Position battle - LB

[Alex_Dynamix]

You don't need "play makers" at Linebacker. You need guys who study film relentlessly, can process information, make accurate reads, get us lined-up, make the right checks and play violent.

You're not making any plays at Linebacker if you can't do those things.

BINGO

 

[grover]

Chase Smith and Mo Toure will be the best starting LB tandem in the ACC and top 5-7 in the nation.

I would have said the same based on my game observations from end of last season and Mario's hyping them up this camp.

But then @Brooklyndee discussed their limitations in the passing game and the fact Bain and Mesi funneled runners to them with elite edge setting. Now I'm not sure what to think.

My eyes tell me they both play at roughly the Kiko / Shaq level to me., which when taken together is a **** good pairing. But now I'm worried I'm not reading the field correctly.

 

[Hstokes1447]

I would have said the same based on my game observations from end of last season and Mario's hyping them up this camp.

But then @Brooklyndee discussed their limitations in the passing game and the fact Bain and Mesi funneled runners to them with elite edge setting. Now I'm not sure what to think.

My eyes tell me they both play at roughly the Kiko / Shaq level to me., which when taken together is a **** good pairing. But now I'm worried I'm not reading the field correctly.

Heatherman didn’t have Bain and Mesidor setting the edge at Minnesota and he had a top 5 defense. The thought that this defense will not be able to set the edge is laughable.

 

[Calinative]

I'm glad you brought him up...
Because he's being drafted high for the same reason that we all want to see Wiley play...

Physical traits.

But when it came time to fill the A-gap all those impressive physical traits were null and void. All that spreed, length and "play maker" ability goes out the window when an offense lines-up and runs the ball down your throat.
I'm sure if we would've ran the ball in the perimeter Styles would've looked phenomenal. (as would Wiley)
But the truth is, Linebacker (more often than not) requires you to diagnose blocking schemes, stack-and-shed O-linemen, track the ball and stick your face in the fan.

Those things take priority over being able to cover.

There's just so many nuances to the Linebacker position, that you can't stick a kid out there because he LOOKS good.

Lmao Styles was 100% a 1st round LB before he did a single combine drill. He had an excellent season at LB, far superior than anything any LB we've had in like a decade have done. Like he's being drafted high cause he's got it all... Not just cause he's athletic. He may go top 10 at a devalued position and position that is one of the most difficult to produce early in the NFL at because he's such an elite athlete though ... But the production and quality of play is unquestioned.

Wow he missed one tackle against Mark Fletcher in the A gap...come on now

 

[Calinative]

You are going to die on this hill I see lol. I guarantee you Smith and Toure will be the best starting linebackers in the ACC this season.

The mighty ACC! We will have the best starting and backups units across the board in the ACC by talent. So that's meaningless to me.

 

[skyman]

Heatherman didn’t have Bain and Mesidor setting the edge at Minnesota and he had a top 5 defense. The thought that this defense will not be able to set the edge is laughable.

The setting the edge thing is hilarious lol..

 

[Hstokes1447]

The setting the edge thing is hilarious lol..

It really is lol every season CIS creates a new boogie man, last season Miami’s didn’t have the DTs to stop the run now this season Miami’s doesn’t have the DEs to set the edge and stop the run

 

[Trav]

The mighty ACC! We will have the best starting and backups units across the board in the ACC by talent. So that's meaningless to me.

It means something if you want to win all your ACC games.

 

[Calinative]

It means something if you want to win all your ACC games.

Having the best LBs in the ACC means something to winning all your ACC games? Wonder why Pitt didn't then

 

[Brooklyndee]

I would have said the same based on my game observations from end of last season and Mario's hyping them up this camp.

But then @Brooklyndee discussed their limitations in the passing game and the fact Bain and Mesi funneled runners to them with elite edge setting. Now I'm not sure what to think.

My eyes tell me they both play at roughly the Kiko / Shaq level to me., which when taken together is a **** good pairing. But now I'm worried I'm not reading the field correctly.

Ok just look at it like this then. Kiko and shaq were essentially the same player. They had their strengths and they had their weaknesses. Now imagine they are both playing on the same team and right next to each other. In kiko case he played on a team the defense as a whole was lacking. The linebacker unit was pretty basic so I won't make an example. But in shaqs case look how often Mike was playing fast and free to clean things up. They worked in tandem. They were exposed singularly. You need people around you who complement your skill set with their own. Not mirror it. But hey. Let's see how it plays out. Like I said, with this schedule being such cup cakes were very lucky cause we get a lot of time to get cohesion out of a lot of new players. Offensive line, edge and backers get **** near a whole season to learn the people around them and be in peak form come the playoffs.