Tag: Secondary

Linebackers and secondary are the Sooners’ strength in 2024 per PFF

According to Pro Football Focus, Oklahoma’s back seven will be its biggest strength in 2024.

It’s preview season in the world of college football, and the Oklahoma Sooners had the spotlight this past week from Pro Football Focus in their College Football Preview (subscription required).

PFF gave the Sooners just a 4% chance to win the SEC this year, but had OU 13th in the nation in their power rankings.

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, who co-wrote the article, named Oklahoma’s back seven as its biggest strength heading into the new season.

Here’s what PFF had to say:

Oklahoma’s defense features a top-10 secondary and a linebacker unit that is headlined by [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], a third-team AP All-American last year.

OU is loaded at the linebacker positions with Stutsman as the clear leader. [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] should see significant snaps inside as well. [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] will likely have a role in his second year with the Sooners as well.

At the cheetah spot, [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] and [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] are intriguing options with experience, but don’t be surprised if [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] sees plenty of time.

The secondary has plenty of headliners, beginning with [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] at safety. Playing alongside him will likely be [autotag]Peyton Bowen [/autotag] and/or [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] to give OU a formidable trio to rotate at both safety spots.

Cornerback is lead by [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] on one side, Oklahoma’s defensive leader in snaps a season ago. While he’ll see time at corner, the Sooners plan to move him around the secondary, even giving him snaps at cheetah in 2024. [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Kani Walker[/autotag] will likely battle all season long on the other side of the field with [autotag]Dez Malone[/autotag] factoring in as well. [autotag]Jacobe Johnson[/autotag] is a local product from Mustang, and he and [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag] saw some fill-in action last season.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has the makings of a high-level defense in 2024 as he enters his third season at the helm of the Sooners.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Three Alabama opponents have top-10 ranked secondaries

Alabama’s offense will be tested throughout the 2024 college football season.

The 2024 college football season won’t be easy for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The program will be without legendary head coach Nick Saban for the first time in nearly two decades, and the regular season schedule won’t do the team any favors as a handful of tough matchups will test the Tide.

New head coach Kalen DeBoer has gone up against his fair share of difficult opponents over the years, especially when he was at the helm of the Washington Huskies program.

With DeBoer being an offensive-minded coach, fans and experts are excited to see what he does with the Alabama offense in 2024, especially with Jalen Milroe returning after a strong finish to his first year as the team’s starting quarterback.

Milroe and DeBoer will be tested, however. Recent positional unit rankings by Pro Football Focus (PFF) have three Crimson Tide opponents for the 2024 season inside the top 10 for defensive secondaries.

At No. 9 are the Oklahoma Sooners, which hosts Alabama in a late season matchup that will serve as the first in-conference game between the two teams.

“The Sooners are loaded at safety, and the star of that unit is Billy Bowman Jr., whose six interceptions last year tied for the third most among all defenders in college football. Dasan McCullough is a hybrid safety/linebacker for Oklahoma and ranked sixth among Power Five safeties with an 88.2 coverage grade this past season (minimum 275 snaps). Peyton Bowen was a five-star recruit in the 2023 class and earned an impressive 68.0 grade on 363 snaps in his true freshman campaign.”

Appearing at No. 8 are the Wisconsin Badgers, which host Alabama in an interesting Week 3 matchup.

“Wisconsin’s secondary features one of the nation’s 10 best safeties (Hunter Wohler) and a top-15 cornerback (Ricardo Hallman). Wohler earned the second-best coverage grade among FBS safeties in 2023 and was the second-most valuable safety in the nation, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. Hallman was a ball-magnet in 2023, tying for the national lead with seven interceptions. That helped him generate just a 37.4 passer rating allowed, which ranked ninth among FBS cornerbacks.”

Finally, at No. 7 on the list is a familiar rival, the Georgia Bulldogs. This matchup will take place in Tuscaloosa as DeBoer and Kirby Smart meet for the first time as conference opponents.

“While Georgia returns only two of its five starting defensive backs from last season, the Bulldogs still deserve a spot in this top 10. A major reason for that is junior Malaki Starks, my No. 2 returning safety in college football. He earned an 84.8 run-defense grade as a sophomore, which placed him seventh in the Power Five at his position. He also tied for sixth in that same group with seven forced incompletions in 2023.”

Alabama’s secondary does not appear on the list, which does not come as much of a surprise considering two star cornerbacks were selected in the early rounds of the 2024 NFL draft and highly-coveted freshman DB Caleb Downs hit the transfer portal after Saban retired, he now plays for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ironically, Downs and the Buckeyes rank No. 1 on this list as the top defensive secondary in all of college football for the 2024 season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick: ‘Chiefs secondary got younger and better’

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick took to Twitter to express his confidence in the #Chiefs’ new-look secondary.

The Kansas City Chiefs secondary was one of the NFL’s best last season, and despite the team’s decision to trade star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in March, one analyst seems to think that the reigning Super Bowl champions made their defensive backfield even better in the 2024 NFL draft.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick took to Twitter on Friday to tell his followers that he believes the unit has improved over the course of the offseason while getting younger in the process.

Though he didn’t go into depth about this take, Riddick, a former NFL safety, is more than qualified to assess how teams construct their rosters.

The Chiefs’ selections of defensive backs Jaden Hicks and Kamal Hadden in the 2024 NFL draft are sure to have moved the needle for Riddick, especially given that Kansas City managed to pick them in the fourth and sixth rounds.

While there is always room for a roster to improve, Riddick’s confidence in the Chiefs’ secondary should inspire confidence in Kansas City’s fans.

Broncos need CB Riley Moss to take a big step forward in 2024

Last year, the Broncos traded a 2024 3rd-round pick for CB Riley Moss, who played 23 snaps (3%) on defense. He needs to step up in Year 2.

The Denver Broncos paid a steep price to trade up for Iowa cornerback Riley Moss in last year’s NFL draft.

The Broncos gave up 2023’s pick No. 107 in the third round plus a 2024 third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for pick No. 83. Denver then used that pick from the Seahawks to select Moss.

So far, Moss hasn’t lived up to the trade.

After being sidelined early in the 2023 season following core muscle surgery, Moss ended up dressing for 14 games, but he did not earn any starts. The young cornerback played 265 snaps on special teams (68%) but was barely used on defense, playing just 23 snaps (3%).

Broncos general manager George Paton defended Moss during his end-of-season press conference in January.

“Riley Moss, we feel, is a starter in this league,” Paton said on January 9. “He was one of our best special teams players, if not the best.

“We saw it in practice. We saw the cover skills, and we saw the transition quickness, toughness and instincts. You saw it a little bit in-game. He played a little bit of the dime role.”

Apparently, Denver’s staff wasn’t impressed enough from Moss’s impressive practices to give him more snaps on defense. It’s hard to gauge if Paton truly believes Moss has brighter days ahead or if the GM was merely attempting to save face in the presser.

To be fair to both Moss and Payton, it should be remembered that the cornerback was coming off surgery, and one season is not enough of a sample size to label a player a bust. But if Moss does not have a much better season in 2024, trading a pair of third-round picks to acquire him will look like a big mistake in hindsight.

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Chiefs DB Coach Dave Merritt reveals plan for CB L’Jarius Sneed to avoid penalties

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive back Coach Dave Merritt reveals plan for corner back L’Jarius Sneed to avoid penalties.

The defense has taken center stage this season for the Kansas City Chiefs through their first nine games. The unit has shown grit and resilience through critical moments and clinched victories as the team heads into Week 11 with a 7-2 record.

Chiefs defensive back coach Dave Merritt has worked closely with the secondary and the team’s top cornerback, L’Jarius Sneed. The veteran defensive back is usually charged with covering the top receiver on opposing teams but has struggled with committing penalties. During Friday’s press conference, Merritt discussed the team’s plan to help alleviate the penalized plays for Sneed moving forward.

“Yeah, I think the first thing for L.J. (L’Jarius Sneed) is at the line of scrimmage; nothing is going to change other than lowering his target,” Merritt explained. “He may have had one that was called hands to the face, but the majority of his penalties are going downfield when he’s in phase. And so with that being said, not to get too technical, what LJ is going to have to do and what we’ve been working on and even started working on last week, and hopefully start clicking in is once he’s in phase running down the field with a wide receiver.

“He has to know right now that at that point in time, as you’re reading your keys when that wide receiver sinks his hip, you have to make sure that you just pump the arms. But what he’s doing is grabbing, he’s reaching, trying to just hold on almost like a little kid with due to a mommy or daddy when they’re trying to run away from him.”

Sneed has been flagged 12 times this season for holding and pass interference. Merritt and the coaching staff believe he can still get past the infractions and turn it around in the second half of the year.

“He’s like grabbing. And so he’s just got to trust that my ability is good enough to run the route with him,” said Merritt, “And so, that’s one of the things we’re working on. But the majority of them, again, are happening once he gets in phase downfield. So that’s what we’re working on.”

The Chiefs secondary will have to deal with several weapons from the Philadelphia Eagles this Monday in the much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch.

Ja’Quan McMillian continues to shine in the slot for Broncos

The Broncos seem to have found another gem in cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian.

The Denver Broncos made a surprising move on Oct. 3 when they cut Essang Bassey. It was a surprise at the time because Bassey had been the team’s slot cornerback through the first three games of the season, playing in nickel packages.

After seeing the performance of Bassey’s replacement, the decision is no surprise in hindsight.

Ja’Quan McMillian has been playing in the slot since Week 4 and he has impressed. McMillian’s in-season rise was no surprise to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

“He had a great spring, so I’m not surprised that he’s playing so well right now in the fall,” Joseph said on Oct. 19. “He’s a young guy who’s open-minded. He takes coaching every day. He’s the same guy every day. He works hard. He can tackle, and he can cover.

“He’s a perfect nickel profile for this defense. He’s improving every single day. His communication is getting better, and his confidence is getting better. The more he’s played, he’s improved, so that’s the key for him. It’s been fun to watch him play and play well.”

McMillian made his NFL debut in Denver’s season finale last year and he played well and should have been awarded an interception. He grabbed his first official interception in a 24-9 upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.

“I think he’s starting to play confidently,” Broncos safety Justin Simmons said of McMillian after the Chiefs game. “Any time you can go out there and play confidently, you play faster and things slow down for you. He’s getting into a rhythm and a flow, and his preparation in terms of his film study throughout the week and asking questions.

“I think he does such a good job of feeling what the offense is trying to give him and how they’re trying to set it up. …  I think ‘J-Mac’ just did a good job kind of playing what he was seeing and playing confidently and playing fast.”

McMillian, 23, has totaled 23 tackles (including five behind the line of scrimmage), two pass breakups and one interception through five games in the slot. McMillian has emerged as a key member of the secondary and it looks like the slot cornerback job could be locked up for the foreseeable future.

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Analyst Brian Baldinger breaks down performance of Chiefs secondary vs. Jaguars

Brian Baldinger took to Twitter to laud the efforts of the #Chiefs secondary in Week 2.

The Kansas City Chiefs managed to escape their Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a win due in no small part to the exceptional play of their secondary.

Kansas City relied on its defensive backfield to contain the Jaguars’ high-octane passing game led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receivers Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk.

Beloved analyst Brian Baldinger broke down the unit’s performance against Jacksonville in a tweet after the game, lauding the efforts of L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie in particular.

If the Chiefs can continue to rely on the outstanding play of their star cornerbacks, the team should have no problem stringing together several wins as the NFL moves into the middle of its 2023 schedule.

Though Kansas City has been led by its offense in the past, this breakdown is a clear signal that a change of the guard may be in the works for the Chiefs, who seem to have turned a corner on defense to start the season.

Steve Spagnuolo challenging Bryan Cook to become a leader on Chiefs defense

#Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is challenging safety Bryan Cook to become a leader on Kansas City’s defense this season. | from: @EdEastonJr

The front office of the Kansas City Chiefs, led by general manager Brett Veach, has constantly been forward-thinking about adding younger talent to the team’s roster. Kansas City hasn’t dwelled much on retaining established veterans and tends to build their squad through the draft, choosing to develop players in-house instead of turning to free agency to fill crucial roles.

A solid example of this formula was the selection of Cincinnati safety Bryan Cook in 2022. He initially played in a reserve role behind Juan Thornhill. Now, after Thornhill’s departure in the offseason, Cook will get his chance to take over a starting spot this season. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo met with the media after Tuesday’s practice and praised Cook’s work ethic and development in training camp.

“Bryan [Cook] is really going to become the quarterback of the defense,” Spagnuolo explained. “Him and Nick [Bolton], and [he is] especially the quarterback on the back end. One other thing about Bryan [Cook] is he’s always looking for feedback.

“He came the other day and he wanted to do some more drills. That’s one thing he’s got, we saw that when we were looking at him out of [The University of] Cincinnati, his work, he loves football, passionate about football and we’re banking on him in that regard.”

Spagnulolo had utilized Cook in many big spots, including in Super Bowl LVII. He has shown his confidence in the young safety, and fans will have to stay tuned to see how Spagnuolo will plan to maximize Cook’s talent in 2023.

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WATCH: Trent McDuffie shows confidence in mic’d up training camp video

Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie was mic’d up at a training camp practice, and exuded confidence in his play and interactions with teammates. | from: @WesleyRoesch

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie seems to be a bit more loose heading into his second NFL season.

McDuffie was mic’d up during a recent training camp practice, and let his personality show as he had some fun with fellow corner Dicaprio Bootle. Later in the video, McDuffie also showed some confidence in his own game. “Told you I’m getting my legs under me, boy,” he said.

McDuffie “getting his legs under” him and taking a second-year leap in 2023 would be the best-case scenario for the Chiefs, who are relying on him for a significant role in their defense. Kansas City selected McDuffie 21st overall in the 2022 draft with hopes of him becoming the team’s top cornerback.

Though McDuffie didn’t quite get to play a full season in 2022, he came into his own pretty quickly in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme after returning from injury in Week 9. The hope is that the confidence shown in the mic’d up clip will carry over into the season, and McDuffie will be able to build on a solid rookie campaign and solidify himself as the team’s top stud defensive back.

Chiefs safety Justin Reid more comfortable in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense heading into 2023

Safety Justin Reid said that there is a “night and day” difference in his comfortability in the #Chiefs defense at training camp.

Justin Reid played his first season in Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive system last year during the Kansas City Chiefs’ run to Super Bowl LVII. Like many newcomers to the veteran coordinator’s scheme, it took Reid some time to adjust.

This offseason, Reid has gained a step in his understanding of the playbook, and that has carried over to training camp for the 26-year-old safety. He talked to reporters after Saturday’s practice about his comfortability with Spagnuolo’s playbook.

“[It’s been] night and day,” Reid explained. “From training camp last year to this year, night and day on the speed of play – not out there thinking, just out there playing – knowing what all the responsibilities are, knowing [what] my teammates are doing, helping guys get organized, just go out the field and play. [There is] definitely, a learning curve to it. Some of the young guys, some of the new players are feeling that a little bit.”

Reid will continue getting Kansas City’s first and second-year defensive backs up to speed through the rest of the preseason. His newfound confidence is sure to inspire his teammates as they endeavor to defend the Chiefs’ championship title in 2023.

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