Linebacker

[RF2044]

Recently? The last true freshman LB I recall that came into Syracuse and made an impact was Clifton Smith.

Edit - Not game IQ, general position IQ at the college level. Heavy understanding of reads, different formations and responsibilities. It’s widely considered to be the QB of the defense. Very difficult for a true frosh; prolly more so a MLB rather than an outside LB.

Cam Lynch?

Paris Bennett?

Zaire Franklin?

Apologies if I am misremembering, but I thought they all played as true freshmen.

If you can play, you can play.

 

[wfschrec]

Recently? The last true freshman LB I recall that came into Syracuse and made an impact was Clifton Smith.

Edit - Not game IQ, general position IQ at the college level. Heavy understanding of reads, different formations and responsibilities. It’s widely considered to be the QB of the defense. Very difficult for a true frosh; prolly more so a MLB rather than an outside LB.

Marlowe acquitted himself reasonably well as a freshman … 32 tackles and 3 sacks.

 

[PhatOrange]

Cam Lynch?

Paris Bennett?

Zaire Franklin?

Apologies is I misremembering, but I thought they all played as true freshmen.

If you can play, you can play.

They played but we were talking impact true freshman starters.

Lynch - true freshman 2011; 11 games one start
Bennett - true freshman 2014; 8 games no starts.
Franklin - true freshman 2014; 12 games 3 starts.

 

[RF2044]

They played but we were talking impact true freshman starters.

Lynch - true freshman 2011; 11 games one start
Bennett - true freshman 2014; 8 games no starts.
Franklin - true freshman 2014; 12 games 3 starts.

Thanks.

So, not unprecedented for young LB'ets to make an impact, if they have a good instincts.

Agree that it isn't a guarantee for any incoming player.

 

[PhatOrange]

Marlowe acquitted himself reasonably well as a freshman … 32 tackles and 3 sacks.

1 start. It was his second year he started all 12.

 

[Sudano]

Game IQ can't be quantify, but we've had true frosh LB's come in and make an impact before.

If this kid is an early enrollee, that could help accelerate his readiness. Let's see what the kid can do before applying truism limitations.

Simply put we need more talent at LB, no matter how AD does in the future

 

[RF2044]

Simply put we need more talent at LB, no matter how AD does in the future

No disagreement, assume we'll look to add at least one impact transfer at LB.

 

[chuck]

Need multiple in the portal. Sparrow and McDonald are not starters.

Sparrow has potential to be for sure. And diggs younger brother.

 

[PhatOrange]

Thanks.

So, not unprecedented for young LB'ets to make an impact, if they have a good instincts.

Agree that it isn't a guarantee for any incoming player.

It’s unprecedented at Syracuse for a true freshman LB to come in and start most every game. That’s what I would call making an impact.

In 1999 Clifton Smith started 8 (of 12) games as a true freshman MLB and was an All American.

 

[Sudano]

It’s unprecedented at Syracuse for a true freshman LB to come in and start most every game. That’s what I would call making an impact.

In 1999 Clifton Smith started 8 (of 12) games as a true freshman MLB and was an All American.

Every 26 years we'll bank on it.

 

[sutomcat]

David O seemed to be playing DE most of the time and is looking like someone that can break out next year.

LB I’m at a loss. I loved Sparrow in the 3-3-5 but he and McDonald showed their weaknesses when forced to drop back in coverage this season. Both seemed a step or 2 slow. Maybe it’s the new defense or maybe they’re 1 dimensional? McDonald did play the Stefon Thompson LB/OLB that rushed the QB in the 3-3-5. Hopefully he regains some burst from his knee injury, or maybe the defensive isn’t an ideal fit. Otherwise there are slim pickings right now. Could certainly use an experienced portal LB and hope there’s someone on the roster that develops into someone trustworthy. It shouldn’t be a tough position to find in the portal though.

Agree Slimy Dave played DE this year and as he continues to get bigger, he will likely stay there.

Share your concerns in Sparrow and McDonald with pass coverage. I haven’t confirmed this looming at film but watching games in person late in the season, I thought I saw Caden Brown come in on passing downs more and more late in the year.

I think he is someone to keep an eye on. Seemed like he was getting prepped for a bigger role for next season.

Really hope we have room to add a DE who can rush the QB, one or two LBs with experience and athletic ability and a big safety with experience. Could use a CB now too with the recent losses there.

I think we need to free up space to get all these needs addressed. I expect a bunch more players deep on the depth charts to announce they are leaving. Believe they have 5 days after the bowl game to do this and if they miss that, they will have to wait until sometime after the spring game.

 

[PhatOrange]

Every 26 years we'll bank on it.

Or even 10 years if we want to include Zaire Franklin.

 

[RF2044]

It’s unprecedented at Syracuse for a true freshman LB to come in and start most every game. That’s what I would call making an impact.

In 1999 Clifton Smith started 8 (of 12) games as a true freshman MLB and was an All American.

But it isn't unprecedented for a true frosh LB to make an early impact, or potentially start games, as the historical evidence demonstrates.

And it hasn't been since 1999 as you implied that we've seen LBs come in and intermittently start.

That doesn't mean that AD will be the next guy to do so, that he'll have the readiness to play early, or that he'll beat out other guys.

But if he's good enough, he'll play. Because Fran Brown doesn't hesitate to play young defensive players early, if he thinks they can contribute.

Not interested in platitudes.

 

[orangefog]

Thanks.

So, not unprecedented for young LB'ets to make an impact, if they have a good instincts.

Agree that it isn't a guarantee for any incoming player.

Ideally, we don't need any freshman to step up. Hopefully we get portal additions that allow ALL freshman to redshirt and get stronger and get up to 4 games experience to calibrate to the speed of D1 so that they can kill it for 4 years starting with their redshirt freshman year.

 

[RF2044]

Ideally, we don't need any freshman to step up. Hopefully we get portal additions that allow ALL freshman to redshirt and get stronger and get up to 4 games experience to calibrate to the speed of D1 so that they can kill it for 4 years starting with their redshirt freshman year.

I agree with everything you posted, I'm just not worried about redshirting anymore, or worrying about long term considerations. Not with the transfer portal

 

[Cusefan69]

I am pretty sure Stefon Thompson started and played the whole season as a freshman or am I not remembering accurately?

 

[Sudano]

But it isn't unprecedented for a true frosh LB to make an early impact, or potentially start games, as the historical evidence demonstrates.

And it hasn't been since 1999 as you implied that we've seen LBs come in and intermittently start.

That doesn't mean that AD will be the next guy to do so, that he'll have the readiness to play early, or that he'll beat out other guys.

But if he's good enough, he'll play. Because Fran Brown doesn't hesitate to play young defensive players early, if he thinks they can contribute.

Not interested in platitudes.

Got it. He potentially may possibly be able to play or perhaps start a game at some point in the 2025 season that starts 8 months from now to a varying degree of success to be determined at a much later date than that...

 

[orangefog]

I agree with everything you posted, I'm just not worried about redshirting anymore. Not with the transfer portal

Yep, I agree with that as well. Ideally, we have enough upperclassmen to redshirt guys, but it definitely isn't as important as it used to be.

 

[RF2044]

Got it. He potentially may possibly be able to play or perhaps start a game at some point in the 2025 season that starts 8 months from now to a varying degree of success to be determined at a much later date than that...

Maybe

Not unprecedented.

Time will tell.

 

[Sudano]

Maybe

Not unprecedented.

Time will tell.

I'm going to definitely, probably, possibly, maybe count on it

 

[RF2044]

I'm going to definitely, probably, possibly, maybe count on it

You're a very odd poster, but you do you.

Did you expect Kerr to start games at SB?

Watson at DT?

Some of it will be circumstantially based, upon situational need, and some of it will be readiness based for an admittedly small handful of true flush we're ready to see the field early.

I'm not equivocating, we don't know how things are going to play out yet. But time will tell.

 

[Sudano]

You're a very odd poster, but you do you.

That's rich coming from you

 

[RF2044]

That's rich coming from you

How so?

Because I acknowledge that Fran Brown has played true freshmen?

I don't have any idea whether this kid will play as a true freshman, but I wouldn't count him out based upon unsubstantiated expectations. He has the physical tools, remains to be seen whether he has the feel for the game, or any other attributes that will get them on the field.

Nothing controversial about that, pretending otherwise is weird.

 

[orangefog]

That's rich coming from you

Come on man, you typically have a different take. It's respectable. But, at least acknowledge it.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

Dyshawn Davis started the opener & 10/12 games as a true frosh in 2011. Being a Camden native, I bet he knows Fran.

I recall him making an impact or two…..