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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 1853409, member: 289"] [I]Linebackers[/I] The one area of the defense we can feel good about are the linebackers- we didn’t lose a single player in this unit from last year’s group. They are led by the man who is the defense’s leader and best player, (with Thompson gone), Zaire Franklin. He started as a freshman in the middle He has good size at 6-0 230, good speed and outstanding intelligence and leadership capabilities. He was voted team Captain as a sophomore, the first in 70 years. He led the team by a wide margin with 81 tackles, including 11 for a loss, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. His big problem will be the same as the other linebackers: the Tampa 2 makes the linebackers more like additional defensive backs than, well, line backers. Franklin’s instinct has been to go forward. Now it’s got to be to go backwards. He was limited in spring practice by an injury so his adjustment has been delayed. Weakside linebacker Parris Bennett told Stephen Bailey of Syracuse.com: “You definitely need a lot more patience," the junior linebacker said. "We were used to going downhill a little more often in the old defense. In this defense, you need to make sure you see things before you go. So I try to pause and take things in for a split second, then make things happen and just be quick." Can he who hesitates win? "Zaire's definitely a guy who likes to be downhill," Bennett said. "That pass coverage, that deep middle zone is something he had to do every once in a while in the old defense. Now it's a pretty big deal for him, but he's getting used to it." The outside linebackers can be heavier, "ramrod-type guys," Babers said. Shafer wanted speed rushers. Bennett is 6-0 208. The strongside LB, Jonathan Thomas, is 6-1 209. Marquez Hodge, a starter last year, is 5-11 219. There are no less than eleven other linebackers listed on the squad but only two are listed as over 200 pounds (Tim Walton is 6-2 224 and Adam Dulka is 5-9 226. Both are freshmen, so whether they will play this year is unknown.) . So we’ve got our biggest linebacker running around trying to cover people and a bunch of guys 10-20 pounds lighter are “ramrod guys”. A classic example of fitting square pegs into round holes. I would think the lighter weighs would make them more effective in coverage, but less so against the running game, so maybe the Tampa 2 will be a better defense for them. Franklin wasn’t the only injured linebacker in the spring. Bennett and Hodge were also on the shelf. It gave the younger players a chance to show what they can do so maybe that will pay some dividends, too. Stephen Bailey, in an article on Syracuse.com, questioned Hodge’s future in the Tampa 2: “Hodge's firm hold on a starting job last season was a questionable decision by the old staff. He was a liability in coverage (-6.7 Pro Football Focus grade), allowing receptions on 24 of the 25 times he was thrown at (the last one was a drop), and consistently failed to shed blocks in the run game. He was also a better fit for the aggressive scheme run by Scott Shafer and Chuck Bullough.” Ted Taylor isn’t a young guy – he’s a senior who was a JUCO transfer last year and filled in for Bennett when he was injured during the season. He played in all 12 games, starting the last 4 and impressively had 27 tackles, 5 for a loss and 2 sacks. Another senior, Eric Anthony, is a local kid, (Baldwinsville) who walked on as a defensive back and has played mostly on special teams. The juniors include Jonathan Thomas, who came out of the spring as the starting SAM, (strong-side linebacker), despite being only 6-1 209. He’s the guy who has to take on tight ends. He comes from a soccer background so you know he can run all day. Bailey: “Thomas brings speed and athleticism, but was fooled in the open field a couple times by running back Dontae Strickland.” (Strickland can fool a lot of people.) Franklin has a more positive view: ““The biggest growth I've seen from JT is mentally," Franklin said. "I think the way he approaches the game, the way he prepares for the game, just his overall understanding of where he needs to be, is at a whole different level than anything since I've been here." Other juniors are ex-wrestler Terell Drayton who at 5-11 219 might be that “ramrod” guy Babers is looking for and Alryk Perry who has made one tackle in his career – against Rhode Island. There’s one sophomore linebacker: Kyle Kleinberg, who came out of Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey, perennially one of the top high schools in the country in this sport. He played some as a true freshman last year, mostly on special teams. Then there the freshmen. Andrew Armstrong, whom we recruited away from Oklahoma, is moving up the depth chart. He’s the third string SAM right now. "He's just a real athletic player," Bennett said. "He's one of those guys who comes in and can move really well. That's something you need as a linebacker so it'll definitely make his transition to college easier." Franklin said the 6-2 217 Armstrong “has avoided the ‘stupid mistakes’ that plague most freshmen”. "He's definitely studied the game a lot more recently," Bennett said. "He's in his book, a lot, and just making sure he knows what to do before he even does it. Because he's such a fast-paced guy and wants to play fast, knowing his assignment to the best of his ability can help him go full speed." (Syracuse.com) Shyheim Cullin reshirted last year Nunes: “Cullen came to Syracuse as a high upside player; a strong athlete on the outside who could pressure the QB. It was a perfect fit for Scott Shafer's scheme. Utilizing that same strength and speed on the outside now, he'll be tasked with run-stopping instead.” Tim Walton is the biggest LB other than Franklin (6-2 224) in terms of height [I]and[/I] weight. Nunes: “At Michigan's Cass Tech, Walton was a standout inside linebacker, and you can probably see him doing more of the same at Syracuse. It's likely he redshirts this year, especially given the logjam of youth in front of him. But whether he first plays this year or next, he's a proven strong tackler and a player that can drop back in coverage -- a perfect fit for what the position calls for.” Troy Henderson also red-shirted last year. Nunes: “Henderson came to Syracuse with some high expectations in 2015, and this season, we'll see if he gets to start fulfilling them. Franklin has largely fulfilled the entire MLB role with minimal assistance, meaning this is a golden opportunity for the slimmer (down to 216 pounds) Henderson to make an impact. As a high school player, he was much more focused on getting behind the line of scrimmage, which could slow the transition to his new, key coverage role.” Zack Lesko and Adam Dulka are true freshmen walk-ons form Ohio who played both ways in high school. “and that athleticism appeals to what (DC Brian) Ward wants to implement on this side of the ball.” (Nunes) Lesko is a former wide receiver so he has some speed. Dulka “may be on the smaller end at 5-foot-9, but he made a living both giving out and taking hits as a two-way (linebacker, running back) player in high school. A sure tackler -- 106 stops as a junior -- that already appears close to college playing weight at 226 pounds, he seems to be a natural fit for the heavy-on-run-stopping weakside role as it currently stands.” (Nunes) I see numbers here. I see talent. I see experience. I see speed. I don’t see a lot of size and I don’t know how the shift from an aggressive defense with frequent blitzes to a conservative defense that emphasizes coverage will impact the players recruited for and used to Shafer’s system. [/QUOTE]

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