Gators Have Adequate Secondary Numbers
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:30 pm
For the first time since he’s been the head coach at Florida, Urban Meyer will have plenty of competition at all positions in the secondary for spring practice. With seven scholarship corners on hand and six safeties the Gators will have adequate numbers as they try to rebuild the secondary into a strong, capable unit.
The secondary will have a new look in the coaching staff as well. Chuck Heater, who has coached the corners the last three years, will be coaching safeties in addition to taking on duties as assistant defensive coordinator. The new coach for the corners is Vance Bedford, formerly of the Michigan staff. Bedford was Charles Woodson’s position coach when he became the only defensive player in history to win the Heisman Trophy.
Here is what we want to see from the cornerbacks ...
MARKIHE ANDERSON (JR); Career Stats: Has 22 tackles, one pass defended, and one interception in two seasons.
He was the leader going into last season before a freaky knee injury sidelined him for a good portion of the year. When he did get to play, he wasn’t nearly as effective as he wanted to be. Anderson was definitely under rated coming out of high school. He is scrappy and quick at the position and he plays tenaciously even though he isn’t the biggest of cornerbacks. He needs to stay healthy and prove again he can be a leader this spring as he is one of only two upperclassmen at the position.
WONDY PIERRE-LOUIS (JR); Career Stats: Has 37 tackles, one fumble recovery, three passes defended, and two interceptions in two seasons.
Pierre-Louis has the height (he’s 6-1) that football staffs crave at cornerback and the athletic ability to play the position at a high level. He got caught flat-footed a couple of times last season and got burned, but was also able to make a couple of spectacular plays. Wondy is very aggressive, a trait that new cornerback coach Vance Bedford will love. Wondy needs just needs to show more consistency. If he does, he will be a hard guy to bring off the field with his abilities.
JOE HADEN (SO); Career Stats: Had a great freshman season where he totaled 63 tackles, one fumble recovery, 12 passes defended, and an interception in 2007.
63 tackles is almost unheard of for a cornerback. That a true freshman had that many is a testament to Haden’s ability. Once he becomes more comfortable in the system, we should start seeing Haden breaking on the ball and turning tackles into more passes broken up (he had a whopping 12 as a freshman) and interceptions. That is what we want to see from Haden this spring, the ability to jump routes and take the ball the other direction.
MOSES JENKINS (SO); Career Stats: as a true freshman in 2007 and in limited time, Jenkins had four tackles a pass defended, and a sack.
Jenkins played more than anyone thought he might late in the season last year as he began to catch on at practice. He is tall (6-2) and is fluid with his movement on the field. He just needs to make that next step of really understanding what is going on and he should make more strides. We should see significant improvement in Jenkins and his knowledge of the defense.
JACQUES RICKERSON (R-SO); Career Stats: Red-shirted in 2006 and as a freshman in 2007 Rickerson had 20 tackles and three pases defended.
Rickerson seemed to make huge strides from the Kentucky game to the Florida State game. He is probably the best cornerback on the roster at jumping routes. Of course that is what got him in trouble in the Kentucky game, so he needs to be a bit more careful about it. He probably needs to be a little more physical and so those two things are what we will look for him to accomplish this spring.
JEREMY BROWN (FR); Career Stats: True freshman that arrived on campus via early enrollment for the spring.
Brown has exciting ability and showcased his skills on both sides of the ball in high school. He probably needs to add some weight coming in, but has evidently really done well in workouts going against other players on the team. It is a spring to learn for Brown and just get his feet wet.
JANORIS JENKINS (FR); Career Stats: True freshman that arrived on campus via early enrollment for the spring.
Jenkins is really physical and brings it on every play. Like Brown he played on both sides of the ball in high school and is extremely athletic and explosive. Also, like Brown, this spring will be all about getting comfortable in the system. He needs to learn it, and in the fall he can try and make a name for himself.
It will be a good spring for the corners if …
Finally, there are enough bodies so that depth can be developed. The corners should make terrific strides this season and they have enough different pieces to really have a versatile unit. Haden, Pierrre-Louis, Anderson, and Rickerson should form a solid core and all have a great deal of experience to lean on now. The other four are so athletic and aggressive that they will push the first group to make it much better. It should be one of the most improved positions on the team by the end of the spring.
In our column on the linebackers we included sophomore Jerimy Finch, but have since been corrected that Finch will indeed play safety this spring if he is healthy enough to do so. My understanding is that it will be a tall order for him to make it out by the end of spring from his injury, so we won’t include him now in the spring look at the competition at safety.
With that bit of bad news comes the thought that there is still plenty of competition for playing time at the safety positions. With leader Major Wright already established, the Gators will be looking to find three more to make a solid two deep.
Also, Meyer intimated that the defense was going to probably go to a more twin safety look and that either safety could slide down into the box or be up high depending on the call. This means there will be no true free safety or strong safety, they will both have the same duties.
Here is what we want to see from the safety position this spring ...
JOHN CURTIS (SR); Career Stats: A senior walk-on that in the last two years Curtis has amassed 10 tackles, one pass defensed, and a tackle for loss.
Curtis is the only walk-on I have included in any of the player analysis so far. He will get an opportunity to compete and has a lot of tools. He is tall and has good speed. Being a senior, he should try and show some leadership out there for the younger guys. He is also a fine special teams performer.
DORIAN MUNROE (R-JR); Career Stats: In the last two seasons Munroe has 42 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Munroe is the odds on favorite to start opposite Wright. He has been praised by the staff from practices, but has yet to turn that praise into performance on the field on game day. He has decent size and good speed. He also has some ability to cover receivers in a nickel package.
AHMAD BLACK (SO); Career Stats: Black played sparingly as a freshman in 2007 where he was slotted as a cornerback. He did have seven tackles on the season mostly on special teams.
Black played safety in high school and that is where he lining up this spring. He will have some early learning to do at the position, but in high school he showed good instincts at safety and was known as a big hitter. Black will have his work cut out for him this spring.
JAMAR HORNSBY (R-SO); Career Stats: Hornsby red-shirted in 2006 and totaled five tackles in 2007 on special teams.
This is Hornsby’s spring to make a move. He has ability and size. He can cover the field well and has good speed to do so. He needs to get the mental part of the game down and produce in front of the staff.
BRYAN THOMAS (R-SO); Career Stats: Thomas red-shirted in 2006 due to injury. He totaled 13 tackles in 2007 on special teams.
Thomas is athletic as they come at safety and was one of those two-way players in high school that did everything for his team. My guess is that Thomas has a bust out year under the tutelage of new safety coach Chuck Heater.
MAJOR WRIGHT (SO); Career Stats: Wright had an outstanding freshman season in 2007 where he totaled 67 tackles, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two passes defensed, and an interception.
Wright was a highlight reel of hard hits in 2007 and should be the anchor in the middle of the secondary for 2008. He needs to improve his speed a little, but has all the instincts necessary for the position. He should thrive when called to play in the box as he plays football with a linebacker mentality already.
What we want to see as a group ...
First we need to have two starters emerge. Wright and one other will have to work together as a tandem and count on each other. Establishing that other starter is key.
Of course they need to find out who else can play safety. There are two talented freshmen and Jerimy Finch that will be practicing in the fall and there will suddenly be a logjam at the position. Black, Munroe, Thomas and Hornsby all need to try and show up now and not wait.
The secondary will have a new look in the coaching staff as well. Chuck Heater, who has coached the corners the last three years, will be coaching safeties in addition to taking on duties as assistant defensive coordinator. The new coach for the corners is Vance Bedford, formerly of the Michigan staff. Bedford was Charles Woodson’s position coach when he became the only defensive player in history to win the Heisman Trophy.
Here is what we want to see from the cornerbacks ...
MARKIHE ANDERSON (JR); Career Stats: Has 22 tackles, one pass defended, and one interception in two seasons.
He was the leader going into last season before a freaky knee injury sidelined him for a good portion of the year. When he did get to play, he wasn’t nearly as effective as he wanted to be. Anderson was definitely under rated coming out of high school. He is scrappy and quick at the position and he plays tenaciously even though he isn’t the biggest of cornerbacks. He needs to stay healthy and prove again he can be a leader this spring as he is one of only two upperclassmen at the position.
WONDY PIERRE-LOUIS (JR); Career Stats: Has 37 tackles, one fumble recovery, three passes defended, and two interceptions in two seasons.
Pierre-Louis has the height (he’s 6-1) that football staffs crave at cornerback and the athletic ability to play the position at a high level. He got caught flat-footed a couple of times last season and got burned, but was also able to make a couple of spectacular plays. Wondy is very aggressive, a trait that new cornerback coach Vance Bedford will love. Wondy needs just needs to show more consistency. If he does, he will be a hard guy to bring off the field with his abilities.
JOE HADEN (SO); Career Stats: Had a great freshman season where he totaled 63 tackles, one fumble recovery, 12 passes defended, and an interception in 2007.
63 tackles is almost unheard of for a cornerback. That a true freshman had that many is a testament to Haden’s ability. Once he becomes more comfortable in the system, we should start seeing Haden breaking on the ball and turning tackles into more passes broken up (he had a whopping 12 as a freshman) and interceptions. That is what we want to see from Haden this spring, the ability to jump routes and take the ball the other direction.
MOSES JENKINS (SO); Career Stats: as a true freshman in 2007 and in limited time, Jenkins had four tackles a pass defended, and a sack.
Jenkins played more than anyone thought he might late in the season last year as he began to catch on at practice. He is tall (6-2) and is fluid with his movement on the field. He just needs to make that next step of really understanding what is going on and he should make more strides. We should see significant improvement in Jenkins and his knowledge of the defense.
JACQUES RICKERSON (R-SO); Career Stats: Red-shirted in 2006 and as a freshman in 2007 Rickerson had 20 tackles and three pases defended.
Rickerson seemed to make huge strides from the Kentucky game to the Florida State game. He is probably the best cornerback on the roster at jumping routes. Of course that is what got him in trouble in the Kentucky game, so he needs to be a bit more careful about it. He probably needs to be a little more physical and so those two things are what we will look for him to accomplish this spring.
JEREMY BROWN (FR); Career Stats: True freshman that arrived on campus via early enrollment for the spring.
Brown has exciting ability and showcased his skills on both sides of the ball in high school. He probably needs to add some weight coming in, but has evidently really done well in workouts going against other players on the team. It is a spring to learn for Brown and just get his feet wet.
JANORIS JENKINS (FR); Career Stats: True freshman that arrived on campus via early enrollment for the spring.
Jenkins is really physical and brings it on every play. Like Brown he played on both sides of the ball in high school and is extremely athletic and explosive. Also, like Brown, this spring will be all about getting comfortable in the system. He needs to learn it, and in the fall he can try and make a name for himself.
It will be a good spring for the corners if …
Finally, there are enough bodies so that depth can be developed. The corners should make terrific strides this season and they have enough different pieces to really have a versatile unit. Haden, Pierrre-Louis, Anderson, and Rickerson should form a solid core and all have a great deal of experience to lean on now. The other four are so athletic and aggressive that they will push the first group to make it much better. It should be one of the most improved positions on the team by the end of the spring.
In our column on the linebackers we included sophomore Jerimy Finch, but have since been corrected that Finch will indeed play safety this spring if he is healthy enough to do so. My understanding is that it will be a tall order for him to make it out by the end of spring from his injury, so we won’t include him now in the spring look at the competition at safety.
With that bit of bad news comes the thought that there is still plenty of competition for playing time at the safety positions. With leader Major Wright already established, the Gators will be looking to find three more to make a solid two deep.
Also, Meyer intimated that the defense was going to probably go to a more twin safety look and that either safety could slide down into the box or be up high depending on the call. This means there will be no true free safety or strong safety, they will both have the same duties.
Here is what we want to see from the safety position this spring ...
JOHN CURTIS (SR); Career Stats: A senior walk-on that in the last two years Curtis has amassed 10 tackles, one pass defensed, and a tackle for loss.
Curtis is the only walk-on I have included in any of the player analysis so far. He will get an opportunity to compete and has a lot of tools. He is tall and has good speed. Being a senior, he should try and show some leadership out there for the younger guys. He is also a fine special teams performer.
DORIAN MUNROE (R-JR); Career Stats: In the last two seasons Munroe has 42 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Munroe is the odds on favorite to start opposite Wright. He has been praised by the staff from practices, but has yet to turn that praise into performance on the field on game day. He has decent size and good speed. He also has some ability to cover receivers in a nickel package.
AHMAD BLACK (SO); Career Stats: Black played sparingly as a freshman in 2007 where he was slotted as a cornerback. He did have seven tackles on the season mostly on special teams.
Black played safety in high school and that is where he lining up this spring. He will have some early learning to do at the position, but in high school he showed good instincts at safety and was known as a big hitter. Black will have his work cut out for him this spring.
JAMAR HORNSBY (R-SO); Career Stats: Hornsby red-shirted in 2006 and totaled five tackles in 2007 on special teams.
This is Hornsby’s spring to make a move. He has ability and size. He can cover the field well and has good speed to do so. He needs to get the mental part of the game down and produce in front of the staff.
BRYAN THOMAS (R-SO); Career Stats: Thomas red-shirted in 2006 due to injury. He totaled 13 tackles in 2007 on special teams.
Thomas is athletic as they come at safety and was one of those two-way players in high school that did everything for his team. My guess is that Thomas has a bust out year under the tutelage of new safety coach Chuck Heater.
MAJOR WRIGHT (SO); Career Stats: Wright had an outstanding freshman season in 2007 where he totaled 67 tackles, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two passes defensed, and an interception.
Wright was a highlight reel of hard hits in 2007 and should be the anchor in the middle of the secondary for 2008. He needs to improve his speed a little, but has all the instincts necessary for the position. He should thrive when called to play in the box as he plays football with a linebacker mentality already.
What we want to see as a group ...
First we need to have two starters emerge. Wright and one other will have to work together as a tandem and count on each other. Establishing that other starter is key.
Of course they need to find out who else can play safety. There are two talented freshmen and Jerimy Finch that will be practicing in the fall and there will suddenly be a logjam at the position. Black, Munroe, Thomas and Hornsby all need to try and show up now and not wait.