Cornerbacks Ready to Be Tested
August 15, 2013 | Football
Aug 15, 2013
By: Rocco Gasparro
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Jeramine Reve is ready for his new role this season as the University of Louisville football team continues preparations for the 2013 season. Last season, Reve showed his value in the defensive secondary by playing as the team's nickel back in the Cardinals' Joker package.
A redshirt freshman last year, Reve covered the slot receivers and illustrated a certain steadiness needed to play in the secondary where defensive backs must have a short memory.
After 11 practices, Reve has slid over to the starting cornerback position alongside of junior Terell Floyd. A former Miami Northwestern High product, Reve is firmly planted at one of the corner spots, but can move around if needed.
"Right now, I'm locked in at cornerback," Reve, who recorded 32 stops last season, said. "But when we go to our nickel package, I'm the nickel back. I like to move around on defense. The coaches like my versatility. I'm up for the challenge."
With the attacking style of defense that defensive coordinator plans to institute this season, Reve understands he will be faced with numerous and tough one-on-one match-ups.
"One thing about being on an island, you have to be smart and play with great technique," Reve said. "If I get beat, I get right back to it and lock them down. I can't wait until I get to the next play."
Bedford added, "In the first year we put them on an island, but the quarterback didn't have time to throw the football. You can be on an island, but really you're not. If the pressure gets home, you get a lot of bad passes out there. That is the whole thought process of bringing pressure."
Floyd is competing at the other corner position and is one of the team's most experienced cornerbacks after making 10 starts. Floyd has progressed this camp to become one of the leaders in the secondary and has come out these first two weeks with the right attitude.
"We try to come out and get better every day and do what the coaches tell us to do," Floyd said. "Coach Strong is one of the best coaches in the nation, so we try to do what they are coaching us to do. He is going to put us in the right spot to make plays."
Bedford has stressed over the importance the last three seasons of making plays on the football and getting those interception numbers up. Floyd recorded a team-high three interceptions, but made the key play on the first snap of the Sugar Bowl win over Florida, when he picked off a deflected pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown in the 33-23 shocker over the Gators.
"People notice me a lot more, but nothing really has changed," Floyd responded when asked if anything has changed after the Sugar Bowl pick. "I come out and try to get better every day. I feel like I have room to get better. I don't want to be complacent. Coach Strong tells us all the time we can't settle and we have to keep working."
Bedford, who begins his fourth season at Louisville, is excited that his room is filled with talented football players for the first time since arriving in 2010, and his corners are tested every day by what could be the finest set of wide outs nationally.
"We have some competition for the first time since we have been here, so we hope that they play a lot better than the first three seasons," Bedford said. "When you go against a guy like DeVante Parker and those guys every single day, you won't see a better guy this season than the ones we face every day. "
Bedford is excited on the progress and depth of his cornerbacks, especially the play of Floyd.
"He has gained some confidence," Bedford said of Floyd. "He is stepping in the right direction. He has started to take a leadership role. He is going into his third season and he has made plays. The next step is that he has to be consistent and that what he needs to be consistent."
Bedford challenges his group everyday with his hard-coaching style, but his cornerbacks will be tested this year with the aggressive style of play.
