forums

Patke: McCloud and Finley standing out at Striker after scrimmage

View as article
CanesSince07 said:
We've be recruiting these types like Jamien Sherwood and others, nice to have the prototype on the roster
Click to expand...

I wanted Jamien Sherwood to be our future SAM pretty badly. Now we reframe it as the Striker role and it makes even more sense. He's at Safety right now for Auburn. I'm sure he can be solid there, but I still believe his future is more as a LB. **** shame as I think Miami would have been a much better fit for him long term.
 
Advertisement
rokulika said:
Why all the faith in Derrick Smith but not Romeo Finley? Smith had some success as the nickel in 2017 but was behind Knowles, Finley, Carter at safety all season.

And now we have people saying that they'll kill themselves if Finley is in the game ahead of Smith on a passing down? There's a reason they're out there competing.
Click to expand...

I agree. It's strange that everyone seems to have given up on Finley before even seeing what he has to offer on the field. He was a highly regarded Safety recruit with multiple big time offers (Clemson was on him hard). He seems to move well in space based on his HS highlight film. Don't have much else to base it off of.

I was lukewarm on projecting Finley as a safety, but Striker makes tons of sense for him.
 
rokulika said:
Smith was hyped up by the fans during spring ball but Patke said Finley was ahead of him when practices wrapped up. What Smith did in 2017 was impressive but now that there's better options at safety and nickel I'm not sure where he fits in the equation in 2018 if the current depth chart holds.
Click to expand...

A couple of the players during interviews pointed to Smith as a breakout star this season. Can't remember whom said it. Not sure he is really behind Finley just yet. Regardless of what Patke just said.
 
Per the coaches Finley is more physical than Smith

Dude lays the wood

Regardless, they both will see the field a ton this yr...it doesn't matter who starts. They better just both ball out.

& If 1 is having a bad game the other will come in... its that simple

Now as far as #53.... I wanna see him on the field as least as possible
 
KrazyCane said:
Who says Derrick is not a fit at striker?? Romeo is just ahead of him it’s called competition. Romeo was a 4 star recruit he’s not a slouch and is a year older. Smith will get playing time he’s just the #2 option behind Finley when the personnel calls for a big safety.

Some of y’all are making this a bigger deal than it really is.
Click to expand...

Key word there was "if". IF he is not a fit i.e. if he is not getting sizable snaps every game I say move him back to safety and groom him to play every down next year while being our 3rd safety this year. He is too talented IMO. I'm aware that Finley is no slouch, in fact I see him as perfectly suited for the Striker position or the "old school Strong Safety". Smith doesn't strike me as this type, more of an uber-athlete with range that will pop you. Just my opinion.
 
Advertisement
1953 said:
Finley was a very strong kid back in high school at 200 lbs and ran a 200m in track of 22.7. No doubt with the S&C here and 215 or more exceptionally strong.
Click to expand...


As a huge Hurricane and Niceville Golden Eagle fan, thanks for the vid. Romeo is breaking out this year, book it.
 
gcane44 said:
I wanted Jamien Sherwood to be our future SAM pretty badly. Now we reframe it as the Striker role and it makes even more sense. He's at Safety right now for Auburn. I'm sure he can be solid there, but I still believe his future is more as a LB. **** shame as I think Miami would have been a much better fit for him long term.
Click to expand...

Avery Huff is almost made in a lab to be a Striker.

Can't wait for him to get here
 
KrazyCane said:
Coach Patke is saying when the offensive personnel calls for a true linebacker like McCloud or Wilder to play the striker, McCloud will be on the field.

When the personnel calls for a big safety like Finley or Smith to play the striker, Finley will be on the field.

The issue with Smith is only his youth, as he gets more experience that part will take care of itself.
Click to expand...

Yep, but somehow half this board is freaking out and thinks McCloud will take 100% of the reps
 
TheRichtShow said:
Yep, but somehow half this board is freaking out and thinks McCloud will take 100% of the reps
Click to expand...
Does not matter what “board” thinks. Most posters know very little about intricacies of running a college offense or defense. Cane coaches will set up defenses that they hope will be the most effective to match the skill levels of our players and also neutralize the opponents offense. Very rudimentary. Most of the time this board is clueless as to what is actually happening with preparing our team for game time.
 
Advertisement
I remember watching Romeo finely’s film and was always really impressed. Glad to see he is making some noise as a junior after not doing much outside of special teams the first 2 years
 
LuCane said:
Would be really surpried if it's a critical point in a game against a team playing 3-4WR and Smith isn't relied upon. Then again, I was really surprised how much we played 3 LBs against spread teams who quick passed us last year.

Smith is the only one who can change direction and give us a genuine man under option. If he's somehow lost in zone or can't redirect routes and pass receivers off, that's something coaching should be able to address. He's got every physical attribute you'd want for the hybrid position.
Click to expand...

I believe we will see Hall/Blades taking that role at some point if a team spreads us out.
 
BeastMode said:
Glad we finally have the players and coaches to realize this is where college football is going. Saban realized it a few years ago when QB’s were running all over them. He went away from 250lbs LB and went with Fitzpatrick at the STAR position. Pretty much the same as our striker. It’s a big athletic safety who plays in the box, but also athletic enough to play in space. Great move by the staff to combat spread teams.
Click to expand...
Yep and our guys should handle the run better as both have inches (Finley 6'1 and Smith 6'3 to Minkah's 6'0) and weight, 215 to 204 respectively on Minkah. I am really excited to see this position in game.
 
brock said:
I remember watching Romeo finely’s film and was always really impressed. Glad to see he is making some noise as a junior after not doing much outside of special teams the first 2 years
Click to expand...
Agreed. I think Romeo is a great talent. It was just a situation of being behind two upperclassmen. I am glad that he is really taking to this opportunity.
 
Advertisement
AtrainCane said:
Yeah it makes no sense. Smith was starting at the position all spring and now he mentally doesn’t know what to do?
Click to expand...
My guess is that it created massive amounts of urgency in McCloud to get better. Coupled with his natural maturation in his position.
 
brock said:
I remember watching Romeo finely’s film and was always really impressed. Glad to see he is making some noise as a junior after not doing much outside of special teams the first 2 years
Click to expand...
It's his turn. I read in to it as one of the reasons Diaz created the striker . Can't wait until he gets his chance.
 
Advertisement
The questions I have about the striker position is when will the striker be assigned to cover the slot?? Bc I really only wanna see it in Dime situations or if the offense has 2 WRs spread but moves one of the WRs over in a bunch set and you don’t have Bandy out there to match.

Dime sets with Bandy at Nickel and Finley or Smith covering the Other slot WR or TE is solid.

But if it’s a 3 WR set... Bandy needs to be at Nickel every time. Maybe they can keep a true linebacker like Shaq or Pinckney In but add Finley as the 2nd lber in 3 WR sets.

Don’t want to see a 3 WR set with only two cbs on the field at all.
 
Advertisement
Back
Top