FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Defensive Backs

GRADE: C-

STATS: (Best viewed in widescreen)

COMMENTS: Before the season started, we knew that the secondary had some talent at the top, but a significant drop off after that.  Injuries have tested that depth.  Several guys have missed time, especially at the safety position (Eric Block, LeAndre Daniels, Tyree Toomer).  

We needed senior safety, Xavier Hicks, to assert himself as a leader on the field and make big plays.  While he has forced two fumbles and leads the team in tackles, he hasn't really made any of the "big hits" in the passing game that we have seen in the past.  He has played to the level that we expect from him, not to the level we hoped he would rise to.

Overall, the secondary has faced pass heavy schemes the last two games and struggled.  There have blown coverage assignments and an inability to cover talented wide receivers.  Opposing quarterbacks have had wide open guys to hit and only the inaccuracy of a couple young QBs has saved the Cougar secondary from some more embarrassment.  

However, that is not entirely their fault.  The defense has had very little in terms of a consistent pass rush.  Even an extremely talented secondary would have trouble covering receivers for as long as the Wazzu secondary has had to throughout the first quarter of the season.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE:  Obviously, these guys aren't going to suddenly become faster and be able to keep up with Pac 10 wideouts on a regular basis.  What they can do is stay focused and and stay disciplined.  Too many times we have seen wide open receivers because of mistakes by the secondary in their zone assignments.  If they can limit those, the back-breaking big plays can be avoided.

Additionally, we need more turnovers out of these guys if we are going to beat someone.  By all accounts, Chima and Jones made very athletic plays on their interceptions against SMU and that must continue.  This unit is still going to struggle to keep up with receivers, so they need to create takeaways to get themselves off the field.