QB moved to Defense

[auburn97 0]

I haven't read what position he is moving to but I bet safety....I love us getting our best athletes on the field and he is gonna be a good one!

[Hoopie 6]

I haven't read what position he is moving to but I bet safety....I love us getting our best athletes on the field and he is gonna be a good one!

It's the off season, have CTF and CPR got together and decided this? Any background info that can be shared?

[The Prowler 1]

It's been said that he came to the coaches about the move to Safety. It is a Possibility that he'll eventually move to LB, maybe even DE...he's 6'3 220lbs and with a 4.5 - 4.55 40.....And, he likes to HIT!!!!

[TigerEyes1914 1]

**Playing into the recruiting rumors in the other forum** Why do you suppose he was not moved to LB? His stats seem perfect for that.

Ht: 6-foot-3

Wt: 212 lbs

Forty: 4.52 secs

[The Prowler 1]

It's not a Rumor. It's been verified by everyone on the "Inside".....That's not me, of course. I just take the scraps that are given to me, lol.

[TigerEyes1914 1]

Hey Prowler, Im still relatively new here but even I know not to doubt your wisdom in these things!

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

I'm probably reading way too much into this but can't help wondering is this move means we are in a strong position with another QB we covet and we need to demonstrate flexibility and also create a better competetive situation for a new QB.

[Hoopie 6]

Ronnie Brown played safety in HS and could rip heads off. I think that DFurr played safety at Columbus HS also. We are loaded at LB, if he can play safety at 6'-3" 212#, and get on the field, then do it.

[The Prowler 1]

Deron said that he had thought about it for the past couple of weeks, and that he finally said, "Just Do IT" ($1 Nike)...but seriously, he said just do it. He played Safety as a Soph. then moved to QB because his Coach wanted someone that was extremely athletic at the QB position. Also, he stated that he realized that for him the path to the NFL would probably be on the Defensive side. Remember Will Herring??? I know he missed a Crap Load of tackles and I was cussing him on everyone of them, BUT, he finally came around during his SR. season...while playing LB, he still had Some mental mistakes, but all in all he finally showed up for the big dance.

Coach Rhoads said a few things about him, but it was mainly centered around, not really knowing how DF will be able to swivel his hips correctly. DF began work at the safety position today during the voluntary workouts. We'll be able to tell if he'll be able to stick during two-a-days. I for one think that he will...not only do I think that he'll stick on the Defensive side, but that, he's going to be a Stud Kat.

[Hoopie 6]

In the GaHS AAA championship game, he and Jarmon Fortson put the team on their shoulders and tookover the game. He is a serious gamer with a huge will to win. CTT and staff will develop and orchestrate his talent.

[The Prowler 1]

Dang....where's the "LINK?" Police (ie bammer fans). Oh, that's right, it doesn't concern them....LOL

http://auburn.rivals.com/default.asp?SR=RivalsFP

[PChamp119 96]

No one should be surprised by this move. I believe many (definitely this poster) claimed this would be the case. There was no way we were going to waste his talent by sitting him on the bench for the next 2-3 years.

And Will Herring was one of the teams leading tacklers if I recall correctly, other than just his senior season. His whiteness let him get beat on a couple of plays (Virginia Tech), but I don't think tackling was too big of a problem for him. If he missed tackles, he surely wasn't the only one. We have always had games stand out where the defense wasn't wrapping up and getting the tackle. Generally, when we lose games big, that is the first thing people point to (that and that Brandon Cox shouldn't have thrown 4 INTs).

[AUBURNJAC 53]

Deron said that he had thought about it for the past couple of weeks, and that he finally said, "Just Do IT" ($1 Nike)...but seriously, he said just do it. He played Safety as a Soph. then moved to QB because his Coach wanted someone that was extremely athletic at the QB position. Also, he stated that he realized that for him the path to the NFL would probably be on the Defensive side. Remember Will Herring??? I know he missed a Crap Load of tackles and I was cussing him on everyone of them, BUT, he finally came around during his SR. season...while playing LB, he still had Some mental mistakes, but all in all he finally showed up for the big dance.

Coach Rhoads said a few things about him, but it was mainly centered around, not really knowing how DF will be able to swivel his hips correctly. DF began work at the safety position today during the voluntary workouts. We'll be able to tell if he'll be able to stick during two-a-days. I for one think that he will...not only do I think that he'll stick on the Defensive side, but that, he's going to be a Stud Kat.

OPTIMISIM!!!! WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!! You know it had to take balls and a true passion for football for him to make that decision. I am very impressed with Deron Furr.

[AU_tiger_2000 0]

**Playing into the recruiting rumors in the other forum** Why do you suppose he was not moved to LB? His stats seem perfect for that.

Ht: 6-foot-3

Wt: 212 lbs

Forty: 4.52 secs

I think safety would be an easier position to step into. Remember the Bobby Bowden rule, The further you are from the ball at the snap, the less important experience is.

[Eagle's Claw 0]

We need depth at Safety anyways - This really shores up our Defense. I must say that our defense is completely stacked this year. I can't recall the past 10 years where we have had so much depth at all postitions. CT has our team in extremely good shape! With the exception of a STUD QB, we are looking good on all fronts.

[Rhetortiger821 3]

This makes me soooo happy! He's an ATH and wherever he'll play his heart out

[PChamp119 96]

We may have depth, but our secondary is not very experienced like our front 7 is.

[mcgufcm 4,109]

The back 4 have as much experience as the front 4. Our Dline consists of two guys with starting experience: Marks and Coleman, four guys with fairly extensive backup run: Goggans, Ricks, Carter and Blanc, and a mixture of JUCO (Gray), backup time (Clayton and Doolittle), and talent (Greene). The top two guys have a lot of experience. That's not the case for the rest.

In the secondary, we have three guys with starting experience: Etheridge, Powers, and Savage (at safety), two guys with extensive backup experience: McNeil and McFadden, and some additional talent/smarts (Williams, Slade, Vickers, and now Furr). I don't see a lot of difference. Neither unit has the experience level that the linebackers have, but neither unit is really lacking in experience either.

[PChamp119 96]

Mark my words:

The defensive line will be fine. Linebackers will be fine.

Secondary will take the negative headlines over the course of the season. I'm not saying they are bad, but that is all I will claim. The combination of talent and experience is not the same as the DL and you can bring out numbers about the backups, but the two are not even close in comparison. When I think of our DL - they are much more experienced and skilled than our secondary. Your numbers for whatever reason don't sway my opinion. Our DL will be one of the best. We swap players in and out of the DL every play. We don't do that with the secondary. And our secondary continues to get burned. I think Georgia just scored another touchdown...

[mcgufcm 4,109]

I'm so confident in our defense as a whole that I'll willing to bet we put AT LEAST two guys on the All-Conference team at the end of the year from this secondary: Powers and Etheridge. I'm not sure they'll be alone, but I think this is the best collection of talent we've had in the back since 2004.

I completely agree that the line is experienced and talented and downright scary. I just don't agree that the secondary is all that far from that. Put it this way. Last year, despite Lee and Wilhite getting drafted, our secondary was: a first time starter, sophomore (Powers) as CB1, a first time starter, senior (Lee... yep, first time starter, career backup before last year) at CB2, a redshirt freshman at S1 (Etheridge) and a sophomore returning starter (Savage), with Brock and Wilhite providing depth and experience and McNeil playing big minutes as a true freshman. THAT group had no experience. THIS group has it.

Savage, McNeil, and Etheridge were freshman all-conference players. Powers is the best all-around corner in the SEC (regardless of what Bama fans think). Those are your top four. I may be alone. I'm just not terrified with that group on the field. Plus I'm a huge Walt McFadden guy. I think he's got the tools to be really, really special (as in he may have a higher ceiling than any of those guys).

[lca408 380]

I'm so confident in our defense as a whole that I'll willing to bet we put AT LEAST two guys on the All-Conference team at the end of the year from this secondary: Powers and Etheridge. I'm not sure they'll be alone, but I think this is the best collection of talent we've had in the back since 2004.

I completely agree that the line is experienced and talented and downright scary. I just don't agree that the secondary is all that far from that. Put it this way. Last year, despite Lee and Wilhite getting drafted, our secondary was: a first time starter, sophomore (Powers) as CB1, a first time starter, senior (Lee... yep, first time starter, career backup before last year) at CB2, a redshirt freshman at S1 (Etheridge) and a sophomore returning starter (Savage), with Brock and Wilhite providing depth and experience and McNeil playing big minutes as a true freshman. THAT group had no experience. THIS group has it.

Savage, McNeil, and Etheridge were freshman all-conference players. Powers is the best all-around corner in the SEC (regardless of what Bama fans think). Those are your top four. I may be alone. I'm just not terrified with that group on the field. Plus I'm a huge Walt McFadden guy. I think he's got the tools to be really, really special (as in he may have a higher ceiling than any of those guys).

Agreed.

Furr won't be fantastic right away. He's got to tackle the fundamentals and different techinques of his position, but he is a tremendous athlete and I think he will emerge as a pretty reliable backup by mid-season. His speed, size, and just overall physical nature will make him an excellent defender. By next year, if he doesn't go back to QB, he should probably move to linebacker.

The secondary WILL be better than last year. Powers is excellent, McNeil and Etheridge are as talented starting safeties that you'll find in the SEC, and Savage is back at his natural position at CB. Both McFadden and Williams will be alright - McFadden especially. Rhodes also has a slightly better track record at producing good DBs than Muschamp did, if I'm not mistaken, so hopefully, our defense may take a step forward.

For the Record, I think our defense would have improved anyway had Muschamp stayed.

Ryan

[IndyTiger 3]

I just read the article about this and loved this quote from Furr:

"I just love hitting, just going and knocking somebody out or taking it back the other way. I know if I get the ball in my hands, I'm not going to let an offensive player tackle me."

[vatz22au 142]

Just simply look at spring practice and the scrimmages. With the reports we got constantly Furr was lighting the defensive folks up through blocking and intensity. Some of us saw it in action. I like the move.

[WAR-MATT 2]

Just simply look at spring practice and the scrimmages. With the reports we got constantly Furr was lighting the defensive folks up through blocking and intensity. Some of us saw it in action. I like the move.

Where you been vatz?

[vatz22au 142]

Just simply look at spring practice and the scrimmages. With the reports we got constantly Furr was lighting the defensive folks up through blocking and intensity. Some of us saw it in action. I like the move.

Where you been vatz?

I've been busy for the past couple of months with school/work and trying to graduate this fall. I still browse all the time but I'll start to be more active as the the fall approaches.