Pre-camp U of L football preview: defensive backs
With preseason camp set to start on Tuesday, college football is so close we can taste it.
So, with that in mind, we'll review each Louisville football position group over the next eight days. We started with special teams, and we're now working through the defense before finishing with the offense. Once camp gets going, we'll be updating our U of L page like crazy, and the closer the season gets, we'll review each opponent on the schedule.
The goal with this series is to give a snapshot of each position group -- who's coming back and who's new, if there's a fight for a position and what kind of ability the position group has.
Today, we move on to the defensive backs, a group that has two reliable and recognizable names and a lot of guys who have work to do.
Positions involved
Cornerback, free safety, strong safety
Where the units ranked nationally last year
Scoring defense - 12.2 points per game (2nd)
Total defense - 251.5 yards per game (1st)
Rushing defense - 80.7 yards per game (1st)
Passing defense - 170.8 yards per game (5th)
Sacks - 43; 3.3 per game (2nd)
Tackles for loss - 102; 7.8 per game (7th)
Takeaways - 27; 16 interceptions, 11 fumbles (23rd)
Passes broken up - 46 (50th)
Passes defended - 62 (42nd)
Who's returning
CB/S Terell Floyd, Sr.; CB Charles Gaines, Jr.; CB Andrew Johnson, Sr.; CB Kevin Houchins, Soph.; FS Gerod Holliman, Jr.; FS Richard Benjamin, R-Fr.; SS Jarrod Barnes, Soph.; SS Chucky Williams, R-Fr.; SS Terrence Ross, R-Fr.; CB DeVontre Parnell, R-Soph.; CB/S Jermaine Reve, R-Jr.
Who's new
S James Sample, Jr.; CB Zykiesis Cannon, Fr.; CB De'Eric Culver, Fr.; CB Trumaine Washington, Fr.;
Any position battles?
That all depends on where coach Bobby Petrino and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham use Floyd, an experienced corner who is now taking reps at safety because of that position's weakness. I would say both safety spots are up for grabs, and if Floyd moves to safety full-time, then the corner spot he vacates will be hotly contested between Johnson, Houchins, Parnell, Cannon, Culver and Washington.
What to expect
The most honest answer to give to the expectations question with this group is that you shouldn't set your bar too high. That's not to disparage the players here, but beyond Floyd and Gaines, two veteran corners with big-game experience and solid stats to prove their worth, depth is a major problem in Louisville's secondary.
The safety positions have been the No. 1 concern for Petrino since he arrived in January. It's bad enough that anyone has to replace long-time starters Calvin Pryor and Hakeem Smith, who are both NFL safeties now, but add the inexperience of and questions about the potential replacements, and Louisville really needs someone to break out in August.
Louisville seeking out and signing two big-name safety transfers in James Sample and Josh Harvey-Clemons this off-season is a pretty clear indication of how the staff feels about its current options. As of Monday, Sample still hadn't registered for classes at Louisville, despite the school announcing his signing in April. Meanwhile Harvey-Clemons isn't eligible until next year because he transferred from another Division I school.
Instead, Louisville's essentially riding the roller coaster this fall. The second-team safeties were gashed by the Cards' first-team offense in the spring game, and the first-team safeties didn't do much to separate themselves, either. That's why Floyd is taking reps there and no starter has really been named at strong safety. (This is a good place to note that expected starting safety Jermaine Reve, who was a regular at slot corner last fall, hurt his knee in the spring and is out indefinitely. Thanks to reader Rick Willis for reminding me.)
At cornerback, Gaines had five picks last year and is considered one of the best in the ACC. If Floyd stays there, U of L will be set at its starting spots, and can move Johnson, a senior, into the slot corner spot, where he'd likely rotate with Houchins and some impressive incoming freshmen in Cannon, Culver and Washington.
The bottom line here is that Louisville's secondary, especially if its defensive line struggles in the early parts of the season, could have some serious problems this fall. Petrino's acknowledged as much, so this isn't exactly a revelation. The Cards may need to simply outscore teams like Clemson or Notre Dame if they want to pull off road upsets. They'll have five weeks of games to prepare for Clemson's high-powered passing game, and Notre Dame is the 11th game of the season, so there's hope if you're Louisville that a cohesive unit will have emerged by then.
Why is the safety problem such a big concern for Louisville? In a 3-4 scheme, so much can go awry if the defensive line is neutralized. Just go back and watch Alabama crush Notre Dame's 3-4 in the 2013 BCS title game. The edge rushers are picked up or pushed north-south and past the pocket. The middle linebackers are blocked at the second level by guards or the center, and the down linemen are neutralized. That sets up big-time running gains, and it forces the safeties to come down and help on the run.
Pinching them in like that puts a safety in a virtually impossible position of trying to stay responsible for passes to the sidelines or downfield, and still come up and make sure tackles before a running back gets too much yardage. It's a pick-your-poison situation for your safeties, and it's not a spot any defensive coach wants to be in.
Previous position previews:Special teams | defensive line | linebackers
Tomorrow's position preview: Offensive line