they comin for Myron Rolle Neck
February 18, 2008
[h1]Marcus Ball contemplates moving to safety[/h1]
Gene Williams
Warchant.com Staff
If there is a position that never seems to have enough depth it's safety. And now with the graduation of two-year starter Roger Williams, there is botha lack of depth and experience.
This past signing class, FSU signed New Jersey athlete
Ed Imeokparia, who will likely play safety, but it's unlikely he will beready to contribute in year one. Also, safety signee
Travis Arnold from Madison County (FL) will probably not qualify meaning therewon't be many bodies at safety this season.
To help the depth crisis, a current player is ready and willing to make the switch, and if it happens he should be in a position to provide immediate help.
"It's a possibility," sophomore
Marcus Ballsaid of making the switch from linebacker to safety. "We've talked about it and had a couple discussions. It's in my thoughts but it's not thetime of year to make any permanent changes."
He says those changes, if they will take place, will occur after he meets with the defensive coaches before the start of spring practice.
Not only is Ball already familiar with Mickey Andrews' defensive scheme, which should give him a leg up if he moves to safety, he already has plenty ofexperience at the position. The former Rivals100 member lined up at safety over the last year and a half of his high school career. As a full-time safetyduring his senior season, Ball recorded 150 tackles and had three interceptions.
So how does he feel he would fit in at safety at Florida State?
"Perfectly might be an understatement," Ball said. "It's all about in the scheme of the defense and I feel I would fit in good. I feel Ihave the attributes that a very good safety has -- the agility, the size, the mind and knowing the game a little bit."
In high school, Ball played strong safety and believes that would be his most likely destination were he to make the switch at FSU.
"Probably strong more than likely but sometimes strong and free share the same jobs," he said. "It really doesn't matter but I would thinkstrong."
And at 6-foot and 215-pounds, Ball has the build for a strong safety (rover) in Mickey Andrews' defense. But if that happens there will be some stiffcompetition for playing time. Over the past two years,
MyronRolle has been a fixture in the secondary starting 23 total games at rover. Nevertheless, Ball doesn't see that as an issue and if he makes the move,will do everything possible to win the job.
"The coaches tell us every day, nobody is set in stone as for who is starting," Ball said. "I'm a competitor, I complete, so it doesn'tmatter who is out there I'm going to do what is best for the team. I'm not trying to step on any toes but I'm just going to compete with whoever. Idon't care if Deion is out there I'm going to try to out-run him."
Ball says he's perfectly content to play wherever the coaches feel he can best help the team. That being said, the speedy athlete believes moving to thesecondary would be in both his best interest and the best interests of the team.
"It's mostly what I thought and what I feel is best for me," he said. "There have been some whispers around (about the move) but I just hearthe whispers and I don't go off the whispers. It was always in the back of my mind to make the decision and make the move. We'll see how it works outafter mat drills."
Because he was coming off ACL surgery, Ball's playing time was somewhat limited last season, especially early on. Nevertheless, he still played in ninegames and recorded 24 tackles (1.5 for loss), 1 sack and 3 pass break-ups.
thank God
