass rushing specialist if he can maturate & live up to his potential.

The CB group will be interesting to see how it develops, we got 4 coming in the Fall & none of the current 6 who were available for Spring entered the Portal, so we could essentially have 9-10 CB’s for Fall with Blades Jr basically being used as a Nickel, but he can also play Field & Boundary.

And with having so many bodies for essentially 3 spots, there should be no reason for us to have bad CB play this year, there’s way too many rotational variations to throw out there to justify struggling in coverage. Even our Dime packages can have a legit 2-deep rotation, barring a rash of injuries, we should have the most depth at CB we’ve had in years...

What we need the most from the Secondary whether it comes from the CB or Safety group, is a dynamic Ballhawk. Someone who can make QB’s pay for being over aggressive when attacking one side of the field.
Can Avantae Williams be that dynamic Ballhawk?
 
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Lol I hope so but you may wanna take another look at stats from guys we brought in.
I’m projecting it based on previous production
And guys playing in a system that better suits the style they want to play
And having a coaching staff that can actually scheme to the talent they have
 
I would add Jahfari Harvey to the list...

Adding Agude & Mesidor at DE gave us two solid upperclassmen vets, but in terms of pure ability Harvey can be a very good pass rushing specialist if he can maturate & live up to his potential.

The CB group will be interesting to see how it develops, we got 4 coming in the Fall & none of the current 6 who were available for Spring entered the Portal, so we could essentially have 9-10 CB’s for Fall with Blades Jr basically being used as a Nickel, but he can also play Field & Boundary.

And with having so many bodies for essentially 3 spots, there should be no reason for us to have bad CB play this year, there’s way too many rotational variations to throw out there to justify struggling in coverage. Even our Dime packages can have a legit 2-deep rotation, barring a rash of injuries, we should have the most depth at CB we’ve had in years...

What we need the most from the Secondary whether it comes from the CB or Safety group, is a dynamic Ballhawk. Someone who can make QB’s pay for being over aggressive when attacking one side of the field.
Mentioned it on the OP, but It was for those reasons + a comparison to the need of Darrell Jackson's leap that I left him just outside.

Agree on all the DB comments. We haven't had a player who consistently breaks on the ball with anticipation since, arguably, RJenkins. Jaquan made a play or two like that (the robber coverage against UVA stands out), but not as often as we'd hope. Perhaps AWilliams can fill that role.
 
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