Which program has the best secondary in CFB?
- Thread starter iowajerms
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2020
- Posts
- 6,575
- Reaction score
- 4,825
- Bookie:
- $ 1,000.00
Yeah, I think those are the top 2 units. I think Downs probably has more potential in terms of NFL upside, but it's tough to match what Watts did from a production standpoint. I think Watts and Ollie Gordon are the only unanimous All-Americans that are returning to CFB. Morrison might be the first CB taken in the draft next year. It's admittedly very close between the two, but I think those are the top 2.
I think ND and OSU could have the two best defenses this year in the country. ND will need it because I'm not sold on our offense.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2020
- Posts
- 6,575
- Reaction score
- 4,825
- Bookie:
- $ 1,000.00
Yeah, secondary and defense in general will be a huge strong point for ND. Golden's done a hell of a job in his two seasons as DC. Which is somewhat surprising. I wasn't all that thrilled with the hire at the time.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2020
- Posts
- 6,413
- Reaction score
- 6,449
- Bookie:
- $ 2,409.00
Very fair points. You could say either secondary is the best and be right, both of them are absolutely loaded with talent top to bottom. I'm really interested in seeing what ND does offensively with Riley Leonard though. If he's fully healthy they could take a huge step forward from last year. I'd love to see these two teams face off in the playoffs.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2020
- Posts
- 6,575
- Reaction score
- 4,825
- Bookie:
- $ 1,000.00
Agreed on the secondary. And yeah, me too about the offense. That's what it's going to come down to on how successful we are. Given the schedule we play, ND should make the CFP pretty easily. There's only 3 losable games IMO(A&M, FSU, and USC) and honestly, I think on paper we are better than all 3 given the losses for each of them.
Leonard is going to have to better than Hartman was last season, with probably a worse surrounding cast. Losing Alt, Fisher and Estime are huge losses. And Evans is coming off a torn ACL. There is talent, but just a lot of unknown. I'm curious how the new OC coming from LSU will do. It's easy when you have Daniels, Nabers and Thomas Jr. Not so much with what ND will be working with.
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2020
- Posts
- 10,843
- Reaction score
- 18,518
- Bookie:
- $ 3,475.00
Anybody Iowa has played over last few years.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2020
- Posts
- 6,413
- Reaction score
- 6,449
- Bookie:
- $ 2,409.00
I don't see A&M or FSU being losses. ND has a massive coaching advantage and the defense should easily get them through those two. USC, I'm actually bullish on this year. The biggest issue there has been defense and their new DC did amazing work at UCLA. They obviously have talent so I think they could surprise this year.
Leonard's mobility will be a difference-maker for ND IMO. I also like the Love/Price backfield duo. Might not be the most explosive offense but I think it can be effective against most teams you'll face. It'd take a massive collapse for ND not to be in the CFP, for sure.
Clemson can repeat if Shelton Lewis takes a step to pair with Aveion Terrell and Khalil Barnes
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2020
- Posts
- 6,575
- Reaction score
- 4,825
- Bookie:
- $ 1,000.00
Yeah, we should beat A&M and FSU based on paper, but Freeman's taken some bad losses in his two years. USC is a complete unknown to me. I think they'll be better on defense, but no Caleb and the Oline still concerns me for them. ND just hammered them last year. Their schedule is also insane, so how much do they have left and do they have anything to play for in game #12? If they have 4/5 losses by that game, I can see it going sideways. I'd love to see them finish 7-5/6-6. Lol.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2020
- Posts
- 6,413
- Reaction score
- 6,449
- Bookie:
- $ 2,409.00
Freeman has had his own growing pains for sure, but I think he's rounding into form as a coach. He's killing it from a recruiting standpoint and has brought in some nice pieces in the portal - I like putting Beaux Collins with Riley in that offense, always been a fan of his potential.
I think losing Caleb will not be a big deal for USC. He was thoroughly unimpressive down the stretch last year once their schedule actually got tough. Miller Moss is no slouch either, I think they could be really good. They could have 4/5 losses but I could also see 10-2.
fordman84
Administrator
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2020
- Posts
- 43,704
- Reaction score
- 79,682
- Bookie:
- $ 138,398.00
You need new paper or some reading glasses, yo.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2020
- Posts
- 10,031
- Reaction score
- 13,350
- Bookie:
- $ 1,342.00
I can say with 100% certainty that it is NOT LSU.....
Me thinks this depends on two factors.
1. Schedule - if the schedule is full of teams that can't throw it in the ocean if they are standing on the dock, then the secondary will look super duper. If the schedule is full of good chunkers and catchers, then......................
2. Pass rush - If a secondary is blessed with a bunch of MFers up front then............................ If their pass rushing sucks and the secondary has to hold up for 10+ seconds, then............................
I know, those two things are "duhs" as my grandkids tell me. But when people start using defensive passing stats...............
1. Schedule - if the schedule is full of teams that can't throw it in the ocean if they are standing on the dock, then the secondary will look super duper. If the schedule is full of good chunkers and catchers, then......................
2. Pass rush - If a secondary is blessed with a bunch of MFers up front then............................ If their pass rushing sucks and the secondary has to hold up for 10+ seconds, then............................
I know, those two things are "duhs" as my grandkids tell me. But when people start using defensive passing stats...............
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2020
- Posts
- 8,436
- Reaction score
- 6,877
- Bookie:
- $ 1,000.00
I will use your post to put this out there ... responding to the thread in general, not your post specifically.
On3 did a deep dive into position group rankings for 2023. The ranked Coaches, QB, RB, OL, DL/Edge, LB, CB, and S rankings.
With regard to this thread, here is what they had for CB - S, which is what you guys are calling the "secondary." These are teams that were ranked in both categories.
Team - CB/S
tOSU - 1/2
Iowa - 3/1
ND - 6/4
Ore - 2/8
UGA - 8/3
UM - 4/-
The original post that this thread is based on left off UGA, and had UM in it. Per On3, UM is 4th in CB, not listed for Safety.
I'll post my compilation of the position groups later today or tomorrow when I get some time.
2024 Top 10 Safety Unit Rankings: Iowa touts best tandem, but Ohio State, Georgia have star headliners
Big Ten foes Iowa and Ohio State have two of the Top 10 safety units in 2024, with Georgia, Notre Dame and Penn State rounding out the Top 5.
2024 Top 10 Cornerback Unit Rankings: Ohio State claims the top spot with Oregon, Iowa and Michigan in the mix
Ohio State, which had the best pass defense in the country in 2023, has the best cornerback unit in the nation in 2024.