2019 Rocket Football Preview: The Secondary

Key returners: senior Kahlil Robinson (69 tackles in 2018), senior DeDarallo Blue (27 career starts at safety), junior Justin Clark (35 tackles and four pass breakups in 2018), junior Tycen Anderson (44 tackles in 2018).

Toledo's secondary features plenty of athleticism and experience in 2019, with three starters returning this year and several more who saw significant action in 2018. Last season, the Rockets' secondary held opponents to under 250 yards passing on six occasions and recorded 41 pass breakups.

With the team now well into training camp, Toledo's position coaches have gotten a good look at what they have to work with this upcoming season. 

"I think it's going really well so far," safeties coach Ross Watson said. "There is a lot of really healthy competition."

The Rockets' crop of safeties features experienced starters Blue and Robinson, as well as key contributors from last season -- Anderson along with sophomores Saeed Holt and Zachary Ford. Watson has made a point of mixing and matching his safeties during camp thus far, preparing his defensive backs to be ready to play alongside anybody, and on either side of the field.

"I think that's really helped us out a lot," Watson said. "They're comfortable playing beside anybody. That's been the nicest thing during camp so far. I can just plug and play these guys anywhere. They're also working on playing both sides of the field. That's a huge mental boost for them, learning to play both sides of the field."

The cornerbacks are a younger group, with Clark and junior Samuel Womack being the elder statesmen. Sophomore DeAmonte King earned a varsity letter last season, playing in all 13 contests. Among the newcomers, cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat has liked what he has seen from sophomore Troy Simon and freshman Chris McDonald.

"I think they're looking good," Poteat said. "We're young. We really only have two guys with significant experience. It's a good group athletically, and they've been doing some good things so far during camp. I'm excited about my cornerback room."

With a young group of cornerbacks at his disposal, Poteat has been preaching his three D's since the start of training camp: discipline, details, dominate.

"We need to be disciplined, make sure we're doing all the right things on the field and be coachable," said Poteat. "We need to pay attention to the details, whether it's hand placement or technique, or how we're playing the deep ball. And we have to dominate. Every play, whoever is across the line from them, they need to think 'I'm going to dominate him'."

Watson echoed similar sentiments for the safeties, and the defense as a whole: "The emphasis of the entire defense has been running to the ball, playing really hard, and tackling well. Of course there will be crazy plays that happen in a game, but if we're sound in those three areas that will help limit foolish plays on our end and explosive plays for the other team."

Toledo opens up its 2019 season at Kentucky on Aug. 31 before hosting Murray State in the home opener on Sept. 14. For season tickets or single-game tickets, go online or call 419-530-GOLD (4653).