Size in the secondary

Submitted by ATLalumni on

Anyone else notice the size we'll potentially have in the secondary? As of right now, before the freshman show up, we have at corner: 6-0(Floyd and Woolfolk) 6-2 Justin Turner,
at safety: 6-3 Cam Gordon, 6-1 Vlad, 6-0 Brandin Hawthorne. Then we add 6-1 Demar Dorsey and 6-1 Cullen Christian!!! We've always had decent sized secondary, but I can't remember this much in recent times.

Magnus

March 26th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^

Cullen Christian is listed at 6'0" on Rivals, and generally, it seems that those heights are all exaggerated by about an inch.

Anyway, we do have good size in the secondary. I'm glad, because I'm generally not a fan of midget cornerbacks.

goody

March 26th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^

the athleticism of these players. They can all run and create a lot of havoc in the secondary with the size to come up and fill gaps in the run game.

Ezeh-E

March 26th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^

Dude absolutely lays the wood (cue "that's what she said" joke). Makes me confident his elevator hit on Dyer in the UA game isn't a fluke.

michgoblue

March 26th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^

I think we tried mini me last year, and before he got booted off of the team, I remember him getting burned on just about every play against ND. The majority of highly rates short corners are described by the gurus as having, "exceptional technique," "good coverage skills" or "great body control." While there are all greast attributes, at the end of the day, it is still virtually impossible for a 5'8" CB to defend a 6'2" receiver on a jump ball. When we face teams with more than 1 deap threat, there will be a mismatch the the other team will regularly look to exploit. Having actual full sized players in our secondary, as RR has recruited, will take away that mismatch. PLus, its not like our taller guys are lacking in athleticism.

Magnus

March 26th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^

The height factor was the main reason I was not a fan of Cissoko's when he came out of high school, and the same went for Mathis. Michigan's best cornerbacks over the last 20 years have had good size. There are exceptions to every rule (Antoine Winfield at OSU, for example), but it's not a coincidence that bigger cornerbacks are more highly sought after.

It used to be that every guy who was 6'4" or 6'5" ended up playing tight end, linebacker, or defensive end. Now it seems almost every college team has at least one 6'4" or 6'5" kid that they throw jump balls to. No matter how high a kid can jump, it's hard to make up for an 8-inch difference in height. Not only will a 6'4" kid with a 32" vertical outjump a 5'8" kid with a 39" vertical, but the cornerback's jump has to be perfectly timed. I'd rather just have a 6'1" kid playing corner.

msoccer10

March 26th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^

I know you were joking but this is really what the staff is going for I think. Not specifically a 3-3-5 or a 3-5-3 but the versatility of 5 guys in the middle of the field that can act as rush defensive ends, linebackers or safeties. The we can easily run against power teams and spread teams without having to change personel. I think its brilliant.

We will have one space eater, two big but quick defensive ends, two corners who can play man to man or deep thirds and then one deep safety who should be fast as hell to cover mistakes as the last line of defense.

All the rest will be 6'0" to 6'7", athletic and mobile guys who can cover slots and tight ends, take on a pulling guard or crush a running back.

ATLalumni

March 26th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^

This is RR's entire philosophy, not just on defense but offense too. Slots playing RB, QB's playing Slot, RB's playing WR. You recruit athletes, not position players. You then coach them on where/how you want them to play. I think its brilliant. Just need to see it work on the field now.

Don

March 26th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^

I think her junk in the trunk exceeds that of Coco, the wife of Ice T. When these women hit 40, they'll need vaseline simply to get into a car, and the jaws of life to get out.

MacombBLUE

March 26th, 2010 at 11:48 PM ^

As has been said, most heights and lbs are generally stretched a bit. Really, they do it in all sports, but especially basketball and football.

With that said, yeah, still a sizable secondary all around. On paper, it should be a strength for us coming up.

What are peoples opinions on Hollowell by the way? Has anybody gotten a decent look at him and can comment? His height has obviously been mentioned, but I've heard mixed views on him. Skill-wise and potential, what are your thoughts and predictions?