2012 Secondary: Who Makes the Two-Deep?

[Whiskeyjack]

We lose Smith, Blanton, and Gray. Motta has disappointed thus far, but still seems to be playing at least as much as Slaughter, who's performed very well. Toss in some very talented freshman, and our 2012 secondary appears very unsettled.

Who makes the two-deep and why? Be sure to include the Nickelback in your prediction.

 

[NDPhilly]

Thanks for making the thread.

FS Slaughter. SS Motta
Hardy. Collinsworth

CB Jackson. CB Wood
Shepard. Brown

Nickel Brown

 

[Ironman8]

FS: Slaughter - Hardy (if healthy)
SS: Motta - Collinsworth OR Dan McCarthy
FCB: Lo Wood OR Josh Atkinson - Tee Shepard
BCB: Bennett Jackson - Jalen Brown
Nickleback - Loser of Wood, Atkinson battle - Tee Shepard

Believe as the year goes on, Tee will see more and more action. Ditto for Josh Atkinson. I don't believe Darby will be ready for a significant DB role, but he will impact special teams.

 

[arrowryan]

I would say that Lo Wood and Bennett Jackson/Josh Atkinson would be the starting corners. Jamoris Slaughter will be the strong safety and Motta will the free safety. You will see more Eliar Hardy and less Motta at the FS position as the season goes on. The loser between Jackson/Atkinson and Tee Shepard will be in the nickel.

 

[Rack Em]

I would say that Lo Wood and Bennett Jackson/Josh Atkinson would be the starting corners. Jamoris Slaughter will be the strong safety and Motta will the free safety. You will see more Eliar Hardy and less Motta at the FS position as the season goes on. The loser between Jackson/Atkinson and Tee Shepard will be in the nickel.

I see Motta more in the Zibby mold. He's better in run support than over the top in pass coverage. We'll see Slaughter in the Diaco-equivalent of the FS (Field?).

 

[arrowryan]

Motta is not have that good of a year and he looks slow. I would like to see what Hardy can do

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I see Motta more in the Zibby mold. He's better in run support than over the top in pass coverage. We'll see Slaughter in the Diaco-equivalent of the FS (Field?).

Agreed. The Free Safety is generally the more athletic of the two, and he's the "QB of the Secondary", so he has to have a good understanding of the coverages. Motta is a big hitter, but he's not as athletic as Slaughter, and he's made some really poor decisions thus far. He's destined for #1 SS next year.

 

[Ironman8]

Motta is not have that good of a year and he looks slow. I would like to see what Hardy can do

He has to be healthy and have an adequate knowledge of the system first.

 

[Rack Em]

Motta is not have that good of a year and he looks slow. I would like to see what Hardy can do

But he'll be the most experienced safety (aside from Slaughter) on the roster. And the fact that he has looked slow is more reason to have him closer to the line of scrimmage and limit his coverage duties.

 

[arrowryan]

You guys know more about his position than I do. Im gonna have to take your word for it then

 

[Jozodog1201]

seems like a lot of different scenarios. Motta might be a heavy hitter but I've watched him flat out miss tackles. What's the point of hitting hard if you never hit... Jalen Brown.... I don't hear much about him. I saw one person put he would back up Jackson. Is this kid good enough to replace Jackson? any one have an opinion on Jalen Brown? would love to hear it.

 

[koonja]

Where are all of the Chris Badger fans?

 

[koonja]

seems like a lot of different scenarios. Motta might be a heavy hitter but I've watched him flat out miss tackles. What's the point of hitting hard if you never hit... Jalen Brown.... I don't hear much about him. I saw one person put he would back up Jackson. Is this kid good enough to replace Jackson? any one have an opinion on Jalen Brown? would love to hear it.

I've heard he's one of the fastest players on the team. After watching Zeke run with ankle weights on every week, that's good enough for me.

 

[BurningRiver]

Where would Darby play? Would he be too raw to play right away?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Where would Darby play? Would he be too raw to play right away?

Darby's going to be a CB. Whether or not he's good enough to break into the two-deep next season is one of the reasons I started this thread. I'm inclined to think he probably won't be ready yet, as he's not planning on EE.

 

[Ironman8]

Where are all of the Chris Badger fans?

Chris is probably not going to have a big role next year, especially in the beginning. He is going to need to learn the whole defensive system and spend a ton of time with Longo getting back into football shape. I'm very high on him as a player - I think he is just an instinctive, classic hard-hitting safety (which I love and think we need). I just think next year is too soon to expect anything of substance out of him.

 

[koonja]

Chris is probably not going to have a big role next year, especially in the beginning. He is going to need to learn the whole defensive system and spend a ton of time with Longo getting back into football shape. I'm very high on him as a player - I think he is just an instinctive, classic hard-hitting safety (which I love and think we need). I just think next year is too soon to expect anything of substance out of him.

I was being sarcastic, I'll predict right now he never starts a full year at ND. I'm sure I'll get some grief for that, but the staff is clearly recruiting speed in the defensive backfield and that isn't Badger. He's like a Zeke Motta, at least according to high-school 40-times, although I know those can be a crap shoot.

 

[Veer option]

.

 

[koonja]

We're going to have Eliar Hardy back there (same class as Badger), maybe Shaq Evans (and if not, you can assume we'll get a stud in 2013). I think Badger will play, just never be a full-time starter. He is a hard hitter, like IM8 said, but this staff is recruiting speed at every position.

We're going to have a lot of youth, but a lot of talent. Thankfully, the guys up front should make for an easier transition, assuming Teo is back.

 

[BurningRiver]

Darby's going to be a CB. Whether or not he's good enough to break into the two-deep next season is one of the reasons I started this thread. I'm inclined to think he probably won't be ready yet, as he's not planning on EE.

Gotcha. Regardless, I'm pumped to see this guy in a gold helmet. His speed is something ND needs to get consistently to get back to the top of college football, and I cant wait to see Darby get some PT, esp. on KR and PR duties.

 

[irishff1014]

I know that no matter what happens we are going to be really young back there. But we are probably going to have the fastest and most talented secondary we have had in a while.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I am very interested and excited to see Bennett back there. He's got speed and from what we've seen on special teams he's a pretty sound tackler.

The question is.. how are his coverage skills developing? I'd like to think that because of his origin as a WR he will have a great nose for the ball and be able to turn his head and compete for it in the air.

 

[TerryTate]

CB:
Wood
Jackson
Atkinson/Sheppard/Brown

FS:
Slaughter
Hardy/Collinsworth

SS:
Motta
Hardy/Collinsworth

Badger has had 2 years off from practicing. He's going to need a year to work through S&C

 

[BGIF]

CB:
...
Badger has had 2 years off from practicing. He's going to need a year to work through S&C

In the last update, http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/201...hris-badger-notre-dame-signee.html#post531398 , he was trying be back on campus for the '12 Spring Semester. He'll be ready to play by September.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Why not?? I'll play.

We will have 14 or 15 DBs next year. We not only lose tremendous experience but a good bit of our speed. All three of our old studs are 4.5 or under. For people who think that speed is everything, this should double your anxiety.

We must keep our two vet safeties on the field for stability. I differ from most here in seeing generally good play from both Zeke and Jamoris this year. I will predict that Motta is given Harrison's job of setting the defense next year. In my opinion their back-ups will be the smart and good tackling Collingsworth, and the super-talented Hardy. Behind them are three high potential players: Badger, Baratti, and Turner. I could see any of those guys on kick coverage, especially a tough guy like Badger [we're forgetting what was said about him as being body-ready beyond anyone in his class, and being a hardnose in the training room.] Baratti might be good enough to return a punt too.

Corner: Starters= Wood as the only veteran that the staff seems to think is ready, and Jalen Brown due to out-of-sight measurables. Brown is a 4.4 and only Darby will be faster. Behind them: Tee Shepard who might be the slowest CB we have, but his technique, body flow, and intelligence wipe that away, and Josh Atkinson, who I get the feeling that the staff thinks is the next readiest behind Wood now. Behind them will be superman [Darby] pairing with GAIII sooner or later on kickoffs, and Proscise, and Jackson. I hope that I am utterly wrong about Bennett Jackson, but every comment this year has been how pleased they are about Lo Wood's progress and that they like Jackson's work ethic but he's not ready. Bad feel about that.

My best cracked crystal ball.

 

[Buster Bluth]

This thread, more than anything else, demonstrates the needs for this team to start executing really well and blowing teams out so that the younger DB's can get in there against teams' passing to get some real experience. God forbid us having to watch green DB's against the likes of Oklahoma. Thank God Notre Dame will more than likely have a terrific pass rush.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Badger will come in two years older and i would bet that he has been hitting the weights.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Am I the last one that thinks McCarthy could play if he could get/stay on the field? If they don't bring Crist back and they can afford the spot, I wouldn't mind seeing McCarthy get a shot to play.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm going to through this one out there, it's a little of the wall

FS: McCarthy-Hardy
SS: Motta-Collinsworth
CB: Slaughter-Shepard
CB: Wood or Jackson or Atkinson-Brown
Nickle 2nd place between Wood Jackson Atkinson battle

 

[pkt77242]

CBs
FCB Lo Wood Tee Shepherd
BCB Jalen Brown Josh Atkinson
FS Slaughter Hardy
SS Motta Collingswoth

NB Shepherd


I think there is a chance that Prosise cracks the two deep if he was an EE but since I don't think he is I doubt it (he has some great ball skills and that is something we need).