“The message is trying to create more turnovers,” Washington secondary coach John Richardson said about his cornerbacks after practice this week. “We’re getting our hands on a lot of footballs, PBU’s, interceptions, and things like that. That’s going to be the goal and the focus going into it. We gotta find the football and make plays.” That message is playing out on the field, as the Husky defense has excelled at finding the football this Spring. The group has unofficially tallied 17 pass breakups and 16 interceptions during team periods this month. But there’s another aspect to this position group that’s beginning to take hold under the new defensive coordinator.
Washington’s Physicality at Cornerback
The “Position-less” Defensive Back
Physicality and versatility are staples in Ryan Walters’ defense here at Washington, and players aren’t considered ‘cornerbacks.’ Rather, they view themselves as ‘defensive backs.’ “The thing is, being DBU here it’s DBU. Not position,” Richardson said after practice this week. “One thing that we’re looking for in recruiting is making sure we get DB’s that can play multiple spots,” Richardson added. “When you see guys bounce around in different positions, that’s by design.” Playing multiple spots in coverage not only requires coverage skills, but also tackling and decision-making skills. The coaching staff is intentional about it at all levels of the defensive back room.
Cornerback Tacario Davis gave his perspective on it earlier this Spring, “We don’t really have a ‘corner’, if you come [to Washington], you’re a defensive back. You gotta play it all, you gotta be physical, be able to cover, and be able to compete.” A few weeks ago, Walters alluded to this as well, “There’s no such thing as a cover corner anymore… Physicality is a must and a premium, especially in this defense.” And after practice this week, Richardson gave his point of view. “The top DB’s that perform not only cover, they can also tackle. That‘s the challenge that we’re taking as well.”
In the secondary, you can consider the athletes ‘physical, positionless, defensive backs.’ These traits are sentiments that are repeatedly echoed when we hear from the players and coaches. The Big Ten Conference is littered with punishing running backs, physical pass catchers, and mobile quarterbacks. It’s imperative for the secondary to be able to make plays on all types of players at all levels. This is something Walters is preaching on Montlake, and something the rest of the defensive coaching staff and players are fully buying into.
Rahshawn Clark
Cornerback Rahshawn Clark unofficially leads the defense with six interceptions during team periods this Spring. He’s finding the football at all levels, getting his hands on passes in coverage over the middle and down the field. “It’s nothing different than what we all had seen in high school,” Richardson said. “[Clark] made plays on the ball in high school and he’s doing it now.”
Clark’s game is exemplary of the versatility that Walters, Richardson, and staff are looking for in their defensive backs. For much of April, Clark had been lining up at nickelback, primarily with the first team. He’s a hard-hitting and instinctive defensive back, which allows him to thrive in the nickel as he plays closer to the formation. But at the team’s most recent practice, the redshirt freshman began taking starting reps out wide at cornerback. In doing so, Clark pulled down an interception on a deep pass along the sideline.
Cornerback Rotations
With Davis and Ephesians Prysock limited at practice, it’s been an opportunity for Leroy Bryant to step into the starting role at cornerback. “He’s always had a good acceleration, and being able to accelerate out of his breaks,” Richardson said of Bryant this week. “One thing that he’s doing this Spring is finding the football a lot more.” The redshirt sophomore has unofficially logged an interception and a fumble recovery in team periods this Spring. “He’s a brilliant kid, a smart kid, and he loves to compete,” Richardson added. “He don’t rock that [number] 0 for nothin’, he wants to play ball.”
Bryant’s primary reps have been taken out wide at cornerback, opposite of Caleb Presley. But Presley entered the transfer portal this week, and Richardson expanded on that decision.“He made a decision that was best for him…I wish him nothing but the best… He needs to go be great, and I believe that’s what he’ll do.” Richardson took to social media to wish Presley well in his next move, and after practice this week, he made sure to note that the two remain on great terms.
With Presley in the portal and Clark’s shift outside to cornerback, this has allowed Dyson McCutcheon to step into the starting nickelback slot. “Dyson is showing his veteran leadership, being able to execute in clutch situations,” Richardson said of the senior defensive back. It’s a group with quality depth behind Davis and Prysock, who are expected to be the starting duo this Fall. But this Spring has been an excellent opportunity for the depth to stack valuable offseason reps.
Photo from Nick Lemkau
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