Linebackers on the Roster (Other than Starters & Walk-ons)

[OrangeinBoston]

Tim Walton LB 6-2 232 R-So. - Never heard him mentioned
Shyheim Cullen LB 6-0 224 R-Jr. - Why not sub him in to rest starters?
Nadarius Fagan LB 6-1 213 So. - Safety masquerading as a linebacker
Tre Allison LB 6-2 230 Fr. - I get it, a freshman, but why not give him a shot?
Juan Wallace LB 6-2 215 Fr. - Looks like another safety masquerading as a linebacker
Kadeem Trotter LB 6-2 206 R-Fr. - Great size for an ACC safety.
Lakiem Williams LB 6-0 234 Jr. - I recall he was injured, but this is a total mystery. Wasn't he recruited exactly because of losses at LB?

This may, in part, explain the problem - lack of better altenatives. That being said, why not Cullen, Allison & Williams?

 

[phil77]

This is the position that needs some changes. I was puzzled when we were playing our cupcakes early on in the season and we never put in new linebackers in to gain game experince. We kept our starters in all game. Switched and played young players at every other position on the field except linebacker. I think that was a massive mistake. We need to see what kind of talent we have behind these players because they just will not get the job done on a regular basis against the run.

 

[OrangeFoo]

Tim Walton LB 6-2 232 R-So. - Never heard him mentioned
Shyheim Cullen LB 6-0 224 R-Jr. - Why not sub him in to rest starters?
Nadarius Fagan LB 6-1 213 So. - Safety masquerading as a linebacker
Tre Allison LB 6-2 230 Fr. - I get it, a freshman, but why not give him a shot?
Juan Wallace LB 6-2 215 Fr. - Looks like another safety masquerading as a linebacker
Kadeem Trotter LB 6-2 206 R-Fr. - Great size for an ACC safety.
Lakiem Williams LB 6-0 234 Jr. - I recall he was injured, but this is a total mystery. Wasn't he recruited exactly because of losses at LB?

This may, in part, explain the problem - lack of better altenatives. That being said, why not Cullen, Allison & Williams?

Didn’t we take Fagan away from FSU?

What happened to that Virginia kid, ruff, who Babers grabbed when he first got hired?

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Didn’t we take Fagan away from FSU?

What happened to that Virginia kid, ruff, who Babers grabbed when he first got hired?

Kenneth Ruff DL 6-1 296 Jr.

 

[Chris02M]

Didn’t we take Fagan away from FSU?

What happened to that Virginia kid, ruff, who Babers grabbed when he first got hired?

hes playing Dt as he is too big to play LB

 

[RF2044]

Williams getting injured and missing all of spring ball was a setback. Wish he could work his way into the rotation.

Might not be a bad development to see if Wallace can give us some better run defense, shift Guthrie to OLB. I don't know -- Whitner is one of the top statistical tacklers in the ACC, so he's maximizing his capabilities. But the entire group is just too small. Would prefer more size on running downs, subbing Whitner in for coverage as required.

The LBs flow to the ball well, but they get dragged for extra yardage.

 

[JoeSU]

What we need is a MLB who provides more of a physical presence inside like Clifton Smith (6-3, 263).
Even last year, Zaire Franklin, who had great instincts, was a team leader, and was All-ACC HM, was undersized (6-0, 236). This really showed against teams like BC, who ran the ball down our throats.

 

[Franz69]

How about moving Tyrell Richards back to LB?

 

[OrangeinBoston]

I missed Richards - that's an idea!

 

[phil77]

The LBs flow to the ball well, but they get dragged for extra yardage.

They also are very blockable and have trouble shedding any block.

 

[gocusecaz]

I thought I saw Cullen get up slowly after a kick-off. I don't think I saw him on the field after that.

 

[MSOrange]

I thought I saw Cullen get up slowly after a kick-off. I don't think I saw him on the field after that.

Yes his dad confirmed he was out after that but will be ok.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Williams getting injured and missing all of spring ball was a setback. Wish he could work his way into the rotation.

Might not be a bad development to see if Wallace can give us some better run defense, shift Guthrie to OLB. I don't know -- Whitner is one of the top statistical tacklers in the ACC, so he's maximizing his capabilities. But the entire group is just too small. Would prefer more size on running downs, subbing Whitner in for coverage as required.

The LBs flow to the ball well, but they get dragged for extra yardage.

I think Whitner's tackling stats are more a function of him never coming off the field more so than maximizing his abilities, I hate to say.

 

[RandomGuy]

How about moving Tyrell Richards back to LB?

Was he moved to DE because of lack of depth at that position?

How many WRs do we have? 38?

 

[OrangeDW]

What we need is a MLB who provides more of a physical presence inside like Clifton Smith (6-3, 263).
Even last year, Zaire Franklin, who had great instincts, was a team leader, and was All-ACC HM, was undersized (6-0, 236). This really showed against teams like BC, who ran the ball down our throats.

Clifton, Ponds, Conley...we used to have some thumpers. Bulluck, Derrell Smith, Hogue...our successful teams have mostly always been strong at LB.

 

[kcsu]

We are too small period. Size matters.

 

[tep624]

My two cents $.02

I hate to say it because he’s a kid you really want to root for, but I think if you swapped out Whitner with a high ceiling larger Lber, we’d not be focusing so much on this group. With him, it’s never been about heart or effort, but he’s limited and it is what it is. It was that way when he was at safety as well.

The coaches, specifically Ward, aren’t idiots and they’re not going to avoid putting people on the field that can be upgrades. Therefore, my assumption is that the young LBers aren’t ready yet, and the the upperclassman alternatives aren’t an improvement.

I know Richards is apprenticing at DE but with the buzz around him from the staff I’m surprised they went that route. It sounded like he was going to be a future beast at LBer.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The LBs flow to the ball well, but they get dragged for extra yardage.

Not sure what tape you’re watching. They play peekaboo with the lineman instead of instinctively hitting their gaps. It’s almost like they want to avoid contact and wait for the ball to reach the second level to make the tackle.

 

[RF2044]

Not sure what tape you’re watching. They play peekaboo with the lineman instead of instinctively hitting their gaps. It’s almost like they want to avoid contact and wait for the ball to reach the second level to make the tackle.

Not sure what tape YOU'RE watching -- diagnosing plays / getting to the ball isn't the problem with these LBs. Bringing the ball carrier down is the problem.

I do agree that they try to avoid getting engaged by linemen because they are too small to fight off those blocks and make plays.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Not sure what tape YOU'RE watching -- diagnosing plays / getting to the ball isn't the problem with these LBs. Bringing the ball carrier down is the problem.

It’s a problem partly because the ballcarrier is allowed to get a head of steam before they make contact.

 

[RF2044]

It’s a problem partly because the ballcarrier is allowed to get a head of steam before they make contact.

Its a problem because when the LBs seek out the runner, they try to strip the ball instead of putting the guy on the turf.

Bigger linebackers don't struggle nearly as much bringing down bigger backs. The issue with ours is that they get to the ball, then the runner gains three extra yards as they fight to make the tackle.

 

[Entropic]

They flow correctly. They simply can't shed blocks or stop RB forward momentum.

Those two backs yesterday are some big dudes. Ollison is bigger than our LBs and Hall was a not much smaller than them.

 

[MadNY3]

Tim Walton LB 6-2 232 R-So. - Never heard him mentioned
Shyheim Cullen LB 6-0 224 R-Jr. - Why not sub him in to rest starters?
Nadarius Fagan LB 6-1 213 So. - Safety masquerading as a linebacker
Tre Allison LB 6-2 230 Fr. - I get it, a freshman, but why not give him a shot?
Juan Wallace LB 6-2 215 Fr. - Looks like another safety masquerading as a linebacker
Kadeem Trotter LB 6-2 206 R-Fr. - Great size for an ACC safety.
Lakiem Williams LB 6-0 234 Jr. - I recall he was injured, but this is a total mystery. Wasn't he recruited exactly because of losses at LB?

This may, in part, explain the problem - lack of better altenatives. That being said, why not Cullen, Allison & Williams?

I think we are fixated on size a bit too much.

Size doesn’t mistackle, technique does. Maybe Cullen, Allison and Williams aren’t consistent in reads or something. No idea, but I don’t have a great feeling about the entire unit and it’s not like it is a super young group either.

 

[kingtidge]

Not sure what tape YOU'RE watching -- diagnosing plays / getting to the ball isn't the problem with these LBs. Bringing the ball carrier down is the problem.

I do agree that they try to avoid getting engaged by linemen because they are too small to fight off those blocks and make plays.

It's been a potpourri of either missed tackles or dogs on a sled getting dragged like hangers on...

 

[Entropic]

Whats the waiver wire look like for LBs for next year?