Harrison Smith..........

[weisbank4]

He cannot, CANNOT, tackle.

Im not even being sarcastic. If you watch plays where he is the first person to the ball carrier, he misses the tackle every time. He tries to finger tackle for Gods sake.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

you are right, he has been a big disappointment. maybe time to give zeke motta a look?

 

[domerfor life]

He cannot, CANNOT, tackle.

Im not even being sarcastic. If you watch plays where he is the first person to the ball carrier, he misses the tackle every time. He tries to finger tackle for Gods sake.

I'm pretty sure he's a nice guy and tries hard, but he is just not getting the job done. Makes me wish Bruton had another year. There's a FS that could cover some ground and hit like a truck. The whole secondary has been baffling. They've missed so many would be intereceptions this year. They missed two Saturday. Going forward, they have to start making those plays or take a seat.

 

[ND_HAS_RISEN]

He is one of the weakest safeties I've seen in a LONG LONG time. I'm not trying to put him down, as I'm sure he's a great person, but as a football player... he lacks ANY confidence from me whatsoever. HE IS TERRIBLE

 

[GDomer09]

you are right, he has been a big disappointment. maybe time to give zeke motta a look?

I agree, I want to see some changes. Motta is suppose to be really good. If the D isn't doing there job switch'em up, let them know there's consequences for playing poor.

 

[Nothingman]

I don't know if its just me, but he seemed a lot better last year when he was playing as a "hybrid linebacker." He had that boneheaded penalty against Pitt but otherwise he seemed like a solid defender.

Maybe safety just isn't his position. Maybe he should put on some muscle in the off-season and try for a linebacker spot.

 

[jonesman]

I was a HUGE fan of Harrison when we brought him in. I even made several comments after his freshman year how we he would be a huge suprise a Soph. He played really well as an undersized OLB last season.
So, when we moved him to Safety, I felt confident he would make a great impact. Wow, I was wrong this time. He looks almost lost out there. He has been beat repeatedly on pass plays. He gets sucked in on the run way to often. Finally, his tackling has been beyond bad.
Harrison, I am hoping you return to old form. Good Luck!!

If he does not improve, my suggestion is put Blanton at FS and keep Gary Gray at CB. Blanton has become a solid tackler and brings the wood. In the end, Harrison might be a better player closer to the line of scrimmage. Last season showed that is possible.

 

[BeatSC]

I was a HUGE fan of Harrison when we brought him in. I even made several comments after his freshman year how we he would be a huge suprise a Soph. He played really well as an undersized OLB last season.
So, when we moved him to Safety, I felt confident he would make a great impact. Wow, I was wrong this time. He looks almost lost out there. He has been beat repeatedly on pass plays. He gets sucked in on the run way to often. Finally, his tackling has been beyond bad.
Harrison, I am hoping you return to old form. Good Luck!!

If he does not improve, my suggestion is put Blanton at FS and keep Gary Gray at CB. Blanton has become a solid tackler and brings the wood. In the end, Harrison might be a better player closer to the line of scrimmage. Last season showed that is possible.

Blanton can tackle when he isn't getting faked out of his socks. For a guy who talsk alot o fsmakc he needs to deliver more. HE is dropping int's that he used to make. Another reason we lost the game. USC makes those types of plays and we don't.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Me thinks zeke is going to get more time as the season goes. He makes special teams tackles every week and is a stud.

Corwin Brown has also said that Slaughter is the hardest hitter in the secondary. The problem is that the first time he saw action this year he got burned on an out and up route for a TD vs MSU

 

[BornNDfan81]

Harrison Smith

Harrison Smith

I agree with this post regarding Harrison Smith. Our team was on the verge of taking over momentum with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. We had USC 3rd and short and Brian Smith had a solid beat on Barkley. Too bad Smith lets the TE run right past him. What exactly did he think were his reponsibilities were for this play. How about not letting a USC player get behind you for starters?

I also had high hopes for Smith coming into the season but it's not like the first time he got burnt this year. The D coaches have also dropped the ball by NOT making changes sooner.

There is an obvious message for other positions that the best player is going to be out on the field regardless of class. (ex. all of our kickers, Te'O and shuffling with the hottest RB at the moment). The D coaches even benched Blanton for Gray for this game but are totally misreading our safety play.

 

[devolg]

Smith is the worst but I see a lot of bad tackling from the defense. They don't wrap up they dive & most the time at the feet. Don't get me wrong I love a big hit or taking a guys feet right out from under him but when they miss they're completely out of the play & they miss a lot.

Another thing that drives me absolutely batty with our secondary is their refusal to play the ball in favor of playing the man. So many balls up in they air they're refusing to go after. They'd rather turn & run towards the receiver & pay zero attention to the ball. Understandable when hes got you beat considerably but man when your close turn around & go up & get that thing & when you do go up for it grab it don't swat it.

 

[irishfan]

I know Sergio is money blitzing out of the nickel, but I say give him a chance at free safety. We have 5 pretty solid corners (Walls, Mcneil, Gray, Blanton, Slaughter) who can easily come in and do what Brown does blitzing from the corner. Maybe even just move HaSmith to the Sergio's nickel spot just so the game is simpler for him.

 

[Riddickulous]

I'm pretty sure he's a nice guy and tries hard, but he is just not getting the job done. Makes me wish Bruton had another year. There's a FS that could cover some ground and hit like a truck. The whole secondary has been baffling. They've missed so many would be intereceptions this year. They missed two Saturday. Going forward, they have to start making those plays or take a seat.

Bruton hit like a truck? Don't get me wrong, Bruton was good, but his tackling was terrible. In fact, Bruton was the sole cause of two of Hawaii's three touchdowns in the Hawaii Bowl because he missed two tackles.

I know Sergio is money blitzing out of the nickel, but I say give him a chance at free safety. We have 5 pretty solid corners (Walls, Mcneil, Gray, Blanton, Slaughter) who can easily come in and do what Brown does blitzing from the corner. Maybe even just move HaSmith to the Sergio's nickel spot just so the game is simpler for him.

I second this notion.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Why not give Ray Herring a look? He knows the system.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Stop.... Motta time!

 

[Riddickulous]

Stop.... Motta time!

Is it just me, or does Zeke make every special teams tackle?

 

[BGIF]

Is it just me, or does Zeke make every special teams tackle?

He's got 6, averaging 1/game

 

[Riddickulous]

He's got 6, averaging 1/game

It's me, then...

 

[jason_h537]

Hayseed was one of my favorite commits that year. He looked like a star in the making. What happened. Physically he is one of our most gifted players. I hope he can recover from whatever the problem is

 

[Junkhead]

Hayseed was one of my favorite commits that year. He looked like a star in the making. What happened. Physically he is one of our most gifted players. I hope he can recover from whatever the problem is

Same here. He's big, fast, and athletic. He just is missing tackles all the time. I think he needs to cut the Jesus hair.

 

[jason_h537]

Or grow a Jesus beard. How awsome would that be

 

[Junkhead]

I can only think maybe playing LB last year (now 3 years since playing safety in HS) threw him out of the DB mode. He is second in the team in tackles, but has missed tons of tackles and isn't causing TOs or making big hits. Maybe a seat on the bench will wake him up.

 

[tko]

Zeke and destroy!

 

[BillyIrish]

Harrison.... take a seat! how many times was he chasing an SC tight end?

 

[Shaun4013]

Seemed like most of the game I was screaming at Smith. He blew coverage several times and his a horrid tackler.

 

[jason_h537]

Zeke is a strong safety and could still end up at OLB. Maybe the McCarthy brothers could do some damage together

 

[dshans]

Or grow a Jesus beard. How awsome would that be

I'd like it ...



 

[irishmarine]

I don't care who it is but it has to improve in order for us to get where we want

 

[bert2834]

Who else kind of suspects that Corwin is pissed about losing the DC job to Tenuta? And in turn not teaching these kids what they need to know?

Just a thought.

 

[jason_h537]

i think its just you