Next Year's Secondary??

Will Cassidy be our peso back next year?
I would be very surprised if we stick with the Peso defense going into the B10. We may see it occasionally but it will not be our base defense.
Absolutely. I was planning on doing a series of "better know an opponent" stories in the offseason for the Big 10. The Big 12 is more of a speed-based finesse league than the Big 10. We'll likely go back to a base 4-3 defense for the majority of our games in the Big 10, with the Peso thrown in against spread teams like Michigan (presuming RichRod is still there).

 
We have a lot of unproven guys, but they are all athletically up to the challenge (did you see the hit Osborne laid on KSU's back last week?) and they also fly around the field just as well as our starters. The big difference, however, is experience and making the right reads which is always the tough part.

Next year, our defensive line and linebacking corp should be the strength of our team given that we will have Steinkuhler, Meredith, probably Crick, Whaley, David, Compton, and Martin all back. In 2009 a strong defensive line helped our secondary (which wasn't great in 2008) become one of the best in the nation. I expect the front seven to ease the new starters in the secondary into the game.

Plus, if things keep going in conference play like they have been, we can expect to see a lot of players get valuable PT.

 
Personally, as far as newer recruits go, I think if Ciante can step in this year there certainly a great chance for Tevin Mitchell or(fingers crossed) a Charles Jackson to come in next year and get some serious PT. As Far as Dennard goes, he'll be back unless the NFL Labor talks turn from their current course. With the threat of the strike I would be absolutely shocked if Dennard or Crick jump ship early.

 
It's gonna be a very different defensive back four/five next year. Think comparable to 2008, but hopefully better this time around. We had a senior corner then, but a hodgepodge of new guys aside. Those guys took their lumps in '08 and grew into the deadly secondary we are throwing at teams now.

 
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