Spur of the Moment
March 30, 2006 03:09 PM | General
March 30, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore John Holmes has all of the physical tools needed to be an impact spur safety in West Virginia’s odd stack defense. Now, according to West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, it’s just a matter of reprogramming the 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound pass-rushing specialist into covering tight ends and running backs out in space.
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| Sophomore John Holmes is spending this spring learning a new position.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
“In our odd stack you want a lot of guys in that second level in those five positions that can maybe play inside and play outside,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve got to be able to play in space against a wide out but yet be physical enough to match up against a tight end. That’s kind of what we’ve got right now with some of those positions.
“Johnny is going to play a lot of football for us. He’s a very talented guy,” Rodriguez said.
Holmes spent time on special teams last year when some injuries forced him to burn his redshirt.
“Some wanted me to play on special teams and some wanted to redshirt me but in the end Dwayne Mundle got hurt before the Sugar Bowl and I had to step up and play on punt block. I also played a little bit of kickoff return,” Holmes said. “As long as I got the experience that’s all I wanted.”
Holmes was a late edition to last year’s recruiting class, committing to West Virginia a couple of weeks after signing day last February.
“I was waiting on my test scores to come back to see which school was going to pick me because I wasn’t going to be able to pick the school,” Holmes said. “I called up Coach (Herb) Hand and asked if they had any scholarships left open and he told me yeah. I went ahead and signed here because they had a spot for me.”
The sophomore said he was talking to schools like Mississippi, South Florida, Florida and Western Kentucky before he became eligible. When West Virginia signed him, the idea was to bring him in and let him have a year to learn the defense before putting him out there at one of the outside linebacker positions.
But because he possessed a rare blend of athleticism and size and showed an ability to stick with backs and receivers, the coaching staff toyed with the idea of moving him to the spur safety position presently occupied by senior Eric Wicks (who can also play the bandit safety position). If Holmes can handle it, that gives West Virginia another option at the spur.
Wicks says the spur safety position is similar to a strong safety in other defenses while the bandit safety is more out in space covering receivers and playing the deep zone. Though junior Ridwan Malik is working with the ones at bandit right now, there remains the possibility that both Holmes and Wicks could play some together giving West Virginia a couple of big, physical safeties that can move.
“He’s a bigger, faster guy that can still cover guys,” Wicks said of Holmes. “I think he’s a great guy for the position.”
Holmes admits he’s just trying to get his feet on the ground. “I have a lot of mistakes I need to bring down since I’ve changed positions,” he said. “I need to work on covering a little bit more.”
Holmes was considered one of the top pass-rushing linebackers in Florida as a senior at Rockledge High School, earning first team all-state honors. His strengths were getting off the edge to rush the passer and playing at the line of scrimmage.
“I’m used to coming downhill and handling somebody and now I’ve got to backpedal and then come up and hit somebody. It’s a little bit different,” he said.
Because he’s now out of his element a little bit, Holmes has turned to Wicks for help.
“I’m watching him and he’s also right there whenever I have a question,” Holmes said.
“I’m just trying to relate to him maybe more than the coaches can because I’m out there playing the position,” Wicks said. “I’m just trying to give him little keys and little hints I’ve picked up to help him during games.
“Before he was used to being in the box dealing with the linemen and he deals with linemen a little bit but not as much,” Wicks added. “He has to work more playing in space and that’s what is hurting him a little bit. But as far as getting his feet turned and running -- he has the athleticism to do it. I think the more time he gets at the position he’ll be OK.”
Wicks says there are times, too, when he backs off with the advice when he sees Holmes thinking too much. “You’ve got to let them breathe a little bit and not get frustrated,” he said.
Holmes said his main goal is to lock up a spot in the two-deep by the end of spring camp.
“I’m thinking too much but a little more time in the film room will take care of that,” he said.
West Virginia is off today and will practice again on Friday. The team is scheduled to scrimmage on Saturday.
