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Biggest question on the team: Linebackers

LoyalCane24

LoyalCane24

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I'm no expert, and would love to hear from you all on this topic.

I wanted to open a discussion here on the linebacker rooms ceiling. Everyones questions about us are focused on O line, D line, and tight ends. I dont think these are issues at all. Trenches will always be elite with cristobal. Pass catching tight ends aren't necessary for a Dawson offense to play at a high level(although I would welcome one with open arms).

I believe our linebacker rooms floor (barring injury) is quite high. About the same level as last year. BUT, is there a world where our linebacker room is a top 10 unit and not just very good?

Think about it. Heatherman's position group is LINEBACKER, and he may be the best coach at the program. Year 2 for everyone in the system. Year 2 to get everyones bodies physically ready for his system/style of play.

Last year it felt like our linebackers were very solid, but we lacked difference making talent in that room. I would compare the talent in that room last year to our wide receiver room last year (minus toney). Very good players all around, but nobody making jaw dropping plays.

I am a firm believer that Mo Toure will be an absolute stud this year. He was quoted saying he was only happy about his play in the post season, and not happy about the regular season. It was obvious. Injuries like he had take a long long time to feel like yourself after. Id guess he didn't feel 100% at any point in the season. He now has an injury free full offseason to get his body right.

I predict he will play with much more confidence, run faster, hit harder, and fully become the baller we thought we got when he committed here. I expect him to be a top 10 linebacker in America and the best in the ACC.

I expect Chase Smith to improve, and be a very very solid veteran player for us. Like how Shaq was. Obviously very different skill sets, but someone you can fully rely on.

My big question is about the next group:

Specifically Kellen Wiley and Cam Pruitt. Both these guys have all the god given tools to be the best linebackers our canes have had these past 20 years (excluding Beason, Spence, and Perryman).

And its Heathermans position group.

I believe that we will be able to figure out in the first few games of this season what we have, but I would love to hear what insiders think is actually going on in that position group. These 2 have now had enough time in the system and program to ball NOW. They have 2 years of stellar position work coaching, top tier S&C to be at their physical best, and are in a system that gives them all the opportunities to be absolute killers.

If these 2 figure it out and reach their potential, we will have a top 10 linebacker unit in America. I feel that if they aren't showing obvious signs of this early on, then the issue is a lack of certain intangibles that they just don't have for the position.

What do you guys think their level of play will be? If theyre not flashing early (not mistake free, just real flashes at their position), would it be safe to say they won't pan out? Will they come in and ball game 1? Thoughts?
 
LoyalCane24 said:
I'm no expert, and would love to hear from you all on this topic.

I wanted to open a discussion here on the linebacker rooms ceiling. Everyones questions about us are focused on O line, D line, and tight ends. I dont think these are issues at all. Trenches will always be elite with cristobal. Pass catching tight ends aren't necessary for a Dawson offense to play at a high level(although I would welcome one with open arms).

I believe our linebacker rooms floor (barring injury) is quite high. About the same level as last year. BUT, is there a world where our linebacker room is a top 10 unit and not just very good?

Think about it. Heatherman's position group is LINEBACKER, and he may be the best coach at the program. Year 2 for everyone in the system. Year 2 to get everyones bodies physically ready for his system/style of play.

Last year it felt like our linebackers were very solid, but we lacked difference making talent in that room. I would compare the talent in that room last year to our wide receiver room last year (minus toney). Very good players all around, but nobody making jaw dropping plays.

I am a firm believer that Mo Toure will be an absolute stud this year. He was quoted saying he was only happy about his play in the post season, and not happy about the regular season. It was obvious. Injuries like he had take a long long time to feel like yourself after. Id guess he didn't feel 100% at any point in the season. He now has an injury free full offseason to get his body right.

I predict he will play with much more confidence, run faster, hit harder, and fully become the baller we thought we got when he committed here. I expect him to be a top 10 linebacker in America and the best in the ACC.

I expect Chase Smith to improve, and be a very very solid veteran player for us. Like how Shaq was. Obviously very different skill sets, but someone you can fully rely on.

My big question is about the next group:

Specifically Kellen Wiley and Cam Pruitt. Both these guys have all the god given tools to be the best linebackers our canes have had these past 20 years (excluding Beason, Spence, and Perryman).

And its Heathermans position group.

I believe that we will be able to figure out in the first few games of this season what we have, but I would love to hear what insiders think is actually going on in that position group. These 2 have now had enough time in the system and program to ball NOW. They have 2 years of stellar position work coaching, top tier S&C to be at their physical best, and are in a system that gives them all the opportunities to be absolute killers.

If these 2 figure it out and reach their potential, we will have a top 10 linebacker unit in America. I feel that if they aren't showing obvious signs of this early on, then the issue is a lack of certain intangibles that they just don't have for the position.

What do you guys think their level of play will be? If theyre not flashing early (not mistake free, just real flashes at their position), would it be safe to say they won't pan out? Will they come in and ball game 1? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Go welcome Back Wes #31from his field trip in Kansas City.
 
LoyalCane24 said:
I'm no expert, and would love to hear from you all on this topic.

I wanted to open a discussion here on the linebacker rooms ceiling. Everyones questions about us are focused on O line, D line, and tight ends. I dont think these are issues at all. Trenches will always be elite with cristobal. Pass catching tight ends aren't necessary for a Dawson offense to play at a high level(although I would welcome one with open arms).

I believe our linebacker rooms floor (barring injury) is quite high. About the same level as last year. BUT, is there a world where our linebacker room is a top 10 unit and not just very good?

Think about it. Heatherman's position group is LINEBACKER, and he may be the best coach at the program. Year 2 for everyone in the system. Year 2 to get everyones bodies physically ready for his system/style of play.

Last year it felt like our linebackers were very solid, but we lacked difference making talent in that room. I would compare the talent in that room last year to our wide receiver room last year (minus toney). Very good players all around, but nobody making jaw dropping plays.

I am a firm believer that Mo Toure will be an absolute stud this year. He was quoted saying he was only happy about his play in the post season, and not happy about the regular season. It was obvious. Injuries like he had take a long long time to feel like yourself after. Id guess he didn't feel 100% at any point in the season. He now has an injury free full offseason to get his body right.

I predict he will play with much more confidence, run faster, hit harder, and fully become the baller we thought we got when he committed here. I expect him to be a top 10 linebacker in America and the best in the ACC.

I expect Chase Smith to improve, and be a very very solid veteran player for us. Like how Shaq was. Obviously very different skill sets, but someone you can fully rely on.

My big question is about the next group:

Specifically Kellen Wiley and Cam Pruitt. Both these guys have all the god given tools to be the best linebackers our canes have had these past 20 years (excluding Beason, Spence, and Perryman).

And its Heathermans position group.

I believe that we will be able to figure out in the first few games of this season what we have, but I would love to hear what insiders think is actually going on in that position group. These 2 have now had enough time in the system and program to ball NOW. They have 2 years of stellar position work coaching, top tier S&C to be at their physical best, and are in a system that gives them all the opportunities to be absolute killers.

If these 2 figure it out and reach their potential, we will have a top 10 linebacker unit in America. I feel that if they aren't showing obvious signs of this early on, then the issue is a lack of certain intangibles that they just don't have for the position.

What do you guys think their level of play will be? If theyre not flashing early (not mistake free, just real flashes at their position), would it be safe to say they won't pan out? Will they come in and ball game 1? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Toure must stay healthy.
 
I'm petrified about the backers.

(OK, not literally, but it's a massive, massive question as I examine this rooster)

Toure is a very good player. I don't think he's one of the best backers in the country, but probably Top 3-4 in the ACC, and someone we can absolutely win with. But he's got a LENGTHY injury history, and that scares me. If he's a full go for 13+ games, this unit looks a lot better in my mind. So that's the hope, but I still do think he probably does have more of a chance of going down than another player who has never been hurt. Just stay healthy, kid.

Behind him, I'm nervous. No, I don't like Chase Smith at all. I think he's a backup and special teams player on a championship team. IMO Miami is the only team in the Top 15-20 where he's remotely in the conversation to be a starter. That's scary.

So, what's the best case scenario here? One of the young bucks takes his spot. But it didn't happen in the spring. We haven't heard much over the summer. This camp is going to be huge for the backer group, IMO. Because if we line up play 1 against Stanford with Smith starting, that really worries me for the likes of Wiley, Bonner, and maybe Bobby Pruitt. Because if you're going to be an NFL player, Chase Smith is not starting over you in Year 2 or beyond. Busch and Edwards I'll give the benefit of the doubt as true freshmen. But I'm looking at Wiley, specifically. There is no reason Chase Smith should be playing over you in Year 2. So if Smith is starting, that tells me nobody behind him is better (obviously), and that's concerning to me.

Either way, we almost exclusively play with 2 backers in Heatherman's scheme, so as long as #1 is healthy, we can get by. But I'd really love to hear things in the next couple weeks like "Kellen Wiley is looking like a man possessed and is poised to earn major playing time early this year", or "Bobby Pruitt has put on weight and looks to be the size of a true linebacker now, combined with his athleticism, he is in the mix to start this year".

Hearing "Mo and Chase are locked in as starters, nobody is pushing them" is scary, IMO. We shall see.
 
FreddyCane said:
With the experience and injury history of Smith and Toure I would sit them the entire FAMU game and let the youngsters get some serious burn.
Click to expand...
Okay, when does that ever happen? You think those 2 came back to just sit out for a game if they're healthy while trying to build NFL reels?
 
We will definitely need contributions form some new unproven guys. But there's not shortage of talent in the room.
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
I'm petrified about the backers.

(OK, not literally, but it's a massive, massive question as I examine this rooster)

Toure is a very good player. I don't think he's one of the best backers in the country, but probably Top 3-4 in the ACC, and someone we can absolutely win with. But he's got a LENGTHY injury history, and that scares me. If he's a full go for 13+ games, this unit looks a lot better in my mind. So that's the hope, but I still do think he probably does have more of a chance of going down than another player who has never been hurt. Just stay healthy, kid.

Behind him, I'm nervous. No, I don't like Chase Smith at all. I think he's a backup and special teams player on a championship team. IMO Miami is the only team in the Top 15-20 where he's remotely in the conversation to be a starter. That's scary.

So, what's the best case scenario here? One of the young bucks takes his spot. But it didn't happen in the spring. We haven't heard much over the summer. This camp is going to be huge for the backer group, IMO. Because if we line up play 1 against Stanford with Smith starting, that really worries me for the likes of Wiley, Bonner, and maybe Bobby Pruitt. Because if you're going to be an NFL player, Chase Smith is not starting over you in Year 2 or beyond. Busch and Edwards I'll give the benefit of the doubt as true freshmen. But I'm looking at Wiley, specifically. There is no reason Chase Smith should be playing over you in Year 2. So if Smith is starting, that tells me nobody behind him is better (obviously), and that's concerning to me.

Either way, we almost exclusively play with 2 backers in Heatherman's scheme, so as long as #1 is healthy, we can get by. But I'd really love to hear things in the next couple weeks like "Kellen Wiley is looking like a man possessed and is poised to earn major playing time early this year", or "Bobby Pruitt has put on weight and looks to be the size of a true linebacker now, combined with his athleticism, he is in the mix to start this year".

Hearing "Mo and Chase are locked in as starters, nobody is pushing them" is scary, IMO. We shall see.
Click to expand...
1785768356842.gif
 
I think we are fine at LB and they will emerge as a good surprise for us as a unit... Toure got better and better (or more comfortable) with his role last year, and will be full go.. I DO fully agree on resting him for as many of the blowout games as possible, so he can last into the post season gauntlet.... It's a nice story if Smith can turn into a top guy his final year, but I'm going with whoever is the best dude and playmaker....

the positive is, all these dudes have LB size and speed.. we aren't handicapped by size/speed issues
 
One thing I'm curious about is if Chase Smith has a mini leap in him. Normally a sixth year guy like Chase would be in the "he is what he is" bucket to me, but the guy has had so many injuries I wouldn't rule out a a jump in play from him either since injured guys who get normal off-seasons do have the ability to take leaps. I think the best case scenario is Smith steps up his game to maybe a little under what Wes had so that we have a good back stop as the younger guys can rotate in during the softer part of the schedule. I think if I had to pick one out of the bunch of younger guys I'd pick Bobby Pruitt, he just seems to flash when he's on the field
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
I do need to be held.
Click to expand...
I’m not gonna pump sunshine about LBs but I’m not too worried

I’m more concerned with the OL than LB but we’ve got Mario/Mirabal and Heathermans bread and butter is LBs. Not gonna relay the positives I’ve heard from the LB group because it will just be “believe it when we see it stuff” which is also true

It’s certainly not a strength of the team but I thought Chase and Toure both were playing well late in the season and they’ve both had great offseasons (Chase doesn’t get enough credit for his play on Fitz INT against A&M)

Pruitt and Wiley two of my favorite prospects the last couple years (I was an Aguirre fan though too)

We will see though
 
caneULM said:
Mo Toure could announce tomorrow that he is retiring from football, and I will forever respect him. This dude literally knocked himself out to secure a win. I don't think I have ever seen that from a Miami player.
Click to expand...
He got a lot of **** during the season but he turned it up another 10 notches come playoff time. And idk if you remember he ran right out onto that field after Bryce's game winning pick and had to be held back by one of the S&C guys.
 
Shooter McGavin said:
He got a lot of **** during the season but he turned it up another 10 notches come playoff time. And idk if you remember he ran right out onto that field after Bryce's game winning pick and had to be held back by one of the S&C guys.
Click to expand...
Yeah I recall that. I had to watch the replay to make sure that was him and I was like " This dude just knocked himself out and 10 minutes later, he's celebrating?"
 
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