Started By
Message
Defensive Secondary in 2017
Posted on 12/9/16 at 9:48 am
Posted on 12/9/16 at 9:48 am
First, I think it is important to remind everyone just how good the pass defense was this past year, especially when the whole starting 5 was healthy:
Passing TD Allowed: 8 - #1 nationally
Completion Percentage: 46.4% - #2 nationally
Yards pre game: 156.3 - #3 nationally
QB Rating Allowed: 98.36 - #3 nationally
Yards per Attempt: 6.2 - #8 nationally
That unit, outside of one flukey, terrible half against Tennessee where they surrendered 4 TDs, was the best unit in the entire country, and one of the best secondaries in a long and illustrious history of great secondaries at Florida.
OK, so that unit is losing S Marcus Maye, and in all likelihood, CB Quincy Wilson and CB Teez Tabor to the NFL, probably in the first 3 rounds. There are some rumblings that NB Duke Dawson may also go pro. Assuming for a moment the non-worst-case-scenario, let's say Dawson stays, here is what the roster will look like based on where UF stands in recruiting as of today:
CB1:
Joseph Putu - 6'2, 195, Sr. (Juco) - 4 tackles in 2016. Limited playing time
McArthur Burnett - 5'9, 174, R.Fr. - red shirted in 2016
CB2:
Chris Williamson - 5'11, 191, Jr. - 5 tackles in 2016. Limited playing time
CJ McWilliams - 5'11, 171, R.Fr. - red shirted in 2016 - coming off of an ACL injury in 2016
NB:
Duke Dawson - 5'10, 208, Sr. - 23 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 7 PBU, 1 INT in 2016
Chauncey Gardner - 5'11, 204, So. - 30 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBU in 2016. (Could play Safety or corner)
S1:
Nick Washington - 6'0, 197, R.Sr. - 45 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU in 2016
Quincy Lenton - 5'11, 202, R.Fr. - red shirted in 2016
S2:
Marcell Harris - 6'1, 211, R.Sr. - 64 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR in 2016 (#1 in tackles)
Jaewon Taylor - 6'0, 187, So. - 7 tackles in 2016 in. Limited playing time.
New Recruits:
CB - Elijah Blades - 6'2, 170, 4 star (247 composite)
CB- Marco Wilson - 6'0, 180, 4 star (247 composite)
CB - Shawn Davis - 5'11, 190, 3 star (247 composite)
So here is the bottom line:
UF has no experienced depth at corner. None at all. Chris Williamson is the only player that has been here more than 2 years, and he has barely played. Joseph Putu is a developmental player from Juco who may not pan out, we don't know yet, and we don't know what we have in CJ McWilliams or McArthur Burnett. So, basically, UF is going from 2 first round corners, to a bunch of inexperienced guys that have barely played. There is going to be a massive drop off at the CB position. That is just the way it is.
Best case scenario, is that one or two freshmen in this recruiting cycle can play immediately, and that guy like Williamson and Putu take the next step this off season, and then UF should be at least OK at the position. If that doesn't happen, then I guess Gardner and Dawson may play outside? Perhaps? There will obviously be a lot of moving parts at the position as they try to find the best fit in the off season.
At Safety, UF should be solid with Marcell Harris and Nick Washington, who both have a lot of experience now. If anything happens to either of them, I assume Gardner will rotate back to safety, where he played well this year. He may even steal one of those starting spots, and maybe Washington plays nickel. It's unclear to me. It is imperative to depth on this unit that one of Taylor or Lenton is ready to contribute at a moderate level next year. Taylor played limited snaps last year and was OK, and we don't know what we have in Lenton.
So that's it, in a nutshell. This is the unit. It will be interesting to see how this unit does, in comparison to say, the 2007 UF defense.
Passing TD Allowed: 8 - #1 nationally
Completion Percentage: 46.4% - #2 nationally
Yards pre game: 156.3 - #3 nationally
QB Rating Allowed: 98.36 - #3 nationally
Yards per Attempt: 6.2 - #8 nationally
That unit, outside of one flukey, terrible half against Tennessee where they surrendered 4 TDs, was the best unit in the entire country, and one of the best secondaries in a long and illustrious history of great secondaries at Florida.
OK, so that unit is losing S Marcus Maye, and in all likelihood, CB Quincy Wilson and CB Teez Tabor to the NFL, probably in the first 3 rounds. There are some rumblings that NB Duke Dawson may also go pro. Assuming for a moment the non-worst-case-scenario, let's say Dawson stays, here is what the roster will look like based on where UF stands in recruiting as of today:
CB1:
Joseph Putu - 6'2, 195, Sr. (Juco) - 4 tackles in 2016. Limited playing time
McArthur Burnett - 5'9, 174, R.Fr. - red shirted in 2016
CB2:
Chris Williamson - 5'11, 191, Jr. - 5 tackles in 2016. Limited playing time
CJ McWilliams - 5'11, 171, R.Fr. - red shirted in 2016 - coming off of an ACL injury in 2016
NB:
Duke Dawson - 5'10, 208, Sr. - 23 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 7 PBU, 1 INT in 2016
Chauncey Gardner - 5'11, 204, So. - 30 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBU in 2016. (Could play Safety or corner)
S1:
Nick Washington - 6'0, 197, R.Sr. - 45 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU in 2016
Quincy Lenton - 5'11, 202, R.Fr. - red shirted in 2016
S2:
Marcell Harris - 6'1, 211, R.Sr. - 64 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR in 2016 (#1 in tackles)
Jaewon Taylor - 6'0, 187, So. - 7 tackles in 2016 in. Limited playing time.
New Recruits:
CB - Elijah Blades - 6'2, 170, 4 star (247 composite)
CB- Marco Wilson - 6'0, 180, 4 star (247 composite)
CB - Shawn Davis - 5'11, 190, 3 star (247 composite)
So here is the bottom line:
UF has no experienced depth at corner. None at all. Chris Williamson is the only player that has been here more than 2 years, and he has barely played. Joseph Putu is a developmental player from Juco who may not pan out, we don't know yet, and we don't know what we have in CJ McWilliams or McArthur Burnett. So, basically, UF is going from 2 first round corners, to a bunch of inexperienced guys that have barely played. There is going to be a massive drop off at the CB position. That is just the way it is.
Best case scenario, is that one or two freshmen in this recruiting cycle can play immediately, and that guy like Williamson and Putu take the next step this off season, and then UF should be at least OK at the position. If that doesn't happen, then I guess Gardner and Dawson may play outside? Perhaps? There will obviously be a lot of moving parts at the position as they try to find the best fit in the off season.
At Safety, UF should be solid with Marcell Harris and Nick Washington, who both have a lot of experience now. If anything happens to either of them, I assume Gardner will rotate back to safety, where he played well this year. He may even steal one of those starting spots, and maybe Washington plays nickel. It's unclear to me. It is imperative to depth on this unit that one of Taylor or Lenton is ready to contribute at a moderate level next year. Taylor played limited snaps last year and was OK, and we don't know what we have in Lenton.
So that's it, in a nutshell. This is the unit. It will be interesting to see how this unit does, in comparison to say, the 2007 UF defense.
2
Posted on 12/9/16 at 9:58 am to slayerxing
I think we'll slide Duke outside, put Chauncey at nickel. Putu starts opposite of Duke. One of either Marco Wilson or Elijah Blades get a lot of playing time and battle with Putu for his job, and eventually takeover.
Then the other incoming freshmen safeties and CBs Shawn Davis, Brian Edwards, Brad Stewart, maybe Tray Bishop, maybe Devon Hunter all play sparingly if not redshirt. Devon Hunter is extremely talented and if he came here you might see him play nickel, Chauncey outside and Duke outside. Bottom line, were deep at safety and young but talented at CB, especially with this incoming class. We have different options. We'll be alright.
Then the other incoming freshmen safeties and CBs Shawn Davis, Brian Edwards, Brad Stewart, maybe Tray Bishop, maybe Devon Hunter all play sparingly if not redshirt. Devon Hunter is extremely talented and if he came here you might see him play nickel, Chauncey outside and Duke outside. Bottom line, were deep at safety and young but talented at CB, especially with this incoming class. We have different options. We'll be alright.
Posted on 12/9/16 at 10:34 am to slayerxing
It's crazy we will probably have 2 1st rounders and another 2 rounder in Maye. Really hope Dawson stays. I'd imagine he'd start at CB opposite of Gardner. Not sure who would start at nickel. I think Putu looked a little big at CB.
This post was edited on 12/9/16 at 10:36 am
Posted on 12/9/16 at 11:44 am to gatorsimz
I think it will be Putu and Gardner at CB and Duke at Nickel. I expect even more of a rotation of the other guys especially Burnett. I see Gardner being a star no matter where he plays.
Washington and Harris as a safety duo for 2017 sounds a lot better than it did at the beginning of this year.
I don't even want to talk about commits because it will change. Silly season
Washington and Harris as a safety duo for 2017 sounds a lot better than it did at the beginning of this year.
I don't even want to talk about commits because it will change. Silly season
Posted on 12/9/16 at 11:49 am to BloodSweat&Beers
Harris quietly led the team in tackles this year.
That was because he had 36 tackles in the last 4 games. Mostly because of poor play in the front 7 - Harris was constantly cleaning things up.
That was because he had 36 tackles in the last 4 games. Mostly because of poor play in the front 7 - Harris was constantly cleaning things up.
Posted on 12/9/16 at 12:41 pm to slayerxing
quote:
Harris quietly led the team in tackles this year.
That was because he had 36 tackles in the last 4 games. Mostly because of poor play in the front 7 - Harris was constantly cleaning things up.
He was in the box a lot against LSU, FSU, and Bama. Lined up like a 3rd LB.
Posted on 12/9/16 at 3:23 pm to BloodSweat&Beers
He has played very strong against the run and has tackled pretty well all year.
Posted on 12/9/16 at 4:51 pm to slayerxing
Heres my .03 worth: I cant imagine Duke Dawson leaving from my viewpoint. He is at best a late 6th or 7th and mostly undrafted player....hasnt had enough snaps to warrant anything else. So put him in for next year.
Harris and Washing are potential All SEC types at safety.
Putu I believe only played mop up early on and was r/s ed to save a year...why have him play when your 2 corners are high draft picks? So I believe he is actually a jr. JUCO guy still. Gardner has the potential to be a All SEC in the near future at safety imo.
The next point I want to make is that DB is the one position that true frosh can make impacts easier than any other position on the team. We cant wring our hands and be worried at this juncture. Again, being the eternal optimist wearing thick O&B glasses, I tend to see things as glasses half full.
And I think the defense will still be good...lethal as the last years? Maybe not...but good and the offense owes them! The offense can help the defense by putting up scores more often.
Harris and Washing are potential All SEC types at safety.
Putu I believe only played mop up early on and was r/s ed to save a year...why have him play when your 2 corners are high draft picks? So I believe he is actually a jr. JUCO guy still. Gardner has the potential to be a All SEC in the near future at safety imo.
The next point I want to make is that DB is the one position that true frosh can make impacts easier than any other position on the team. We cant wring our hands and be worried at this juncture. Again, being the eternal optimist wearing thick O&B glasses, I tend to see things as glasses half full.
And I think the defense will still be good...lethal as the last years? Maybe not...but good and the offense owes them! The offense can help the defense by putting up scores more often.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News