Andrew Rich

Sounds like he could play either safety position this year, depending on who is 2nd best safety this year. I'd love to see him play the KAT safety role because the dude can HIT and would be a stud in the run game defense. But if the #2 safety plays KAT, he will stay at Free Safety. At least, per Bronco:



“Free safety, really it is going to depend on when Andrew Rich gets healthy, and then finding out who the next safety is, regardless of position. So if the next safety is a KAT [safety] then Andrew Rich could play free safety. And if the next safety happens to be a free, then Andrew could play KAT,” Mendenhall said.

“So of the group of three or four safeties right now who are competing, one of them has to clearly emerge as the No. 2 [safety]. I am talking about No. 2 overall, and that will allow us to make up the difference with Andrew.”



http://blogs.sltrib.com/byu/index.php?p=13806&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Rich is/was the SS last season and that's where he projects right now... that is unless they can't find a suitable FS and the next safety in line is a SS, then they would consider moving him over to Free. I'm hoping he stays at SS for the very reasons you stated. He was so good last year in run support and I think he could have a real shot at the NFL with another productive season this year. I think with the talent we have at the wings in Logan and Bradley and the hitter we have in Rich at SS, we can afford to play a guy like Thomas or Galea'i at FS even if they may be more suited to SS just because of the talent we'll have to make up for their weakness at the other spots. I understand that the FS is like the captain and playcaller of the defense but I think Rich could fill that role just as well at SS. The SS doesn't play THAT much closer to the line in BYU's defense than the FS.

I don't understand why Rich can't be the vocal leader at his usual SS spot. Why move Rich now when he's only got one year left and has just about perfected the SS spot? At one point, I was in favor of moving Bradley over to the open FS spot but I think we'll be better with him at corner then if he moves. And whoever is the "next best safety" of the bunch should be decent enough to handle the position of free safety. Other than the FS traditionally being the leader of the defense, it would seem to me that the SS spot is harder to play. You're expected to drop into coverage and cover the run. The FS is mostly the last line of defense against the air attack. Scott Johnson was just good enough to read plays before they happened and was often like a second SS out there covering the run and helping out in the flats.



Again, if you're the coaches, why make the player adapt? You should know more and be able to make adjustments easier, so just tweak things just enough to keep Rich at SS and let him be the vocal leader from there. I'm not saying that Rich couldn't handle the move to FS. I just think he's a more natural fit at SS and would do even better there.