Six (6) scholarship CBs on the roster. Two TFs (Dunson & Clarke), two sophomores (Couch & Williams), and two juniors (Blades and Ivey). Two guys committed for 2021 (Burns & Curtis). Clarke and Curtis are both developmental projects with raw tools that need to learn to play the position. Couch is a sticky cover corner and a dog, but, in a world where we have any real CB depth, he probably takes a shirt last season to physically develop. Strong chance Burns ends up in a similar position next year as Couch was in last year (that is, being asked to contribute as a TF).
Focusing on the positive, I like Blades and hope he has a break-out season (of course, if he really does, who knows whether he stays for year 4). Couch is a future 2-year starter at CB for us. Burns could be a very solid nickleback once he develops his body. And Curtis has some exciting physical tools (but will need to learn to play CB), though I am more excited to see him on STs.
Depth-wise, for those keeping track, we had six (6) rostered scholarship CBs in 2018. Five (5) scholarship CBs on the roster in 2019. Six (6) on the roster now. Malek Young's career-ending injury obviously hurt, but we have been otherwise lucky injury-wise at CB since then (and he'd likely be gone by now absent injury anyway). I'll be thrilled if we make it to eight (8) on the roster next season, but it shouldn't have to be this hard recruiting CBs in south Florida.
Depth concerns aside, when you look at what we have at CB it's definitely slightly above average. And if this was a WV Mountain-******' message board, I'd probably be happy with that. But this is Miami. Knowing how many top-flight guys we have missed on, how many other very solid blue chip guys we failed to or barely recruited, and the general embarrassment of talented CBs/DBs in this state and in south Florida especially, "slightly above average" just doesn't cut it.
Whether that's all Rumph or some combination or Manny+Rumph or Manny+Baker+Rumph honestly doesn't matter to me anymore. It just needs to be addressed. And as HC, that falls on Manny now. So unless our CBs come out this year playing like All-Conference candidates (which, if he's such a great talent developer, shouldn't be a problem), my expectation will be that Manny gives Rumph the axe.