CFBN.coms tips to building a team

[Oneshot]

Some of this is decent, but a lot of it is pure dreck.

Case In Point:

Linebackers - Athleticism over production. At no other position does the term "football player" apply more, but slow linebackers means death to a defense.

Cornerbacks - Speed, speed, speed, speed and speed. Technique can be taught, but if the corner can't stay with a fast receiver, the safety will need to provide more help and the defense will have some serious problems. Obviously everyone wants speed at defensive back, but if you have to find a relatively obscure high school receiver, quarterback or running back to get that speed, do it and hope you can teach him how to cover.

Everyone knows that athleticism is all that matters in a linebacker - especially over stupid things like PRODUCTION.

And Cornerbacks... Boy things like change of direction and instinct to break on the ball are nothing compared to speed first.

Jeez.

[Bestbuck36]

Yeah, no way I would take a Chris Spielman at LB'er, he's just not fast enough.

I would actually take the exact opposite as that article states with our S&C and speed coaches here.

[DrewBuckeye89]

First of all: Pure track speed is NOT the most necessary characteristic you look for in cornerback. Coaches who sit and crunch 40 times when looking for DB's are the ones who give up a lot of passing yards. Why? How many times do teams go deep over the course of a game? For most, not many, and with skilled safeties you can generally get by with a corner who is a step slower but with better technique.

I'm not saying teams should shoot for corners of Notre Dame-esque speed due to technique, but it is much better to have a corner who can operate all the dimensions of his position to perfection rather than having a speedy one that takes more work.

Lets look at one guy for example: Leon Hall. All Big Ten corner and arguably the best defensive player in the conference this year. Guess what? There's a bunch of corners that are faster than him, so why is he successful? He has good form, he's physical, and plays the various dimensions of his position better than most players.

In otherwords: I don't care if you can run Ted Ginn down, if you can't cover an open man, get physical, and get a good jump on the ball, you're dead worthless as a defensive back. Also: Speed can be greatly improved upon over the 4 year course of the average players career in college.

[jwinslow]

Lets look at one guy for example: Leon Hall. All Big Ten corner and arguably the best defensive player in the conference this year. Guess what? There's a bunch of corners that are faster than him, so why is he successful? He has good form, he's physical, and plays the various dimensions of his position better than most players.

I'd take King & Jenkins first anyday

[DrewBuckeye89]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

I'd take King & Jenkins first anyday

<--- Is a BIG fan of Jenkins. He has the potential to be an All-American next year.

[Flocka]

Originally Posted by DrewBuckeye89

<--- Is a BIG fan of Jenkins. He has the potential to be an All-American next year.

Most of us are.