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Why haven't these two been made a priority?

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FINCHLION

Sophomore
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Aug 9, 2013
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While watching these guys film, I couldn't help but to think why Bryce Handy and Joshua Uche have not been made a priority. They both play at Miami Columbus who had a good year this past season. Film does not lie, these guys can ball. Handy is currently 6'1 220 and reports a 4.59 according to his hudl (which could be incorrect) and has just recently been offered by Kentucky. This is the type of aggressive LB a coach would love, he has good sideline to sideline speed while closing on defenders. His size also allows him to shed blocks easily.The thing that caught me by surprise is his pass coverage skills. Bryce's teammate Joshua Uche is truly a sleeper. If a good coach knew how to use him in college specifically, they would play him at MLB. Call me crazy but this guy has the similar size (210), length (6'3), and speed (4.52) as ND LB Jaylon Smith when he came out of high school and he also played DE in HS. Check out the film and share your thoughts.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1653453/highlights/187694381/v2
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3096785/highlights/188306378/v2
 
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Same situation we have at receiver. As stacked as the receiver position is this class it seems linebacker is equally as stacked.
 
I like Uche from his tape and watching him against Killian. Has a good jump off the line and knows how to beat a man off the ball, however I'm still shaky on Handy. He's rated high, but I'm still not sold on him completely.
 
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
 
no excuse for golden not to take notice of guys, columbus had easily one of the best defenses in dade last year and got to states because of it.
 
uche reminds me of mike smith, not the biggest DE but definitely could develop into a solid OLB at the next level
 
Uche is a reach in my opinion but with the way this staff is they will take him. He's a great kid and I've known his father for awhile but as far as a football player he is a serious reach
 
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troycbullock said:
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
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The message you send by taking 5 LBs in one class...the worst case somebody is coming as a career back up...best case we will divide the reps by 3...
 
UknowWhat said:
troycbullock said:
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
Click to expand...
The message you send by taking 5 LBs in one class...the worst case somebody is coming as a career back up...best case we will divide the reps by 3...
Click to expand...

Not when some in the class redshirt, spread out the class. Plus there are definite roles and niches for everyone. Pass rusher/ nickel
 
Al Golden...dont matter who we bring in as players. We have Al Golden. Nothing more needs to be said
 
Shaq, McCloud and Pinckney are the priority and the cornerstone of the class but we need develop depth at the LB position to secure up the defense. Our recruiting at this position has been spotty over the years and we need to make it a priority. There are too many unknowns at LB on the current squad and we need to start evaluating the position better which seems to be getting better. There are so many quality LB's this cycle, we need to take advantage this year then maybe drop next year depending on what talent is available. Miami was at it best when players had their two years the went pro and next man waited in the wings for their turn. Four year starters means we have no depth and that has been our problem.
 
UknowWhat said:
troycbullock said:
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
Click to expand...
The message you send by taking 5 LBs in one class...the worst case somebody is coming as a career back up...best case we will divide the reps by 3...
Click to expand...

admissions, injuries, transfers, position changes, busts, off-field issues...
2013: Grace, Figs (Rape), Bond (DNQ)
2012: Kirby, McCord, Witt (injury), Hoilett (transfer), Terry (weed), Blue (rape)
2011: Perryman, Armbrister, G. Paul (off-field), Kinard (DNQ), E. Johnson (off-field)
2010: Gaines, Cornelius, Cain (off-field), Travis Williams (Transfer), Nelson (Transfer)
2009: Green (DE)
2008: Spence, Brown (Transfer), Futch (bust), Robinson (DE), Buchanan (injury), Hardin (injury), Harper (DNQ), Holton (FB), Calhoun (FB), Wylie (Transfer), Marti (quit), Kane (DNQ)
2007: Bailey (DE)
2006: McCarthy, Robinson (RB->LB)
2005: Sharpton, Adkins (bust), Houston (FB), Stewart (quit)
2004: Davis, Willie Williams (off-field), Bryant (FB)
2003: Beason, Gooden, Cook, Highsmith (DNQ), Waiters (DNQ)
2002: Harris (Arrested)
2001: McIntosh, Leon Williams
2000: Vilma, D.J. Williams, McClover, Walker

The 2008 class was a perfect example. We signed 8 LBs that year with 3 EE. We had 4 out of the top 5 OLB and 6 in the top 10 include #1-3!

Arthur Brown #1 OLB - did not start before getting into trouble and transferring to Kansas State
Sean Spence #2 OLB - Only LB that lived up to expectations
Ramon Buchanan #3 OLB - injury marred career
Jordan Futch #5 OLB - never lived up to hype and played special team and even tried TE
Marcus Robinson #7 OLB - never made the transition to LB and played DE
Zac Kane #28 ILB - never qualified and then got arrested
Brandon Marti #66 OLB - quit during freshmen year
Gavin Hardin - medical hardship

Antonio Harper was another highly rated LB that signed but did not qualify
C.J. Holton was the #7 Safety but converted to LB in college and then to FB.
John Calhoun was a FB/LB that ended up playing FB at Miami.
 
UknowWhat said:
troycbullock said:
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
Click to expand...
The message you send by taking 5 LBs in one class...the worst case somebody is coming as a career back up...best case we will divide the reps by 3...
Click to expand...

Not neccesarily. If we took 5 LBS you gotta expect 1 of those to redshirt wheather it be because of injury, acedemics, slow progress. A position change is always a possibility. But if all are ready to roll wouldnt surprise me to 1/2 of them to specialize in mostly run downs/pass downs much like what happens in NFL. Its a very unique opportunity to have a FAB3/4/5 of LB's to come in this cycle and grow and dominate together.
 
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DadeCountyFinest said:
We good at LB
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Only until we're not. McCloud is going to be a MAJOR priority for the Big 3 down the stretch. McElwain is going to get a first full class bump of momentum, and you know he is going after Pinckney. Shaq I feel solid about, but even here on a Canes message board his pops has (rightly so, I might add) left himself an out in the event that another prettier girl (Auburn or Georgia, for example) makes a big push and we tank on the field again.

We HAVE to keep recruiting the position or it could end up just like the 2014 WR class (at one point had the inside line on Lane, Rudolph and Dixon, ended up with none) or the 2015 DB class (out of SBB, Irvin, JaQuan, Cole, the Davis boys and Fenton we ended up with only Jaquan).

Devin Bush, Greg Robinson, Donovan Thompson, Emmitt Rice...gotta stay on all of them. That is what big boy schools do.
 
UknowWhat said:
troycbullock said:
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
Click to expand...
The message you send by taking 5 LBs in one class...the worst case somebody is coming as a career back up...best case we will divide the reps by 3...
Click to expand...

If the coaches are smart, this is the plan:

Armbrister role - McCloud
Grace Role - Pinckney
Perryman Role - Shaq
Tyriq Role - Emmitt Rice

Or some version of that. That is 4 guys, and all with the ability to play major snaps right away if they earn it. And if that is the pitch, you can still get another true linebacker (Robinson) and another hybrid guy (Baptiste). Doesn't hurt that 2 of our 3 linebackers in the last class were Gordinier and James King....Golden can legitimately tell 6 different linebackers that they will have chance to be in the 2 Deep from Day One.

All on the coaches to sell the vision.

And for the record, this is not to diminish the importance of the 3 we got in the boat right now. I think they are the core of the defensive class and HAVE to be held on to.
 
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We need 6 LB's look at 2011-2013 like Warrior just posted between the 14 LB's signed only 5 actually went stayed without any problems

I said it in another post 4 pure 2 hybrids

We have 3 pure and 1 hybrid so far, but I'm open to leaving gil as a pure safety. Then bring in 1 more pure ( thompson) and 2 hybrids ( baptiste,handy,rice & uche) the hybrids could be a combination of de/olb or LB/S. I don't care we need to load the whole defense get 3 RB ' S and 2 OL and one more QB.
 
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___THEU___ said:
UknowWhat said:
troycbullock said:
Its an embarrassment of riches at the LB position. The staff has to evaluate each prospect and offer based on that. I think we need 5 LB's this cycle. If the three we have committed stick we need to more. I like Rice, Simmons and Baptiste, The Hardy kid is thicker than the other LB's we are looking at. He reminds me of Shaq a bit.
Click to expand...
The message you send by taking 5 LBs in one class...the worst case somebody is coming as a career back up...best case we will divide the reps by 3...
Click to expand...

Not neccesarily. If we took 5 LBS you gotta expect 1 of those to redshirt wheather it be because of injury, acedemics, slow progress. A position change is always a possibility. But if all are ready to roll wouldnt surprise me to 1/2 of them to specialize in mostly run downs/pass downs much like what happens in NFL. Its a very unique opportunity to have a FAB3/4/5 of LB's to come in this cycle and grow and dominate together.
Click to expand...
If they are all ready to roll someone will transfer
 
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