Guesses on if Isiahia Banks loses his redshirt this week

[RABIDAWG]

Next man/men up! Ought to be a helluva week of practice.

 

[PlayerRep]

Question: Is it "easy" for a kid who's never played safety at the college level (Crow) to just step in and play safety? Are there different responsibilities/assignments related to various defensive schemes he must know and be familiar with? Does it set us up for more DB miscommunication in a scenario like that? Wouldn't it make more sense to have Banks play?

I'm asking because I never played the game past 9th grade.

No, it would not be easy to start playing safety at the college level, with one week of practice. A player redshirting at safety would be in a much better position. Playing high school safety would help, but it's likely quite different in college, depending on the high school and the defensive scheme in high school. A physical corner could move to safety, but it would take time to learn, adjust, learn the defenses (and have immediate reactions). Many safeties could not move to corner, because they aren't quick and fast enough, or skilled enough, to cover in man. I think changing positions isn't easy and it takes time to adjust, even if the player has the right skills. Communication problems? Yup. Also, just not knowing the defenses well enough to get in the right place, make adjustments and react properly would be hard.

If the team is without a starting safety and starting corner, positions where depth has already been hurt, that is not good news.

 

[Griz90]

Freshman safety Michael McGinnis was told a couple weeks ago to be ready because he might be called up this season. I sure hope we don't have to burn any redshirts.

 

[bgbigdog]

If they haven’t reached the part of the season where it’s all-hands-on-deck, I’m missing something. If the kid can play - get him ready.

 

[Grisly Fan]

Question: Is it "easy" for a kid who's never played safety at the college level (Crow) to just step in and play safety? Are there different responsibilities/assignments related to various defensive schemes he must know and be familiar with? Does it set us up for more DB miscommunication in a scenario like that? Wouldn't it make more sense to have Banks play?

I'm asking because I never played the game past 9th grade.

No, it would not be easy to start playing safety at the college level, with one week of practice. A player redshirting at safety would be in a much better position. Playing high school safety would help, but it's likely quite different in college, depending on the high school and the defensive scheme in high school. A physical corner could move to safety, but it would take time to learn, adjust, learn the defenses (and have immediate reactions). Many safeties could not move to corner, because they aren't quick and fast enough, or skilled enough, to cover in man. I think changing positions isn't easy and it takes time to adjust, even if the player has the right skills. Communication problems? Yup. Also, just not knowing the defenses well enough to get in the right place, make adjustments and react properly would be hard.

If the team is without a starting safety and starting corner, positions where depth has already been hurt, that is not good news.

What this hurts most is trust in the defensive backfield. When there is a possible weakness other players try to cheat to help which results in poor assignment integrity. We have seen this in the Griz's recent past. The D was really starting to function because most players were making the plays that they should so trust was building and assignments being kept. Now... well who knows.

 

[Griz til I die]

Freshman safety Michael McGinnis was told a couple weeks ago to be ready because he might be called up this season. I sure hope we don't have to burn any redshirts.

If Strong is out this week, Epperly will start. If they have to burn a redshirt, they’ll burn Banks’. Banks is better than McGinnis IMO.

 

[cmtgrizzly]

I hope they dont burn any redshirts. Thankfully Stitt seems pretty committed to redshirting kids. However, I am sure he feels the pressure to be successful this year to preserve his and probably moreso Semore's jobs and may make a decision swayed by that. In my opinion it would be a mistake. Stitt has done a good job recruiting and has an overall plan for development of the talent available that he feels best fits our future success and I hope he can stick to it. We arent winning a championship this year but hopefully we will be in position to do so in the not too distant future as our drop downs and transfers give way to our developing younger talent.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I hope they dont burn any redshirts. Thankfully Stitt seems pretty committed to redshirting kids. However, I am sure he feels the pressure to be successful this year to preserve his and probably moreso Semore's jobs and may make a decision swayed by that. In my opinion it would be a mistake. Stitt has done a good job recruiting and has an overall plan for development of the talent available that he feels best fits our future success and I hope he can stick to it. We arent winning a championship this year but hopefully we will be in position to do so in the not too distant future as our drop downs and transfers give way to our developing younger talent.

If he loses a couple games from being stubborn about pulling redshirts, HE won't be around here to see the championships through...

 

[mtgrizfankb]

I thought Delaney was the backup to Strong?

Blew out his knee jumping up and down celebrating a tackle on special teams

 

[AZGrizFan]

Question: Is it "easy" for a kid who's never played safety at the college level (Crow) to just step in and play safety? Are there different responsibilities/assignments related to various defensive schemes he must know and be familiar with? Does it set us up for more DB miscommunication in a scenario like that? Wouldn't it make more sense to have Banks play?

I'm asking because I never played the game past 9th grade.

No, it would not be easy to start playing safety at the college level, with one week of practice. A player redshirting at safety would be in a much better position. Playing high school safety would help, but it's likely quite different in college, depending on the high school and the defensive scheme in high school. A physical corner could move to safety, but it would take time to learn, adjust, learn the defenses (and have immediate reactions). Many safeties could not move to corner, because they aren't quick and fast enough, or skilled enough, to cover in man. I think changing positions isn't easy and it takes time to adjust, even if the player has the right skills. Communication problems? Yup. Also, just not knowing the defenses well enough to get in the right place, make adjustments and react properly would be hard.

If the team is without a starting safety and starting corner, positions where depth has already been hurt, that is not good news.

Thanks, PR. That is exactly what I suspected. Then again, having never played the game, it was a total guess.

 

[cmtgrizzly]

I hope they dont burn any redshirts. Thankfully Stitt seems pretty committed to redshirting kids. However, I am sure he feels the pressure to be successful this year to preserve his and probably moreso Semore's jobs and may make a decision swayed by that. In my opinion it would be a mistake. Stitt has done a good job recruiting and has an overall plan for development of the talent available that he feels best fits our future success and I hope he can stick to it. We arent winning a championship this year but hopefully we will be in position to do so in the not too distant future as our drop downs and transfers give way to our developing younger talent.

If he loses a couple games from being stubborn about pulling redshirts, HE won't be around here to see the championships through...

That very well may be his line of thinking as well. Though I think he is here one more year regardless of this years results. Ask me again if we lose to Cats and go 1-3 or 0-4 and I probably change my tune. I guess my point is I am much more concerned with next year than this year. I still hope we do well this year and beat the cats and make the playoffs I just think next year will be a true judgment year for Stitt. Semore has a little less leash.

 

[Ringneck]

If they haven’t reached the part of the season where it’s all-hands-on-deck, I’m missing something. If the kid can play - get him ready.

:thumb: Agreed, 100%.

 

[AZDoc]

If they haven’t reached the part of the season where it’s all-hands-on-deck, I’m missing something. If the kid can play - get him ready.

:thumb: Agreed, 100%.

Yep, that's what I was thinking. I know depth was really the issue, not starters, but both starters have been beaten up at times (no pun intended). I'd bet they were just hoping to sneak through the season with what they had, knowing next year was better off. I feel that needs to be all hands though.

 

[indian-outlaw]

I hope they dont burn any redshirts. Thankfully Stitt seems pretty committed to redshirting kids. However, I am sure he feels the pressure to be successful this year to preserve his and probably moreso Semore's jobs and may make a decision swayed by that. In my opinion it would be a mistake. Stitt has done a good job recruiting and has an overall plan for development of the talent available that he feels best fits our future success and I hope he can stick to it. We arent winning a championship this year but hopefully we will be in position to do so in the not too distant future as our drop downs and transfers give way to our developing younger talent.

If he loses a couple games from being stubborn about pulling redshirts, HE won't be around here to see the championships through...

I'm afraid this is true. I'm with Mike Bobo, Tyrone Willingham, Lou Holtz and many others who don't believe in redshirting anyone. There are certainly times to redshirt a maturing kid but by and large play them when they are ready instead of speculating on the future.

 

[hilinegrizfan]

I thought Delaney was the backup to Strong?

Blew out his knee jumping up and down celebrating a tackle on special teams

i saw that happen in real time... cmon man...

 

[cmtgrizzly]

I hope they dont burn any redshirts. Thankfully Stitt seems pretty committed to redshirting kids. However, I am sure he feels the pressure to be successful this year to preserve his and probably moreso Semore's jobs and may make a decision swayed by that. In my opinion it would be a mistake. Stitt has done a good job recruiting and has an overall plan for development of the talent available that he feels best fits our future success and I hope he can stick to it. We arent winning a championship this year but hopefully we will be in position to do so in the not too distant future as our drop downs and transfers give way to our developing younger talent.

If he loses a couple games from being stubborn about pulling redshirts, HE won't be around here to see the championships through...

I'm afraid this is true. I'm with Mike Bobo, Tyrone Willingham, Lou Holtz and many others who don't believe in redshirting anyone. There are certainly times to redshirt a maturing kid but by and large play them when they are ready instead of speculating on the future.

Exactly which is why they are redshirting. He thinks they are not ready yet for whatever reason. They would only play now due to injury.

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

So is it not going to be handled until they know the actual facts?

Or can they just keep him out until they figure out what happened?

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

Question: Is it "easy" for a kid who's never played safety at the college level (Crow) to just step in and play safety? Are there different responsibilities/assignments related to various defensive schemes he must know and be familiar with? Does it set us up for more DB miscommunication in a scenario like that? Wouldn't it make more sense to have Banks play?

I'm asking because I never played the game past 9th grade.

No, it would not be easy to start playing safety at the college level, with one week of practice. A player redshirting at safety would be in a much better position. Playing high school safety would help, but it's likely quite different in college, depending on the high school and the defensive scheme in high school. A physical corner could move to safety, but it would take time to learn, adjust, learn the defenses (and have immediate reactions). Many safeties could not move to corner, because they aren't quick and fast enough, or skilled enough, to cover in man. I think changing positions isn't easy and it takes time to adjust, even if the player has the right skills. Communication problems? Yup. Also, just not knowing the defenses well enough to get in the right place, make adjustments and react properly would be hard.

If the team is without a starting safety and starting corner, positions where depth has already been hurt, that is not good news.

What this hurts most is trust in the defensive backfield. When there is a possible weakness other players try to cheat to help which results in poor assignment integrity. We have seen this in the Griz's recent past. The D was really starting to function because most players were making the plays that they should so trust was building and assignments being kept. Now... well who knows.

Also most of the time your safety makes the calls for the secondary when the coach sends them in from the sideline.

The biggest difference besides the communication is mainly two things:

1) When the other team runs the ball you find yourself in many more 1 on 1 head on plays than you would at corner or really any other position....and by that I mean that the runner is usually out of the pile or garbage and its just you and them 1 on 1....angles are huge.

2) In pass coverage you are constantly in SPACE, which sounds strange but to some players that aren't used to playing safety can feel really weird. Generally corners are mirroring or tracking their assigned player or players in the zone. At safety you can see everything happening in front of you and its difficult to process the movements in front of you while also not letting anything behind.

It can be difficult for some..others embrace it.

 

[Ursus1]

I hope they dont burn any redshirts. Thankfully Stitt seems pretty committed to redshirting kids. However, I am sure he feels the pressure to be successful this year to preserve his and probably moreso Semore's jobs and may make a decision swayed by that. In my opinion it would be a mistake. Stitt has done a good job recruiting and has an overall plan for development of the talent available that he feels best fits our future success and I hope he can stick to it. We arent winning a championship this year but hopefully we will be in position to do so in the not too distant future as our drop downs and transfers give way to our developing younger talent.

If he loses a couple games from being stubborn about pulling redshirts, HE won't be around here to see the championships through...

Agree....better worry about 2017. Anything that can get him to playoffs must be done.....or he like will just leave a better stocked cupboard for next coach

 

[krammer]

anyone who has ever played safety knows that zone defense can be a problem....just look at the u of northern colorado game last year.....trusting your eyes, knowing your zones, when to pass off your man, trusting the fellow next to you to do their job......that is why man to man is way easier to learn and play....problem is, to man up, you must have the better athletes, even then must change it up frequently...then there is a combination zone or spy or a horizontal zone, or vertical zone, or man to man with zone combination......its complicated, p.r would know about all the various schemes the d/b's practice every day. strong was the glue imo to all of this...... it is not just react and tackle, although that is really important too ....it is a huge learning curve.