re: 2015 Fall Camp Discussion

Hey I'm not trying to piss in y'alls koolaid I was just trying to figure out what I missed

As my way of apologizing, I'll line up the shot glasses. Let's talk defense. Here's my best guess on depth chart right now. We'll play a lot more people than we have in past seasons so most of these guys will play fairly significant minutes.

DE - Garrett (SO), Johnson (SO)
DT - Williams (SR), Washington (RS FR) OR Walker (JR)
DT - Obioha (SR), Mack (FR), Henderson (SO)
DE - Hall (JR), Cunningham (SO)

DL is elite. It didn't happen overnight but it's there. It's my belief Obioha will start and the 2nd series Mack will come on. Alonzo will be your primary and probably play more than any of them. I went 3-deep on Henderson because he's going to play. Also against the more physical teams, Obioha will probably move to DE so we're going to need more DTs. Lockhart plays. Think we'll redshirt Keke.

SLB - Washington (JR), Moore (FR)
MLB - Walker (SO), Hilliard (JR)
WLB - Alaka (SO), George (JR)

DL play has them getting clean looks in practice so they appear to be playing above their talent level. Not entirely convinced this part will transition to the season but I think they'll be solid enough and they will make plays, something we've been sorely missing. Not saying Alaka will or won't miss time but when healthy he's clearly the starter. Though I've heard they are fairly happy with the fish, the depth here is still questionable to me. I think Riley Garner is going to play. I'm not sure on Durham but I think he'll play. We're just too thin. I think we'll redshirt Thomas.

CB - Harris (SR), Davis (SO) OR Sezer (JR)
CB - Harvey (SO), Williams (SR)

The coaching staff has felt all along CB would come together and apparently it has. Davis missed a bit of time and it cost him. Harvey has impressed everyone this fall and has made a large leap. This style of CB play puts an emphasis on physical ability and while Harvey isn't the tallest, he's got elite speed and change of direction. And he's finally bought in fully on the effort side. Brandon Williams is going to need to play, especially when we take on the bigger WRs down the line. But I think Harvey will get the nod in NRG. Williams has a massive learning curve to deal with and he really is playing well, but they are likely to ease him in. He was voted captain because BW is the heart and soul of this team. He's just a natural leader and brings a spark to everyone around him. I've heard almost nothing on Elam or DCS other than DCS ran 2nd team CB one day in practice. At this point, I think both will shirt which says a lot about how well the guys in front of them are playing.

NB - Ellis (SO) OR Wilson (SO)
FS - Evans (JR), Dunning (FR)
SS - Watts (SO), Burns (SR)

When you hear them talk about speed, they are really referring to safety play. I don't think Ags even know what elite safety play looks like any more but you're about to find out. These guys are absolutely flying around in practice and every time I hear anything, it's about how good the safeties look. At NB we'll probably match up depending on personnel with the better cover guy in Ellis or the bigger guy in Wilson. Both have played well and I expect in the 6-DB Mustang package, both will be on the field. Much has been made of Dunning this fall and it's really just bringing him along. He's got great natural FS instincts in the body of an OLB. In any other year, you force him on the field. Watts has been labeled most improved. I asked about that pic and was told, yes, he does in fact look like a mini-Myles and that "if you just walked up to him, you'd think he was a LB, not a safety. NFL looking guy." Prior to last year Watts was labeled by recruiting sites as too slow for CB, too small for S. We've all seen his game speed. Now he's physically the part too. Pryor probably redshirts.

Overall I think this will be the best defense we've fielded in quite some time. It's still fairly young though so it'll likely have its moments when it gets knocked around and seems lost. I don't think any freshmen will start and no walk-ons are in the 2-deep. Those are both firsts in the Sumlin era

Just a random CGSC observation but Defensive starters by recruiting class (incl nickel so 12) assuming my lineup is accurate

2011 - none
2012 - 3 (Obioha, ZWilliams, Harris)
2013 - 3 (Hall, SWashington, Ellis)
2014 - 5 (Garrett, Alaka, JWalker, Watts, Harvey)
2015 - 1 (Evans)