Hampton University football secondary is set

BY MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

Secondary built for blazing SPEED.

Hampton University football fans have fretted about the future of the secondary since the graduation this spring of four starters, three of whom are playing professionally. But it took only a week of light practice and one day of hitting for Pirates coach Joe Taylor to settle on his four defensive backs for the 2007 season.

Taylor said Thursday he has decided on a backfield that includes three changes from the starting lineup listed in the '07 media guide. What's more, Taylor is so impressed with the play of his secondary that he does not foresee a change among the starters before the Sept. 8 season-opener at Howard.

"There's no need messing around," Taylor said. "It's important to get the first unit as many practice repetitions as possible."

The starting cornerbacks are both Division I-A transfers. Jackie Bates is a former starter at the University of Oregon, while Sam Pope spent this spring playing football at South Carolina before enrolling at Hampton.

"Those are two fast lockdown corners," Taylor said, noting that Bates runs a 4.2 40 and Pope runs a 4.3.

Taylor said that Pat Preston, listed as a starting corner before preseason practice started, will play in nickel (five defensive backs) and dime (six defensive backs) coverages. He added that true freshman James Butts from Maury High in Norfolk is the other second-team cornerback.


Tobin Lyon, listed as a starting cornerback in the preseason media guide, has replaced Vaughn Mansfield as the starting free safety. Strong safety Henti Baird is the only defensive back who remains a starter.

"Tobin has been very impressive," Taylor said. "He really closes on the football quickly. It's a big advantage to put a guy with cornerback speed at free safety. You want a center fielder who can go sideline to sideline quickly.

"Henti has a linebacker's body. You want a guy in the strong safety spot who can be an eighth guy in the box."

Taylor had considered moving Baird to outside linebacker. That's not necessary now because Hampton High product Charles Robinson is playing so well.

Other than settling on the secondary so quickly, Taylor said the biggest surprise of early practice is the progress of the offensive line. Adam Herald has moved into the starting right tackle in place of injured Nick Royal.

The other starters are: right guard Ryan Cave, center Justin Gary, left guard Dennis Conley and left tackle Michael Ola. Taylor credits the work ethic of new offensive line coach Lawrence Kershaw for the unit's quick start.

"Coach Kershaw never leaves the office," Taylor said. "He sleeps here overnight on an air bag. I'm loving it because I'm seeing an offensive line that is a lot farther along than I thought it would be at this point."