DL Steve Linton transferring from Texas Tech to Baylor

[690West]

Anything on Linton?

 

[HeaterCuse22]

Anything on Linton?

He's probably finding out the market for skinny underweight high energy DE is less than he anticipated.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

He's probably finding out the market for skinny underweight high energy DE is less than he anticipated.

maybe Georgia St isn't handing out big NIL deals?

 

[HeaterCuse22]

maybe Georgia St isn't handing out big NIL deals?

A car wash and some target gift cards

 

[IthacaBarrel]

A car wash and some target gift cards

and a free breakfast at the waffle house in alpharetta?

 

[javadoc]

and a free breakfast at the waffle house in alpharetta?

Which one?

 

[OrangeAl]

As good as he is, he may have gotten "the talk" about being only a situational player next year.

 

[CbusCuse]

Because of the 4 man front we played against Minny. I'm hoping the staff is leaning towards using a little more beef on the D-line. I know that was partly because of LB depth but I certainly liked it. I was hoping we did something like that more against the big dogs on our schedule earlier in the year. I'm not saying we need 300+ lbs but I still think the DE's have to be over 250 lbs against the good teams on our schedule. That means Linton only plays situationally. Geer at 233 lbs needs to add. He is serviceable against the big boys but more mass would certainly be better. Jaquez needs to add some strength as well. But those 2 are young and I'm sure they will.

All jokes aside i'm guessing the staff would like to have Linton back but maybe more likely as a rotational pass rush specialist I would think or at least not in the rotation against teams who want to pound us up the middle. He has value as a specialist but you just let him know that. Plus maybe a miracle happens and he gains some weight as he has 2 more years of eligibility.

 

[money3189]

Because of the 4 man front we played against Minny. I'm hoping the staff is leaning towards using a little more beef on the D-line. I know that was partly because of LB depth but I certainly liked it. I was hoping we did something like that more against the big dogs on our schedule earlier in the year. I'm not saying we need 300+ lbs but I still think the DE's have to be over 250 lbs against the good teams on our schedule. That means Linton only plays situationally. Geer at 233 lbs needs to add. He is serviceable against the big boys but more mass would certainly be better. Jaquez needs to add some strength as well. But those 2 are young and I'm sure they will.

All jokes aside i'm guessing the staff would like to have Linton back but maybe more likely as a rotational pass rush specialist I would think or at least not in the rotation against teams who want to pound us up the middle. He has value as a specialist but you just let him know that. Plus maybe a miracle happens and he gains some weight as he has 2 more years of eligibility.

Good points. They did run 4 man fronts throughout the season. The difference in the Minny game was using two DT's and one less LB. It was a nice adjustment for that type of run team.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Good points. They did run 4 man fronts throughout the season. This difference in the Minny game was they used two DT's and one less LB. It was a nice adjustment for that type of run team.

I'd bet this was a Rocky Long adjustment. Our level of game planning on defense is going to be hugely improved and Tony was quite good but this is next level.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Which one?

I was thinking of the one on 41 in Marietta south of Boomers by the Longhorn Steakhouse, but that might be too far north.

 

[CbusCuse]

Good points. They did run 4 man fronts throughout the season. The difference in the Minny game was using two DT's and one less LB. It was a nice adjustment for that type of run team.

Yeah I guess the ones during the season were kind of four man fronts when you bring the LB up on the line but I think of that almost more as a 3-3-5 blitz you show pre snap. having a larger DL in there instead makes a big difference against the big power rushing teams. I mean it’s not like it’s a stroke of genius. It seems common sense to me. I was disappointed we were not doing that when we were getting gashed up the gut repeatedly. We didn’t exactly have an experience DL for much of the season though. I’m not sure I would want to even play that as the base for an entire game but as a change of pace to get an offense out of sync and in some longer distance situations I think it makes sense. I think we should be able to do it a lot more next year as we will have a few more pieces with size and experience on the DL with additions and guys naturally getting bigger.

Edit: and to get the other team into some longer distance situations

 

[SmilinBob]

I'd bet this was a Rocky Long adjustment. Our level of game planning on defense is going to be hugely improved and Tony was quite good but this is next level.

Probably true but I would be happy for Swag Daddy if he made the adjustment on his own.

 

[money3189]

Yeah I guess the ones during the season were kind of four man fronts when you bring the LB up on the line but I think of that almost more as a 3-3-5 blitz you show pre snap. having a larger DL in there instead makes a big difference against the big power rushing teams. I mean it’s not like it’s a stroke of genius. It seems common sense to me. I was disappointed we were not doing that when we were getting gashed up the gut repeatedly. We didn’t exactly have an experience DL for much of the season though. I’m not sure I would want to even play that as the base for an entire game but as a change of pace to get an offense out of sync and in some longer distance situations I think it makes sense. I think we should be able to do it a lot more next year as we will have a few more pieces with size and experience on the DL with additions and guys naturally getting bigger.

LB's playing on the LOS is a big part of the defense. What makes this defense as effective as it is are the multiple fronts/stunts from different positions. Its makes them unpredictable and causing confusion for bigger and slower offensive lineman. I definitely like them adding a additional DT in future games. Its just a nice adjustment to have against those style offenses. I agree, maybe adding a DT vs a team like ND might have made a difference but it wasnt going to totally stop them. They had a great O line and power back. They gashed defensive fronts with big interior guys as well.

 

[Chip]

LB's playing on the LOS is a big part of the defense. What makes this defense as effective as it is are the multiple fronts/stunts from different positions. Its makes them unpredictable and causing confusion for bigger and slower offensive lineman. I definitely like them adding a additional DT in future games. Its just a nice adjustment to have against those style offenses. I agree, maybe adding a DT vs a team like ND might have made a difference but it wasnt going to totally stop them. They had a great O line and power back. They gashed defensive fronts with big interior guys as well.

It's where Stefon Thompson thrived. And we were robbed of that this past year. Hopefully not next year.

 

[Finwad32]

It's where Stefon Thompson thrived. And we were robbed of that this past year. Hopefully not next year.

I’m excited to have Stefon back. He’s a player for sure. But I’m tempering expectations for him too. First year back from an ACL is typically a tough transition year.

 

[Chip]

I’m excited to have Stefon back. He’s a player for sure. But I’m tempering expectations for him too. First year back from an ACL is typically a tough transition year.

Agree. And who knows how much confidence he'll have to make cuts.

I guess the silver lining (if there is one) is that it happened so early in the season, so the road to recovery started quicker.

 

[money3189]

It's where Stefon Thompson thrived. And we were robbed of that this past year. Hopefully not next year.

Exactly. Its the unpredictability of it. Teams dont know when a LB is going to be up on the line, off the line, when they are going to blitz or drop in coverage. When they can't account for them it screws up the offensive scheme. Offenses like to know who the edge defender is and who is the over hang guy. Thompson is one of those guys that is good at all those things.

 

[javadoc]

I was thinking of the one on 41 in Marietta south of Boomers by the Longhorn Steakhouse, but that might be too far north.

I'm in Alpharetta and there is one about a mile from my house. And one two miles. And two at three miles. Never far from coffee and an oil change.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I'm in Alpharetta and there is one about a mile from my house. And one two miles. And two at three miles. Never far from coffee and an oil change.

I hear ya. When I lived in Vinings I was in Alpharetta frequently as I had a few friends who lived over there.

 

[RMH44]

Good points. They did run 4 man fronts throughout the season. The difference in the Minny game was using two DT's and one less LB. It was a nice adjustment for that type of run team.

I noticed that as well. I also noticing K. Darton in a 2-point stance on multiple occasions. I wonder if Rocky Long had any game planning input?

 

[anomander]

As good as he is, he may have gotten "the talk" about being only a situational player next year.

You really think Babers is going to cut his best pass rusher? I can think of 30 players more likely to get the talk. He has his degree he’s probably just trying to grab some money before his playing days are done. He did visit Texas Tech. I can almost guarantee it didn’t happen, but if Babers ever did cut him then we have more problems on hand then NIL

 

[SoBristol]

I noticed that as well. I also noticing K. Darton in a 2-point stance on multiple occasions. I wonder if Rocky Long had any game planning input?

Darton in a 2 point stance, off-set behind the DT, just seemed like the best use of his quickness. I am guessing Nick Monroe and the other assistants used the 15 days of practice to add this wrinkle to counter Minny’s RB and OL strengths.

Hope to see more of this with the numbers, experience and a bit of added size in the DL. At least on running downs.

 

[money3189]

I noticed that as well. I also noticing K. Darton in a 2-point stance on multiple occasions. I wonder if Rocky Long had any game planning input?

Yes I imagine he did.

 

[OrangeAl]

You really think Babers is going to cut his best pass rusher? I can think of 30 players more likely to get the talk. He has his degree he’s probably just trying to grab some money before his playing days are done. He did visit Texas Tech. I can almost guarantee it didn’t happen, but if Babers ever did cut him then we have more problems on hand then NIL

I don't know what Dino may have said, but I don't think telling a player frankly that he's going to fill a situational role is the same thing as cutting him.