Wednesday August 26, 2009

Defensive Depth Chart Notes

Defensive Depth Chart Notes
Sunday the sports information office released the first official depth chart of the season. There were a couple of surprises but I just wanted to review the depth chart as the Tigers head into the final preparations for the season opener. Yesterday we looked at the offense so today we continue with a few thoughts about the defense and special teams:

Defensive Line
DE-93 Da’QUAN BOWERS 6-4 280 So.
97 Malliciah Goodman 6-4 265 Fr.

NG-99 JARVIS JENKINS 6-4 310 Jr.
8 Jamie Cumbie 6-7 290 *Jr.
94 Rennie Moore 6-4 265 *So.

DT-98 BRANDON THOMPSON 6-3 305 So.
89 Miguel Chavis 6-5 285 Jr.

BE-7 RICKY SAPP 6-5 240 Sr.
24 Kevin Alexander 6-4 265 Sr.
40 Andre Branch 6-5 265 *So.

Defensive Line Notes: This unit appears to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest, in the ACC. Two former five-star defensive ends and two former four-star defensive tackles make up the starting lineup. Plus there is depth here with some talented underclassmen. Sapp has recovered well from surgery and his quickness is back. I look for Sapp to have a big senior season. Bowers is the most talented player on this side of the ball and he could have his breakout season this year. Depth at defensive end is a key as players like Branch and Goodman have bright futures as well. A storyline at defensive end will be the time Alexander spends between this position and the SAM linebacker. At defensive tackle, the Tigers lose Dorell Scott and Rashaad Jackson, yet this is still a deep group. Jenkins and Thompson are NFL-type defensive tackles. Both are run stoppers that require some double teams which will help the linebackers. Jenkins is athletic enough to get to the passer also. Chavis has made the most improvement according to new defensive tackles coach, Dan Brooks. Cumbie and Moore also have bright futures. This is the kind of defensive front Clemson won ACC titles with back in the eighties. They will improve on their sack total of 14 from last season as the staff could get creative in passing downs. For example, Bowers cold play inside in order to get another pass rusher on the field.

Linebackers
SLB-24 KEVIN ALEXANDER 6-4 265 Sr.
or 44 SCOTTY COOPER 6-1 220 Jr.
41 Daniel Andrews 5-11 200 So.

MLB-20 BRANDON MAYE 6-3 230 *So.
48 Jeremy Campbell 6-2 225 Sr.

WLB-33 KAVELL CONNER 6-1 235 *Sr.
46 Jonathan Willard 6-2 215 *Fr.

Linebacker Notes: This was a major area of concern last year and I still have my questions. However, Maye and Conner return as starters and are more experienced. Maye could make a considerable jump in productivity this season because of his experience and the new scheme. Again the split between Alexander’s time at SAM and defensive end is important. I would expect Alexander to excel against the run while Cooper plays better in space and coverage. Therefore, we might see more of Cooper against the spread of MTSU and more of Alexander against the option attack of Georgia Tech. Down and distance will also dictate what we could see from this combo as well. Depth is a major concern at all three linebacker spots. I have continued to question whether a defense can be dominating without terrific linebackers so injuries cannot occur here.

Secondary
CB-38 CHRIS CHANCELLOR 5-10 170 *Gr.
29 Xavier Brewer 5-11 180 *Fr.

SS-2 DeANDRE McDANIEL 6-1 210 Jr.
22 Jonathan Meeks 6-1 205 Fr.
32 Carlton Lewis 6-3 205 *Fr.

FS-12 MARCUS GILCHRIST 5-11 190 Jr.
27 Sadat Chambers 5-11 195 *Gr.
or 31 Rashard Hall 6-2 195 *Fr.
9 Spencer Adams 6-2 185 *Fr.

CB-18 CREZDON BUTLER 6-0 185 Sr.
36 Byron Maxwell 6-1 200 *Jr.
15 Coty Sensabaugh 6-0 180 *So.

Secondary Notes:The Tigers lost two multi-year starters at safety but the secondary may be improved in 2009. First, this unit will be more aggressive in more press-man coverage and they will benefit from more pressure up front this season. NFL scouts will take a look at as many as six defensive backs on the roster in the next few seasons. Chancellor and Butler make up one of the top corner combos in the country but Maxwell closed the gap with a great off-season and could be the best NFL prospect of the three. McDaniel is more of a playmaker than Hamlin or Clemens was last season. Gilchrist is another talent who can still play safety or corner. Perhaps the biggest mover in the group has been Meeks, who will avoid a red-shirt this season. The Tigers beat some big-time programs for most of these players and they hit on most in their development also.

Special Teams
PK-13 SPENCER BENTON 6-2 190 *Fr.
or 19 RICHARD JACKSON 6-0 195 *Jr.

P-96 DAWSON ZIMMERMAN 6-2 200 So.
19 Richard Jackson 6-0 195 *Jr.

KO-13 Spencer Benton 6-2 190 *Fr.

LS-71 Matt Skinner 6-7 225 *Fr.

H-16 Michael Wade 6-2 210 *Jr.

PR-28 C.J. Spiller 5-11 195 Sr.
6 Jacoby Ford 5-10 185 Sr.

KOR-28 C.J. Spiller 5-11 195 Sr.
6 Jacoby Ford 5-10 185 Sr.

Special Team Notes: The return game should be very good again with Spiller and Ford back. This is the fastest pair of return men in the country. I have not heard anything on the coverage teams but punting has improved as Zimmerman is healthy and has impressed. Place-kicking is a crap shoot in my mind. Benton and Jackson have been inconsistent and I have no idea what to expect here.

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Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy.