The cornerback room is crowded, competitive and still very much under construction, and Chip Viney likes it that way.
Asked about the fight for the second cornerback job, Viney said the group has embraced the challenge. The players, he said, understand the opportunity in front of them and are attacking it with the kind of urgency that shows up in practice every day.
“The guys know and understand that there is an opportunity there and I think they are all in attack mode and I really like where they are at this point in camp,” Viney said. “Some of the guys have stood out because of the attention to detail, the effort, and the execution piece. It's really a healthy and deep group and guys are competing for that spot.”
He isn’t ready to name a frontrunner for the No. 2 job just yet. Viney pointed to the amount of camp still left and said there are several possibilities, including multiple players who can handle all five spots. He referenced Treydan Stukes as an example of the kind of flexibility the staff values, and said the versatility piece matters.
“I think it's too early to tell. There's a lot of camp left,” Viney said.
“I do know that there are more than a few options that we have for the position. There's a couple of guys that can play all five spots, which we like.
The likes of guys like Treydan Stukes last year with the flexibility piece. The more you can do, the better.
I really like where we are in terms of what we have and the guys who can step in and play opposite of Jay'Vion.”
Viney also said the staff is working with a group that has plenty of new faces and varying levels of experience, but he doesn’t view his coaching approach as fundamentally different. Instead, he sees players spending more time in the building, learning the terminology and scheme, with spring practice giving them a head start.
“I wouldn't say that. You coach different things at different times,” Viney said.
“I don't know what the numbers say in terms of experience versus inexperience, but I would say there are more guys that are coming in and wanting more because it is so new to them. They are spending more time in the offices learning the verbiage and scheme that way.
Not necessarily coaching different, but attention to detail with the new group and learning some of the guys that way. Obviously, having spring was a huge piece of it, but I would say more than anything on their part, more guys spending more time in the building trying to get familiar with everything.”
One player who has drawn his attention is Dwight Bootle, whose path included Nebraska and Charlotte before arriving in Arizona. Viney called him “a great young man” and said the fresh start has suited him well. He added that Bootle is still early in his development, but the staff has been encouraged by what he has shown since spring.
“A great young man who started out at Nebraska and ended up at Charlotte and is now here,” Viney said. “He is a young man who is really eager to get this season going and it's a fresh new start.
Really proud of who he has become since arriving here in the spring until now. I think Dwight is just starting to scratch the surface of who he could be and we're really pleased with what he's done thus far in camp, but still a lot of work to be done.
I commend the young man for who he has become and accepting us and allowing us to coach him and develop him.”
Viney said Bootle’s time at Nebraska mattered in the evaluation because the scheme was familiar, and that familiarity helped the staff move faster in the process. Coaches with previous knowledge of Bootle’s character also played a role. On the field, Viney likes his ability to work in press and off-man coverage and make plays on the ball.
“Being honest, his time at Nebraska was really, really pivotal in us making the decision to go on him because the scheme is very similar,” Viney said. “We knew he would be familiar to the system and that matters.
A few coaches in Coach Bringuel and Coach Thompson had some familiarity with the young man and could speak to his character off the field kind of expedited his process versus a young man you didn't have any previous relationships with. His ability to play within the scheme, play press, play off man, and make plays on the ball.
For me, a young man that is hungry and he was willing and ready to come in and work and that was important to me.”
The younger players in the room have also given Viney something to work with. He described them as fun to coach, while acknowledging the natural growing pains that come with development.
Xaier Hiler’s spring work was important, he said, because it helped him learn the program’s standards and the meaning of “redline.” Viney also singled out Zuri, who came from Howard, for not backing away from the competition.
“They're fun. I'm really excited about them being here,” Viney said.
“I think like anything that where there is growth, there is a lot of ebb and flow and a lot of growing pains. These are young men that have made tremendous strides.
It was huge Xaier Hiler being here this spring and learning how we do things, how we practice, what redline means. You have a guy in Zuri who was coming from Howard and for him this is the big stage.
He is a guy that has not shied away from the competition and the standard that is in the room. I am really excited for what those guys bring to the table and really hope they get the opportunity to ultimately contribute this season.”
Even with the progress, Viney made it clear the secondary still has a long way to go. The standard in the room remains high, and he said the unit is still in the middle of its process. Health has helped, and the staff is still sorting through how much rotation the group might use this season.
“We're nowhere near where we want to be,” Viney said. “The standard is really high in the room and the guys know that, but we're in the middle of our process.
I would say the positive thing is we're healthy and we have guys that some days they are taking anywhere from all the reps to the next day they might not be taking those reps for whatever reason. We may see more rotation in the secondary than we have seen in years past or we may not.
I think it is still way too early to tell, but thus far really happy and pleased with the progress of this unit as a whole. We have more guys in this secondary that can do more for this team than we had a year ago and that's exciting.”
Swayde Griffin is one of the players Viney highlighted as a major mover. Griffin, who was banged up last season, has made the most of the chance in front of him and has leaned into both special teams and defense. Viney said if he were handing out a most improved award, Griffin would get it.
“Swayde is a young man that has taken full advantage of what is in front of him,” Viney said. “I think he knows and understands what's at stakes in terms of this being a year where we've brought in some new pieces and guys that have played where he has not.
From special teams to defense, Swayde has completely leaned in on his process and what he needs to do to contribute to the team. From spring to now, if I had to give an award to someone for most improved, it would be Swayde Griffin.
I am excited about what he can do because the kid can go and we know his background and caliber that is the Griffin family.”
Jay'Vion Cole remains the centerpiece of the discussion. Viney said the ceiling is enormous and praised Cole’s consistency, work ethic and growing leadership. He said Cole could reach all-conference or All-American status if everything comes together, with health and production doing the rest.
“Sky is the limit,” Viney said. “I have really high hopes and personal dreams for Jay'Vion and where his career can take him.
He shows up every day and he is the same person. He works the same and he understands what the process is and what he needs to do to be successful both one and off the field.
He can be anywhere from all-conference to All-American if he wants to be. Staying healthy and being out there and making the plays when they present themselves will ultimately decide that, but he's a young man I couldn't be more proud of.
The leadership role that he's taken within the room and on the defense and within our team is really exciting to see how he has grown over the years.”
Malcolm Hartzog is another player trending up, and Viney sounded energized by what he has seen. Replacing Treydan Stukes is no small task, but Viney said Hartzog has the experience and the motivation to make his own mark.
“It’s awesome,” Viney said. “We all know it's not easy replacing Treydan Stukes.
I am pretty excited about the guy we have in that spot this year and that is all respect to Treydan and the standard he set. You have a guy in Malcolm Hartzog who has played a ton of ball and is looking to bounce back and make his own statement this year.
I couldn't be more excited about some of the things he is going to bring to our defense in that secondary this year.”
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