Blake Countess Named Auburn Starting CB per Depth Chart
Congratulations to Blake Countess on being named a starting CB in Auburn depth chart!
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/auburn_releases_2015_depth_cha.html
September 1st, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^
Not gonna lie though, that hurts. Wonder why he decided to transfer. Was it just scheme?
September 1st, 2015 at 10:44 PM ^
Maybe, although it could also be that he just didn't like Harbaugh's atmosphere.
Some people want a guarantee that they will start. If he stayed he was going to have to compete for it every week.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:55 PM ^
Wow; that's some baseless speculation!
You literally have no idea why Blake transferred and neither do I. To somehow insinuate that he wanted a "guarantee" that he'd start is totally asinine.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:17 PM ^
Because he was going to have to compete for it every week.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:22 PM ^
Seriously? You talked to Blake about this?
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:00 AM ^
About it?
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/08/auburn_blake_countes…
What would be a reason behind making a "bargain" for playing opportunities? Simple deductive reasoning tells me that one would do this because they had no such guarantee of playing opportunities in their previous place, no?
September 2nd, 2015 at 4:35 AM ^
"The former Michigan defensive back transferred to Auburn in May with the intention of playing a variety of positions"
Did you even read the article? The bargain is about him trying out at multiple positions, not a guarantee of playing time.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:00 AM ^
He's there today because he felt assured he was going to get those same opportunties here right? He's apparently a great guy, good talent on the field and a good alum of Michigan but those who stay will be champions so I'm really only interested in those who stay.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:33 AM ^
But you didn't say "he's there because he wasn't going to get the opportunity to play multiple positions here." That would have been unobjectionable. Instead, you said that he transferred because "he was going to have to compete for it everyday" here, making it seem like he was afraid of competition. Which was a complete misrepresentation of what was in the article, and a dick thing to say about someone who played hard for Michigan for years.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:24 AM ^
Stop talking. You're wrong.
September 2nd, 2015 at 5:25 AM ^
Why do butthurt over that comment? He literally said it is a possibility that he wanted a guarantee he's gonna start and not have to compete. He didn't say that is a definitive reason. No need to get your panties in a twist there.
Do we 100% know the reason? No. But that is one of the possible reasons
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:54 AM ^
Have we considered that maybe Auburn's defensive backfield just isn't as good as ours and that's why he's starting there? We know Countess wasn't as good as Lewis or Peppers, so that's essentially two of the three spots he could play. And it's possible he (and the coaches) felt a couple other guys were better than him and he was looking at being a back up, whereas Auburn was in need of another CB.
I don't think Michigan is as good as Auburn right now, but it's certainly possible we're better in that one position group and Countess took advantage of it.
September 2nd, 2015 at 8:13 AM ^
...and yet:
Channing Stribling is starting at cornerback. Stribling is a guy whom Countess has beaten out for the starting CB job the past two years. Meanwhile, Wayne Lyons is listed as a backup strong safety.
September 2nd, 2015 at 8:17 AM ^
The writing was on the wall this spring for Blake. Stribling passed him. The practice I was at, Stribling was getting all the first team reps while Blake was subbing situationally.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:28 AM ^
I've heard differently from numerous other sources. Maybe you were there on a day when Countess was dinged up or something.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:28 AM ^
Maybe, but that would go against Harbaugh's injury policy in the spring.
If you were dinged up, you wouldn't get any reps. You were either full go or you were no go.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
"Stribling is a guy whom Countess has beaten out for the starting CB job the past two years."
I don't know if I put too much stock into what the last staff had decided was best when it comes to who plays, at what positions and in which situations.
September 3rd, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
The majority of personnel decisions are going to remain the same from coach to coach. If you look at this year's depth chart, the guys who are playing are essentially the same guys who played last year (obviously with some variations due to departures, depth, etc.). It's not like Logan Tuley-Tillman is leapfrogging everyone at tackle, Wilton Speight is jumping out ahead in the QB race, and Reon Dawson is in the mix to play free safety.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:45 PM ^
Countess wasn't nearly as good at press versus zone or whatnot. I wish him the best luck and would love to see him get to the NFL, if Auburn has a good year may have a chance.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:54 PM ^
Is Auburn's scheme that vastly different than ours?
September 1st, 2015 at 11:00 PM ^
No. Will Muschamp is the new DC at Auburn. He will run the same system him and Durkin did at Florida. That's what doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:49 AM ^
*sigh*
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
Not making a definitive statement, but I seem to remember hearing something similar. I think I remember reading where Durkins likes his Corners to be physical at the line of scrimage and perhaps Blake didn't find that his strength or maybe his desire. Again, not making a "claim" or "factual knowledge" of the situation. All I know is he must have gotten a very strong feeling that this was not the place he wanted to be (for reasons probably only he knows), considering you have one of the top 5 football coaches in the World coming in to be the coach of your team where you have been at and played a starting role for a couple of years. You have to think something was communicated quite strongly for Blake to leave. My impression was that he certainly enjoyed his time in AA.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:45 PM ^
I believe it was because the graduate program he was interested in was not offered here.
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September 1st, 2015 at 10:49 PM ^
so you're saying Auburn offers academics?
September 1st, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
I'm not clear on Auburn's academics. What I am aware of is they have a kick ass eagle that swoops down prior to kickoff.
Which is pretty cool.
September 2nd, 2015 at 6:47 AM ^
Auburn Ornithology 101. The history of swooping War Eagles.
September 2nd, 2015 at 6:49 AM ^
Rock flag and eagle!
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September 2nd, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
Except sometimes it smacks into a luxury box.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:52 AM ^
play with too.
Honestly I wish him the best and hope he's successful. I'd like to see him get to the pros. It's easy to make wanting to play sound bad. I don't think many of us would have anything but playing time on our minds if we had a chance to go pro. It's much easier to get there playing than having to prove you were good enough to play.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:52 PM ^
This might be an unecessary comment and it could very well be that he transferred because of this, but technically this is less of a reason as it is a prerequisite for a graduate transfer. I believe you're only allowed a grad transfer if the school you transfer to has a program your school doesn't offer, so this could be said about any grad transfer.
September 2nd, 2015 at 3:45 AM ^
ThatsTheJoke.edu
September 2nd, 2015 at 6:07 AM ^
I am pretty sure that this is no longer true. It was true for a long time, though.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^
Scheme, plus a desire to get drafted by playing well. I love Countess. But he wasn't going to play well in a press scheme. Very happy for him. I can't actually root for Auburn, but I will root for him. Stand up guy and a smart guy too.
September 2nd, 2015 at 3:47 AM ^
Why does it "hurt?" Countess wasn't the right fit for the defesne Harbaugh is running. It was a good move for him to leave. Michigan won't really miss him at CB. I hope he has a great year and makes it to the NFL. He paid his dues.
September 2nd, 2015 at 6:21 AM ^
Probably more at FS, but he had a spot and a role on this defense. And seeing as how Lyons isn't panning out at CB, he likely would've gotten some time there too.
Let's just all be happy for the guy. He's a great kid and I know firsthand and for a fact it had nothing to do with promises or guarantees to start at CB.
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:27 AM ^
Lyons is panning out just fine. He's solid.
Stribling is better. Stribling is also better than Countess and made that clear during spring when he started taking first team reps away from Blake.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
It was because of the Head Coach. That and he probably realized he would never have a conference or national championship at Michigan. Can't blame a kid for wanting to be a winner, and the only way to do that at UM is to transfer
September 1st, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^
Glad to see he'll find some PT.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^
Congrats to him. Good player who underwent multiple coaching changes and a lack of coaching in his career. He may play on Sunday.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:44 PM ^
Wow ... well, good for him.
He's also listed on the kick returner depth chart.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:43 PM ^
I guess Blake brings that Big 10 speed. Congrats!
September 1st, 2015 at 10:43 PM ^
When Blake blows up in the SEC and the pros, can we go all NC State and claim him like one of our own?
September 1st, 2015 at 10:46 PM ^
He graduated, he just may miss out on being a champion. ;)
September 1st, 2015 at 11:49 PM ^
a Sugar Bowl Champion?
September 1st, 2015 at 10:47 PM ^
Like Ryan Mundy, Mike Cox and Josh Furman, they all got their Michigan degree so I vote yes.
Michigan's MGoBlue.com media guide doesn't claim them as NFL draft selections, but a certain SuperGuide does in italics.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:14 AM ^
Dont forget Thomas Rawls!
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September 2nd, 2015 at 1:15 AM ^
+1 but he didn't get his degree from UM.
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:43 AM ^
He was a grad transfer. That's why he didn't sit out for a year.