IrishIllustrated.com - 2006 Breakout Player: CB Sean Grevious

July 12, 2006

GoBlackKnights.com Staff
GoBlackKnights.com

Army fans know the headliners going into the 2006 football season. Yet others will play major roles, stepping up into vacated positions, improving their skills and taking advantage of opportunities, etc.

In our series "The Breakout Players for 2006", GoBlackKnights.com will share with you on who we predict will break out this fall. Today, our first pick is senior cornerback, Sean Grevious.

Why He'll Breakout: First off, opportunity comes into play. Grevious has been waiting -- well, let's not say patiently, but he's been waiting - for his chance to do more than fill in, back up and play special teams. He and his twin brother, Chris came in as the heir apparent to then juniors, Delante Brewer and Jonathan Lewis. However hit with a injury plagued sophomore and junior campaign (fractured tailbone), not to mention the development and emergence of 2005 Black Knight captain, Ray Stith, Grevious was finding it difficult to get on the field for some serious reps. However, with the departure of senior Ray Stith, as well as boundary corner and captain, Dhyan Tarver, the door is wide open for Grevious to have a breakout season.

At 5-foot10 ?, 178 pounds and one of the fastest members (legit 4.4 forty) on the team, he possesses the athleticism and is a sure tackler to finally step up and make a difference. However, it's the chip on his shoulder that will make this a breakout season for the senior cornerback. That was evident by his play this spring as he elevated his game and was named "The Most Improved Defensive Player" (shared the honor with FS, Jordan Murray).

Grevious also proved capable in coverage this past year during summer practices, where he stepped in with the first unit when Stith was injured. But during the early part of the season, he fractured his tailbone and never fully recovered. The net of this is that he possesses the combination of attributes and circumstances to become a breakout Black Knights' performer.

What He's Capable Of: Grevious is capable of making the Black Knights a faster and more athletic defense, a trait that was lacking at times last season. Tarver was a gifted and very physical corner, who presence was felt more against the run than the pass. Army's defensive staff is looking to field a unit that can be both physical and fast.

When you are viewed as inexperienced, offensive coordinators will not hesitate to test you, where Grevious could see plenty of passing action. However, he's capable of producing some interesting numbers, that can translate into healthy interception and breakup totals if the new starter performs at the projected level. A key factor for both Grevious & Darren Newsome success will be pressure on the passers from the front four, but we will be covering that later in one of our other Break Players for 2006.

It's an ideal situation for him to step-up to the challenge, and Grevious' going all-out to prove "he's the one attitude" should produce results.

What Could Stand In His Way: Army's coaches like his speed and athletic ability, but it's essential that Grevious stay injury free. He can not be his own worst enemy and be set back by confidence issues over mistakes that are inevitable. He should play with the confidence that had him tabbed as a top recruit in 2003, coupled with all that he showed in the spring during the fall camp.

Prediction: Let's see - athletic, speed, sure tackler, three years in the system, with a point to prove as motivation … We believe that the bookends of Grevious and Darren Newsome at the corners, coupled with strong safety Caleb Campbell (All-American potential), free safeties Jordan Murrayand Randy Chasten, this group will become a very solid secondary, that is both athletic, as well as physical. Therefore, we say here that as Grevious continues to fine tune his craft during summer/fall practice and stays healthy, he will become one of Army's success stories of the 2006 football season.

Stay tune as GoBlackKnights.com switches to the offense and takes a look at our second prediction for 2006 Breakout Player.

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