Safety Comes First
8/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2004
The safety position is what separates the Horned Frog defense from most around the country. Head coach Gary Patterson employs a 4-2-5 scheme, keeping three safeties on the field at all times. Despite losing 2003 starters Chris Peoples and Brandon Williams, the safety position is perceived as an area of strength this season. Last year's group was decimated by injury. Ken Lewis and David Roach, both expected to be big contributors, did not get out of two-a-days before suffering season-ending knee injuries. The the loss of Marvin Godbolt in the season's fourth game, proved to be the most devastating injury of all. With those three players back in the fold, the Frogs have a very athletic group of safeties who play very well off each others strengths and weaknesses. Some depth exists, but as the Frogs found out a year ago, health will be a major factor in how the season progresses. Several of the players have been used at different spots, seeing action at the free, weak or strong safety position, which allows the coaches some versatility to get the best guys available on the field. The player deserving of the most accolades is Godbolt. A third team all-conference pick last year despite playing in just four games, Godbolt is the epitome of a playmaker. Since earning game MVP honors at Nebraska in 2001 in his first collegiate game, Godbolt has made things happen. Last season the three-year starter had four interceptions and four forced fumbles in just four games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He is expected to be at 100 percent when the season begins and will pick up right where he left off, manning the weak safety position. Juniors Jeremy Modkins and Flander Malone came out of the spring as the projected starters at the free and strong safety positions respectively. Modkins has made 16 career starts and is a solid performer who turned in a good spring. Malone is very athletic and has gained a better knowledge of the defensive package. He stepped up in the spring and put himself in a position to get on the field this fall if he plays within himself. Sophomore Eric Buchanan moves over from cornerback to the weak safety position to back up Godbolt. He excited the coaches with his ability to adapt to the position and brings solid man coverage skills from his days at corner to his new role. Redshirt freshman David Roach will battle Buchanan for the top backup spot behind Godbolt. Roach showed tremendous athletic ability last year before suffering a knee injury early in the fall camp. Like Roach, sophomore Ken Lewis sat out the entire 2003 season after suffering a knee injury during the fall two-a-days. Lewis was one of only three true freshmen to play for the Frogs in 2002, joining Lonta Hobbs and Chad Andrus. He returned in the spring and will challenge Malone for time at the strong safety position. Redshirt freshman Brian Bonner is an athletic player who is continuing to learn the position. He will join Lewis in challenging Malone for playing time at strong safety and also could see playing time in the "nickel" and "dime" packages. Sophomore Elvis Gallegos is listed as the second team free safety behind Modkins entering the fall. Gallegos finished the 2003 season very strong and will see significant playing time this year. The Frogs inked a pair of local safeties to national letters of intent in the spring. Steven Coleman, from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, is a bigger safety at 6-2 and 200 pounds, while Matt Panfil, who helped North Crowley to a state championship, will begin his TCU career at safety, but may grow into another position before his career is over.
