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Linebacker Preview

Super thin and young. Second biggest issue after CB. But at least at CB we have 2 grad transfers who should shore up that position.

We better hope Owen comes back healthy, and neither he nor Grace get injured. Fortunately, we'll be in nickle / 4-2-5 a lot to offset the depth/youth issues. But no matter what, opposing OCs will focus on finding mismatches and exposing our mid-field weaknesses (power running, TE/slot, screens and draws). On the plus side, they'll rack up the most tackles on the team for sure given they'll be targeted all season. So Grace, Owens and Shaq will show great stats.
 
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I don't get all the bellyaching about our LBs. It's a good group with a few NFL players in there.
 
No chance that Smith is ahead of Gordinier. Not as athletic. Not as long and definitely not as smart.
Everyone talks about the 3 freshman (as they should) but Gordinier will be the surprise of Sunmer camp.
 
Brooklyndee said:
Dirty Sprite said:
Jermaine Grace reminds me of FSUs Telvin Smith who is one of the best LBs in the NFL already for the Jaguars.

This could be an even bigger breakput year for him with over a 100 tackles and being a higher than expected draft pick bc of the success that a smaller lb like Telvin Smith ia having in the NFL.

Overall though the rotation is suspect, if Juwon Young is gone, but a starting unit of Darrion Owens, Shaquille Quarterman, and Jermaine Grace can be nasty.
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To call that unit suspect is crazy. With or without (which we will be without)juwon we got plenty of talent at lb
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The only players that are talented with actual game experience are Grace and Owens. Owens is coming off a major injury and along with them are three true freshmen. It's not crazy to call the unit suspect. A better word would be unproven, but suspect isn't crazytalk.
 
It is very likely Quarterman and McCloud will struggle as they get used to the intensity and pace of D1P5 game days. With that said, any struggles are no indication of "bust" or poor play at this point...quite the contrary considering how early in their development (physical and mental) they are and already in the conversation to contribute.

If those two athletes are as good as advertised, imagine their ability in Y2 or Y3 augmented by high caliber '17 and '18 recruits. This is how Miami can get rolling again.
 
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Jeeperaf said:
It is very likely Quarterman and McCloud will struggle as they get used to the intensity and pace of D1P5 game days. With that said, any struggles are no indication of "bust" or poor play at this point...quite the contrary considering how early in their development (physical and mental) they are and already in the conversation to contribute.

If those two athletes are as good as advertised, imagine their ability in Y2 or Y3 augmented by high caliber '17 and '18 recruits. This is how Miami can get rolling again.
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Plenty of freshman defensive players have been able to shine their 1st year. Kenny Phillips, Sean Spence and to a lesser extent Denzel Perryman come to mind for us. Don't know about McCloud but Quarterman seems to be that guy that could have a freshman all american type of season.
 
Sooch said:
No chance that Smith is ahead of Gordinier. Not as athletic. Not as long and definitely not as smart.
Everyone talks about the 3 freshman (as they should) but Gordinier will be the surprise of Sunmer camp.
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Gordinier seems to have spent a lot of time in the weight room since he got here,physsically looks like a young Clay Mathews,hopefully he can be a player here.
 
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Dirty Sprite said:
Jeeperaf said:
It is very likely Quarterman and McCloud will struggle as they get used to the intensity and pace of D1P5 game days. With that said, any struggles are no indication of "bust" or poor play at this point...quite the contrary considering how early in their development (physical and mental) they are and already in the conversation to contribute.

If those two athletes are as good as advertised, imagine their ability in Y2 or Y3 augmented by high caliber '17 and '18 recruits. This is how Miami can get rolling again.
Click to expand...

Plenty of freshman defensive players have been able to shine their 1st year. Kenny Phillips, Sean Spence and to a lesser extent Denzel Perryman come to mind for us. Don't know about McCloud but Quarterman seems to be that guy that could have a freshman all american type of season.
Click to expand...

The film for McCloud and Quarterman stand out for me too. I like the way they close on the ball carrier similar to how Spence, Beason, and Vilma have in the past. McCloud looks a little rigid, I don't know if that will turn out to be a problem. Quarterman looks like a natural, I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a similar freshman year as Spence had.
 
Grace is good but to compare him to Telvin wow....he hasnt played like that kid played in college but we will see with a new scheme does for him
 
Grace should be able to flow to the play easier in a 4-3, because he has one less offensive lineman to deal with than he had in the 3-4. Also Shaq gives us a more physical presence in the middle for the offense to deal with.
 
RiDLer80 said:
Brooklyndee said:
Dirty Sprite said:
Jermaine Grace reminds me of FSUs Telvin Smith who is one of the best LBs in the NFL already for the Jaguars.

This could be an even bigger breakput year for him with over a 100 tackles and being a higher than expected draft pick bc of the success that a smaller lb like Telvin Smith ia having in the NFL.

Overall though the rotation is suspect, if Juwon Young is gone, but a starting unit of Darrion Owens, Shaquille Quarterman, and Jermaine Grace can be nasty.
Click to expand...

To call that unit suspect is crazy. With or without (which we will be without)juwon we got plenty of talent at lb
Click to expand...

The only players that are talented with actual game experience are Grace and Owens. Owens is coming off a major injury and along with them are three true freshmen. It's not crazy to call the unit suspect. A better word would be unproven, but suspect isn't crazytalk.
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Exactly... if the choice of words would have been unproven I would've agreed 100% because our real talent are untested freshman. Would've had no problem saying that. But to me atleast when someone says suspect that means you know what you have & it's not that good or only flashes. To me our unit has the talent to be amazing & being out of no d scheme I can see kids living up to their potential again. I see no reason with this staff nor especially with this group of kids to question they will be monsters... but hey that's just me.
 
hughhoney said:
Dirty Sprite said:
Jeeperaf said:
It is very likely Quarterman and McCloud will struggle as they get used to the intensity and pace of D1P5 game days. With that said, any struggles are no indication of "bust" or poor play at this point...quite the contrary considering how early in their development (physical and mental) they are and already in the conversation to contribute.

If those two athletes are as good as advertised, imagine their ability in Y2 or Y3 augmented by high caliber '17 and '18 recruits. This is how Miami can get rolling again.
Click to expand...

Plenty of freshman defensive players have been able to shine their 1st year. Kenny Phillips, Sean Spence and to a lesser extent Denzel Perryman come to mind for us. Don't know about McCloud but Quarterman seems to be that guy that could have a freshman all american type of season.
Click to expand...

The film for McCloud and Quarterman stand out for me too. I like the way they close on the ball carrier similar to how Spence, Beason, and Vilma have in the past. McCloud looks a little rigid, I don't know if that will turn out to be a problem. Quarterman looks like a natural, I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a similar freshman year as Spence had.
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The forgotten soldier in this equation that people apparently really are sleeping on (who may be an even better running back)is Charles perry. I think this kid with the coaching he'll get now will be a monster. I know the staff loves him.
 
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SwagUniversity said:
Brooklyndee said:
MovingZen said:
I'm really looking forward to a dominant front 7 instead of watching a great linebacker being forced to make plays 10 yards downfield. These freshmen could be the start of getting back to what Canes fans are used to seeing. If you aren't good up the middle... you just aren't good. Coach em up and turn them loose!
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Bermuda triangle. 2.0 for all the real canes out there. Who remember the original Bermuda triangle? This one's simple.
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peep the avi if you're not familiar.
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Them boys were fiece. Barrow ended up getting serious heisman votes one year
 
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