'13 FL CB Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida Verbal)

[rtrn2glory]

i like the idea of putting hardy at corner...think he could be very good there...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

i like the idea of putting hardy at corner...think he could be very good there...

The problem with moving Hardy is that he's likely to be our starting FS in 2013. Even if Collinsworth moves to FS, Hardy would still be in the 2-deep.

 

[Cackalacky]

The problem with moving Hardy is that he's likely to be our starting FS in 2013.

Disagree. Shumate = Jeff Burris> Hardy

 

[rtrn2glory]

are we set on the idea that slaughter will be taking more reps at the star than at free??? i was under the impression that he'd be the free and zeke at strong...i know spond and councell aren't truly separating themselves from each other, but i didn't think it was this bad

 

[Whiskeyjack]

are we set on the idea that slaughter will be taking more reps at the star than at free??? i was under the impression that he'd be the free and zeke at strong...i know spond and councell aren't truly separating themselves from each other, but i didn't think it was this bad

The hope was that Collinsworth and Motta would be able to hold down the Safety positions, thereby freeing Slaughter to play the Star OLB. Collinsworth's injury scuttled that, so now Slaughter at FS and Motta at SS is very likely.

But I was talking about 2013. Collinsworth will be the only returning upperclassmen at S, and most of his experience has come at SS. Hardy is the most highly rated recruit we have at FS. If he moves to CB, we're left with Farley, Prosise, and Turner. One of them might step up, but right now the safe assumption is that our starting Safeties in 2013 are going to be Collinsworth at SS and Hardy at FS.

Edit: In retrospect, we have more quality depth at SS than FS. It may make more sense to move Collinsworth to FS so Shumate can start at SS. In that case, moving either Hardy or Prosise to CB might make sense.

 

[rtrn2glory]

also, badger is back in the mix too...idk if he projects better at free or strong...depth's not bad at safety, but there's no proven elite guys...a big opportunity for a few of these gentlemen to earn big time minutes in the future

 

[Whiskeyjack]

also, badger is back in the mix too...idk if he projects better at free or strong...depth's not bad at safety, but there's no proven elite guys...a big opportunity for a few of these gentlemen to earn big time minutes in the future

Badger is 100% SS; kid's a "slobberknocker" (hat tip to OMM). Baratti also projects at SS, though the staff told him they want to try him first at Star OLB. Shumate is by far the most highly rated prospect of the three, which is why I assume he'll be difficult to keep off the field.

Of all the SSs that won't exhaust their eligibility this season, Collinsworth has the most experience (right now, at least). Given our lack of experience and talent at the other 3 DB positions, we can't afford to have all those sitting at SS.

Thus, it may make the most sense to get Shumate as much experience as possible this year, and then move Collinsworth to FS, so those two will start in 2013. That would also give us the option of moving Hardy or Prosise to CB if necessary.

 

[PraetorianND]

I think Neal needs to be at CB his FR year.

I think we have the depth at WR and our most glaring problem area is CB. This guy is a super athlete at a position that requires more athleticism and skill than knowledge. Obviously he will get lost at times, but probably not any more than Gray did his senior season...

 

[PraetorianND]

there is definitely logic in your statement, but personally i think he is way too electric to not have the ball 5-10 times a game.

He will have the ball in his hands that many times on special teams, like a Mathieu.

I think our offense consistently puts up the points to win games; the problem is our defense gives up too many points and our special teams play is abysmal. Let's address the areas where we are lacking before we try to perfect what is already working.

 

[BeauBenken]

Not SC.

 

[rtrn2glory]

neal is a game changer with his speed...we've lacked that type of athlete in the past on offense and honestly he's the type of guy that can make an average QB look good.

 

[PraetorianND]

neal is a game changer with his speed...we've lacked that type of athlete in the past on offense and honestly he's the type of guy that can make an average QB look good.

I agree that Neal is super fast and would be awesome in the slot. I think GA3 is just as fast as Neal though. I also think that Brown and Daniels are both super fast too. Both are 4.4 guys. We have so much speed on offense it's actually kinda ridiculous. Combine that with the best receiving TE in the country and a QB who can run (potentially), and I don't see any need for more speed on offense.

Also, don't forget about Wood/Riddick/GA3 in the backfield.

I just think the greater need is on defense and special teams personally. Imagine Russel and Neal out wide, and Shumate over the top. There is so much potential in that group it's scary.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I don't know. I think there are some guys that have already been moved, that may have a great fall camp. I don't know that Russel will be moved for sure . . .

 

[Bogtrotter07]

there's no such thing as too much speed on offense

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[PraetorianND]

I should have said, "we have a greater need for speed on defense than offense."

LOL, great responses though.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Don't really agree on this point. Jackson, J. Atkinson, and J. Brown are three of the fastest guys on the team. All three have the size and athleticism to be dominant CBs in Diaco's Cover 2 Zone; the only question is whether they have or can learn the instincts for it.

We don't have many home-run threats on offense. Goodman, T. Jones, and Toma? Nope. C. Wood and Riddick are both very good, but neither has break away speed. Daniels and C. Brown might fit the bill, but that's at the W or X. GAIII is the only weapon on offense that we know is a threat to take it all the way every time he touches the ball, but his hands are allegedly poor; I don't expect to see him in the slot very often.

Lack of production from our Z WRs was a major offensive hindrance down the stretch last season, not just due to foregone production, but because it allowed opponents to blitz more aggressively. Neal immediately solves that problem for us.

I hear a lot that Wood doesn't have break-away speed. While I would agee that he does not have elite speed, he seems pretty darn fast to me.

Not that you were saying otherwise, I just want to make sure the kid gets his due. Its not easy racing against Jonas and GAIII every week!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

And I think Toma did everything but romance the ball, to catch it. I think Z production was curtailed from the quarterback position; not looking, and throwing behind, too soft, etc.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I hear a lot that Wood doesn't have break-away speed. While I would agee that he does not have elite speed, he seems pretty darn fast to me.

Not that you were saying otherwise, I just want to make sure the kid gets his due. Its not easy racing against Jonas and GAIII every week!

And I think Toma did everything but romance the ball, to catch it. I think Z production was curtailed from the quarterback position; not looking, and throwing behind, too soft, etc.

I wasn't intending to sleight either of those guys. Wood will likely get drafted, and Toma's a warrior who's great at moving the chains. My point is that neither of those guys forces opposing defenses to plan around them. Neal has the potential to be that kind of player, and with Floyd gone, we need him at Z WR a lot more than trying to learning CB.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Toma gets a first down every time. Sooner or later a team has to account for that, or are we talking something different?

 

[PraetorianND]

I wasn't intending to sleight either of those guys. Wood will likely get drafted, and Toma's a warrior who's great at moving the chains. My point is that neither of those guys forces opposing defenses to plan around them. Neal has the potential to be that kind of player, and with Floyd gone, we need him at Z WR a lot more than trying to learning CB.

Didn't Neal play CB & WR in high school?

 

[PraetorianND]

Yes, he played both ways, just like all the top skill players in the country do. He's definitely got the athleticism to keep up with just about any opposing WR, but he doesn't have the size that Diaco wants in his CBs. Does he have the length to effectively cover a zone? Does he have the physicality to jam someone like Robert Woods at the line? Probably not. There's a lot more to playing CB than beating opposing WRs in a foot race.

Isn't Hargreaves the same size as Neal and equally athletic? What position was Hargreaves being recruited at? I just think learning an offense takes much more time than learning how to cover WRs, even in Diaco's system.

Shoot, lets just play him both ways and not worry about it.

 

[PraetorianND]

I think that may be the source of our disagreement. WR is definitely the easiest position for a true freshman to step-in and make an impact. CB is arguably the hardest.

This is definitely part of it. I thought BK's offense was so incredible difficult to grasp that it might be more difficult (or as difficult) to excel as a young WR than as a CB.

Also, I think the upgrade we get with Neal on O is not as great as on D not because of his skills necessarily, more because of the needs he satisfies.

 

[irishroo]

Looks like a monster so far in UA Game. Along with Matthew Thomas, probably the best player on the field.

 

[Ironman8]

Looks like a monster so far in UA Game. Along with Matthew Thomas, probably the best player on the field.

Nkemdiche needs to be in there as well. He is having to be double teamed on every play against the best linemen in the nation.

 

[clashmore_mike]

What a sicko he is.

 

[RuntheBall]

Really wish we got him. He is ridiculous. Morris sucks also. But still Vernon is a stud.

 

[Redbar]

A special player.

 

[Rocky2820]

So impressed with Hargreaves. He's a straight-up baller.

 

[Irish8248]

He's going to be awesome ... Hate Florida

 

[GoIrish41]

He may be the one that got away in this class. He was great in the UA game, but I'm still pretty happy about the class we got.