The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Changing Positions No Problem For Versatile Petty
9/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Irvine
uabsports.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Changing positions from cornerback to safety wasn't a big deal for UAB sophomore Jordan Petty. After all, he considers himself to be both.
"I've played safety all my life," said Petty, who graduated from Florence High School in North Alabama. "I've played corner all my life. It's just wherever they needed me. Coming out of high school, my coach (Jamey Dubose) told me I'd probably be recruited as a safety. I was always ready and prepared for it if the time came for me to move back to safety."
That time came last week after UAB head coach Bill Clark, defensive coordinator Duwan Walker and the defensive staff found out the starting strong safety Bobby Baker was lost for the season because of an injury.
The 5-foot-10, 192-pound Petty was a viable option to fill the void in the absence of the 6-foot-3, 193-pound Baker, even though Petty was the cornerback starter. Petty had 11 tackles in the first three games. He had five of those tackles and three pass breakups in the Blazers' loss at Mississippi State. However, with Lamarcus Farmer back completely healthy after being slowed with a fall camp leg injury, he could best help the defense at safety.
"We knew Petty was a guy we could move over," Clark said. "He had played safety before. Maybe you lose a little size but you also have a guy who played corner. That probably helps us in some other areas. We are going to look at the positives. That's a guy who maybe makes us a little more versatile."
Clark is not downplaying the loss of Baker, who was leading the team with 19 tackles, including 14 at Mississippi State, and had an interception that actually came after hurting his knee in the win over Alabama A&M. He also said the Blazers will miss SAM linebacker Kalen Jackson, who had seven tackles, an interception, an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery before a season-ending knee injury suffered in the third quarter at Mississippi State.
"We are always ready for injury," Petty said. "We hate that happened but that's football. We definitely miss those guys but it's the next guy up. If you have to move guys around, like they had to move me, whatever helps the team."
Both of those positions still have some depth. Derek Slaughter is sharing the SAM linebacker position with fellow junior Rolan Milligan, who also moved from cornerback, and the Blazers still have experience at safety. Senior Calvin Jones is the starter at free safety with junior Desman Carter and sophomore Greg Maclin backing him up. Petty and senior Jay Davis are now listed at strong safety.
"I think Milligan was a good move over to that (SAM linebacker) spot," Clark said. "He was kind of guy who was an unknown because he didn't get here until August. With Petty we knew what we had, Farmer starts playing better after he had been injured. We got him back. So it's almost like this guy went out but this guy steps back up, which allowed us to make the move."
Petty, who played safety and nickel back as a true freshman, said it's a relatively seamless transition and believes his versatility is a plus.
"I played cover corner and our defense plays a lot of man," Petty said. "Rolling down playing man on the slot receiver, it's easier if you're used to it. If you're always playing zone and not playing much man, having to roll down and playing man on a shiftier guy, sometimes it hurts you. Since I'm used to it, I think it will be a helpful factor."
For Clark, it's simply a matter of inserting playmakers throughout the defense. Baker is the lone UAB defender to record double digits in tackles during a game this year, which suits Clark just fine.
"It is so much now that people are going to attack you everywhere," Clark said. "There is no `We're going to run it up the middle' like it used to be, where your Mike linebacker has 14 tackles or 20 tackles. It's a different storm now, they are going to stress you everywhere. That's why there can't be weak links anymore because they are going to find them."
