Hell can anyone play LB.

We need to shore up on some good LB's but it's so slim pickens out there that a whiff on a top one is catastrophic.

Y'all said it's because the style of HS play isn't conducive to producing the talent. But maybe it's just a gen z thing or something. It is the most hard nosed position after all. Whatever it is we need to find someone that knows how to stuff a damn hole.

We've got blankets, where are the plugs at.

I have not heard that LB is a huge priority.

It's been experienced QB, WR, TE, and DL mainly.

Probably because there's hardly any good ones out there.

vander54 said:

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I have not heard that LB is a huge priority.

It's been experienced QB, WR, TE, and DL mainly.

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We're content not being able to pick up a yard


Yikes

vander54 said:

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I have not heard that LB is a huge priority.

It's been experienced QB, WR, TE, and DL mainly.

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Yeah, the tackling was pretty solid the last few outings.

The missed tackles were DL and DBs for the most part. Makes sense since 9 of those are on the field. Our LBs were pretty solid all year.

Scooby had a good year and progressed to be our best LB both against the pass and run. York is smart but too slow to be a game changer.

What killed is this year was 50% of the time not running a true 1 or 3 DT and it was easy for the OL to get to the LBs. We need DL before LB and there have not been many upgrades at LB in the portal. Looks like we have some good HS LBs coming in but doubt they contribute much next year

LB12Diamond said:

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The missed tackles were DL and DBs for the most part. Makes sense since 9 of those are on the field. Our LBs were pretty solid all year.

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They were average at best Williams was the best York w/o cooper was average and routinely missed tackles and was in the wrong spot (Auburn game not staying and letting Thornton for 23 yds on 4th down was in him.). Unfortunately not many good ones in the portal but position is weak.

Not correct at all. But if it helps you sleep at night. Believe what you need to believe.

phatty26 said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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The missed tackles were DL and DBs for the most part. Makes sense since 9 of those are on the field. Our LBs were pretty solid all year.

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They were average at best Williams was the best York w/o cooper was average and routinely missed tackles and was in the wrong spot (Auburn game not staying and letting Thornton for 23 yds on 4th down was in him.). Unfortunately not many good ones in the portal but position is weak.

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We miss Coop. It looks like York does as well since he seems to have plateaued, hopefully he can make more strides next season.

Tackling and coverage was an issue for everyone, hence the busted plays we saw in every game. An elite LB would help fix that.

P.U.T.U said:

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Scooby had a good year and progressed to be our best LB both against the pass and run. York is smart but too slow to be a game changer.

What killed is this year was 50% of the time not running a true 1 or 3 DT and it was easy for the OL to get to the LBs. We need DL before LB and there have not been many upgrades at LB in the portal. Looks like we have some good HS LBs coming in but doubt they contribute much next year

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We need DL in a bad way too. We went from DL U to DL who. But we haven't landed an elite LB in a long time, hopefully that one from California can be that guy.

LB12Diamond said:

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The missed tackles were DL and DBs for the most part. Makes sense since 9 of those are on the field. Our LBs were pretty solid all year.

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Username checks out.

I'm in favor of coach runs the team. And wins that put us in the playoff are the key process index.

JournoAG said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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The missed tackles were DL and DBs for the most part. Makes sense since 9 of those are on the field. Our LBs were pretty solid all year.

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Username checks out.

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Yeah LB's aren't getting a pass. Just because Scoobie played better than expected doesn't mean we're set. A lot to be desired from our LB's and it's been that way for far too long.

You can't find a linebacker that is fast enough to cover back out of backfield or latch on to a crossing route. May be out there but he isn't big enough to stop the run. Good inside linebacker play doesn't exist anymore not possible. What you can do is have a great dl that can take pressure off your linebackers.

Bill Superman said:

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Hell can anyone play LB.

We need to shore up on some good LB's but it's so slim pickens out there that a whiff on a top one is catastrophic.

Y'all said it's because the style of HS play isn't conducive to producing the talent. But maybe it's just a gen z thing or something. It is the most hard nosed position after all. Whatever it is we need to find someone that knows how to stuff a damn hole.

We've got blankets, where are the plugs at.

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Bill, look back at last year's haul. Elko went heavy on LB and picked up some VERY solid talent. I have not gone back to see if we had any transfers but I am pretty sure we have a healthy stock of LBs behind York and Scooby. And those studs are returning next year.

Much great need at DL, especially DE with NFL draft taking Nic and Stewart.

Ok just checked and here is where we are at:

2025:
1) Noah Mikhail - #8 natl LB rank
1) Kelvion Riggins - #52 Natl LB rank

2024 or Elkos 1st class:
1) Jordan Lockhart - #40 ranked natl LB last year
2) Tristan Jernigan - #14 ranked natl LB last year
3) Solomon DeShields - 3 stars, no details
4) Alex Howard - transfer, no details

2023 class:
1) Daymion Sanford - #35 natl rank
2) Chantz Johnson - #79 natl rank
3) York - #84 natl rank - SEE RANKING vs DEVELOPMENT
4 & 5) 2 more transfers - unknown details

Point is? Some of these guys may have left but we are pretty stocked at the LB side. I think Elko really likes Lockhart, Jenigan, Mikhail and Riggins. We should see those guys more.

Just look at York, Elko can develop the hell out of LBs. We have the physicality and athleticism....those younger guys are sitting behind NFL talent with York and Scooby.

LB is probably the position of least need IMO. Maybe keep an eye out for another Scooby who simply flamed out at Florida as he was 100% underdeveloped. Look at him now!!

At some point, you have to get better through what's already on campus. Yes, in a perfect world, we add a stud to go with them. But our LBers in 2017 were not good. We were #1 in the sec in run defense in Elko's 1st year in 2018 because both Dodson and Alaka played their best ball of their careers.

2019 was a little bit of a drop off and a disappointment at LB. The same guys returned in 2020 and were a very good LB unit. We lost Buddy after 2020, and our LBers in 2021 were also solid leading to Elko's best defense he's had here and our best one since the 90s.

We return our top 3, 2 redshirt FR getting a year, one of which I know they really like maybe both, and add 2 true FR including a guy we are extremely high on. Yes, in a perfect world we add help to every position, but we can't take 15 more transfers. Closer to 6-7. You have to make delicate decisions and determine which positions you have on campus that you think you can make better with what you already have. LB is definitely one that has that chance.

York was not that good this year. Not sure why everyone is in love with him. Constantly sitting in the wrong spot and not in position to make a tackle. When he was he missed a lot. He leaves his feet way too much for his position. It's a fundamental part of tackling and he regressed this year. Keep your feet to the point of tackle.

dcg4403 said:

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Bill Superman said:

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Hell can anyone play LB.

We need to shore up on some good LB's but it's so slim pickens out there that a whiff on a top one is catastrophic.

Y'all said it's because the style of HS play isn't conducive to producing the talent. But maybe it's just a gen z thing or something. It is the most hard nosed position after all. Whatever it is we need to find someone that knows how to stuff a damn hole.

We've got blankets, where are the plugs at.

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Bill, look back at last year's haul. Elko went heavy on LB and picked up some VERY solid talent. I have not gone back to see if we had any transfers but I am pretty sure we have a healthy stock of LBs behind York and Scooby. And those studs are returning next year.

Much great need at DL, especially DE with NFL draft taking Nic and Stewart.

Ok just checked and here is where we are at:

2025:
1) Noah Mikhail - #8 natl LB rank
1) Kelvion Riggins - #52 Natl LB rank

2024 or Elkos 1st class:
1) Jordan Lockhart - #40 ranked natl LB last year
2) Tristan Jernigan - #14 ranked natl LB last year
3) Solomon DeShields - 3 stars, no details
4) Alex Howard - transfer, no details

2023 class:
1) Daymion Sanford - #35 natl rank
2) Chantz Johnson - #79 natl rank
3) York - #84 natl rank - SEE RANKING vs DEVELOPMENT
4 & 5) 2 more transfers - unknown details

Point is? Some of these guys may have left but we are pretty stocked at the LB side. I think Elko really likes Lockhart, Jenigan, Mikhail and Riggins. We should see those guys more.

Just look at York, Elko can develop the hell out of LBs. We have the physicality and athleticism....those younger guys are sitting behind NFL talent with York and Scooby.

LB is probably the position of least need IMO. Maybe keep an eye out for another Scooby who simply flamed out at Florida as he was 100% underdeveloped. Look at him now!!

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Hopefully Sanford, Jernigan and Mikhail become those guys for us, if not someone else. But it still feels like missing on those 2 big time LBs that went sip and corndog hurts. I do expect Elko to get us better LB play next season though.