In the final installment of “Survival of the Defense” I take a look at the UCLA Football defensive backs and if they can survive losing two of their top starters from last season.
For a few years now we’ve been hearing one of the strengths of this UCLA Football team is the defensive backfield.
Even with the Bruins losing major contributors at four different positions, this unit remains a strength of the team.
UCLA has experienced and talented guys returning this year, not to mention one of the most talented defensive backs they’ve ever recruited is already taking part in spring practice.
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Who’s Gone: Fabian Moreau, Marcus Rios, Randall Goforth, Tahaan Goodman
Who’s New: Darnay Holmes, Quentin Lake, Morell Osling, Jaylan Shaw, Elijah Gates
Breakdown:
This unit dealt with an early shakeup during spring when potential starting corner John Johnson abruptly left school with the intention to transfer and play as a graduate student elsewhere. The move was a surprise given that this staff really seemed to like the talent Johnson has and he was in line to start this season.
That alone can speak to a volume of things about which I can only speculate. Head coach Jim Mora made comments about academics but you also have to wonder if Johnson saw the writing on the wall.
Freshman Holmes has been very impressive in his limited spring run and will push for playing time. Throughout his time at UCLA, Johnson had battled the injury bug and perhaps he was nudged in a certain direction by the coaching staff.
Either way the projected four starters have the talent to make this one of the best secondaries in the country and that is no homer comment.
Nate Meadors will start on one side. Meadors is physical almost to a fault. Except he gets right up to that line and then pushes you back away from it. He is now the number one corner for the Bruins and as a junior he has been battle tested. While he can run with almost anyone in the PAC-12 and has good ball skills, he can be a bit grabby which will occasionally draw some laundry.
Opposite him it seems as though Denzel Fisher will get the nod. While he hasn’t had the best time on the field for the Bruins, he hasn’t been deployed in ways that suit his strengths. Another long corner, Fisher thrives when he’s allowed to press his man at the line. UCLA has often lined him up seven to eight yards off the ball forcing him to react rather than dictate the action. Fisher has been impressive this spring from reports and he would give the Bruins another long corner that can re-route receivers at the line.
Survival of the Defense-DB’s (cont.)
Jaleel Wadood is and has been the starting free safety almost since his freshman year. His ability to plan centerfield gives the Bruins the ability to bring extra rushers and get creative with their defense (although I’ll be the first to admit they often don’t take full advantage of this). While Wadood is rangy and the vocal leader of the back end he can be subject to blown assignments.
Case in point, against Utah last season Wadood was the single high deep safety on a third and one. The Bruins showed man coverage outside and zone underneath. Wadood tried to cheat over to go with the motion shown by Utah despite it being man and was out of position when Utah RB Joe Williams burst through the line for a score. A very poor mistake to make coming from someone with as much experience as Wadood. That is just one example of how his freelancing can backfire against this defense.
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Wadood is also on the small side for a defensive back. Listed at 5’9 185 lbs. Wadood is not the guy you want in jump ball situations or have take a RB head on at the line of scrimmage. He looks bigger than in years past and if he can play at the same speed with more bulk it only bodes well for him.
Adarius Pickett has seen spot duty the past two years on defense and been an ace on special teams but it seems every time he’s in a game he makes plays. That type of production in limited appearances will likely earn him a starting spot at strong safety. A big hitter with above average coverage ability Pickett has gotta be my man crush in this secondary and in my opinion should have been starting last season.
I’ll explain that last sentence. Last year Tahaan Goodman and Randall Goforth were good players for the Bruins and they have for four years. However Goforth could be a liability in coverage and missed tackles in the run game. Goodman suffered from the same problems and didn’t offer the ability to return punts the way Goforth could. Pickett looks to have a higher ceiling than both. He at the very least has a higher floor.
When the Bruins go five defensive backs in their nickel package, and I do consider this a starting position, look for freshman Darnay Holmes to be on the field. His athletic prowess wasn’t exaggerated and he’s been sticky in coverage from camp reports. It takes a special kind of defensive back to play nickel and I expect Holmes to excel at it.
Depth at Defensive Back
UCLA has collected quite the back stock of talent the past few recruiting cycles thanks to Coach Demetrice Martin.
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The Bruins are now in a position where the two deep will be filled with guys who can step in and there be little to no drop off.
Colin Samuel has the length, speed and athleticism to be a top corner in this program but has been unable to put it all together in his time. His development has been slower than I or the coaching staff hoped for.
Keyon Riley would be the fourth corner on this team. His length and physicality make him a natural man corner and he has enough speed to stick with guys. He isn’t a quick twitch guy in my opinion, so if he has to line up in the slot I worry about him versus the shiftier guys.
Octavius Spencer and Will Lockett are two guys that will see some time in dime packages or to spell any of the starting safeties. Both are rangy hitters with some ball skills but neither a starting centerfielder as far as what their ceiling can be. Both will be in the conversation to push for starting spots next year.
Next: UCLA Football: Survival of the Defense-Linebackers
When the freshmen arrive I wouldn’t be surprised to see this two deep get a little bit of a shakeup.