LB Depth

[Hegemon]

Thanks for this. My exact concerns came true, and are now compounded by the potential loss of Joyner. No worries though, it's clearly a concern, and the staff will agree via their move of another body to backer once camp starts. I'm guessing it'll be Smith, but we'll see.

Wait wait wait

Now you are saying Joyner is "lost" when Manny expects him to go to Orlando.

Lets stop making up facts in ones mind until they happen and do everyone here a favor and stop regurgitating old topic's.

Jesus Christ between your glass half empty assumptions, inability to recognize the 4-2-5 defense we run the majority of the time and not recognizing that 2016 was way worse than this scenario just stop posting.

Good lord

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Just looked at the 2016 roster and we had 8 lbs. Shaq, McCloud, Pinck, Mike Smith, Charles Perry, Owens, Jamie Gordiner, and Terry McCray.

McCray was useless, Gordiner got injured first play of the season, Owens wasn’t close to 100%, and McCloud, Pinckney, and Shaq were true freshmen. Yikes city.

 

[ColdCane]

Any top LB recruit (Flowe) should be seriously considering Miami

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

Just looked at the 2016 roster and we had 8 lbs. Shaq, McCloud, Pinck, Mike Smith, Charles Perry, Owens, Jamie Gordiner, and Terry McCray.

McCray was useless, Gordiner got injured first play of the season, Owens wasn’t close to 100%, and McCloud, Pinckney, and Shaq were true freshmen. Yikes city.

Yeah it was bad. And like I mentioned to Brock earlier, I was concerned as **** then too. Problem is, that was year 1 coming off the circus we had here before Richt. This is year 4 of what we hoped were competent coaches. Shouldn’t be in this situation, but the injuries haven’t helped either. Let’s just hope they can get Joyner to 100% in the next month and then encase Shaq and Pinck in glass.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Yeah it was bad. And like I mentioned to Brock earlier, I was concerned as **** then too. Problem is, that was year 1 coming off the circus we had here before Richt. This is year 4 of what we hoped were competent coaches. Shouldn’t be in this situation, but the injuries haven’t helped either. Let’s just hope they can get Joyner to 100% in the next month and then encase Shaq and Pinck in glass.

They should have taken another lb instead of only getting 2. Or they should have gone to the portal to replace Wilder but then again no one wants to sit behind 3 established starters. Hoping Jennings and Joyner are back real soon.

 

[BeastMode]

There's been a few threads about the various kids over the past few months, but I figured I'd consolidate Manny's comments just a few minutes ago at ACC Media day.

He just said that Waynmon Steed and Bradley Jennings won't be participating when camp kicks off on the 26th due to "long-term injuries". Nothing really new, we knew Steed was out for a while and it had been rumored Jennings wouldn't be ready.

But he also said Patrick Joyner will be limited due to a lower leg injury. He has not been ruled out against UF, but he's not healthy to start camp.

ALSO, Avery Huff is not yet cleared and will not be participating. Sam Brooks is enrolled and will participate.

So, that leaves Miami with 4 healthy LBs. Obviously Shaq and Pinck will play a ton, and really we don't have much of a choice. McCloud will back them up, and then it's Sam Brooks as the next man up. I don't see any situation where Brooks doesn't get at least a couple snaps against UF....you can't play the whole game with only the 3 seniors, especially when you'll be in heavy at times and all 3 will be on the field together (yes, I know the majority of snaps will employ a Striker).

I wonder if Finley will get looks as a true linebacker? Gil or Smith at Striker and Finley at Will, just for a few plays? Having to play Brooks in game 1 scares the **** out me. And of course, god forbid 55 or 56 turn an ankle. I know all summer I was told I was Chicken Little and that the LB spot would be fine. Anybody wanna take that stance now?

It doesn’t look good on paper that’s for sure.

 

[BeastMode]

So McCloud is the backup Striker, backup Mike, and backup Will? No. Try again.

We played the exact same defense last year to open the season against an SEC opponent, and early in the 2nd quarter a freshman named Bradley Jennings was in the game, and ran directly into a pile, taking himself out of a play, and allowing LSU to run for a 50 yard TD. That can't happen again next month. So again I ask, and please if you're clueless just click "back" in your browser, what options do we have here?

Assuming Huff isn't cleared and assuming Joyner isn't ready, which yes are assumptions and not certainties. But assuming we only have Shaq, Pinck, McCloud, and Brooks....is there a chance Finley slides down? Maybe Smith? They have to give someone else reps in camp at one of the backer spots.

If you slide Smith down then you have to play Knowles a ton at safety. Depth is an issue at LB and S.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

If you slide Smith down then you have to play Knowles a ton at safety. Depth is an issue at LB and S.

We all knew QB, OL, and defensive depth were the 3 biggest questions coming into the year.

But if Joyner can't go to start the year and Huff isn't cleared to start the year, LB depth specifically becomes a big concern.

I don't think it will impact Safety as much.....you've got backers, you've got Strikers, and you've got safeties. They're all different groups. IMO, if Joyner can't go, you move one of the Strikers into the LB group, at least in a cross-training capacity. I'm not saying Finley or Smith will never play Striker, but you've got to get one of them ready to play a few snaps at the Will spot, if necessary. That doesn't really impact Safety, though. You'll still have Carter and Hall to start, IMO, and hopefully Bolden gets here ASAP.....but Knowles played as much as he did last year, and that was with 2 senior starters. He'll still see the field this year, but moving D Smith or Finley to LB, at least in a limited capacity, won't impact the Safety rotation.

I will say this....being in this situation is a lot easier when you've got the 3 seniors we do. Depth is not good, but it helps having truly elite players at the top of your depth chart if you're going to have little behind them. So for the millionth time, thank god 55 & 56 came back.

 

[skillydoo]

So McCloud is the backup Striker, backup Mike, and backup Will? No. Try again.

We played the exact same defense last year to open the season against an SEC opponent, and early in the 2nd quarter a freshman named Bradley Jennings was in the game, and ran directly into a pile, taking himself out of a play, and allowing LSU to run for a 50 yard TD. That can't happen again next month. So again I ask, and please if you're clueless just click "back" in your browser, what options do we have here?

Assuming Huff isn't cleared and assuming Joyner isn't ready, which yes are assumptions and not certainties. But assuming we only have Shaq, Pinck, McCloud, and Brooks....is there a chance Finley slides down? Maybe Smith? They have to give someone else reps in camp at one of the backer spots.

I think Smith would be a realistic option to get some reps. Joyner it sounds like may not be ready to go. LB depth is an issue. Looking forward to seeing Gil get reps at striker.

 

[skillydoo]

We all knew QB, OL, and defensive depth were the 3 biggest questions coming into the year.

But if Joyner can't go to start the year and Huff isn't cleared to start the year, LB depth specifically becomes a big concern.

I don't think it will impact Safety as much.....you've got backers, you've got Strikers, and you've got safeties. They're all different groups. IMO, if Joyner can't go, you move one of the Strikers into the LB group, at least in a cross-training capacity. I'm not saying Finley or Smith will never play Striker, but you've got to get one of them ready to play a few snaps at the Will spot, if necessary. That doesn't really impact Safety, though. You'll still have Carter and Hall to start, IMO, and hopefully Bolden gets here ASAP.....but Knowles played as much as he did last year, and that was with 2 senior starters. He'll still see the field this year, but moving D Smith or Finley to LB, at least in a limited capacity, won't impact the Safety rotation.

I will say this....being in this situation is a lot easier when you've got the 3 seniors we do. Depth is not good, but it helps having truly elite players at the top of your depth chart if you're going to have little behind them. So for the millionth time, thank god 55 & 56 came back.

Can't imagine what our D would look like (and this board) if they hadn't come back. Probably would have picked up a LB or 2 in the portal just for depth but Brooks would be getting a TON of reps.

 

[ScubaCane]

Great job recruiting at that position

 

[rok]

There's 9 true linebackers on scholarship. 5 of them just happen to be injured.

 

[NorthEastCane]

Depth was much worse in 2016 when we started 3 true freshman at linebacker. if brooks being a possible 4th guy is that concerning to you then how worried were you in 2016?

Before the first game of the season? Very worried. At that time, who knew what you were going to get.

 

[ALLoverCANE]

I'm done responding to you, you're clueless.

Mike Smith played in every game last year. He was the 4th backer. He played in every single game and made 40+ tackles. Who is the 4th backer this year? Right now it's Sam Brooks. That's concerning. Now please, let the adults talk.

If only our coaches could play different schemes and make different play calls based on the talent we have on the roster. But alas, having a good 4th/5th LB last year dooms us to playing inferior players this year.

Drinking game: if he mentions a 50 yard TD vs LSU again, take a shot.

 

[NorthEastCane]

Any top LB recruit (Flowe) should be seriously considering Miami

You would think. But a "top LB recruit" (as in an "elite" recruit) is also looking for a team on the rise. After last year, we can't check the box off on that one. We're going to have to convince them during the year if they're not already committed.

 

[Swampcity]

There's been a few threads about the various kids over the past few months, but I figured I'd consolidate Manny's comments just a few minutes ago at ACC Media day.

He just said that Waynmon Steed and Bradley Jennings won't be participating when camp kicks off on the 26th due to "long-term injuries". Nothing really new, we knew Steed was out for a while and it had been rumored Jennings wouldn't be ready.

But he also said Patrick Joyner will be limited due to a lower leg injury. He has not been ruled out against UF, but he's not healthy to start camp.

ALSO, Avery Huff is not yet cleared and will not be participating. Sam Brooks is enrolled and will participate.

So, that leaves Miami with 4 healthy LBs. Obviously Shaq and Pinck will play a ton, and really we don't have much of a choice. McCloud will back them up, and then it's Sam Brooks as the next man up. I don't see any situation where Brooks doesn't get at least a couple snaps against UF....you can't play the whole game with only the 3 seniors, especially when you'll be in heavy at times and all 3 will be on the field together (yes, I know the majority of snaps will employ a Striker).

I wonder if Finley will get looks as a true linebacker? Gil or Smith at Striker and Finley at Will, just for a few plays? Having to play Brooks in game 1 scares the **** out me. And of course, god forbid 55 or 56 turn an ankle. I know all summer I was told I was Chicken Little and that the LB spot would be fine. Anybody wanna take that stance now?

Good stuff man!

 

[OldhamA]

Any top LB recruit (Flowe) should be seriously considering Miami

Only if we win 10+ games and don't get raped by Clemson in the ACC Championship game.

Otherwise, as much as we all love Miami, he can go elsewhere and win just as easily. Probably earns more doing that too.

 

[Rellyrell]

Have zero idea why anyone is trying to excuse this not being a cause for concern b/c of the formation we run. lol.

Here's a thought: Football is a contact sport and literally any down can be your last. Depth at LB is very much a cause of concern. Both Pinckney and Shaq have played through injuries throughout their careers, so let's not act like either are invincible.

Whether we play a 43, 34, 425, 52, 62, whatever.....you don't want to be in position where you are running w/ 4 healthy LBers. Forget the starters, let's talk about ST, and let's also talk about rotation. Also by all accounts, Brooks is more of a rush end than a LB as well.

 

[rok]

Good things is that kids like Finley, Keontra, Gil, Derrick Smith, Carter are versatile.

Manny and Baker may have to get creative with their personnel, and maybe that's not a bad thing.

 

[Cribby]

Yeah, we all know we have the most retarded fans in the country. Everyone does. Just gotta weed through them, there are some smart dudes on here who know ball. They're just few and far between, unfortunately.

I wouldn’t bother , they aren’t getting that we have three lb’s and some strikers.

It’s a long season with no lb’s, strikers are not lb’s, hence why they’re called “ strikers “.

This is not good and as I mentioned “ it’s a long season”. Depending on majority green , undersized guys as backup ma at two positions they don’t play is bad.

Sorry this is hard to get.

God have mercy if Joyner is out, Shaq and Pink better have an oxygen pack on their backs and not get nicked.