Te'Cory Couch working hard to reach potential, could work at multiple spots in Kevin Steele defense
AUG. 11 PRACTICE NOTES WITH DRILLS FULLY OPEN TO MEDIA
A 5-10, 170-pound fourth-year junior cornerback, Te’Cory Couch has started 10 games over the last two years. But he’s just never really had those breakthrough moments, and last year he had 37 tackles and five PBUs.
So could this be his real breakout season?
Perhaps, and Couch isn’t just working at corner, but also STAR in a cover role in Kevin Steele’s revamped defense. He could be one of those Swiss Army knife defenders who is moved around and maybe even blitzes in some situations (he had 1.5 sacks in 2020).
Couch says he’s benefiting from DB coach Jahmile Addae “emphasizing small details.”
Couch saw action off the bench in every game as a freshman in 2019, then started four games late in 2020 and ended with 37 tackles, 2.5 for losses and 1.5 sacks along with an interception and six PBUs. But this past season he struggled and took a step backward – after starting the first six games he was benched, played sparingly from there.
The former 4-star prospect out of Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna enjoyed a resurgent spring and has looked good this fall as well.
He’s added strength and weight since last year and is listed at 5-10 and 175 pounds, up five pounds from the spring.
“I’m eating more throughout the day, eating three, four, five times a day,” Couch said.
Couch is putting last year behind him, when he had a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 53.1 and an overall defensive grade of 51.3 (it was 63.5 in 2020). A grade of 70 is considered very good.
“There’s always room for improvement, I’ll never be perfect,” Couch said. “But I’m working every day to reach that.
“Im just being confident in my ability.”
Couch is now firmly looking to the future.
And he thinks it’s bright not just for him, but this defensive backs room and the team overall.
“Everyone is being physical, just working,” Couch says. “Everybody is working hard, buying into coach (Mario) Cristobal’s culture.
“Everybody is working, everybody looks better than they did last year. Everybody is working harder, buying more into what coach Cristobal is bringing.”
*Couch also talked about a couple of receivers. Asked about Mike Redding, who was working with the ones today, Couch praised his “Quickness at the line of scrimmage, his suddenness.
Couch’s take on Frank Ladson?
“Frank, he’s big, a big, physical receiver,” Couch said.
