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| From number changes and name changes, Dayan Ghanwoloku and Troy Warner are two BYU defenders making position changes this spring. |
During the first week of the BYU Cougars' Spring practices, there were four notable position changes mention for the Cougar defense. Dayan Ghanwoloku and Troy Warner have moved from cornerback to safety, Sione Takitaki has moved from defensive end to linebacker, and Zayne Anderson has moved from safety to linebacker.
All four players were starters in 2017. Usually, position changes are made when a player isn't expected to get much playing time, but all four were huge contributors last season. That makes Blue Cougar Football question, "Are these moves good or bad?"
Dayan Ghanwoloku
While Ghanwoloku has been a starter the past two seasons, this is a good move. A lot of it has to do with, believe it or not, the depth BYU has at cornerback. Michael Shelton and Chris Wilcox saw playing time last year and any drop off from Ghanwoloku, and Warner, was unnoticeable.
The big benefit of moving Ghanwoloku to safety is the potential for more interceptions and game-changing returns. After just two seasons, he ranks fifth in BYU history for interception return yards in a career. What's more impressive is that he has done that with just five picks. At safety, Ghanwoloku won't be isolated as much, which could mean more than two or three interceptions in a season. That translates into more big returns that helps BYU win.
Troy Warner
For the same reasons the move is good for Ghanwoloku, going from cornerback to safety is good for Warner. Before a season ending injury halfway through his sophomore season, Warner had 12 career pass breakups, but no interceptions. Playing safety could add interceptions to go with his pass breakups.
Sione Takitaki
Defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki explained this move as one to get Takitaki playing his natural position, and his position of the future (translation: NFL fit). Takitaki is listed at 231 pounds on BYU's roster, which is small for a defensive end in the NFL. That could lead to Takitaki having a similar reaction from the NFL as Jan Jorgensen. After his very productive Cougar career, he didn't get a sniff from anyone at the next level.
While it is nice the BYU coaches want to help him get ready for the NFL, Takitaki was BYU's most disruptive lineman last year. The BYU defense will not be better off with a worse pass rush, and there are no proven commodities to take Takitaki's place on the end. Morgan Unga looked good as a reserve linebacker last year, so it doesn't seem there is much of a need for Takitaki as a backer.
There have also been some recent failed experiments with defensive end-linebacker position switches in recent memory. Bronson Kaufusi, Harvey Langi come to mind.
Notwithstanding the good intentions for his NFL future, this move with Takitaki doesn't feel good.
Zayne Anderson
Anderson to linebacker could be a good move. As already noted, Warner and Ghanwoloku are moving to safety, which is the position Anderson played last year. He has a bigger frame (6-foot-2) than Warner and Ghanwoloku, and with an extra 15-20 pounds to prepare him for run support, could be an adequate replacement for Fred Warner, who was a valuable asset in pass coverage.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
Rating position switches as good or bad (when returning starters are the ones switching) is often more about the gaps the players leave behind than the ones they fill.
ReplyDeleteLake and Warner are more athletic and talented than most of the CBs that BYU fields (though their play has been subpar. I think coaching has a large part with that though.) With them playing safety, I have no doubt that we will see better safety play, but what about CB? Over all, this change is a slight positive, mostly because CBs appear in better shape than the safeties. Lake and Warner may be more comfortable as safeties, but the new Starting CBs are going to have to step up for this to be a significant net positive.
Takitaki. This is an obvious and good move. This is not about improving Takitaki's draft stock, but improving the team. Sione may be BYU's best pass rusher, but during the first 11 games he only had 2.5 sacks. Takitaki helps out at LB for the last game of the season and picks up 1.5 sacks. Sione is more effective as a pass rusher when he is not lined up over an offensive linemen.
Also, Sione really is undersized for the DL position. You say that he is the same size as Jan Jorgensen. You are off by about 30lbs. Takitaki is listed at 6'2" 231lbs. Jan was listed at 6'3" 259 lbs. That is a big difference. Plus LB is his natural position. You mentioned past DE/LB switches that didn't work out so well. Consider this one of them. Now Sione will be returning to the position he knows best.
Thirdly, The LBs need him more than the DL does. When Bernard was found to be ineligible to play last year, BYU moved multiple players from safety (already a weak position) to OLB. Is that a move of a coaching staff comfortable with their current LB depth? In addition, Fred Warner graduated. Now you have 2 empty spaces at OLB. The need there is obvious.
The need at DL is obviously less. Sione's back up, Trajan Pili actually had more sacks (4.5) than Sione himself had from the DE position. Corbin Kaufusi mans the other DE spot and he finished the year with 6 sacks. Plus there are several underclassmen behind them that were highly recruited and should provide decent backups.
Zayne Anderson was displaced from his starting safety role by Lake and Warner. He is to slow to play corner, and BYU has depth issues at outside LB. The move is a good one. Zayne can either by a back up safety, or try to earn a starting spot at LB. If he fails to secure the spot, he has a solid chance of being the backup at the position, so no real loss in terms of playing time.
Good input.
DeleteWhere did I get such a conviction that Jorgensen was 235 lbs that I didn't fact check that? I will make an edit so that it is accurate.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for having a comments section. A sports blog is useless if fans can not argue against or voice support of the ideas voiced in the post.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I just wish visitors used it more.
DeleteI really agree that Sione is better at LB. On the line he had trouble dominating as much and we got plenty of big boys to help feel the trenches.
DeleteI like Dayan and Warner going to safety. I'm just worried that we might not have enough CBs to cover that position. I hope that McChesney can ball out this year to hope Wilcox, Shelton, and Armstrong. That position seems a little thin.
At one time earlier in his career, Takitaki was reported to be 260 lbs. Funny how these guys shrink and swell depending on the reporter. Alani Fua used to do a lot of the same thing.That aside, he is a much better outside 'backer than DE. Good enough to be credible either place, but a better LB, to be sure. Dayan G is probably the best open field tackler on the team, and this is a very good change for him. Would still prefer Zayne A at safety; maybe one of the new guys can take the OLB across from Sione. Also, Troy Warner is not Fred. Hoping he can break out. Is Morgan Unga still with us? Thought I read something about an injury, and it wasn't good...I believe the new intensity and exactness in training will expose some weak attitudes and give new life to some strong hearts. Watching with interest and optimism.
DeleteDid I miss something? Wilcox is horrible! There was considerable drop off when he came in the game. He gets burned on the skinny post all of the time.
ReplyDeleteI admit I am not the best evaluator of talent on defense, but from what I remember, Wilcox wasn't much worse than the starters. Coaches played him much more than I thought he should play. I kept asking why our 4 star CBs weren't in the game more than they were, so that might influence my analysis as well, since the coaches seemed to be just as comfortable with him as the starters.
ReplyDelete