A Sea Of Red

Liberty had very few weaknesses on the defense last year although if you really had to find one, at times it was the defensive backfield. The Flames had 6 games where they allowed at least 200 yards passing (3 of them for 300 or more yards), but against one of the top passing teams in the country in Elon (who picked the Flames apart to the tune of over 400 yards passing in 2007) they allowed just over 200 yards and sacked QB Scott Riddle twice. Four of the top ten tacklers on the team were DBs led by Chris Rocco and second team all-conference honoree Ryan Greiser. Also in the top ten were Tim Torrence and Kent Hicks (first team all conference). This is another unit that though they lose some definite experience in Hicks and Greiser, the cupboard is by no means bare as there are a number of very talented DBs who already have shown signs in the spring and will be looking to cement themselves in the two deep at the DB positions. Here is how they look going into training camp:

Returning

• Alfonso Bailey Junior Fort Myers, FL
  Larry Claiborne Redshirt Sophomore Ringgold, VA
  Omar Clark Redshirt Sophomore Ringgold, VA
  KaJuan Lee Redshirt Sophomore Newport News, VA
  Donald Manns Redshirt Junior Jacksonville, FL
  Reggie Matthews Sophomore Ft Lauderdale, FL
  Chris McAlister Redshirt Sophomore Lynchburg, VA
  Brandon Robinson Sophomore Waxhaw, NC
  Chris Rocco Senior Lynchburg, VA
  Brandon Saunders Redshirt Sophomore Laurel, MD
  Tim Torrence Senior Miramar, FL
  Mannie Willis Redshirt Senior Newport News, VA

Lost

• Patrick Calvary Bradenton, FL (graduation)
  Ryan Greiser Sellersville, PA (graduation)
  Kent Hicks Culpepper, VA (graduation)

Incoming

• DJ Edmond Spotsylvania, VA (Riverbend HS)
  Brent Vinson Charlotte, NC (Ardrey Kell HS/Fork Union Military Academy)

The three true seniors on the roster (Manns, Rocco and Torrence) will probably be locks for the starting DB positions (Rocco even being named one of the defensive captains at the end of spring practice). Larry Claiborne showed well in the spring football game and probably has a good chance to get in the 4th DB spot but there are probably any number of players who could end up getting a lot of time on the field.

If there is anyone I missed in my list of the DBs or if I have a name listed in error fellow FFers feel free to say so but otherwise feel free to discuss.

Larry Claiborne is gonna be great. that is all.

When I saw the latest post on this was from flamesfilmguy, I knew it would say exactly that.

SuperJon wrote:When I saw the latest post on this was from flamesfilmguy, I knew it would say exactly that.

Its because you know me so well big guy.

For some reason I think all of the Defensive Back jobs (except for Free Safety) will be up for grabs come time for fall camp. I like the experience that is coming back, the depth in the defensive back field and the fact that Larry Claiborne is turning into a stud. I think the competiton at corner will be great especially with both jobs open and no one running away with the job during spring ball. But I'm just hoping that the defensive coaching staff find 4 guys who can produce alot of takeaways this year.

B-Ham_Flame wrote:For some reason I think all of the Defensive Back jobs (except for Free Safety) will be up for grabs come time for fall camp. I like the experience that is coming back, the depth in the defensive back field and the fact that Chris Claiborne is turning into a stud. I think the competiton at corner will be great especially with both jobs open and no one running away with the job during spring ball. But I'm just hoping that the defensive coaching staff find 4 guys who can produce alot of takeaways this year.

Dont you mean Larry Claiborne?

BJWilliams wrote:

B-Ham_Flame wrote:For some reason I think all of the Defensive Back jobs (except for Free Safety) will be up for grabs come time for fall camp. I like the experience that is coming back, the depth in the defensive back field and the fact that Chris Claiborne is turning into a stud. I think the competiton at corner will be great especially with both jobs open and no one running away with the job during spring ball. But I'm just hoping that the defensive coaching staff find 4 guys who can produce alot of takeaways this year.

Dont you mean Larry Claiborne?

LOL!! I guess I had the Lions on my mind...

FYI, Manns will be a redshirt junior, not a true senior. Also, Chuck Duffey has been moved back to WR.

Libertine wrote:Also, Chuck Duffey has been moved back to WR.

hmmmm.

interesting.

reading into this...

I do find that interesting that Duffey has moved to WR when he only has one year left. I don’t know if there’s too much to read into that other than he probably wasn’t going to get much time at DB, and they figured he’d help more at wideout.

What makes that move by Duffy to WR interesting to me is that he actually got quite a bit of PT as a DB the last couple of years, and did an OK job. Either the coaches feel we have really upgraded in the defensive backfield, or perhaps they aren't happy with our receivers and think he can help. Hopefully it is more the former than the latter.

Chuck started out here as a WR, then moved to DB because we needed DBs, and now is back at WR because we need WRs.

I would guess it’s some of both.

olldflame wrote:What makes that move by Duffy to WR interesting to me is that he actually got quite a bit of PT as a DB the last couple of years, and did an OK job. Either the coaches feel we have really upgraded in the defensive backfield, or perhaps they aren't happy with our receivers and think he can help. Hopefully it is more the former than the latter.

THAT is what I was "reading into"

I could be way off, but that's how it struck me...

Or it means that Mike is looking like a lock to be the QB, and Chuck will just be adding Depth we lose from Mike.

One person that is missing from the list of DB's is Ronald Hobby...a Pitt Transfer. He is on campus and taking classes this summer session.

That's crazy. No one with that name has ever existed.

Libertine wrote:That's crazy. No one with that name has ever existed.

Here's a link to his rivals bio:

http://army.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp ... _key=54423

Looks like a fairly high rated recruit who had offers Maryland, Tech, and BC before he commited to Pitt.

Does this mean he will definitely be on our roster? Hopefully he will make an impact here.

He will be on the roster…could be a starter at CB. Also there is a possibility that a DE transfer from The University of Wisconsin could also be joining the program.

Thanks for the tips Flame09. I'll update my list when we get some confirmation from the athletic site (not that I dont believe you just makes it easier to grab info and not have 30 tabs open)

This is very exciting

Don't expect to hear anything from the SIDs at least until practice starts.

Flame09 wrote: Also there is a possibility that a DE transfer from The University of Wisconsin could also be joining the program.

Ludicrous. Just ludicrous. There is no such place as Wisconsin.

Whatever works...there is nothing on the athletic site that says Marques Jenkins is at Liberty, but he is…same thing applies to Ron Hobby.