Friday Q&A: July 20, 2012

1) With the lack of depth in the secondary and the likely elimination of the nickel this year, do we face any teams that can legitimately stretch our secondary or seriously challenge our whips in coverage? Or are the whips up to the challenge?

Kyle Fuller

Chris Coleman: That’s a good question, and I doubt Bud Foster will know exactly how he’ll use the nickel this year until we’re close to the end of August. If the season began tomorrow, and Foster thought he needed to use the nickel package, my guess is that he would slide Kyle Fuller inside to the nickel/whip position and bring in Donaldven Manning as the field corner.

Fortunately, Virginia Tech doesn’t face a passing game that I’m too worried about until an October 6 trip to North Carolina. I’m a little worried about Georgia Tech hitting a big play or two against VT’s inexperienced safeties, but I don’t think we can seriously talk about the Yellow Jackets in an article that’s about the passing game.

North Carolina has a very good quarterback in Bryn Renner, and they have a very experienced offensive line. They should have a couple of good receivers in the starting lineup, but their depth is questionable. Obviously the passing games that everyone should fear the most will be three consecutive matchups against Clemson, Miami and Florida State.

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