DBs who transfered from Iowa State

[AuH2O]

Young would have started here.

Not so sure, particularly if McDonald was still here.

Young and Freyler probably aren't suited to play either of the other safety positions. They could do it, but playing both probably limits what you can do. That position is very different from the other two S positions.

So you would have to be sure that he's going to beat out Freyler, because I think that's the only way he would've started. On the continuum between LB and CB skillset needs, the other two S positions need to be closer to CB skillsets. Young struggled in the passing game last year in the S position that demanded the least in the passing game by a significant margin. And I don't think Freyler would succeed in one of the other two safety spots either.

Are Young and Freyler better players than Verdon? I imagine so. But just because they are all S, doesn't mean the positions are the same.

The Clemson game was the most impressive performance by the ISU safeties playing in space, both in coverage and making tackles in space. The last time a Fr. on defense had a WOW game like Freyler had was Rose vs. Iowa.

 

[Billups06]

The secondary was not good last year and a big (not only) reason for 7-6.

Onward and upward.

As others have noted, Young struggled in coverage last year. Eisworth was an average cover safety too. Both were great against the run but I am hoping our secondary takes a step forward in coverage skills (and not give up too much against the run).

 

[jcyclonee]

I know it looked like we lost a ton of production from the secondary but I don't know that it was much of a loss. I always felt the secondary was soft last year and got beat more often than any other spot. Each individual has strengths and weaknesses but I think the combination of weaknesses in individuals added up to several big plays for opponents when we needed them the least.

That being said we did have one of the top defenses last year so maybe I just thought they were soft because the rest of the defense was so stout.

Our defense was weird last year. It was a terrific defense but had a couple of terrible games.

 

[Bipolarcy]

Still like Verdon and a couple of the freshman coming in though. Would’ve liked having him, but we do seem to have good options.

Campbell specifically mentioned Jeremiah Cooper last night during Coaches Corner when asked about newcomers who had popped during camp. Campbell rarely mentions anyone by name, especially freshmen, so he must be seeing some good things.

 

[Aclone]

That is some good info. Hard to believe it will not be more than a hiccup. Hard to believe there is not an unstated issue here.

Posted by username RonBurgundy. Seems legit.

 

[Aclone]

Opposing WRs would be mortified.

I think that you misspelled “gratified”.

Isheem couldn’t cover his grandmother with an afghan,

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Our defense was weird last year. It was a terrific defense but had a couple of terrible games.

They were the ones without Rose and it makes me nervous. He cleaned up a lot of @&#$.

 

[RustShack]

They were the ones without Rose and it makes me nervous. He cleaned up a lot of @&#$.

The defense struggled the games where the QB ran to the sideline for each play, so Heacock couldn’t read their signals.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Isheem was a stud. That one still stings a bit

He wasn't great in pass coverage. There's a reason he left. We got the better of the two.

 

[enisthemenace]

They were the ones without Rose and it makes me nervous. He cleaned up a lot of @&#$.

Not digging too deep, but Rose didn’t play in the bowl game and we held Clemson to one of their lowest offensive outputs all year.

 

[cyclone1209]

I think all the DBs who transferred from Iowa State are starting for their new teams except for one and he's the backup. Starters include Kym'mani King at Florida A&M, Virdel Edwards at Hawaii, Isheem Young at Ole Miss and Jordyn Morgan at UNLV. The only nonstarter is Craig McDonald at Auburn, who is second string, according to a just-released depth chart. That's a lot of DBs to lose for one team, but it doesn't even seem to be even a minor hiccup for us.

Craig McDonald being second string is all that’s wrong with the free agency portal. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. He was a lock to start at ISU

 

[cyfan92]

Craig McDonald being second string is all that’s wrong with the free agency portal. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. He was a lock to start at ISU

This is why I'm not overly concerned about the portal. There will be transfers, but enough kids will make mistakes and miss out on the true bag which is being drafted and playing in the NFL.

How many Auburn back-ups get drafted versus big-12 starters?

 

[enisthemenace]

Craig McDonald being second string is all that’s wrong with the free agency portal. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. He was a lock to start at ISU

I don’t know that he was a lock to start. Play a lot of minute? Yes, but I’m not going to go as far as saying “lock to start”.

 

[CascadeClone]

Our defense was weird last year. It was a terrific defense but had a couple of terrible games.

The Tech game was a total chaos surprise attack special. Tech had just fired their coach, changed to a running QB and totally altered their offense. They also had 2 weeks to prep iirc. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at ISU, and still needed turnovers and a 62 yard FG to win.

WV was a bit different. WV played HARD, they were mad about the year before and showed it. And ISU got really hurt by some "questionable" officiating as well.

 

[tyrelrobert]

Howard being on the depth chart as a true freshman is a really good sign.

 

[Klubber]

Yeah, and I don't know that he had the coverage skills to play the other spots.

Young regressed somewhat I felt from 2 seasons ago to last season. Maybe teams figured him out like some have speculated, but really safety play as a whole was at times terrible last year, which was a real headscratcher.

The Tech and WV games were really bad. I like our young DB's a lot, so I'm not really worried.

Freyler's going to be an absolute stud I think this season with some experience under his belt from last year.

 

[Klubber]

I know it looked like we lost a ton of production from the secondary but I don't know that it was much of a loss. I always felt the secondary was soft last year and got beat more often than any other spot. Each individual has strengths and weaknesses but I think the combination of weaknesses in individuals added up to several big plays for opponents when we needed them the least.

That being said we did have one of the top defenses last year so maybe I just thought they were soft because the rest of the defense was so stout.

You're not imagining it. Safety play was average last season, and at times just plain bad. Maybe guys were banged up, IDK...

 

[Klubber]

As others have noted, Young struggled in coverage last year. Eisworth was an average cover safety too. Both were great against the run but I am hoping our secondary takes a step forward in coverage skills (and not give up too much against the run).

It'd be nice to get some more picks as well.

 

[CyCloned]

It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the defensive backfield. As a casual observer it sure felt like a lot of the departures were not too long after Bloomfield was hired. Maybe just a coincidence, but it just feels like a move in a different direction caused some of the departures. So far the coaching staff has been talking the new guys up a lot. Let's see what happens when the bullets start flying.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Freyler is legit. Chambers can play as well. Verdon has been getting buzz for a while. We will be good.