We signed 4 kids for the secondary (Whitloe, Banks, C. Lawrence, & Thames) last February. What does it say of their talent level if they are not good enough now to pull off the red shirt and play over the guys we currently have getting burned. We also already have 4 db verbals for the upcoming year (Carr, Lewis, Hill, & Love) per Scout. Anyone know if we can hope these guys can come in and contribute immediately next year? I'm not giving up this year but I'm hopeful that next year we will be much better against the pass.
Secondary question
- Thread starter bsquared24
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The redshirt has been pulled off two of them. Lawrence is a great athlete, and I think he'll turn out to be a good LB or safety. I don't think he's played anything other than special teams up to this point. Banks hasn't got much playing time, but you shouldn't expect a true freshman to come from 1A ball to starting CB in the SEC. He has played a little at safety. Thames went through the fall as a WR. And Whitley is recovering from an injury (torn ACL) suffered about a year ago. I don't think the coaching staff would want to rush a true freshman coming back from that kind of injury and risk jepordizing his career.
These guys are young and talented... I just don't know if any of them can help us at CB this year. But if I had to pick, I think Banks has the best shot at playing CB this year.
These guys are young and talented... I just don't know if any of them can help us at CB this year. But if I had to pick, I think Banks has the best shot at playing CB this year.
Dude was apparently a beast all summer. And his RS is already burned being used on special teams. And what about Wade Bonner? Seems that he might get a look there, too. Regardless, at some point you've got to admit Smith blows and try someone else back there. If they suck, it's not like anything has really changed.
But Cameron Lawrence hasn't really shown me much on special teams. Maybe he will turn into a good LB, but I just haven't seen enough to warrant him playing safety.
As for the freshman not stepping in and playing well, it seems there have been a lot of good freshmen corners and safetys in the SEC recently. I don't think youth can be an excuse when you are as bad as we have been in the secondary.
Whitley should be ready to go by now. He practiced all fall, but I understand them wanting to hold him back.
I am saying it aGAIN. Move Washington to Smith's spot. Let Anderson and Watson play corner. I know Watson and Anderson look like garbage, but is what it is, but I think Washington can be solid at safety and at least we solidify 50% of the group. Z. Smith can play nickel and come in to cover tight ends, running backs and blitz. And I am not sold on Watson being horrible. That big bastard for Ga Tech was a tough matchup for any corner.
As for the freshman not stepping in and playing well, it seems there have been a lot of good freshmen corners and safetys in the SEC recently. I don't think youth can be an excuse when you are as bad as we have been in the secondary.
Whitley should be ready to go by now. He practiced all fall, but I understand them wanting to hold him back.
I am saying it aGAIN. Move Washington to Smith's spot. Let Anderson and Watson play corner. I know Watson and Anderson look like garbage, but is what it is, but I think Washington can be solid at safety and at least we solidify 50% of the group. Z. Smith can play nickel and come in to cover tight ends, running backs and blitz. And I am not sold on Watson being horrible. That big bastard for Ga Tech was a tough matchup for any corner.
Bonner has been playing some but IMO both Bonner and Z.Smith are just strictly run support safeties or blitzers and if teams are going to keep spreading us out (as they should b/c we can't handle it) then neither would be adequate. This conversation reminds me of something I said to my wife last night. If we had corners maybe we could turn our corners into cover ready safeties. Problem now is the same as it was 10 years ago with JLD and Dog Backs. Seems like our recruits, or MS kids in general (maybe, I'm not sure), are too slow to be true DB's and too small to be true LB's on an elite level (which is where we want to be).