Jeremy Clark: Sixth-Year Safety?
Just listened to the podcast and was heartened by the quick summary of our depth chart for '17. At the beginning of this season, it looked like 2016 had to be "the year" because we were going to be so young in '17, but watching players like Bredeson, McDoom, Evans, Higdon, Gary, Asiasi (the list goes on, really) this year gives me greater hope that next year can also be special and go into a very interesting matchup with OSU at the Big House.
On that note, Brian mentioned that Jeremy Clark would be back(!) which I previously understood was still iffy. In that wonderful turn of events, could Clark possibly play safety? I thought that's where he started his career. I was thinking that might be the weaker spot in our back four, unless Hudson is going to play there. Would be Lavert and Long at CB's and Kinnel and Clark at the safeties, with Hudson and Furbush rotating in the Peppers role; or Hudson/Kinnel are the safeties and Clark goes to CB, with Long and Lavert rotating like Clark and Stribling did last year.
Either way, I was glad to hear Brian thought Jeremy would be back, and hopefully will be at full strength. I wonder if he's heard more news about the application procoess moving forward based on his recovery and desire to come back, etc.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
If possible- that would be great for next year.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
Absolutely rather have him at CB. He started at safety under Hoke, Harbaugh had him at CB. That's all the reasoning I need to say he is a CB and should remain so.
November 28th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
He was a very good CB, pushing Stribling who had an amazing season. He's also a great tackler. Given our youth and the lack of confidence in playing CBs (other than the starters) by the coaching staff this season, I'd say we need him at corner more than we need him at safety.
Kinnel, Hudson, Metellus, Glasgow...we'll find a starting pair from that crew that I think we'll like just fine.
I'm actually not too concerned about ANY position group on defense for next year. In fact, my only concerns are at OL. We have loads of talent everywhere else and the athletes to compete with the Ohio State's of the world.
At CB, we'll have Clark, Watson, Hill, Long, and Washinton in the mix. At LB, we'll have Furbush, Bush, Mbem-Bosse, Jones, Uche, Gil, and Wangler pushing for time.
On the DL, Gary, Winovich, Marshall, Kemp, and a pair of Johnsons will compete at DE while Hurst, Mone, and Dumfour hold down the middle.
Speight is your QB, with Peters backing him up. We have an embarrassment of riches at RB, with Evans, Isaac, Higdon, Johnson, Walker, and Davis all having potential roles, and a true freshman could easily crack the line-up (especially if Najee Harris joins the class).
WR and TE are loaded with inexperienced talent. Drake Harris, Eddie McDoom, Mo Ways, Nate Johnson, Grant Perry, and Kekoa Crawford are ready-to-play WRs, and it looks like another amazing WR haul will be arriving next fall. Asiasi and Wheatley headline the every down TEs, but Bunting, Gentry, Eubanks, and McKeon are all amazing athletes that could find their way onto the field.
And then there's the OL...will Dawson reemerge? Bredeson, Braden, and (hopefully) Cole are locks. Newsome if he can recover. Kugler, JBB and Onwenu are in there, then it's Ulizio, Spanellis, and Runyan. No idea who pans out there. OL is my biggest 2017 worry.
November 28th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 7:25 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 7:45 PM ^
McCray was coming back as well.
November 28th, 2016 at 8:20 PM ^
He's a redshirt junior.
November 28th, 2016 at 8:55 PM ^
Uhhhhh, what? Perry yes. McDoom possibly. The rest...?
November 28th, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^
There were two seniors--one of whom was all B1G last year and the other who was the best receiver on the team this year--ahead of all of them. Their lack of PT doesn't mean they suck.
November 28th, 2016 at 9:20 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
Clark was a boarderline lockdown guy for the time he was available this year. Considering how much Brown's defense relies on good CB play, I'd much rather have Clark and the winner of Long/Hill starting on the outsides and try to get Hudson or Metellus up to speed at the second safety spot.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
I liked what we saw out of Khaleke on special teams. Brian and Ace were also pondering Jordan Glasgow as a Kovacs-style safety as well (at least I assume that's where they were thinking).
November 28th, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
Clark coming back would be huge. I think they'd keep him at corner and let Watson/Long/Hill have a battle to earn that spot opposite him. Kinnel and either Metellus or Kelly-Powell would be safeties with Khaleke in the Peppers role.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
Brandon Watson played a lot more than Hill and Long, no?
November 28th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
but I am guessing that the coaches had more trust in an upperclassman in that environment vs. OSU.
Whatever the reason, it was nice to see the coaches have some faith in Watson this year. Washington's complete absence - OTOH - is a bit of a mystery.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
Why wouldn't you keep him at CB? He's a very good corner, solidifies one of those spots. Couple him with Kinnel, and two of the four DB spots look good. Find solutions for the other two, and there are some options.
I agree the other safety spot is the unknown, but moving Clark puts him into an unknown, has to re-learn. Keep him where he's at and let Hudson or one of the younger guys (or Glasgow) win the safety job.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^
I don't know, starting two really young guys at corner worries me a bit. I would rather see Clark start at CB. Kinnel has looked good this year and hopefully someone like Hudson or Mettelus steps up. Hell, even the next Glasgow could take a leap forward, that wouldn't surprise me at all.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
Watson is a junior, is he not? That pushes one of Lavert and Long out if Clark would indeed go back to Safety, which he was recruited at. But I don't know if you do that or take one of the more inexperienced guys at CB and try to convert them to safeties since they're earlier in their college careers.
Watson and Clark at CB isn't bad at all given the meaningful experience Watson got this year to start when Lewis was out and then as the next man up when Clark went down. Safety would definitely be the weak spot, but given the way Brown schemes things, would we rather have better CB play or S play?
November 28th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
We're losing way to much to be anything more than a 7 or 8 win team (at best). This was Harbaughs chance and he blew it, we've got 2-3 more years until we are competitive again.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 4:41 PM ^
Brought back to 0 MGoPoints. I need a beer after all that work
November 28th, 2016 at 4:42 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
Look at his posting history. OSU troll cloaked as a M fan coming here trying to talk shit about Harbaugh.
Nice try pal.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:48 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
Bolivia bound
November 28th, 2016 at 4:36 PM ^
Delete
November 28th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 7:06 PM ^
Yes! Another chance to neg you! Thanks.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
Clark played in 4 games for us this season, unless we make the playoffs we will play in 13 games only meaning he will have played in 30.7% of our games.
Here is the rule: "The player must have competed in no more than 30% of the season or four games, whichever is greater."
November 28th, 2016 at 4:42 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 4:45 PM ^
Right 4 games will be greater (slightly) than 30% of the season, so he must have competed in no more than 4 games. So he's good.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:45 PM ^
Hopefully they round down in an Ed Davis sort of way.
November 28th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
That's for a medical redshirt, not a 6th year of eligibility, which also requires that the player not have used a redshirt already. 6th year of eligiblity is granted on a case-by-case basis.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
I'd prefer to have Jeremy at corner. His athleticism at 6'4 is very unique, and having that type of length at the position is a luxury. He can also be used as a safety in the packages that asked Dymonte to man-up on a slot receiver this year. Jerm is also excellent in run support - having him on one side to set the edge would be great. I remember him really giving Sefo Liufau a shot on a scramble in the Colorado game.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
I dont know why everyone is so worried for next year. Yeah we lose a lot of experience, but who on the schedule looks particularly daunting.
Florida in Arlington (Who's worried about Florida)
MSU after a buy week coming of a 3-9 season (Ooo scary)
PSU in the Beaver (Yeah tough game, but are they more talented than us? Better coached than us? No)
cup cake city
Wisconsin at Randall and o$u in the Big House (Wisconsin is a trap game against a well coached talented team, tough tough game mostly because Harbaugh is going to be preaching destruction all year against the Buckeyes. In regards to them, I am not worried about that game at all, I dont care what they return or their recruits, we will not lose that game)
So in summation outside of Florida the only game where we will have the lesser talented players is o$u and given the Columbus screwjob I think our anger and Doc Brown will more than make up for that.
Where's the threat?
November 28th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 6:56 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:52 PM ^
...Where are we seeing that Clark will get that 6th year?
November 28th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
in today's podcast segment on next year's depth chart.
November 28th, 2016 at 6:02 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^
Also next year's defense will be less experienced and deep, but man will they be athletic and speedy.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^
Is that a good thing?
November 28th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
I don't think Clark can play safety... Which is to say I don't think he can play true off coverage. What Hill was able to do most the season covering guys in the slot was a big deal. Without Hill I think you'll need more true nickel looks with a third corner coming on the field and not just using Peppers or Hill in the slot.
November 28th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
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