Updated Defensive Depth Chart -- 1/3/19

With all the changes, here's how I see the defensive depth chart as it stands today. Of course, changes are certain and we'll update this as we go. Returning starters in CAPS. Definite starter in Bold.

WDE -- Patchan/Rousseau, Harvey, Bogle?
3T -- Silvera/Ford, Blissett, Munoz, Martin
1T -- BETHEL, Miller, Holley
SDE -- GARVIN, Joyner, Williams

Striker -- FINLEY, McCloud, D. Smith
MLB -- QUARTERMAN, Jennings
WLB -- PINCKNEY, Steed, Wilder (injury?), Huff, Brooks

CB -- BANDY, Blades Jr., Frierson
CB -- Ivey, Bethel, Couch
S -- Carter, Knowles,
S -- Hall, K. Smith

Initial thoughts -- 6 returning starters off one of the top defenses in the country is not a bad start. Plus Carter played a good bit for a 7th experienced kid. Obviously we know the LB position will be one of the best in America, regardless of your opinion on the kids coming back. There is a LOT of talent in that secondary, but you have to expect regression with losing 4 and 23 and that experience and familiarity. The DL is really scary. As I've said for a year, there's no more important kid on this team next year than Scott Patchan. It is absolutely imperative that he at least somewhat replaces Joe Jackson, or at least a combo of him and Rousseau can at least come close. But Patchan has a lengthy injury history, Rousseau hasn't played and was already lost for a season due to injury, we have ZERO depth at both DE and DT. Jon Ford? Hello? If he can make a jump, those top 3 could at least be OK while the young kids learn behind them. But I expect a major drop off on the DL with the losses of Willis and Jackson. All of these kids here need to stay healthy and significantly improve.

Who am I missing? Does Sam Brooks project long-term at WDE how I have him listed? Will Joyner slot behind Garvin this year? Where will Frierson and Bethel settle?
 
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Lack of numbers at S and DL is rough. Kul was on vacation so Simpson gets a pass (has 3 DTs and 2 DE committed for this class) but Banda? Having Knowles and a true freshman on your 2 deep at Safety at the university of Miami is unacceptable.
 
Lack of numbers at S and DL is rough. Kul was on vacation so Simpson gets a pass (has 3 DTs and 2 DE committed for this class) but Banda? Having Knowles and a true freshman on your 2 deep at Safety at the university of Miami is unacceptable.
We signed just 1 safety in 18 and have just 1 as of today.Somehow they need to sign 2 more.
 
Zero quality depth at DT. Martin shouldn’t be here, most of the true freshmen are developmental types. Time for Ford to step up. Bethel is a JAG.
 
I’m awful confused. People assured me Ford and Miller were as talented as anyone in Florida when some of us were griping about DT classes the last 3 years. Now we’re pairing them with an All American and a returning starter and it’s an emergency.
 
Need a pair of good transfer DTs.

Ford has not flashed. He's a big guy, but he's not as disruptive as he should be for his size. To me, that's how his high school film was.

Confident in Jade.

Bethel should be a SDE.

Miller has the build to be a difference make - long arms, country strong, about 6-3 or so, but we'll have to wait to see whether he has the type of violent aggressiveness that position demands at this level.

The new strength coach can't get here fast enough.
 
Lol you serious ?


Yeah I’m serious... It’s not like we have this All-American Depth in front of him. Surely I’m not saying it’s a for sure thing but I could see it happening. Go ahead and act like you’re sure it won’t... Remember everybody was sure Greg Rousseau was gonna have to RS last year before he surprised everyone
 
I'm hoping Miller makes the jump because he has the size to be a clog in the middle. I trust Simpson to coach him up....we need our strength coach to be a beast.
 
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There's enough depth/talent across the board that if our coaches need to get creative in some spots they can do so. We're still in the position to sign a few more recruits and add a grad transfer. We've freaked out like this about depth since 2016 and things have worked out. We'll be fine.
We agree people freaking out over nothing!!!!
 
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