Cornerbacks Appear To Be Deep and Good

[TexanMark]

When I mean good...they should at least be middle of the road for the ACC. Starters from last year are now 3rd String or moved to another position...that tells you something

Whigham wrote a nice article and doesn't hold anything back

Babers: CB rotation may ‘even go to six deep’ this season

Week One Depth Chart from last year below:

 

[texascpa]

16 days, 16 days, 16 days...

 

[texascpa]

I wish I had enough money to hire Whigham full time as my personal SU reporter.

 

[Consigliere]

I think it will really say something if Butler and Martin don't ascend to the top line on the next depth chart. They were brought in to patch a struggling position as starters. If the returnees have improved to the point they are holding the newcomers off I feel great about the secondary. It's all going to come down to the ability to pressure the QB.

 

[RF2044]

We're in the rare and enviable position at CB, where they actually might go SEVEN deep. And all 7 guys have played before [with the likes of Scoop / Jones being thrown to the wolves last year as true frosh]. The other 5 have starting experience in varying capacities.

After the debacle at CB last season, it is a welcome change to potentially field a deep, talented, unit. Lots of young talent here, so the future looks bright.

 

[SoBristol]

We're in the rare and enviable position at CB, where they actually might go SEVEN deep. And all 7 guys have played before [with the likes of Scoop / Jones being thrown to the wolves last year as true frosh]. The other 5 have starting experience in varying capacities.

After the debacle at CB last season, it is a welcome change to potentially field a deep, talented, unit. Lots of young talent here, so the future looks bright.

At a minimum, the DB depth also provides some strength for the coverage teams. There is the luxury of depth & competition for roles. The test of talent will have to wait until we see how those who emerge as starters hold up in conference competition.

 

[retro44]

most of them have excellent hands from what I saw and Martin is a big corner for sure. I thought he was a linebacker at first until I looked up his jersey number.

 

[bcubs9497]

I wish I had enough money to hire Whigham full time as my personal SU reporter.

Yeah, Julian's good. Very informative, and great perspective.

 

[RICuse44]

If we can't get any pressure with the front 4 I'm not sure how much it will matter- better than last year score wise but wins and losses wouldn't change.

They may be better but they can't cover for 7 seconds

 

[TexanMark]

Another thing to note: Last year would Ifeatu Melifonwu get redshirted?

I'm not saying he won't play but it is looking that way. I see Martin as a more mature version of Melifonwu. He is the insurance policy to keep Melifonwu from having to play to early. Guys like Hudson and Dowels got thrown to the wolves too soon. However, it will comforting to know during the season when they play (by necessity) they should be able to hold the position down against most ACC receivers.

 

[TexanMark]

Yeah, Julian's good. Very informative, and great perspective.

BCubs...what is the latest from the NCAA? Is he going to play this year?

 

[TexanMark]

If we can't get any pressure with the front 4 I'm not sure how much it will matter- better than last year score wise but wins and losses wouldn't change.

They may be better but they can't cover for 7 seconds

Remember...we just need to beat 6 teams...the easiest wins are at home this year.

 

[bcubs9497]

BCubs...what is the latest from the NCAA? Is he going to play this year?

No word yet. Lester has said it'd be about a week before the USC game before we'd know. Some guy at the WMU board thinks that the longer it takes, the probability for a favorable outcome increases.

 

[TheCusian]

If we can't get any pressure with the front 4 I'm not sure how much it will matter- better than last year score wise but wins and losses wouldn't change.

They may be better but they can't cover for 7 seconds

If they can hold the score down by 7 and the O gets more efficient at turning yards and possessions into points - it 100% will change our wins and losses.

 

[javadoc]

No word yet. Lester has said it'd be about a week before the USC game before we'd know. Some guy at the WMU board thinks that the longer it takes, the probability for a favorable outcome increases.

Opposite of our experience with appeals!

 

[bcubs9497]

Opposite of our experience with appeals!

True =D

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Another thing to note: Last year would Ifeatu Melifonwu get redshirted?

I'm not saying he won't play but it is looking that way. I see Martin as a more mature version of Melifonwu. He is the insurance policy to keep Melifonwu from having to play to early. Guys like Hudson and Dowels got thrown to the wolves too soon. However, it will comforting to know during the season when they play (by necessity) they should be able to hold the position down against most ACC receivers.

Melifonwu redshirting sets him up for a really bright future.

 

[Orangtiz]

Melifonwu and Trotter both should redshirt, like their potential if they continue to hit the college weight room and get acclimated to the college game.

 

[Alsacs]

This is huge if we have depth at corner. While we may be then at defense tackle and defense end. If our corners can cover then we can blitz pressure at least and feel comfortable not getting burned every time.
If you watch the Notre Dame game last year that was probably the worst defensive back play I had seen from a Syracuse team in my lifetime. I like the fact the Dino appears to see our problems and tackle them head-on to make corrections.

Since 2013 I have marveled anytime we have played a power five team and they have made an incomplete pass without a blitz.

 

[blizz]

If we can't get any pressure with the front 4 I'm not sure how much it will matter- better than last year score wise but wins and losses wouldn't change.

They may be better but they can't cover for 7 seconds

I'm expecting more blitzes than a T2 base scheme would suggest. They dialed up more 5 and 6 man pressures in the second half of last year. I would expect a continuation of that but look for more zone blitz schemes where they bring a corner or safety in out of the boundary. I think there is some confidence that they can play man over the quick routes and bring some heat with a lb and occasionally a corner or safety.

 

[SoBristol]

Yes - the staff learned they need to bring blitzes. Have to remember that the defensive staff was very young last season.

 

[sufandu]

If we can't get any pressure with the front 4 I'm not sure how much it will matter- better than last year score wise but wins and losses wouldn't change.

They may be better but they can't cover for 7 seconds

If we can cover better, it may allow us to utilize some LB or DB pressure to help with that.

 

[skurey]

If they can hold the score down by 7 and the O gets more efficient at turning yards and possessions into points - it 100% will change our wins and losses.

Gotta get some leads and force teams to throw

 

[upperdeck]

the less mistakes they make on the back end the more you can afford to blitz

 

[TheCusian]

Gotta get some leads and force teams to throw

Fuentes knows how that feels