questions on SAM/slot for 2014

Submitted by tasnyder01 on

1.) On the unofficial two-deep we've got Royce Jenkins-Stone as the backup WLB. Per his recruiting profile, I thought he'd be the back-up SAM. Currently, Beyer is the backup SAM, and Beyer won't likely move (WDE is taken up by Clark [Sr], Ojemudia [Soph], and Charlton [Fr], not to mention incoming recruits like Lawrence Marshall). 

The depth chart by class really exemplifies my above statement regarding depth at LB. What I'm wondering is what the board thinks about RJS moving positions to SAM. He and Winovich are the best protoypes for that position on the roster, but if RJS moves from WLB this year, we have no depth.

Basically, do we see RJS as moving to SAM next year (backing up JMFR), or does he stay at WLB?

2.) The slot position loses 2/3 of its players after this year. We are bringing in new WRs, but none fit the "slot" position (except A. Scott, who has not committed). After this year, only Demario Jones (6'2) will be a "slot" WR. I know we're moving away from the position, but in the ideal Borges offense, we should still have a player who can play the slot position on offense. 

Do we move one of the smaller CBs -- Richardson, Lewis, [insert any and all Cass Tech CBs here]? Or do you guys see someone moving from RB -- Norfleet, Hayes? 

It's not terribly important: A. Scott as a potential commit, other WRs able to move inside, multiple TE/U-back/H-back types.  Nevertheless, it's the offseason and I'm bored at work. 

Comments commence?

beenplumb

June 5th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^

I think Borges is trying to emphasize the use of tight ends over slot receivers, given the emergence of flex guys like Funchess, Jake Butt, and Khalid Hill. It could be that the staff has put less emphasis on bringing in tiny slot bugs, and more on putting in two TE sets to attack the seam.

pkatz

June 5th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^

Norfleet, or more likely Hayes, seem like good options at the slot, especially if Green and Smith push them further down the pecking order in 2014.

Magnus

June 5th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^

Jenkins-Stone is not big enough to be a SAM, and he apparently does not want to be a SAM. Beyer is supposedly moving back to WDE as soon as depth makes it possible (a.k.a. whenever Jake Ryan is back to full strength). That might not be until 2014, though.

The "slot" position in this offense is overrated.  The coaches have played Junior Hemingway, Jeremy Jackson, and Drew Dileo in that position.  Those are three very different types of players.  If the coaches wanted only tiny Rodriguez-style slot types to play that position, they would pursue more of them.  It seems to me that the coaches are fine with working other types of players in there.

Magnus

June 5th, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

Yeah...it's kind of a position of need.  Even though Winovich is in the fold, there's no guaranteee that he'll pan out.  You'd like to have more options there, and McCray is a bit of a question mark and could be more of a MIKE.

WolvinLA2

June 5th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^

I think is Beyer moves back and mcCray can't play SAM your have Ferns start out there. I know the coaches prefer him at MIKE, but he could play any LB spot if they need him to, and he'll be able to contribute right away. And if McCray becomes a MIKE full time, the coaches might move Ferns anyway to get him on the field sooner.

Felix.M.Blue

June 5th, 2013 at 4:19 PM ^

I don't see RJS moving to SAM, they will have McCray, Beyer, Ryan and Cam this year. And they trade Cam for Chase the following year.

They will soon have a full stable of WR's, no need to move anyone. That position is changing anyway. There will be 3 and 4 WR sets at times but they don't have to be Odoms/Dileo type WR's.

 

UMaD

June 5th, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^

Position changes happen all the time.  They are difficult to impossible to project in many cases. Injury and competition influence positions so heavily.  Even our coaches don't know what will happen.

Last year Beyer was not a SAM and next year he is (theoretically) moving back to WDE. RJS could move to SAM (where many thought he'd go as a recruit) or not - like half the LBs on the roster.  If Gordon gets hurt it's very possible that Bolden or Morgan slide over rather than Beyer starting.  Next year you'll have 2 years of high school kids on the roster who have (at this moment) not played a down of college football yet. So...who knows.

 

UMaD

June 5th, 2013 at 6:28 PM ^

But he's listed at 227, while Bolden is 222. 

My larger point is that getting into these kind of specifiics is pretty pointless.  Morgan could add 15 pounds and Bolden could lose 5 for all we know.

They're all linebackers and most of them can play multiple positions, if they need to do so.

For the starters - O.K., we can talk about ideal fit and why Morgan and Ross should be at MLB or WLB, but for a backup it's different.  The coaches will play the next best guy and many times that won't be the guy who is listed next on the depth chart in the previous season.

Magnus

June 5th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^

I agree somewhat, but that doesn't mean every player within the same general position group is interchangeable.  Just like Cam Gordon and Jake Ryan aren't WILL linebackers, Morgan's not a SAM.  Ondre Pipkins might be the next best defensive lineman who's not starting, but if Frank Clark goes down with an injury, they're not going to put Pipkins at weakside end.

UMaD

June 5th, 2013 at 6:05 PM ^

WR is a position.  Some of them tend to line up outside, others tend to lineup inside, most of them can do both.