Strong Safeties to replace Kendrick Lewis

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Berry was just fine until Kiffen got ahold of him.

He was a game breaker.

As soon as Kiffen got there and tried to make him a linebacker, his playmaking/game changing ability went south.

2 years before Kiffen:
12 ints
3 tds
487 int return yards

Year with Kiffen:
2 ints
7yards

Kiffen moved him into the box more and took away his speed and ball skills.

I think he needs to go back to what made him a star.

This is not true.

First, Monty Kiffin runs a Tampa 2 defense as we all know, and this style puts both safeties deep, putting more area in the zone of LB's, who also play deeper than normal.

2nd, because Berry was in cover 2 this splits the field, leaving him to cover one side, normally the #1 WR side of the field. Teams did not throw at Berry that final season because he was such a ball hawk. Hence, the stats fell, but Berry played some good ball that senior season, most experts agree.

3rd, if you slide the safety into the box, you are playing Buddy Ryan's 46 defense. This defensive style is only used during 3rd and short situations, if at all.

When I read posts (not yours) claiming "Berry should be that 46 defensive player" yadayada, I just laugh at the stupidity. That alignment is a situational alignment. Not a base defense.