Change In Cornerback Philosophy Could Benefit Virginia Tech

Brian Mitchell
Brian Mitchell

Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster’s defensive scheme has always been noted for two unique positions in the secondary: boundary corner and field corner.  Apparently those two positions will not exist during the 2016 season, according to this article by Andy Bitter.

For those unfamiliar with the scheme, the boundary corner (think Jimmy Williams and Brandon Flowers) always plays on the short side of the field.  He has to be excellent in run support, because offenses like to run to the short side of the field because they have a better chance to get a numbers advantage there.  He also has to be great in man coverage, because Bud Foster likes to play man on the short side of the field while using a variety of zones in the other areas.  If you can lock down one-third or one-quarter of the field in man coverage and flood the other areas with defenders in zone, that really makes life difficult for a college quarterback.

The field corner is the type of player who could also play free safety.  He’s on the wide side of the field, and he generally plays zone coverage.  Ideally he is a smart player who is good at reading the eyes of the quarterback.  I suppose the basic difference between the boundary corner and field corner is that the boundary corner generally plays with his back to the quarterback, while the field corner is usually facing the quarterback.

The best two boundary-field combinations I can think of were the Jimmy Williams-Eric Green duo, along with Brandon Flowers-Macho Harris.  Williams was a great man defender and he excelled in run defense, so the boundary was a natural position for him.  Eric Green wasn’t very good in man coverage, but he was outstanding in zone on the wide side of the field.  Brandon Flowers was great at everything.  Macho Harris later played free safety in the NFL, so his ideal position at Tech was field corner.  Throw in great safeties/rovers like DJ Parker, Kam Chancellor and Aaron Rouse and it’s easy to see why Tech’s secondary used to be so dominant.

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