You named one player. Look at the players who we are discussing. The notion that McCarthy, McIntosh, Beason or even Morgan were all traditional size for a linebacker. The Rohan Marley, Sean Spence, John Vilma is the exception not the rule. My whole point in starting this thread is we don't have these type of big athletes at that position right now.
This is the same point I'm trying make gogeta. People keep cherry picking 1 or 2 small linebackers we have had in the past to counter my point. Jon arrived as a safety the same way Allen Bailey arrived as a linebacker meaning neither were ever playing those positions.
This 100%
Our problem at LB has not been size, it’s been lack of kids who can play LB. No one is talking about Rohan, either. Spence amd Vilma were legit NFL LBs. Our problem is the staff hasn’t evaluated kids well, not that the kids are too small.
Agree to disagree. Imo size is a talent. I think everyone would agree our O line has been too small the past 3 or 4 years and size influences play. We have recruited the Wilder, Huff types and those guys literally haven't contributed. It's not just that our backers are small they aren't even particularly athletic or strong. You cant have small, slow, unxeplosive players at that spot.
Fixed it for you
Yup the problem has been poor evals and injuries.
Size is not talent. There are big stiffs and small thumpers. We have just evaluated terribly at LB. These days, coverage matters more than ever, anyhow.
No need to misrepresent what I was saying. I said size is a talent not the only talent. You look at the SEC or even Ohio state backers they don't sacrifice size or speed we shouldnt have to either. To your point we took players like Wilder, and Huff because we missed on other guys. I also pointed out big fast linebackers are out there you just may have to leave the state. Colin's from Tulsa, and Davis from Kentucky are examples of 2 or 3 star guys who were recruited because they had height, weight, and speed and became 1st round picks. If our d line and secondary is big and fast why can't our backers be?
Rivals losted him at 6’3”, 200 lbs. that’s not particularly small for LB recruits. They may overstate things but they do that broadly, not just for him.
This is wrong also. We took those giys because Manny was coaching backers and evaluated poorly. Huff was supposed to be a great athletic prospect, and he committed in May (early) per rivals. Wilder was an athletic prospect we focused on and who camped with us iirc. I didn’t like him as a LB prospect but the staff focused on him and obviously felt differently.
I know him personally. He wasnt that big he had to build him self up to what we see right now of around 215.
Makes sense. Just saying that’s not unusual for so fla lb recruits. We’ve done well in the past with kids who were around his size, imo.
yea i think he will..if you watched specials he always brought some intensity. Him and the Camden LB really flash their speed a few times when they were in.
Agreed. Liked TAC as a prospect.
THose 2 are my favorite recent lb signees