Who do you think will be our starting Safeties next year?

[Smooth Olaf]

I see it being Russell and Gant with JamO spelling both of them. But hell, what do I know? When the question of 2006's starting CBs was raised last year, I sure as hell never said that one would be Antonio Smith.

 

[smitty03]

You could throw Kurt Coleman's name into this discussion...

 

[Cornerback6]

With all the depth we have at safety and the lack of experience we're going to have at corner, I'd be willing to bet Coleman will stay at CB.

We have plenty of safety depth. I still think it will be 2 of either Russell/JO/or Patterson. Gant is a bit of a mystery to me but he did perform well in mop-up last year.

 

[smitty03]

Cornerback6 With all the depth we have at safety and the lack of experience we're going to have at corner, I'd be willing to bet Coleman will stay at CB.

Coleman actually practiced with the safeties full time after Russell got hurt. He has a lot of experience there and wouldn't suprise me if he did end up there with Jenkins, Washington, and Amos already playing corner.

 

[23Skidoo]

Coleman actually practiced with the safeties full time after Russell got hurt. He has a lot of experience there and wouldn't suprise me if he did end up there with Jenkins, Washington, and Amos already playing corner.

I like that take. Throw in Clifford and Scott and there should be plenty of depth and competition at CB.
I think there will be 4 DB spots wide open next year (#2 CB, NB, both safeties). Washington and Russell have the inside track on two of those spots, but I think there are some questions about both. We've got plenty of great kids to compete though, so I look forward to finding out who will be on the field next year.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

IMO there are 4 spots open in the secondary...

The only one not open is Jenkins spot...

So that leaves 1 CB spot and 2 S spots and Nickelback spot....

For the CB spot I think it will be between Amos and Washington

- I thought Washington did a good job last year, was exposed a couple times, but he is only a RS frosh so I see him improving quite a bit.

- Same with Amos, but Washington had the upper hand on him, but I think Amos is going to get his shot as well, both with another year under their belt.

- But I wonder if Chekwa has gained sufficient weight to be able to compete and should be suprised to see if Underwood can ever contribute here.

For the safeties we have Russell, JamO, Gant, Schwartz, Coleman, and possibly one of the frosh.

I think the wildcard here is if Russell comes back at 100%, if so he will be an all-big ten safety.

I think JamO will finally bust out and make us happy next year...I still see a lot of Whitner in him, who also took time to adjust to the college game and JamO was playing better at the end of the seaosn and played with an injury in the NC game.

Gant and Scwartz are going to have a chance to make their impressions and I think that one of them could step in for Russell if he is not 100% or JamO just doesnt develop.

As for Patterson, I just don't know what happened, and I think it had to do with him not having the speed and reaction time to compete, maybe he will improve in the offseason as he has the brains to play the position, but that wasnt working for him last season.

I also think Coleman has a great chance to see time here, but I think he is my favorite to win the nickelback job.

Anyway we go Jenks will be our leader and we wills till be young back there, but everyone of them will have year experience under their belt...