CB depth concerns 2011 and beyond!!!

[aubeirish]

My biggest concern at CB is not next year but 2012. Hopefully Lo Wood can step up and take one starting spot but that means we need at least one kid from this class to be ready to start as a sophmore and 2 others to fill out the two deep. That leaves very little room for error or injuries. Unfortunatley the last two recruiting cycles where we only have one CB left has put us in a bad position. Safety is not much better so its not like we can move people around either.

I agree, it's a tough situation. There isn't much that can be done to prevent it to happen. Bringing more freshmen isn't going to solve that problem. Lack of consistency in recruiting db's is what generated the problem. Recruit too many db's in one year isn't going to help the cause. You need to be consistent in your numbers.

2012 is going to be tricky like you said, but I think that coach Martin will have these guys ready to play. He's a heck of a coach.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Applause to Aube for his rep to Coach Martin. We need to do more of that for what I see as a very good staff.

 

[TerryTate]

Oh boy...

2011
Seniors/5th Year:
Gary Gray
Robert Blanton
Harrison Smith

Jr
Dan McCarthy
Jamoris Slaughter
Zeke Motta

Soph
Lo Wood

Freshman
Eilar Hardy
Matthias Farley
Jalen Brown
Josh Atkinson

= 11 DBs next year

2012

Senior
Dan McCarthy
Jamoris Slaughter
Zeke Motta

Jr
Lo Wood

Soph
Eilar Hardy
Matthias Farley
Jalen Brown
Josh Atkinson

Fr.
+ Recruits 2012

= 8 + Recruits

How many DBs are on the field at any given time? 5 at the most? 3 DBs and 2 S

Taking 4 in this class will alleviate this concern. Next year look for another 3 DBs.

Austin Collinsworth is a flex player as well.

 

[CanadianIrish]

Oh boy...

2011
Seniors/5th Year:
Gary Gray
Robert Blanton
Harrison Smith

Jr
Dan McCarthy
Jamoris Slaughter
Zeke Motta

Soph
Lo Wood

Freshman
Eilar Hardy
Matthias Farley
Jalen Brown
Josh Atkinson

= 11 DBs next year

2012

Senior
Dan McCarthy
Jamoris Slaughter
Zeke Motta

Jr
Lo Wood

Soph
Eilar Hardy
Matthias Farley
Jalen Brown
Josh Atkinson

Fr.
+ Recruits 2012

= 8 + Recruits

How many DBs are on the field at any given time? 5 at the most? 3 DBs and 2 S

Taking 4 in this class will alleviate this concern. Next year look for another 3 DBs.

Austin Collinsworth is a flex player as well.

Are Smith and Gray coming back next year for sure?

And even if they are, we're still talking about a 2012 defensive backfield made up almost entirely of three stars (we have one four star coming in this year). It's hardly a stretch to say that this is going to be one of the weaker positions on the field in coming years.

 

[jmurphy75]

Are Smith and Gray coming back next year for sure?

And even if they are, we're still talking about a 2012 defensive backfield made up almost entirely of three stars (we have one four star coming in this year). It's hardly a stretch to say that this is going to be one of the weaker positions on the field in coming years.

I know it's easy to fall into the star trap but Kelly & Co. can develop 3 star recruits into great players. Besides the fact that the star rankings are only for their High School careers

 

[TerryTate]

Are Smith and Gray coming back next year for sure?

And even if they are, we're still talking about a 2012 defensive backfield made up almost entirely of three stars (we have one four star coming in this year). It's hardly a stretch to say that this is going to be one of the weaker positions on the field in coming years.

Stop using stars as an indicator.

Harrison Smith and Gary Gray are coming back

 

[TerryTate]

Do you really believe that BK hasn't hit up Grant hard? Chances are he isn't interested...

Grant has moved on. There's no interest on his part.

George Atkinson III has zero chance of playing defense. He is a playmaker. Have you seen his videos? Get the ball in his hands. Period.

 

[RDU Irish]

Any current WRs to move to DB? Collinsworth and Jackson are dominating special teams and I could see either one as potential DB switches. Jackson is definitely fast enough to cover some field and could still return punts/kicks for fun. WR is loaded, someone there surely has loose enough hips to make the transition and enjoy the quicker path to PT.

I think Corner is the bigger question here as I would think CBs may be able to move over to S before Safetys stand a chance at Corner.

 

[aubeirish]

Any current WRs to move to DB? Collinsworth and Jackson are dominating special teams and I could see either one as potential DB switches. Jackson is definitely fast enough to cover some field and could still return punts/kicks for fun. WR is loaded, someone there surely has loose enough hips to make the transition and enjoy the quicker path to PT.

I think Corner is the bigger question here as I would think CBs may be able to move over to S before Safetys stand a chance at Corner.

In Jackson's case, I think it comes down to how good he is catching the football. If he is really good at it, Kelly will play him on offense.

Collinsworth, I would love to see at safety. He could be very good.

 

[JKhrome1ND]

Oh boy...

2012

Senior
S ~ Dan McCarthy
S ~ Jamoris Slaughter
S ~ Zeke Motta

Junior
CB ~ Lo Wood

Soph. or Redshirt Fr.
CB ~ Eilar Hardy
CB ~ Matthias Farley
CB ~ Jalen Brown
CB ~ Josh Atkinson

Fr.
+ Recruits 2012

= 8 + Recruits

Austin Collinsworth is a flex player as well.

yeah i'm not to concerned about the 2011 season at DB for ND, but the 2012 season !!! with that tuff schedule we have, i hope we are able to pull some 5 star recruits that want to start right away or atleast get alot of solid back up playing time.

I was just thinking today what players on offense could jump over to defense and WR Austin Collinsworth and WR Bennett Jackson came to mind right away. but i guess everyone else thought of this too hahahha Austin would make a perfect fit for Free Safety and Jackson at Corner or Nickel.

With are DB's are being pretty thin, (expereince wise) i could see Geroge Atkinson pulling off a Charles Woodson, and playing on Offense, Defense and Special Teams (if he has too). But what happen to EJ Banks ? and will Chris Badgers be back for the 2012 season (from his mission)? it sucks that Boyd took off to South Florida didn't he know he was going to get alot of playing time coming up !!

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
I see everyone talking about DB's here. I am not talking about SAFETY. That position will be OK. We have Motta, Slaughter, McCarthy and maybe the return of Badger. Further, I agree that Collinsworth could be one heck of a safety.

The concern I have is CORNERBACK. There is a big difference between playing safety and being a one on one CB. In 2012, we will have ONE upper class CB on the roster, Lo Wood. IF and I do mean IF Banks again becomes part of the roster, he might be a CB.

This year we have 5 players committed at DB and from the tapes I have watched, we have two CB's coming. That is 3 CB's on the 2012 roster that will not be freshmen.

A team must have 3 solid CB's on a roster in today's world of spread you 5 wide offenses. Look at ND this year. We have used 3 guys almost ongoing. Gray, Walls and Blanton are on the field all the time.

So, in conclusion. If I am Kelly, I am going after one more CB prospect. Especially, with the fact you never know if every recruit will become a player. I would rather be 2 for three than hoping that both commits are players. This is just my two cents worth.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Jonesman: I hear you, and have understood you from the beginning and have some sympathy for your concerns. Terry, however, lists all four verbals as possible corners [see his list]. You guys should engage each other in a measured discussion of them, and teach the rest of us something about how you look at these kids.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

yeah i'm not to concerned about the 2011 season at DB for ND, but the 2012 season !!! with that tuff schedule we have, i hope we are able to pull some 5 star recruits that want to start right away or atleast get alot of solid back up playing time.

I was just thinking today what players on offense could jump over to defense and WR Austin Collinsworth and WR Bennett Jackson came to mind right away. but i guess everyone else thought of this too hahahha Austin would make a perfect fit for Free Safety and Jackson at Corner or Nickel.

With are DB's are being pretty thin, (expereince wise) i could see Geroge Atkinson pulling off a Charles Woodson, and playing on Offense, Defense and Special Teams (if he has too). But what happen to EJ Banks ? and will Chris Badgers be back for the 2012 season (from his mission)? it sucks that Boyd took off to South Florida didn't he know he was going to get alot of playing time coming up !!

Yeah added to the list with be EJ Banks. I dont see how he wont come back, especially with the depth issues, BK will get him back on the team. I think what is key here is that next season, we get these kids a lot of game expierence, so they when they are called to play in 2012, they are not very green. I am also seeing our Dline and LB's being really really good, and we should beable to get pressure on everyone. That will help our DB's out a lot, they won't have to cover anyone for 2 min.

 

[Big23Head]

2011 Cornerbacks:
Gary Gray (3V), Robert Blanton (3V), Eilar Hardy (HS), Josh Atkinson (HS), Lo Wood (1V), Jalen Brown (HS)

2011 Safeties:
Harrison Smith (3V), Jamoris Slaughter (2V), Dan McCarthy (2V), Zeke Motta (2V)

Also Matthias Farley could be either position. And as above EJ Banks may be back.

2012 Cornerbacks:
Eilar Hardy (1V), Josh Atkinson (1V), Lo Wood (2V), Jalen Brown (1V), plus recruits

2012 Safeties:
Jamoris Slaughter (3V), Dan McCarthy (3V), Zeke Motta (3V), Chris Badger, plus recruits

Plus Farley at one of these two.

We will be young at cornerback in 2012 but I think they will all get experience in 2011 except Farley. I do think in 2012-13 Farley will prove to be a beast.

Eilar Hardy - Moving from HS Safety to college corner. Big, physical and covers well.

Josh Atkinson - Solid size, fast, and again a solid cover corner.

Jalen Brown - Was hurt last year. Plays in Texas against solid competition. Good size with speed again.

Matthias Farley - Second year football player. High athleticism, great size and speed. May grow into a safety.

All four have good size 6' + and very good speed.