'14 TN DB Rashaan Gaulden (UT Signee 2/5/14)

It seems like if any of them fit at nickel, its rashaan. But someone like I4 or breaker will know a better answer to that than I will. I think Randolph is too good to lose his job, so maybe cortez just has to wait a year.

Least we'll have some studs on special teams.
 
It seems like if any of them fit at nickel, its rashaan. But someone like I4 or breaker will know a better answer to that than I will. I think Randolph is too good to lose his job, so maybe cortez just has to wait a year.

I completely agree that Randolph will not be sitting unless he's injured. Our defense was worlds better when he was on the field.
 
? Gaulden is what you want at FS. Gaulden is a ball hawk which is FS. Kelly Jr and McDowell are SS that bringg the pain.

I just want McNeil off the field. If Lemond Johnson and Swafford were getting reps with the 1s ahead of him, then give me Gaulden, TK, or whoever. If either of Gaulden/TK and then Randolph were your safeties, then I could definitely see them being interchangeable.

Those 3 could be very versatile and open up a lot of different sets for you that I don't think McNeil would. All 3 guys can come down in the box and tackle. And all 3 can execute coverage assignments. Unless McNeil drops weight and really improves his speed, I don't know if he will ever start again at UT with the talent we just brought in.

JMO.
 
Lol, that's what people are saying about Gaulden too. I guess Cortez will be the odd man out if that's the case.

Your best players will get on the field regardless. If TK or Cortez locks down the other safety spot, then I could really see Rashaan pushing Payne and Coleman for the nickel. TK and Cortez have more mass right now compared to Gaulden. Rashaan looks lanky right now to me. Hopefully he can pack on 10-15 pounds of good weight.

I envision all 3 guys playing quite a bit this year.
 
Zone 3 schemes would allow for 3 safeties to be on the field at the same time, aka Kelly, Randolph, and Cortez/Gaulden. Usually utilized as a run stopping defense, zone 3 schemes can be extremely effective when preformed properly. Players have to be gap disciplined though because your stacking eight guys in the box. Whoever is your SS is pretty much used as a gap control OLB, so that player would need to be able to both cover the pass and protect the run.
 
IMO Kelly, McDowell and Elliot Berry all could eventually grow into linebackers over the next 2 years. Talk about freaking speed if that happens
 
Your best players will get on the field regardless. If TK or Cortez locks down the other safety spot, then I could really see Rashaan pushing Payne and Coleman for the nickel. TK and Cortez have more mass right now compared to Gaulden. Rashaan looks lanky right now to me. Hopefully he can pack on 10-15 pounds of good weight.

I envision all 3 guys playing quite a bit this year.

How about Gaulden at CB? Solves this three safety dilemma. :)
 
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It seems like if any of them fit at nickel, its rashaan. But someone like I4 or breaker will know a better answer to that than I will. I think Randolph is too good to lose his job, so maybe cortez just has to wait a year.

Randolph is too SMART to be off the field right now. He's the QB of the defense. His talent is easy to replace but not his Football IQ. Nickel position is overblown on this board. And if Gaulden can play on a slot WR consistently there's no way he can't play CB. Good Nickel CBs require good hips. So I don't know why with his frame he wouldn't be a better fit outside.
 
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Sutton
Randolph
Kelly
Gaulden/Moseley/Berry at corner
Coleman or swafford/others at nickel

Could be our back end against USU

I don't care who wins the positions as long as they make plays. Berry is my dark horse to win one of those spots. Most athletic player in our defensive class. And physically ready right now.
 
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Randolph is too SMART to be off the field right now. He's the QB of the defense. His talent is easy to replace but not his Football IQ. Nickel position is overblown on this board. And if Gaulden can play on a slot WR consistently there's no way he can't play CB. Good Nickel CBs require good hips. So I don't know why with his frame he wouldn't be a better fit outside.

I mean, we haven't seen what is SUPPOSED to happen at defensive positions in quite a while, save for Cam Sutton last year. So we're antsy and anxious about who will play where and how they might fit.
 
Randolph is too SMART to be off the field right now. He's the QB of the defense. His talent is easy to replace but not his Football IQ. Nickel position is overblown on this board. And if Gaulden can play on a slot WR consistently there's no way he can't play CB. Good Nickel CBs require good hips. So I don't know why with his frame he wouldn't be a better fit outside.

This all day. Randolph is maybe the most valuable player on our defense, especially with such a young secondary.

People forget that Sal's defense didn't look like a true abomination until after Randolph tore his ACL against FL. With him on the field the whole defense just runs smoother.
 
How about Gaulden at CB? Solves this three safety dilemma. :)

When Gaulden very first committed to UT, that's where I wanted him. He's physical, can tackle, and has good length. He's got good eyes and plays the ball very well. He can turn and run too. I figured Willie would just have to show him the finer intricacies of being a solid CB.

Then Hubbs said he would be a Safety and that's where the staff wants him. I think they even said that he would be learning nickel also.
 
Randolph has gotten hurt every year, I don't think it hurts having more Safeties ready to go! I think nickel is fine, especially since they have elliot berry and the cb from DC learning the position.
 
Randolph has gotten hurt every year, I don't think it hurts having more Safeties ready to go! I think nickel is fine, especially since they have elliot berry and the cb from DC learning the position.

We need the safeties to be ready period. Randolph is really a SS playing FS. He's not really an eraser on the back line. Solid player that would fit best at Strong Safety. IMO
 
I know it's blasphemy... but unleass Rashaan gains some serious weight between now and this season, he's likely looking at a redshirt year given he only weighs 167.

Evan's Eleven

Could have just been totally wrong on his weight on the recruiting sites and he played his (dominant) senior season at 160, no?
 
I don't care who wins the positions as long as they make plays. Berry is my dark horse to win one of those spots. Most athletic player in our defensive class. And physically ready right now.

I don't know why Evan isn't getting more hype considering his size, athleticism, and pedigree. I completely agree he has a great chance to lock down the spot opposite of Sutton or even the nickel.
 
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Could have just been totally wrong on his weight on the recruiting sites and he played his (dominant) senior season at 160, no?

Exactly, weights get fluffed all the time, but I'm just suggesting that although he may have dominated in HS at 160 as you suggest... he will be hard-pressed to compete at the SEC level at 167. We shall see how it plays out.
 
Exactly, weights get fluffed all the time, but I'm just suggesting that although he may have dominated in HS at 160 as you suggest... he will be hard-pressed to compete at the SEC level at 167. We shall see how it plays out.

Fair point, for sure. Dude can obviously wrap up and bring it from a tackling perspective.
 

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