Going to hop back and forth from offense to defense. So for this week we'll focus on the defensive secondary. I was going to do all DBs but I'll break apart corners and safeties for the sake on a post that isn't a mile long.
The DBs we have on the roster, some show safety some show corner. I think a few were moved or at least tried out other positions in spring camp so there's a bit of guesswork here.
S: Matt Hermanson, Bo Tully, Steven Rominger, Kendrick Van Ackeren, Herbert Gamboa, Justin Whitted, Jake Dellaserra
Projected Depth
Starters: Hermanson (Junior), Tully (Senior)
Backup: Rominger (Senior) OR Whitted (Sophomore), Gamboa (Sophomore)
Depth: Van Ackeren (Sophomore), Dellaserra (Sophomore), DeBruyker (Sophomore)
Redshirt: new DB recruits (Parker, McKinley, Strahm)
Strengths/Weaknesses
Matt Hermanson - Hermey has a great 2nd half of 2011 which had a lot of Griz nation expecting even more in 2012. However that just never happened. With the sudden pressure of losing Tru/Roots/Lisowski to help in coverage Hermey struggled. Add in injuries that he played through (a broken bone in his foot plus a rumored onoging hip issue) and it just didn't turn out to be a year of improvement. He's worked his way back this spring to better health. If we get the 2011 Hermey that showed great ability to make plays in zone coverage we'll be ok here. If we see more of 2012 Hermey he'll lose his spot as a starter soon. Tackling is ok but not great. Matt
Bo Tully - The egriz whipping boy, Bo was the one guy offenses could successfully pick on in 2011 and then again in 2012 he didn't show good improvement. He's shown play-making abilities with some nice interceptions but far too often in the past he looked lost on the field. He had issues deciding to chase scrambling QBs or drop into coverage, he had taken bad angles on tackles, he attempted way too many arm tackles, and many times he'd dive head-first at a ball carriers feet thus taking his eyes off the player. So with such a scathing review of the last 2 years, why on earth do I project him the starter? For now Bo brings experience and speed plus he's the largest of our safeties. He had a quiet spring in the scrimmages with not as many noticeable errors. I'm hoping the mix of a new position coach, his senior year, and going up against JJ in practice will help him improve. Compared to Hermey he's on even more thin ice to lose his job, Whitted and Gamboa could challenge him.
Steven Rominger - The guy that's been on the team the longest, one of the few remaining Hauck recruits from the 2009 class. Steven is a guy that works hard in practice, plays hard on special teams, and is sound in coverage on defense. He's not flashy and doesn't make as many plays on the ball or force as many turnovers. Unfortunately for him he's been lost in the shuffle of team politics which wedges him between other upper-classmen, prior Pflu recruits, and incoming Delaney kids. Steven played well in backup time and I expect they'll give him the same role again this year. ST is where he'll probably make the best mark. He might be the hardest hitter of all the safeties.
Herbert Gamboa - Forced into playing in 2012 Gamboa didn't make a big splash but got some good time. In the spring scrimmages he had a few interceptions that I saw and you can see his speed on display as he's very quick to turn and make plays on passes. He's still rough around the edges, gets caught on his heels a bit too much and gets pushed around in run-support. I consider 2013 his ramp-up year into a chance to start in 2014.
Justin Whitted - Returned to the team after taking 2012 off Whitted make a quick impression on me as he made a few picks (one on JJ) in the scrimmages. He was hitting hard and playing well. However I believe an injury sidelined him in the last 1/3 of spring ball... I don't recall him playing in the last scrimmage. Whitted strikes me as more of Mike McCord/Colt Anderson guy that would rather be hitting and knocking guys around than playing the pass to try for an interception. GoGriz.com lists him as a corner but I'm pretty sure he played safety the whole time he was out there in the spring.
Kendrick Van Ackeren - Once hailed as the hope for the secondary I listed him as depth support only. Why would I do that? Because I believe Kendrick may move to be 2nd string OLB this fall camp. Van Ackeren was pretty quiet in the first two scrimmages as a safety. He was stuck in the 2s/3s and wasn't challenging to get looks with the 1s. Then linebacker depth issues came up and he moved to backup as an outside linebacker. In the 3rd scrimmage with a few 'backers out and resting Van Ackeren was inserted all over an an LB and made a ton of plays, if I recall he had double-digit tackles. I think he'll be kept as a reserve safety but nothing more - LB will be his focus.
Jake Dellaserra - Moved to safety last year. Jake will probably get some shots for ST this year but I don't see much more. The safey position is top-heavy with upperclassmen right now, come 2014/15 lets see if Jake can break through.
Adam DeBruyker - Another guy kind of waiting for a chance. ST options, probably not much more this year. Wasn't he out all of last year with an injury? I don't recall much from him.
Zach Gratton - I didn't list on the depth b/c he was playing mostly corner this spring and I'll bet he stays there
The DBs we have on the roster, some show safety some show corner. I think a few were moved or at least tried out other positions in spring camp so there's a bit of guesswork here.
S: Matt Hermanson, Bo Tully, Steven Rominger, Kendrick Van Ackeren, Herbert Gamboa, Justin Whitted, Jake Dellaserra
Projected Depth
Starters: Hermanson (Junior), Tully (Senior)
Backup: Rominger (Senior) OR Whitted (Sophomore), Gamboa (Sophomore)
Depth: Van Ackeren (Sophomore), Dellaserra (Sophomore), DeBruyker (Sophomore)
Redshirt: new DB recruits (Parker, McKinley, Strahm)
Strengths/Weaknesses
Matt Hermanson - Hermey has a great 2nd half of 2011 which had a lot of Griz nation expecting even more in 2012. However that just never happened. With the sudden pressure of losing Tru/Roots/Lisowski to help in coverage Hermey struggled. Add in injuries that he played through (a broken bone in his foot plus a rumored onoging hip issue) and it just didn't turn out to be a year of improvement. He's worked his way back this spring to better health. If we get the 2011 Hermey that showed great ability to make plays in zone coverage we'll be ok here. If we see more of 2012 Hermey he'll lose his spot as a starter soon. Tackling is ok but not great. Matt
Bo Tully - The egriz whipping boy, Bo was the one guy offenses could successfully pick on in 2011 and then again in 2012 he didn't show good improvement. He's shown play-making abilities with some nice interceptions but far too often in the past he looked lost on the field. He had issues deciding to chase scrambling QBs or drop into coverage, he had taken bad angles on tackles, he attempted way too many arm tackles, and many times he'd dive head-first at a ball carriers feet thus taking his eyes off the player. So with such a scathing review of the last 2 years, why on earth do I project him the starter? For now Bo brings experience and speed plus he's the largest of our safeties. He had a quiet spring in the scrimmages with not as many noticeable errors. I'm hoping the mix of a new position coach, his senior year, and going up against JJ in practice will help him improve. Compared to Hermey he's on even more thin ice to lose his job, Whitted and Gamboa could challenge him.
Steven Rominger - The guy that's been on the team the longest, one of the few remaining Hauck recruits from the 2009 class. Steven is a guy that works hard in practice, plays hard on special teams, and is sound in coverage on defense. He's not flashy and doesn't make as many plays on the ball or force as many turnovers. Unfortunately for him he's been lost in the shuffle of team politics which wedges him between other upper-classmen, prior Pflu recruits, and incoming Delaney kids. Steven played well in backup time and I expect they'll give him the same role again this year. ST is where he'll probably make the best mark. He might be the hardest hitter of all the safeties.
Herbert Gamboa - Forced into playing in 2012 Gamboa didn't make a big splash but got some good time. In the spring scrimmages he had a few interceptions that I saw and you can see his speed on display as he's very quick to turn and make plays on passes. He's still rough around the edges, gets caught on his heels a bit too much and gets pushed around in run-support. I consider 2013 his ramp-up year into a chance to start in 2014.
Justin Whitted - Returned to the team after taking 2012 off Whitted make a quick impression on me as he made a few picks (one on JJ) in the scrimmages. He was hitting hard and playing well. However I believe an injury sidelined him in the last 1/3 of spring ball... I don't recall him playing in the last scrimmage. Whitted strikes me as more of Mike McCord/Colt Anderson guy that would rather be hitting and knocking guys around than playing the pass to try for an interception. GoGriz.com lists him as a corner but I'm pretty sure he played safety the whole time he was out there in the spring.
Kendrick Van Ackeren - Once hailed as the hope for the secondary I listed him as depth support only. Why would I do that? Because I believe Kendrick may move to be 2nd string OLB this fall camp. Van Ackeren was pretty quiet in the first two scrimmages as a safety. He was stuck in the 2s/3s and wasn't challenging to get looks with the 1s. Then linebacker depth issues came up and he moved to backup as an outside linebacker. In the 3rd scrimmage with a few 'backers out and resting Van Ackeren was inserted all over an an LB and made a ton of plays, if I recall he had double-digit tackles. I think he'll be kept as a reserve safety but nothing more - LB will be his focus.
Jake Dellaserra - Moved to safety last year. Jake will probably get some shots for ST this year but I don't see much more. The safey position is top-heavy with upperclassmen right now, come 2014/15 lets see if Jake can break through.
Adam DeBruyker - Another guy kind of waiting for a chance. ST options, probably not much more this year. Wasn't he out all of last year with an injury? I don't recall much from him.
Zach Gratton - I didn't list on the depth b/c he was playing mostly corner this spring and I'll bet he stays there
) I agree 100% with this post. A starting safety is more of a need than a backup linebacker at this point.
