I heard a few times during reports that Ellis Marder and Obi Melifonwu are going to open some eyes, but don't forget guys like Wilbert Lee and Jordan Floyd. All of these guys are 6 feet or above (some people say Lee is 5'11, but he is more around 6' 1/2"). The safeties had valuable learning time with some very good corners in Blidi and Gratz guiding them where they should be on the field. Tymeer Brown will be back, so I believe he will retain his spot. You cannot beat his game experience, and I hope that will be a good teaching tool for the younger guys. Jones returns, but more on a possible move in the next paragraph.
The corner spot is going to be wide open come spring practice and into summer practice. With both starting corners graduating and potentially going to the NFL, it is concerning (to me, at least.) where we stand. The biggest problem after experience is size. Mack, Stevenson, Clark, and Jhavon Williams are short and it was evident throughout the season that Mack struggled when placed in big game situations. This can be fixed with more experience and practice, but now that Mack will be looked to for a starting role, will he be able to handle the pressure? There is potential, but it comes with patience and development Another interesting factor may be the move of Byron Jones to corner. I was not particularly impressed with Jones's cover skills because he would often not jump at the right time and then be beat over the back shoulder. I think this is also correctable, but it will take time if he makes the position switch. Freshman, Javon Hadley, will be one to watch come fall. Judging by his high school highlights, he has good technique and was recruited even after he committed. I think he will be a three to four year starter who will push his teammates.
Lastly, what will the coaching switch do? Coach Sos, to the dismay of many on this board, has been a wide receiver coach and now is taking on the new role, entrusted with developing this unit. I have heard jeers and jokes such as... his receivers were better at batting down balls, so this may be coach Sos's calling. It may be but I personally like coach Sos because he has a good rapport with his guys and he is a good communicator. That is needed with such a young unit. Based on comments from coach P in the past, he likes a coach with interchangeable skills and he also stresses sharing roles between coaches. I hope Coach Buggs and Perkins will give some pointers to his fellow coach. Overall, this would be the number two area of competition we should watch after O-line.
That is just my two cents, and I look forward to what everyone else sees and expects from this corps.
