Yesterday I handled the offense. Now it's time for the defense.
DEFENSE
DE/Joker/OLB
Projected starter: Patrick Johnson
Confidence level: absolute. The only question about this spot is what to call it. I've never liked the made-up terms for positions like Strike (Kentucky used that one when I covered Florida) and Joker and I consider Patrick Johnson's spot more of a defensive line assignment than linebacker even though he usually meets with the linebackers during practice breaks. Anyway, Johnson is due for a bounce-back year if he stays healthy. The combination of maybe believing his hype, opponents game-planning for him, an increased role in pass coverage and playing through a torn labrum in the second half of the season prompted his sack total to plummet to 4 from 10 1/2 in 2018. He has a ton of talent and the work ethic to back it up, so there is every reason to expect a big senior season as he makes his NFL push.
Nose tackle
Projected starter: Jeffery Johnson
Confidence level: absolute. Johnson appeared headed for a monster impact as a sophomore when he held his own against Auburn in September, but he never duplicated that performance and was a liability at times when he tried to play through ankle injuries. If he stays healthy, he is a rock in the middle with better movement than his size indicates. He should have a much better season as a junior than he did as a sophomore.
Defensive tackle
Projected starter: De'Andre Williams
Confidence level: absolute. Williams was Tulane's best lineman last year despite being the most unheralded entering the season. He is not a dominator, but he makes a lot of plays and is super reliable. There is no reason to expect a drop-off in his senior year.
Defensive end
Projected starter: Cameron Sample.
Confidence level: absolute. Let's pause for a second to consider how good Tulane's D-line can be. A group that was considered one of the best 10 in the country in the 2019 preseason before underachieving returns three seniors and a junior with 98 career starts. That's how a team contends for a championship. Sample has not quite lived up the promise of a potential-laden freshman season, but he is a playmaker who is good at all aspects of the game when he is healthy. It's exciting to think about what this group can do with the return of injured reserves Carlos Hatcher and Juan Monjarres, plus Davon Wright and Alfred Thomas along with Armoni Dixon and promising freshman Adonis Friloux.
Inside linebacker
Projected starters: Marvin Moody and Nick Anderson
Confidence level: moderate. It is hard to envision Moody losing his starting spot despite not living up to lofty expectations through three years, but the second spot should be a tight competition between Anderson and Oklahoma State grad transfer Kevin Henry. I loved Anderson's performance in the Armed Forces Bowl, so I gave him the nod. With the line in front of them, these guys will get the opportunity to make a ton of plays. Are they up to the task?
Nickelback
Projected starter: Macon Clark
Confidence level: moderate. So much of what Tulane does in the secondary depends on what the coaches decide to do with leading tackler Chase Kuerschen, who is very good when he has a target lined up but struggles covering fast receivers. Clark, the backup free safety, spent most of his time in the five spring practices at nickelback. He, too, struggled in coverage at times last year, so a change made sense at a position bereft of returners other than the seldom-used KJ Vault. Willie Langham is the next likeliest candidate here.
Cornerback
Projected starters: Jaylon Monroe and Kyle Meyers
Confidence level: pretty good. I'm penciling in Meyers based solely on his recruiting ranking coming out of high school and his reputation, He did not do a whole lot at FSU last season, but the coaches did not bring him in to be a backup. Monroe has tremendous potential as a cover guy but needs to improve as a tackler and maintaining confidence when he gives up a gain. With speedster Kiland Harrison emerging in the spring, he and Meyers will have competition when the season starts.
Strong safety
Projected starter: Larry Brooks
Confidence level: high. I believe Brooks will make the biggest jump of anyone on the defense, as his two interceptions in the final two games a year ago indicated. Brooks learned on the job as a backup but is ready to be an all-around playmaker as a starter. Tulane needs someone like that because it did not have a ball hawk in the secondary a year ago.
Free safety
Projected starter: Chase Kuerschen
Confidence level: high. I've seen no evidence the coaches will move or bench Kuerschen because they like his smarts and tackling ability. They have to scheme in a way that keeps him from bad matchups, though, which is not easy for a guy playing the last line of defense. The problem is there are no obvious replacement candidates. Ton'Quez Ball, who got some run with the first team in the spring when Kuerschen sat out with an injury, is unproven. Tyler Judson, who impressed as a playmaker at times in the spring, backed up Brooks rather than getting reps at free safety. Clark, last year's backup, was not always solid in coverage, either. I see Tulane beginning the year with Kuerschen at free safety and making decisions from there based on the overall performance of the secondary.
DEFENSE
DE/Joker/OLB
Projected starter: Patrick Johnson
Confidence level: absolute. The only question about this spot is what to call it. I've never liked the made-up terms for positions like Strike (Kentucky used that one when I covered Florida) and Joker and I consider Patrick Johnson's spot more of a defensive line assignment than linebacker even though he usually meets with the linebackers during practice breaks. Anyway, Johnson is due for a bounce-back year if he stays healthy. The combination of maybe believing his hype, opponents game-planning for him, an increased role in pass coverage and playing through a torn labrum in the second half of the season prompted his sack total to plummet to 4 from 10 1/2 in 2018. He has a ton of talent and the work ethic to back it up, so there is every reason to expect a big senior season as he makes his NFL push.
Nose tackle
Projected starter: Jeffery Johnson
Confidence level: absolute. Johnson appeared headed for a monster impact as a sophomore when he held his own against Auburn in September, but he never duplicated that performance and was a liability at times when he tried to play through ankle injuries. If he stays healthy, he is a rock in the middle with better movement than his size indicates. He should have a much better season as a junior than he did as a sophomore.
Defensive tackle
Projected starter: De'Andre Williams
Confidence level: absolute. Williams was Tulane's best lineman last year despite being the most unheralded entering the season. He is not a dominator, but he makes a lot of plays and is super reliable. There is no reason to expect a drop-off in his senior year.
Defensive end
Projected starter: Cameron Sample.
Confidence level: absolute. Let's pause for a second to consider how good Tulane's D-line can be. A group that was considered one of the best 10 in the country in the 2019 preseason before underachieving returns three seniors and a junior with 98 career starts. That's how a team contends for a championship. Sample has not quite lived up the promise of a potential-laden freshman season, but he is a playmaker who is good at all aspects of the game when he is healthy. It's exciting to think about what this group can do with the return of injured reserves Carlos Hatcher and Juan Monjarres, plus Davon Wright and Alfred Thomas along with Armoni Dixon and promising freshman Adonis Friloux.
Inside linebacker
Projected starters: Marvin Moody and Nick Anderson
Confidence level: moderate. It is hard to envision Moody losing his starting spot despite not living up to lofty expectations through three years, but the second spot should be a tight competition between Anderson and Oklahoma State grad transfer Kevin Henry. I loved Anderson's performance in the Armed Forces Bowl, so I gave him the nod. With the line in front of them, these guys will get the opportunity to make a ton of plays. Are they up to the task?
Nickelback
Projected starter: Macon Clark
Confidence level: moderate. So much of what Tulane does in the secondary depends on what the coaches decide to do with leading tackler Chase Kuerschen, who is very good when he has a target lined up but struggles covering fast receivers. Clark, the backup free safety, spent most of his time in the five spring practices at nickelback. He, too, struggled in coverage at times last year, so a change made sense at a position bereft of returners other than the seldom-used KJ Vault. Willie Langham is the next likeliest candidate here.
Cornerback
Projected starters: Jaylon Monroe and Kyle Meyers
Confidence level: pretty good. I'm penciling in Meyers based solely on his recruiting ranking coming out of high school and his reputation, He did not do a whole lot at FSU last season, but the coaches did not bring him in to be a backup. Monroe has tremendous potential as a cover guy but needs to improve as a tackler and maintaining confidence when he gives up a gain. With speedster Kiland Harrison emerging in the spring, he and Meyers will have competition when the season starts.
Strong safety
Projected starter: Larry Brooks
Confidence level: high. I believe Brooks will make the biggest jump of anyone on the defense, as his two interceptions in the final two games a year ago indicated. Brooks learned on the job as a backup but is ready to be an all-around playmaker as a starter. Tulane needs someone like that because it did not have a ball hawk in the secondary a year ago.
Free safety
Projected starter: Chase Kuerschen
Confidence level: high. I've seen no evidence the coaches will move or bench Kuerschen because they like his smarts and tackling ability. They have to scheme in a way that keeps him from bad matchups, though, which is not easy for a guy playing the last line of defense. The problem is there are no obvious replacement candidates. Ton'Quez Ball, who got some run with the first team in the spring when Kuerschen sat out with an injury, is unproven. Tyler Judson, who impressed as a playmaker at times in the spring, backed up Brooks rather than getting reps at free safety. Clark, last year's backup, was not always solid in coverage, either. I see Tulane beginning the year with Kuerschen at free safety and making decisions from there based on the overall performance of the secondary.
