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What do you want our secondary to look like?
BroadcastingDawg
Member Posts: 1,245
I was listening to the Dawgman podcast about the future of our secondary... and per usual, they made few predictions for what our secondary will truly look like going forward.
I think it can never really be a bad thing to recruit as solidly as we do in the secondary. That said, it's worrisome, at least to me, that the Dawgs might not put the most talented players out there next year given how the majority of our secondary has seen very little action thus far in their time with the program.
So here are my thoughts, what are yours?
Starting exterior CB's:
Keith Taylor: I think this one is clearly a given. He's probably the most talented corner on the roster if you combine his experience and time in the program. At 6'2 190 he's got the prototypical size of a future NFL corner and his elite length combined with plus ball skills and physicality make him a probable future star at UW. He's going to start at least the next 2 seasons one would think. He's superior to Jordan Miller the second he's handed the starting role in my opinion.
Elijah Molden: This one is a bit of a question mark for me. I like Molden... I like his smarts, his football IQ is elite, he's clearly a talent... but what do I hate about him? HIS SIZE. There's no way he's the 5'11 190 he's listed unless he's put on a lot of weight since the Rose Bowl and grown 2 inches. He played in the slot when Bryant was banged up and he was hit or miss for me in that role. At least from what I remember, when the opposition put tight ends on him his size was exposed. In the Stanford game Kaden Smith routinely chewed him up and spit him out. Now he's likely to start opposite Taylor on the outside and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about how he'll handle bigger wideouts on the outside.
Who else on the exterior?
Kyler Gordon: This is where I said I'm concerned that if we start a guy like Molden, we're not starting our most talented players. If Kyler Gordon is as good an athlete as we think he is, how can we justify him sitting on the bench for the first 2, maybe 3 seasons as a Dawg? Elijah Molden is a Jr. and he's not gonna get drafted... so if Taylor is slated to start on the opposite side the next 2 years, where does Gordon get his playing time if he's not starting over Molden? From what I hear this kid is the next coming of Jesus athletically... I want him on the field. I guess the way it might happen is he'll be the primary backup for basically all corner positions, kind of like what Austin Joyner did in his first few years. Then in 2020, seeing as Bryant will be graduated, we could see Gordon take the starting exterior role from Molden... and Molden would move back to the nickel role as a senior.
Dom Hampton: Again, someone who everyone raves about talent wise. I salivate at the prospect of having 2x 6'2 190 lb corners with a ton of length and athleticism starting outside for the Dawgs. But how can it happen? Outside of injuries we cant forecast... I just don't see a way Hampton gets on the field until at least 2020 and maybe only so in a role where he's playing 5 or so snaps a game like Taylor did while he was blocked. Again, it never hurts to have this much talent... you just hope a kid like Hampton not seeing the field isn't a detriment to our potential as a secondary.
Starting Slot CB:
Myles Bryant: This one is pretty much a given. Bryant isn't a fan favorite but the coaches and most fans with football intelligence love him. He's a gritty fighter who plays physical in coverage and hits hard. He's prone to some exposure at times because he plays more with intensity and effort than brains. That's the difference with him and Molden - it seems however, the reason he's better than Molden in the slot because physical will tends to outshine brains at the college level. I don't think anyone is complaining having him start in the slot.
Who else on the interior?
Like I said, I think Gordon is going to be the primary backup to all corner positions and I think they'd like to give him time at the position on the inside before putting him out on an island.
Who else?
Kamren Fabiculanan: A likely redshirt option and will probably not see any time until maybe 2021 on D.
Trent McDuffie: Another likely redshirt in 2019. Will likely see time in year in 2020 as the backup slot corner and on special teams.
Starting Strong Safety:
Brandon McKinney:It might be a little harsh to judge him on his performance in the Rose Bowl when he spelled Taylor Rapp. Maybe he was playing outside of his natural position? Because his coverage skills left something to be desired. Haskins burned him multiple times with his eyes... looking off wideouts and MicKinney fell for it. He's got good size so maybe he's better suited for strong safety as someone who blitzes and assists in the run game than over the top? He's a junior who has far and away the most experience playing this position so you have to figure he's gonna be the starter going forward.
Who else at SS?
Alex Cook: This one is a bit of wild card. Cook maybe should have come to UW as a safety instead of wasting away as a WR his first 2 seasons. A lot of folks figured he'd play safety at the college level and it appears he's seen the writing on the wall. I like his size at SS as well... 6'2 190. Who knows how good he can or can't be here. He's been around for a bit and I wouldn't be upset seeing him get some run given how players who have switched from D to O or O to D have done in this program.
Starting Free Safety:
Julius Irvin: Again, another situation where you have to weigh elite talent versus a guy with experience in the system. Irvin was a big-time get out of SoCal with the Dawgs beating out SC, Bama and Notre Dame for the coveted safety. Everything I hear about the kid is that he's next in line to be a star at safety for the Dawgs. I'd like to throw him out there in case he's as good as advertised.
Who else at FS?
Isaiah Gilchrist: I almost feel bad slotting him here... and it's likely that he'll see more time than I want or is warranted. Who knows... maybe he's great. He's like Molden in the sense that I'm not sure he's near the talent level of the other guys but he's earned his chance to prove himself. Question is, can we afford to give him that chance? I don't know.
Who else?
Cam Williams: Likely see time in a few garbage games. Lake seems to love this kid. I watched a few recruiting tapes and loves this kid's makeup. He's a real leader and my guess is he'll star in special teams until he gets his chance down the road in the secondary.
Asa Turner: Highly talented but not much space for him this year. Similar path to Williams. Maybe a redshirt.
I think it can never really be a bad thing to recruit as solidly as we do in the secondary. That said, it's worrisome, at least to me, that the Dawgs might not put the most talented players out there next year given how the majority of our secondary has seen very little action thus far in their time with the program.
So here are my thoughts, what are yours?
Starting exterior CB's:
Keith Taylor: I think this one is clearly a given. He's probably the most talented corner on the roster if you combine his experience and time in the program. At 6'2 190 he's got the prototypical size of a future NFL corner and his elite length combined with plus ball skills and physicality make him a probable future star at UW. He's going to start at least the next 2 seasons one would think. He's superior to Jordan Miller the second he's handed the starting role in my opinion.
Elijah Molden: This one is a bit of a question mark for me. I like Molden... I like his smarts, his football IQ is elite, he's clearly a talent... but what do I hate about him? HIS SIZE. There's no way he's the 5'11 190 he's listed unless he's put on a lot of weight since the Rose Bowl and grown 2 inches. He played in the slot when Bryant was banged up and he was hit or miss for me in that role. At least from what I remember, when the opposition put tight ends on him his size was exposed. In the Stanford game Kaden Smith routinely chewed him up and spit him out. Now he's likely to start opposite Taylor on the outside and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about how he'll handle bigger wideouts on the outside.
Who else on the exterior?
Kyler Gordon: This is where I said I'm concerned that if we start a guy like Molden, we're not starting our most talented players. If Kyler Gordon is as good an athlete as we think he is, how can we justify him sitting on the bench for the first 2, maybe 3 seasons as a Dawg? Elijah Molden is a Jr. and he's not gonna get drafted... so if Taylor is slated to start on the opposite side the next 2 years, where does Gordon get his playing time if he's not starting over Molden? From what I hear this kid is the next coming of Jesus athletically... I want him on the field. I guess the way it might happen is he'll be the primary backup for basically all corner positions, kind of like what Austin Joyner did in his first few years. Then in 2020, seeing as Bryant will be graduated, we could see Gordon take the starting exterior role from Molden... and Molden would move back to the nickel role as a senior.
Dom Hampton: Again, someone who everyone raves about talent wise. I salivate at the prospect of having 2x 6'2 190 lb corners with a ton of length and athleticism starting outside for the Dawgs. But how can it happen? Outside of injuries we cant forecast... I just don't see a way Hampton gets on the field until at least 2020 and maybe only so in a role where he's playing 5 or so snaps a game like Taylor did while he was blocked. Again, it never hurts to have this much talent... you just hope a kid like Hampton not seeing the field isn't a detriment to our potential as a secondary.
Starting Slot CB:
Myles Bryant: This one is pretty much a given. Bryant isn't a fan favorite but the coaches and most fans with football intelligence love him. He's a gritty fighter who plays physical in coverage and hits hard. He's prone to some exposure at times because he plays more with intensity and effort than brains. That's the difference with him and Molden - it seems however, the reason he's better than Molden in the slot because physical will tends to outshine brains at the college level. I don't think anyone is complaining having him start in the slot.
Who else on the interior?
Like I said, I think Gordon is going to be the primary backup to all corner positions and I think they'd like to give him time at the position on the inside before putting him out on an island.
Who else?
Kamren Fabiculanan: A likely redshirt option and will probably not see any time until maybe 2021 on D.
Trent McDuffie: Another likely redshirt in 2019. Will likely see time in year in 2020 as the backup slot corner and on special teams.
Starting Strong Safety:
Brandon McKinney:It might be a little harsh to judge him on his performance in the Rose Bowl when he spelled Taylor Rapp. Maybe he was playing outside of his natural position? Because his coverage skills left something to be desired. Haskins burned him multiple times with his eyes... looking off wideouts and MicKinney fell for it. He's got good size so maybe he's better suited for strong safety as someone who blitzes and assists in the run game than over the top? He's a junior who has far and away the most experience playing this position so you have to figure he's gonna be the starter going forward.
Who else at SS?
Alex Cook: This one is a bit of wild card. Cook maybe should have come to UW as a safety instead of wasting away as a WR his first 2 seasons. A lot of folks figured he'd play safety at the college level and it appears he's seen the writing on the wall. I like his size at SS as well... 6'2 190. Who knows how good he can or can't be here. He's been around for a bit and I wouldn't be upset seeing him get some run given how players who have switched from D to O or O to D have done in this program.
Starting Free Safety:
Julius Irvin: Again, another situation where you have to weigh elite talent versus a guy with experience in the system. Irvin was a big-time get out of SoCal with the Dawgs beating out SC, Bama and Notre Dame for the coveted safety. Everything I hear about the kid is that he's next in line to be a star at safety for the Dawgs. I'd like to throw him out there in case he's as good as advertised.
Who else at FS?
Isaiah Gilchrist: I almost feel bad slotting him here... and it's likely that he'll see more time than I want or is warranted. Who knows... maybe he's great. He's like Molden in the sense that I'm not sure he's near the talent level of the other guys but he's earned his chance to prove himself. Question is, can we afford to give him that chance? I don't know.
Who else?
Cam Williams: Likely see time in a few garbage games. Lake seems to love this kid. I watched a few recruiting tapes and loves this kid's makeup. He's a real leader and my guess is he'll star in special teams until he gets his chance down the road in the secondary.
Asa Turner: Highly talented but not much space for him this year. Similar path to Williams. Maybe a redshirt.
Comments
No other big disagreements except I think #MyDom finds his way onto the field somehow. He may not start but he'll get a lot of snaps at the corner opposite Taylor either rotating in for Molden (or starting if Molden moves to safety) or with Molden pushing Bryant to the bench at times.
Corners- Taylor, Hampton
Nickel- Bryant/Molden
Free safety- Gordon
SS- McKinney
My friend on the team last year said Hampton could lock down every receiver on the roster the moment he got to fall camp.
Also, get a goddamn avatar you fucking savage. We are civilized in these parts.
Here, I’ll help:
All these guys are top alphas from where ever they came from and a leader will figure it out. Lake did it with Budda, Jones, and king. He has way more talent here to work with. Don’t want to hear the experience BS. Get it done or GTFO.
Also, get an avatar or GTFO. I think dc’s was very thoughtful and creative and found you a fucking dawg who is broadcasting live. He really wants you to stay BUT with an avatar.
Yes he gave up some completions to Stanford's 6'5" and 6'7" tight ends but he actually had good coverage all night. Costello was just hitting tight windows and using the big bodies. Smith's TD wasn't on Molden it was McKinney or Rapp that were late. Irwin's TD came in single coverage against Murphy.
CB: Dom Hampton
Nickel: Myles Bryant (Just one more year)
SS: Brandon McKinney
FS: Elijah Molden
CB Roc Alexander
SS Tripper Johnson
FS Owen Biddle
But Irvin and Gordon will play a lot.
CB2: DH
Slot: EM
SS: BM
FS: INC
But, there’s no way Molden beats out Bryant, oddly.
Hampton starts opposite Taylor, and of course mighty mouse Bryant starts at nickel.
Gordon/Irvin and Molden are the plug and play backups.
McDuffie will be the most explosive player on the team. He'll be the primary return man and get a fair number of snaps in the secondary but I'm not sure where.
I'm not really sure about most of this. That's why it's so interesting. Bryant,Taylor and McKinney are the only ones I'm relatively sure about as far as position and lineup status.
I'm more worried about our run game and run game blocking. Can you do a write up like you did here, about that topic? I want an O that can run 200+ yards in the first 3 quarters on teams like tOSU and Auburn.
Thanks in advance.
Lake loves McKinney BTW.
If you are questioning Molden in any fashion then I'm respectfully asking you to LEAVE!
I like Molden, question his size and overall ceiling because of his size compared to other players.
And that's my concern to begin with. Do we just start guys because they have more experience? Or do we let guys with more talent play even though they're less experienced? I hope the latter.