Welp, our secondary as a unit this year is just bad. With more teams moving toward the spread, it puts more emphasis on Bud's nickel package. Unfortunately, we don't have 5 horses to run in space, as they've miserably failed the test through 6 games. Even worse, we still have to play Clemson, FSU, Miami, and Duke. Each of those teams can legitmately score 40 points on the Hokies if they can expose our FS and nickleback.
With that, let's talk 2013. Will we be any better? Here's my guess at some semblance of a 2013 depth chart...
CB: Kyle Fuller, Donovan Riley, Donaldven Manning, Charles Clark
CB: Kendall Fuller (physically, I think he's ready), Derwoune Greene, Brandon Facyson
Rover: Antone Exum, Holland Fisher, Anthony Shegog
FS: Kyshoen Jarrett, Detrick Bonner
After this year, I can see why we recruited so many defensive backs. Transfers / busts have hurt our depth and our starting unit. James Farrow and Boye Aromire would undoubtedly be seeing significant playing time, if not starting.
All that said, our secondary should be improved next year. We'll be a year older in some spots, and we'll have more raw talent at others. Detrick Bonner, Donaldven Manning, and Michael Cole do not have job security. Hopefully they respond positively in the offseason and get better. I'm excited about Donovan Riley - he reminds me of Kyle Fuller. If he continues to improve I can see him stepping up at nickelback a la Kyle in 2011.
Kendall Fuller and Holland Fisher are physically ready to contribute. Here's to hoping they can pick up the playbook quickly.
Comments
Good Post
I'd still love to see Kyle at FS/Rover. If Antone continues to improve from a cover standpoint, I think I would rather keep him at corner than Kyle. Kyle just seems to be better suited to be a free guy rather than a lockdown corner based on his tackling ability in space and his football IQ. I would be stoked if our starting secondary looked like this next year:
Jarrett/Kyle Fuller at Rover/FS
Antone at Boundary CB
Donaldven Manning/Kendall Fuller at FC.
Yep, that would be my lineup as well.
I think Manning will be a starter, probably in the next few weeks. I know he looked awful for three straight plays against Cincy, but he (unfortunately) admitted he just wasn't mentally ready. Physically, I think he can play and we'll see him in there soon.
I agree that Kyle Fuller is serviceable as a CB, but is better utilized in a position where he can freelance more. Jarrett seems to have settled in at a safety position.
Cole
IF Cole can improve his tackling, he has a chance to be a very effective WHIP. He has a nose for the ball, and always seems to be in the right place at the right time much like Cody Grimm always was. His physical tools just aren't suited for Rover/FS, and I don't understand why Foster isn't seeing that right now.
Fisher probably redshirts
Safeties never play as true freshmen in VT system... Too much to learn about the entire defense. I don't think that changes next year, regardless at the problems of free safety and Fisher's talent level.
Of course, this is moot if Saban has his way.
The first counter point is that we've never recruited a safety as talented as Holland Fisher.
The second counter point is that it seems Bud is playing more and more man coverage, with our safeties lining up and running with tight ends and slot WRs. Can Holland do this? I don't know. But it seems more likely he'll see playing time in a man on man defense versus a complex zone.
And of course the 3rd counter point is that rover is a much easier position to pick up mentally compared with FS.
7 on 7
These 7 on 7 tournaments are where you find the athletes that can play in space and cover the spread offense. That is pretty much the whole point of 7 on 7. That is why they take the lineman out to open things up. I know Frank thinks that there are shady aspects of recruiting these tournaments and believe me there are but if he wants to stop getting throttled every damn time we play the spread this would be a great place to look for those athletes he needs. As a former defensive back myself it hurts watching some of the mistakes being made in our secondary every week. Bonner just looks genuinely uninterested every snap. Also see them all stand still at the snap and wait to turn and run with the receiver and by then it is too late and they are beat deep. Also pet peeve jumping up and bumping chests in the air after breaking up a pass. That is what you are supposed to do. If you get a pick 6 I get it but don't celebrate every tackle. I think some of our players have developed this swag bullshit and forgot about the "lunch pail" attitude. Just a thought.
What are 7 on 7 tournaments
Is this a real thing that people compete in? I thought they were a drill
Yea they are real
Yea they real big in the south. They are doing them alot in DC and the Baltimore area. They are getting into it in the VA beach area as well. Great place to locate some of those athletes needed.
Speaking of Fisher
What's the latest update with him & Alabama?
I heard he's still solid on Tech.
Bonner and Cole are just bad
think he likes bama but most think he's still very strong vt commit .. not too worried, especially considering our success (historically) with the secondary positions and likely early PT.
Always good when we can take someone out from under Saban's nose.
Cole has some upside -- but Bonner, considering his experience and time in the system, is very unimpressive and seems to really half-ass it out there .. I'll give Cole a little credit and I'm sure he's trying and will get better. A lot have said that he is better suited for whip. I don't know that our lack of depth over the next season or two will allow him to make a move.