Developing depth at linebacker

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Developing depth at linebackerBy Rich Kaipust Omaha World Herald

LINCOLN — Injuries have slowed Trevor Roach and Mathew May, but Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini mentioned those two first Friday in addressing the Huskers' search for depth at linebacker. Pelini said Roach was having a "great camp" but is a little banged up now. May was "really coming" with strides through the spring and summer before a recent hamstring problem. "So we need to keep developing those two guys," Pelini said.

Roach is a 6-foot-2, 235-pound redshirt freshman and walk-on from Elkhorn. The 6-1, 215-pound May is a fifth-year senior from Imperial, Neb., who has contributed on special teams the last three seasons while seeing limited snaps with the defense. Pelini said Graham Stoddard and Alonzo Whaley also have had some good recent days under the tutelage of first-year assistant Ross Els. "The depth is coming there," Pelini said.

Finding help behind Lavonte David, Will Compton and Sean Fisher has been considered a priority during preseason practice. The Huskers were reminded why a year ago when both Fisher and Compton were injured in August practices.

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We're still pretty thin at LB. And we won't be able to get by in the B1G with just one or two guys like we did last year. Our LBs are going take more of a pounding this year. Lavonte just can't be expected to play every down in B1G conf play like he did in Big 12 play last season.

 
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Do we know why Whaley disappeared? I remember a game or two he impressed me but he just kinda disappeared and hasn't been talked about much. Is it understanding the D, technique, work ethic, what?

 
bball_backer said:
Do we know why Whaley disappeared? I remember a game or two he impressed me but he just kinda disappeared and hasn't been talked about much. Is it understanding the D, technique, work ethic, what?
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I heard he was on the naughtily list for academics. I would assume that might have some to do with the amount of time coaches would let him play but I don't know 100%.

 
I think it's because he had the thenarse problem not wrapping up while tackling. Liked to hit hard but not wrap up and make sure the guy is down.

 
Just think its funny that you hear these comments about NU seeing more physical teams this year and how we are "smaller" than the rest the Big 10, but yet we are an average of 10 pounds bigger at every OL position save center than Iowa and 20 pounds bigger at every defensive position. Our secondary coach is on record saying nobody in the Big Ten plays as physical of a defense as NU.

 
EZ-E said:
Just think its funny that you hear these comments about NU seeing more physical teams this year and how we are "smaller" than the rest the Big 10, but yet we are an average of 10 pounds bigger at every OL position save center than Iowa and 20 pounds bigger at every defensive position. Our secondary coach is on record saying nobody in the Big Ten plays as physical of a defense as NU.
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Northwestern has the most physical defense in the B1G!!? :sarcasm

 
EZ-E said:
Just think its funny that you hear these comments about NU seeing more physical teams this year and how we are "smaller" than the rest the Big 10, but yet we are an average of 10 pounds bigger at every OL position save center than Iowa and 20 pounds bigger at every defensive position. Our secondary coach is on record saying nobody in the Big Ten plays as physical of a defense as NU.
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DiNardo from the Big Ten Network said the same thing. He thinks we'll fit in with the B1G very nicely.

 
I did this earlier in the year

If you look at the top 4 teams in the Big Ten (Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan State) here are the averages

DE- 275

DT- 285

OLB- 230

MLB- 227

Here's Nebraska for 2011-2012, we are a bit light at DE, but I think Crick has taken some reps at DE and we could line up Crick, Baker and Moore with Meredith and be just fine if needed

DE- 260 (we are light here)

DT- 288 (Looks spot on here)

OLB- 230 (Fisher 235, David 225)

MLB- 230

LSU's 2007 defense

DE- 271.5

DT- 302.5

OLB- 232.5

MLB- 230

 
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