How will our LB's perform this year?

[matt 1976]

Why do you say he's limited athletically? This is a comment about him from Andre Smith, quoted from 247.

" "A lot of people don't know about him because he's a walk-on," true sophomore Andre Smith said. "But really he's really a freak athlete. A lot of people don't know. 38-inch vert. I think he broad jumped like a 10-2. The 5-10-5 (shuttle) in a 4.0 flat. He's really a good athlete. I guess people just don't know. He works really hard. He power cleans almost 400-pounds. He's smart with playbook. Cole's going to make a lot of plays for us this year." "

A "freak athlete"?

I stand corrected. I was just going by what I witnessed on the field last year. He looked like a really tough special teams player, kinda like a Ryan Mangum type. I didn't see him as an elite athlete (on the field, not weight room/combine) when compared to some of the guys that are on scholarship. But, I would absolutely love it if he were to turn himself into a Schoettmer or Hollins type of player for us. Believe me, I'm rooting for the kid, I just have my doubts.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I stand corrected. I was just going by what I witnessed on the field last year. He looked like a really tough special teams player, kinda like a Ryan Mangum type. I didn't see him as an elite athlete (on the field, not weight room/combine) when compared to some of the guys that are on scholarship. But, I would absolutely love it if he were to turn himself into a Schoettmer or Hollins type of player for us. Believe me, I'm rooting for the kid, I just have my doubts.

Yeah, count me as one not taking Andre Smith's word for it just yet. This happens in every pre-season with every football team. There's one or two under-the-radar type guys that the established starters RAVE about, and then it never manifests itself on the field during the season. It has happened a lot at UNC, especially at linebacker. Joe Jackson and Travis Hughes were always All-Americans-in-waiting on paper and in the pre-season.

 

[randman1]

Well, right now he's slated for the starting spot at weak-side LB and so must be pretty good. Keep in mind Chizik said he wasn't concerned about our LB group at all. Now one can take that differently as just coach-speak but sounded like he thinks they'll be good, at least as good as last year and our LBs were pretty good last year.

Sounds like Dalton has come a long ways and the whole DT portion of the D-line. Big question to me are the defensive ends, and we won't know until game-time but thus far indications are our run defense will be significantly better, and that was our biggest weakness last season.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Well, right now he's slated for the starting spot at weak-side LB and so must be pretty good.

Or we must be pretty bad/green at LBer. Either could be true.

 

[Archer2]

Or we must be pretty bad/green at LBer. Either could be true.

Or a little of both which is what I think is the case. We lost a lot of experience in Rashad and Schoettmer, and while I think we're actually more talented at that spot this year, their experience will be missed. I think that by next year, these young guys will form one of the best LB corps in the conference. All they need is experience and they'll get a ton of it this year.

 

[blazers]

Yeah, count me as one not taking Andre Smith's word for it just yet. This happens in every pre-season with every football team. There's one or two under-the-radar type guys that the established starters RAVE about, and then it never manifests itself on the field during the season. It has happened a lot at UNC, especially at linebacker. Joe Jackson and Travis Hughes were always All-Americans-in-waiting on paper and in the pre-season.

Joe Dailey is going to be an amazing WR, going to shock the world.

 

[blazers]

Or we must be pretty bad/green at LBer. Either could be true.

^ This. I don't see how anybody could make conclusions til we see these guys vs uga. It is probable that coaches weren't 100% comfy with what they were returning or else they wouldn't have gone after a juco.

 

[randman1]

Or a little of both which is what I think is the case. We lost a lot of experience in Rashad and Schoettmer, and while I think we're actually more talented at that spot this year, their experience will be missed. I think that by next year, these young guys will form one of the best LB corps in the conference. All they need is experience and they'll get a ton of it this year.

Even though we may lose some of our best players on defense such as Naz Jones if he goes pro and our 2 star cornerbacks if MJ Stewart does, we might have a heck of a defense next season if we see players develop.

 

[lerario]

Besides the 3rd corner, looks like the biggest question mark may be at the DE positions.

Is Drennon still injured?

Will Bart be able to step up his game against more elite talent?

Strowbridge was a 4-star recruit listed in the top 300 players by some. Is he going to emerge?

Powell being able to play outside should help. Kind of wonder if Allen Cater, though a true freshman, might play this year. Fox may play this year and not redshirt but he's not at the size so much for heavy run offenses.

Bottom line, we need to see DE play emerge in a big way to stop the run, and just not sure we're there yet at that position.

I kind of have DE as the biggest question mark as well. There is definitely some uncertainty and inexperience at LB, but we know there are some talented guys waiting in the wings. Smith and Collins have the potential to be very good, and even if we struggle to find a 3rd we play a lot of nickel so there isn't always 3 LBs on the field.

DE is a position where the young talented guys are much less likely to make a big impact, and what we have returning isn't anything special. Drennon looks the part but his production hasn't always been there. Bart is a high motor guy and a leader but if he is our best pass rusher then we have a problem. Carney seems to have some potential but its unlikely that he'll come out of nowhere to be a consistent force.

If several guys, especially some of the sophmores and RS-freshmen, can take big steps forward than we should have a pretty competent defense. But that is far from guaranteed. I don't see us regressing, but no or little improvement will probably not get it done.

 

[randman1]

I kind of have DE as the biggest question mark as well. There is definitely some uncertainty and inexperience at LB, but we know there are some talented guys waiting in the wings. Smith and Collins have the potential to be very good, and even if we struggle to find a 3rd we play a lot of nickel so there isn't always 3 LBs on the field.

DE is a position where the young talented guys are much less likely to make a big impact, and what we have returning isn't anything special. Drennon looks the part but his production hasn't always been there. Bart is a high motor guy and a leader but if he is our best pass rusher then we have a problem. Carney seems to have some potential but its unlikely that he'll come out of nowhere to be a consistent force.

If several guys, especially some of the sophmores and RS-freshmen, can take big steps forward than we should have a pretty competent defense. But that is far from guaranteed. I don't see us regressing, but no or little improvement will probably not get it done.

Agreed. The GA game ought to tell us a lot.