'08 Linebackers: OUCH!!

[predictionking]

On one hand I'm upset we will be losing a kid like Mohler who would likely come in and start, which would lead to more depth. On the other hand, I'd rather take our bumps and bruises with a sophomore or redshirt freshman than relying on a JUCO guy.

So what's gonna happen to this unit next season? Will we move a guy like Asante to play on the Weakside? Can he get play that position at 215 to 220? Is LaTravis Washington capable of playing a position he never played in high school? I have very little faith in his development this past fall. Cosgrove never proved he could develop a linebacker. Did Blake Lawrence receive enough experience to propel him into a starting role over Stafford or Washington?

Can Covey finally get healthy? If so, does he have the ability to see PT? He might be the only guy who can back up Dillard inside. Can Kyle Moore or Thomas Grove step up and produce at a scholarship level?

Will a guy like Sean Fisher get some early PT? Eric Harper, whom I believe is Nebraska's most athletic defensive recruit, could see some early PT as well. Harper would be the #1 HS player in Nebraska by far. If he didn't attend a poor, inner city HS in New Orleans, he'd be receiving far more attention. I think he will play Backer instead of D-End at NU.

Right now this is what we know:

Dillard is slated to start inside. Lawrence will probably start at the Weakside position, at the very least, he'll play extensively. Stafford is probably ahead of Washington because of experience. We'll probably see both of those guys on the field.

Pelini might leave Asante at safety, but he might move Larry back to the position he excelled at in JUCO. Virginia Tech had him slotted as an outside backer. Perhaps a real defensive coach will do the same thing.

It just seems like a no-brainer for Thenarse to play Free Safety and Culbert at SS. I don't like Culbert at linebacker because he's just not big enough. Let him roam in space in the defensive backfield.

Covey makes this equation easier to swallow. If he can respond from injury and produce, that will be a great thing for this defense.

Linebacker is a serious question mark going into '08. Ironically, it's unlikely the linebacker play can be any worse than it was in '07. God help us if it is worse.

 

[HuskerTrucker]

There is a lot of time between now and even the spring game. I think players attitude can go a long way right now. There may be players that BC didn't look at seriously that are getting a fresh start and can take advantage of it.

I think a lot of what will happen will depend on who is willing and able to learn from this set of coaches. They are who has to be impressed now...everyone has a clean slate, if they use it to their advantage, I believe we will have some kids playing that we didn't count on before.

 

[DJR313]

Lawrence will play on the strongside. I am not sure if I agree that Stafford will start over Washington because of "experience". Washington actually played in games. Who knows, Stafford was a very underrated prospect in my opinion and could take a starting slot. I like Culbert and Thenarse together on the field at the same time and Asante at WILL.

 

[Cy the Cyclone]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

 

[BOBELIEVER]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

 

[Cy the Cyclone]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

Asante hit the guy holding the down marker a pretty good lick when they played ISU. Old guy went down like a ton of bricks! Blythe kept running but I think they ended up taking that old man off the field in a cart...

 

[BOBELIEVER]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

Asante hit the guy holding the down marker a pretty good lick when they played ISU. Old guy went down like a ton of bricks! Blythe kept running but I think they ended up taking that old man off the field in a cart...

I was probably close to death by alcohol poisoning at that point

:hmmph :cheers

 

[melscott62]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

Asante hit the guy holding the down marker a pretty good lick when they played ISU. Old guy went down like a ton of bricks! Blythe kept running but I think they ended up taking that old man off the field in a cart...

I was probably close to death by alcohol poisoning at that point

:hmmph :cheers

I posted this a little while age, but if you look at all of the SEC defenses, they all have "undersized" LB's I would put asante at LB. Asante, dillard, culbert. thats the type of speed we have been missing.

 

[Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red]

Lawrence will play on the strongside. I am not sure if I agree that Stafford will start over Washington because of "experience". Washington actually played in games. Who knows, Stafford was a very underrated prospect in my opinion and could take a starting slot. I like Culbert and Thenarse together on the field at the same time and Asante at WILL.

When did Washington play?

Not saying your wrong. I just can't remember. This whole year is just one big smudge in my brain.

 

[DJR313]

Lawrence will play on the strongside. I am not sure if I agree that Stafford will start over Washington because of "experience". Washington actually played in games. Who knows, Stafford was a very underrated prospect in my opinion and could take a starting slot. I like Culbert and Thenarse together on the field at the same time and Asante at WILL.

When did Washington play?

Not saying your wrong. I just can't remember. This whole year is just one big smudge in my brain.

He played in the KSU game, pretty much the whole 4th quarter and then he played on special teams almost the whole year.

 

[DCHusker]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

Asante hit the guy holding the down marker a pretty good lick when they played ISU. Old guy went down like a ton of bricks! Blythe kept running but I think they ended up taking that old man off the field in a cart...

I was probably close to death by alcohol poisoning at that point

:hmmph :cheers

I posted this a little while age, but if you look at all of the SEC defenses, they all have "undersized" LB's I would put asante at LB. Asante, dillard, culbert. thats the type of speed we have been missing.

Excactly what I was thinking....

Ali Highsmith 226

Luke Sanders 229

Darry Beckwith 229

I'll take speed and good tackling technique over size any day. If the defensive line does its job you don't need monstrous LBs

 

[predictionking]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

Asante hit the guy holding the down marker a pretty good lick when they played ISU. Old guy went down like a ton of bricks! Blythe kept running but I think they ended up taking that old man off the field in a cart...

I was probably close to death by alcohol poisoning at that point

:hmmph :cheers

I posted this a little while age, but if you look at all of the SEC defenses, they all have "undersized" LB's I would put asante at LB. Asante, dillard, culbert. thats the type of speed we have been missing.

Excactly what I was thinking....

Ali Highsmith 226

Luke Sanders 229

Darry Beckwith 229

I'll take speed and good tackling technique over size any day. If the defensive line does its job you don't need monstrous LBs

That's why I think Eric harper will play linebacker. I love his film. He's extremely explosive at 6'4 230. Culbert still has to put on quite a bit of weight to get to the 220 range.

I think Asante has the "hitter" instinct, but his angles were always so poor. I think that something to do with a kid having never played the safety position before. He's trying to adapt to the speed of D-I and playing a position he's never played before. I think if he makes the transition to Will, he could be a far more productive player.

We're all in agreeance that between Dillard, Lawrence, Washington, Stafford, and possibly Asante or Culbert, those guys will definitely see the field.

The real question is whether or not Covey can ever see the field and produce. And is Kyle Moore ready to provide minutes?

 

[westgatehusker]

Your forgetting about the walkon from arlington, Thomas Grove who has started a game. he'll probably get playing time at the LB spot.

 

[robsker]

OK. If you are a potential recruit that is reading this --- well, think about this --- you can get early playing time and contribute to what we hope will become once more a classic dominant Blackshirt defense.

Again, if you are a recruit consider the history of the NU defense. There is an awesome history there. Consider becoming part of what returns the Defense to what it once was.

Also, potential recruit --- consider that our new head coach is a great defensive mind. You can learn a lot and make it to the NFL.

So, if you are an OLB or a MLB and are looking for a place to contribute (and contribute early), then read this whole thread and you'll know that NU is the place.

GBR.

 

[robsker]

215 - 220 is actually a pretty decent weight for an OLB. I see no problem with Asante there...especially if he hunts heads like he did in the secondary.

only memory I have of Assante is dodging Javorski Lane .... when did he ever hit anyone ? when did any husker defender hit anyone this season ( and I mean when the game mattered, before it was a blowout cuz I stopped watching a few games ) ?

Asante hit the guy holding the down marker a pretty good lick when they played ISU. Old guy went down like a ton of bricks! Blythe kept running but I think they ended up taking that old man off the field in a cart...

I was probably close to death by alcohol poisoning at that point

:hmmph :cheers

I posted this a little while age, but if you look at all of the SEC defenses, they all have "undersized" LB's I would put asante at LB. Asante, dillard, culbert. thats the type of speed we have been missing.

Excactly what I was thinking....

Ali Highsmith 226

Luke Sanders 229

Darry Beckwith 229

I'll take speed and good tackling technique over size any day. If the defensive line does its job you don't need monstrous LBs

That's why I think Eric harper will play linebacker. I love his film. He's extremely explosive at 6'4 230. Culbert still has to put on quite a bit of weight to get to the 220 range.

I think Asante has the "hitter" instinct, but his angles were always so poor. I think that something to do with a kid having never played the safety position before. He's trying to adapt to the speed of D-I and playing a position he's never played before. I think if he makes the transition to Will, he could be a far more productive player.

We're all in agreeance that between Dillard, Lawrence, Washington, Stafford, and possibly Asante or Culbert, those guys will definitely see the field.

The real question is whether or not Covey can ever see the field and produce. And is Kyle Moore ready to provide minutes?

The problem though with guys who are the weight that some of you want is that they will be too slow. The real ideal is that your WILL is a 4.5 guy with a 4.3 pro agility quickness. Your SAM needs to be as well a 4.5 or 4.55 guy. The MIKE needs to be no slower than 4.6. If a player is slower than any of those prescribed speeds then they better have some serious skills to compensate for lack of speed (great tackling skills, a nose for the ball, great instincts, quick decision making, physically able to disengage from blocks, etc.).

I would rather have the WILL meet the speed requirement and play at 200 pounds, or my SAM meet the speed requirement at 225 than have the guys weigh in heavy and be too slow.

As for Harper, well his measurables place him more in the quick (semi-quick) DE range than a LB. Is he not a 4.68 guy? That is OK speed for a DE, but a LB? Or, maybe I have a wrong notion of his speed. Also game film against HS athletes makes any D1 guy look quick and explosive. There is a huge difference when one gets to the B12. Could he perhaps be a MIKE?

Lack of speed and strength and poor fundamentals really hurt the NU defense last year --- and bad schemes (and a defeated attitude). This year, at least start with putting speed out there (or at least as much speed as we can get out there).