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Biggest question on the team: Linebackers

Huge concern. We have two good backers and no proven depth. Hopefully we get some good news from fall camp. Lots of young talent, we need 2 to step up and play well.
 
FreddyCane said:
With the experience and injury history of Smith and Toure I would sit them the entire FAMU game and let the youngsters
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Trav said:
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?
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Agree it almost never happens just something I wouldn’t mind seeing happen to both preserve these guys and get the backups some reps especially since this team could play 15,16 or maybe even 17 games.
 
Just to clarify, I’m not saying linebacker will be a weakness. I think the room has a high floor but also a very, very high ceiling, with Wiley and Pruitt being the biggest question marks. My point is that if those two reach their potential, the room could be elite. If they don’t, it will still be good, just not great.


It’s the only position group on the team that I could realistically see being anywhere from average to elite. I have a much better sense of what to expect from the rest of our position groups.


I may have drunk typed a little too much yesterday, lmao.
 
Not at all worried about Toure and Smith talent wise. Worried about their ability to stay healthy. If full go, they’ll both make an all ACC first to third team. Smith will prove doubters wrong this year.

Depth is a concern. We’ll miss Popo. The cats behind our starters need to step up, which I believe they’ll do.Let’s revisit later in Fall camp.
 
I don’t think they will tank the defense but i do worry about the playable depth alot there
 
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.
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Shocked the team didn’t got get a LB. They must expect to be up a lot Of points each game which forces teams to throw a ton and therefor will play with 5 backs at all times.
 
grover said:
Not at all worried about Toure and Smith talent wise. Worried about their ability to stay healthy. If full go, they’ll both make an all ACC first to third team. Smith will prove doubters wrong this year.

Depth is a concern. We’ll miss Popo. The cats behind our starters need to step up, which I believe they’ll do.Let’s revisit later in Fall camp.
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Popo left after 2024 fella
 
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?
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The ceiling for the room is VERY high. But they gotta show it on the field. Not just measurables and high school tape. If linebacker room steps up and we stay healthy for the most part, **** good chance we take it all. That's my only legit concern is that room because I don't know if thorton stays healthy in the box. Our backers in coverage they just gotta show who they are
 
In my amateur opinion, linebacker and offensive line are the two most difficult high school positions to recruit.
Most high school offensive linemen play against a ton of inferior talent and very few high school linebackers are coached well and understand the position.
 
Hegemon said:
Popo left after 2024 fella
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Brooklyndee said:
The ceiling for the room is VERY high. But they gotta show it on the field. Not just measurables and high school tape. If linebacker room steps up and we stay healthy for the most part, **** good chance we take it all. That's my only legit concern is that room because I don't know if thorton stays healthy in the box. Our backers in coverage they just gotta show who they are
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Totally agree. Biggest concern is keeping the two starters healthy over a long season. Need to develop depth & leading options are someone who played mostly safety a year ago & an inexperienced player who looks good coming off the bus. Thornton will help. Also trust our DC/LB coach.
 
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