iLoveTDs said:

It's pretty obvious that we're transitioning to more of a 4-2-5 look.

And that's a great thing if so.

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I agree with this considering especially that the coaches have to be really imagining the athleticism and versatility will work long term. I trust the staff even though I'm a little nervous about this

Current LB roster by age going into 2018:

(RFr) W. Steed - Unknown, season ending injuries in 2015, 2016. Recovering in 2017.
(So) D. Wilder - Unknown, displaced edge rusher, some hope for him due to straight line speed but this dude needs time to gain true LB instincts.
(So) B. Jennings - The only one that is simultaneously a skill fit, healthy, and getting reps for 2018 in his class
(Jr) Z. McCloud - We know enough
(Jr) S. Quarterman - We know enough
(Jr) M. Pinckney - We know enough
(RJr) J. Gordinier - Season ending injuries, question mark
(SR) C. Perry - Season ending injury, question mark
(RSR) D. Owens - Seemingly never got back to what he looked like he would become.
(RSR) T. McCray - Pass rusher turned LB, too slow, not enough position instincts.
(RSR) M Smith - Pass rusher turned LB, too slow, not enough position instincts.


11 scholarship LB. Only 3 are healthy and have proven they belong on the field, with a 4th getting some reps behind them. Maybe seeing how poor our depth is in writing will wake some of you up. We need to add at least one guy who actually plays lb to this group. Not yet another high school edge rusher we only hope can stand up and defend someone down field.

We don't need to take one for the sake of taking one. We need another true line backer for the sake of not depending on four guys who aren't healthy and three guys who lack some combination of the athleticism or experience to play the position if by some chance one of the current starters isn't available.

Additionally, programs with correctly balanced depth charts aren't recruiting for the next year, and we need to fix that. We could lose as many as 8 guys in the LB group after the 2018 season. Do you all really want to sit here and tell me we are prepared to go into 2019 with Steed, Jennings, Wilder and 4 or 5 true freshman? Is it unlikely all three of shaq, mike and zach go early? Yes it is unlikely. But people said the same thing about losing both Mcintosh and Norton, which now looks pretty probable.

westcoastcanes said:

Current LB roster by age going into 2018:


(RSR) D. Owens - Seemingly never got back to what he looked like he would become.

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Ya maybe never what we thought, but I actually think he's gotten stronger as the season has progressed.

Wilder, Jennings, steed, Mccloud, and maybe gordiniere is PERFECT for 2019. Add in 3-4 freshmen and we're fu&&&king loaded. And this us assuming both shaq and pinckney leave early, HARDLY a guarantee.

People crying about linebackers are idiotic. That is literally our deepest position. We dominated in 2016 with 3 true freshmen and the 2019 class is even more special.

Fu&king brain dead I tell you.

Armchair recruiting.

I guess people are going to ignore the fact the talent level we currently have on the LB roster is week. Whoever recruits LBs needs to do a better job. Shaq, Pink, and MCC were gift wrapped to us. Wilder, Steed, and Jennings aren't that impressive honestly. We need at least two this cycle and they need to be better then guys before them.

AdrianP said:

Wilder, Jennings, steed, Mccloud, and maybe gordiniere is PERFECT for 2019. Add in 3-4 freshmen and we're fu&&&king loaded. And this us assuming both shaq and pinckney leave early, HARDLY a guarantee.

People crying about linebackers are idiotic. That is literally our deepest position. We dominated in 2016 with 3 true freshmen and the 2019 class is even more special.

Fu&king brain dead I tell you.

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Shaq will be gone imo, I think our fb commit might make good mlb if we can get his speed up . Shaq great mlb takes on all the blocks the others are suppose to fly around and make the tackles . MLB kills fb or dive man and take on blocks imo Thad’s his job . Heavy hitters

AdrianP said:

Wilder, Jennings, steed, Mccloud, and maybe gordiniere is PERFECT for 2019. Add in 3-4 freshmen and we're fu&&&king loaded. And this us assuming both shaq and pinckney leave early, HARDLY a guarantee.

People crying about linebackers are idiotic. That is literally our deepest position. We dominated in 2016 with 3 true freshmen and the 2019 class is even more special.

Fu&king brain dead I tell you.

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There's so much irony in this post. We don't have QUALITY DEPTH at the position. Pinckney and Shaq are great LBs, McCloud's good when he's on his game but is often times inconsistent. Gordiner? Really? Dude is coming off back-to-back torn ACL injuries.

M3N said:

I guess people are going to ignore the fact the talent level we currently have on the LB roster is week. Whoever recruits LBs needs to do a better job. Shaq, Pink, and MCC were gift wrapped to us. Wilder, Steed, and Jennings aren't that impressive honestly. We need at least two this cycle and they need to be better then guys before them.

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We don't know enough about Steed, Wilder and Jennings. They've seemed (outside of Steed because RS) to provide quality depth when put in. Never judge a player on their true freshman year. But we do need at least 1 LB this cycle. I just don't see Joyner coming over here.

337CaneNation said:

I think the staff will be moving player's around, especially IF our Canes sign the mega DB class for Storm18' (Jobe, Blades, Frierson, Hall, Ivey and HOPEFULLY Campbell)!! PPL might down play it, BUT it could definitely be a possible.. Diaz likes his DEFENSE to be fast and physical, and the way I watch him use certain player's, I really believe Diaz has other plans for some of them!! Then IF Miami move to that 4-2-5 look..

A. Carter 6'2" 198 lbs
D. Smith 6'2" 200 lbs
R. Finley 6'1" 205 lbs
Converting these player's to OLB is very possible, and we all know Diaz likes to rotate a lot of bodies throughout the game.. Speed is definitely what the staff wants to improve on and this would be a good start at the OLB position!!

Realus George 6'2" 245 lbs
Don't sleep on this guy coming in as a two way player!! MLB/FB

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Bingo, having these headhunters add a few more pounds while still maintaining their speed & quickness and we're good at linebacker, IMO.

A lot of people here tend to over think recruiting. If these guys on the staff think its a waste a time recruiting any lb's besides the ones they want then that's fine really. What the difference in taking two guys who suck and never contribute and not taking anyone at all? They really don't need to take any one at that position this year if they don't feel guys will contribute. Otherwise you'll just have a bunch of dead weight on your roster. Have enough of that now. If you sign a guy who you think can compete that's fine. No since in signing one guy just for the sake of signing a guy at a given position.

Any of these DBs have the frame to get up to 215-225? Thats JJ Miami 4-3 recruiting. You need one true LB.

CanesForever said:

Any of these DBs have the frame to get up to 215-225? Thats JJ Miami 4-3 recruiting. You need one true LB.

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Derrick Smith

The Franchise said:

We currently have 2 excellent proven LBs on our roster. The vast majority of the depth are JAGs, and the better prospects (Steed, Wilder, and Jennings) are complete unknowns right now.

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think the coaches know what they have better than you or I

randolph herndon said:

Peter Ariz said:

I've posted a few updates on LB over the past month, but the question keeps getting asked so I will explain it as best as I can.

There is not an urgency from the staff to sign a linebacker in this class. At this point, Miami still believes that they will land Patrick Joyner, FSU commit (despite what Joyner himself says publicly in interviews and social media). However, if they are not able to flip him, the Canes staff has no problem taking 0 linebackers in this class and loading up on 3-4 next cycle.

James Miller and Nik Bonitto are two prospects they are monitoring, but there is no guarantee that either will receive an offer even if the Canes miss on Joyner.

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I hope Miller was having an off day at the 2016 Orlando Nike--in the 40 that is- gaem film looks so much faster

Miller, James- 18- DL -Brandon- FL- 6-0.5(height)- 203(weight)- 5.45(40)- 4.68(shuttle)- 34-(powerball) 27.4(vertical) 56.73(SPARQ)

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When I watched the film I knew he was slow instantly but I figure he was a 4.8-4.9 guy. 5.45 is slower then an NFL lineman.

If we get this dude I change my mind about a ST coach we'll need to go after a real LB coach who can develop and recruit Miami Caliber LBs.

Dan Sileo JR said:

Full faith in the staff. They know better than some random poster telling us otherwise.

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I've heard that so many times before and yet seen posters end up right far too often....especially when it's numerous well respected posters or a general agreement across the board.

Coaches are human and prone to mistakes as well.

PSU Cane said:

Dan Sileo JR said:

Full faith in the staff. They know better than some random poster telling us otherwise.

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I've heard that so many times before and yet seen posters end up right far too often....especially when it's numerous well respected posters or a general agreement across the board.

Coaches are human and prone to mistakes as well.

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people have been saying these things to me..since the randy shannon days of offering Romeo Davis and Charles Clay at LB. Coaches know better than posters blah, blah, blah.

caneallday21 said:

CanesForever said:

Any of these DBs have the frame to get up to 215-225? Thats JJ Miami 4-3 recruiting. You need one true LB.

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Derrick Smith

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Could see Amari Carter getting that big.

gogeta4 said:

PSU Cane said:

Dan Sileo JR said:

Full faith in the staff. They know better than some random poster telling us otherwise.

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I've heard that so many times before and yet seen posters end up right far too often....especially when it's numerous well respected posters or a general agreement across the board.

Coaches are human and prone to mistakes as well.

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people have been saying these things to me..since the randy shannon days of offering Romeo Davis and Charles Clay at LB. Coaches know better than posters blah, blah, blah.

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We finally have legit coaches.

It's funny that you guys really don't trust the coaches still. So if we take 1 LB we will be fine but if not we're screwed? I'm glad they aren't just wasting scholarships so they can say hey we have a LB now, relax. 19 is stacked, we shouldn't be settling for lesser players when we have plenty of LBs coming back next year.

They have dropped Carter down on occasion,so maybe he or 1 of the other S will be moved. To act as if he they have no plan and don't know what they are doing is silly, almost as silly as comparing Coach Richt and his staff to Randy and Al's.

I also see a lot of talk about not being impressed with the TRUE freshman LBs, you all never learn. Writing off kids before they have completed a full season is madness. Steed ain't even been healthy and he's already a JAG? We will look back at this in 2 years and laugh.