Stacked Safeties Room Provides Leadership on the Backend
5/2/2023 12:34:00 PM | Football
“They’re flying around and having fun,” Coach James Adams
Nick Andersen is healthy again, Malik Mustapha is a human missile and Chelen Garnes had interceptions in three-straight Spring Camp practices.
The Wake Forest safety room is suddenly loaded with talent and experience — so much so that defensive coordinator Brad Lambert and safety coach James Adams will have to find creative ways to get more than a couple of them on the field at the same time this season.
"They're flying around and having fun," Adams said. "They're doing a good job by taking ownership of our defense. They make all the adjustments. They know what's going to happen before the offense knows. It's really cool sitting back and listening to them, as they have those conversations pre-snap.
"They're putting themselves in a position to make plays, although we have been leaving a few out there."
Once the pads went on after the first week of camp, the defensive sideline was loud, both pre-snap and after the play was over. They're demonstrative, boisterous and celebratory.
"A loud defense is a confident defense," Adams said. "For us, we know what to do and how to do it. The guys are confident. Now, it's about how to put ourselves in a position to make plays consistently. When they talk, we're really good. When we don't talk, we miss plays. You might be in the right fit, in the right gap and in the correct assignment; but you're not in position to be as productive.
"But when they're barking and start talking about what routes, runs, formation adjustments; now you see guys putting themself in a position to make plays on the football. That's what it's all about."
While the leadership in the room is largely coming from the trio of Mustapha, Garnes and Andersen, Adams is seeing remarkable play in the spring from AJ Williams, Brendon Harris and freshman Davaughn Patterson, meaning he very well could have a rotation six deep as the season approaches kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 31 against Elon.
"It feels pretty good, but the hard part is getting all these guys reps," Adams said. "They all want to play. They're super competitive. When one guy makes a play, the next guy is itching to go out there and do it. When I have to pull guys back, because their rep count or load is high and we're looking at the sports science side of things, they take it personally."
With each player in the room not just cheering for their teammate, but also holding them accountable; there's a great thirst to perform.
"Obviously the reps in the grass are important," Adams explained. "But we have to get them to the black gate in the fall. We have to do it smart. If the sport science says they're running a little bit hot and we need to pull back, then that's what we're going to do.
"When they're not in the game, they're getting mental reps. They're coaching the younger guys. You hear them just as much as when they're in the game, which is a mark of their maturity and how much they've grown."
After missing the entire 2022 season with a foot injury, Nick Andersen is patrolling the field in Spring Camp like he didn't miss a single snap.
"It's a fight to keep him back," Adams said. "He's doing awesome. He's itching and ready to go every practice, and is always the first in the building. That didn't change from before he got hurt, while he was hurt or now that he's back. He's always the first in the building. He's excited and looking forward to having a key role in our defense."
With Spring Camp in the proverbial rearview mirror, the key will be continuing to ramp up the strength and conditioning piece and keep the group healthy as the 2023 season approaches. Then Adams and Lambert will have to figure out how to best utilize their talent.
"The key now is for Coach Lambert to get all these dudes on the field and keep them fed," Adams said. "AJ Williams is flying around and had his best practice the other day. And Brendon Harris, this is his last go around. Then you look and ask who this No. 38 guy is? Davaughn Patterson — folks are looking at him everyday and going 'wow.' He'll be a presence for us.
"His first action will probably come in special teams, but we're going to get him ready to play. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't in the rotation early in the fall."
The Wake Forest safety room is suddenly loaded with talent and experience — so much so that defensive coordinator Brad Lambert and safety coach James Adams will have to find creative ways to get more than a couple of them on the field at the same time this season.
"They're flying around and having fun," Adams said. "They're doing a good job by taking ownership of our defense. They make all the adjustments. They know what's going to happen before the offense knows. It's really cool sitting back and listening to them, as they have those conversations pre-snap.
"They're putting themselves in a position to make plays, although we have been leaving a few out there."
Once the pads went on after the first week of camp, the defensive sideline was loud, both pre-snap and after the play was over. They're demonstrative, boisterous and celebratory.
"A loud defense is a confident defense," Adams said. "For us, we know what to do and how to do it. The guys are confident. Now, it's about how to put ourselves in a position to make plays consistently. When they talk, we're really good. When we don't talk, we miss plays. You might be in the right fit, in the right gap and in the correct assignment; but you're not in position to be as productive.
"But when they're barking and start talking about what routes, runs, formation adjustments; now you see guys putting themself in a position to make plays on the football. That's what it's all about."
While the leadership in the room is largely coming from the trio of Mustapha, Garnes and Andersen, Adams is seeing remarkable play in the spring from AJ Williams, Brendon Harris and freshman Davaughn Patterson, meaning he very well could have a rotation six deep as the season approaches kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 31 against Elon.
"It feels pretty good, but the hard part is getting all these guys reps," Adams said. "They all want to play. They're super competitive. When one guy makes a play, the next guy is itching to go out there and do it. When I have to pull guys back, because their rep count or load is high and we're looking at the sports science side of things, they take it personally."
With each player in the room not just cheering for their teammate, but also holding them accountable; there's a great thirst to perform.
"Obviously the reps in the grass are important," Adams explained. "But we have to get them to the black gate in the fall. We have to do it smart. If the sport science says they're running a little bit hot and we need to pull back, then that's what we're going to do.
"When they're not in the game, they're getting mental reps. They're coaching the younger guys. You hear them just as much as when they're in the game, which is a mark of their maturity and how much they've grown."
After missing the entire 2022 season with a foot injury, Nick Andersen is patrolling the field in Spring Camp like he didn't miss a single snap.
"It's a fight to keep him back," Adams said. "He's doing awesome. He's itching and ready to go every practice, and is always the first in the building. That didn't change from before he got hurt, while he was hurt or now that he's back. He's always the first in the building. He's excited and looking forward to having a key role in our defense."
With Spring Camp in the proverbial rearview mirror, the key will be continuing to ramp up the strength and conditioning piece and keep the group healthy as the 2023 season approaches. Then Adams and Lambert will have to figure out how to best utilize their talent.
"The key now is for Coach Lambert to get all these dudes on the field and keep them fed," Adams said. "AJ Williams is flying around and had his best practice the other day. And Brendon Harris, this is his last go around. Then you look and ask who this No. 38 guy is? Davaughn Patterson — folks are looking at him everyday and going 'wow.' He'll be a presence for us.
"His first action will probably come in special teams, but we're going to get him ready to play. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't in the rotation early in the fall."
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