3rd LB?

[NikeHawk21]

Who do you want as the 3rd starting linebacker? It sounds like Jones and Niemann gave seperated themselves as the top 2.

I’d say Colbert. I think it would be nice to have some athleticism there. I expect our Dline to be stout the next few years so I’m not as concerned about stopping the run. As a converted DB I think Colbert would be able to run sideline to sideline pretty well.

 

[Fryowa]

Who do you want as the 3rd starting linebacker? It sounds like Jones and Niemann gave seperated themselves as the top 2.

I’d say Colbert. I think it would be nice to have some athleticism there. I expect our Dline to be stout the next few years so I’m not as concerned about stopping the run. As a converted DB I think Colbert would be able to run sideline to sideline pretty well.

Someone with experience. Hockaday.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Someone with experience. Hockaday.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Someone with experience. Hockaday.

I really hope not. I had high hopes for Hockaday when he came in, but, watching him on the field, he doesn't move particularly well and is slow to react.

But, we all know that Kirk will always favor reliability over athleticism. He rests better knowing that a player understands the scheme. The problem is, knowing your responsibility and where to go doesn't really matter if you can't get there quickly and actually make the play.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Who do you want as the 3rd starting linebacker? It sounds like Jones and Niemann gave seperated themselves as the top 2.

I’d say Colbert. I think it would be nice to have some athleticism there. I expect our Dline to be stout the next few years so I’m not as concerned about stopping the run. As a converted DB I think Colbert would be able to run sideline to sideline pretty well.

I've been pushing for Colbert as well. He is cat-quick and plays with a purpose.

We'll just have to trust that the coaches ultimately will make the right call for the team. I do know that there has been quite a bit of buzz about Wade in the past month, so much so, that there was talk of potentially starting him at LEO and moving Niemann to the other OLB spot.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I really hope not. I had high hopes for Hockaday when he came in, but, watching him on the field, he doesn't move particularly well and is slow to react.

But, we all know that Kirk will always favor reliability over athleticism. He rests better knowing that a player understands the scheme. The problem is, knowing your responsibility and where to go doesn't really matter if you can't get there quickly and actually make the play.

Hockaday wasn’t mentioned as being in the mix yesterday. See above tweet from Chad L.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I'd just be throwing out names without having seen them play... I agree with NikeHawk that I'd prefer speed combined with instincts. A lot of what made Jewell what he was are things that aren't coached. Sure he knew the schemes inside out but his ability to diagnose plays and have his first and 2nd steps taken before the offense is out of their stance just separated him. You don't have to be the fastest guy out there if your able to do that but as rare as that trait is finding the fastest guy that can read and react is the next best thing

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Hockaday wasn’t mentioned as being in the mix yesterday. See above tweet from Chad L.

Yeah, I didn't really think he was in the mix either, but his name was proposed, and I was typing that while that tweet was being posted. My guess is he's a back-up all the way.

 

[CP87]

I'd just be throwing out names without having seen them play... I agree with NikeHawk that I'd prefer speed combined with instincts. A lot of what made Jewell what he was are things that aren't coached. Sure he knew the schemes inside out but his ability to diagnose plays and have his first and 2nd steps taken before the offense is out of their stance just separated him. You don't have to be the fastest guy out there if your able to do that but as rare as that trait is finding the fastest guy that can read and react is the next best thing

Jewell's instincts aren't that great:

 

[kameltoez102]

When you consider the landscape of the B10 right now I think you have to lean in favor of the guys that can cover the pass and are athletic. In the past few years many of our struggles with getting teams off the field on third down were a direct result of them scheming against our weakest linebacker against the pass. Unless all of a sudden Parker adjusts his schemes to incorporate another D back in third and long we have to play that athleticism.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

When you consider the landscape of the B10 right now I think you have to lean in favor of the guys that can cover the pass and are athletic. In the past few years many of our struggles with getting teams off the field on third down were a direct result of them scheming against our weakest linebacker against the pass. Unless all of a sudden Parker adjusts his schemes to incorporate another D back in third and long we have to play that athleticism.

Good point. How many times have we seen LBs back as deep as DBs in certain situations? Although I think Phil probably tends to "trust" an experienced LB more than an inexperienced DB, all other things being equal. But there is a difference between "trust" and "skill".

I think the other factor is that we have had some relatively fast LBs that were fast enough to cover, but some times "speed" didn't equal "good cover skills". We probably got a little spoiled having a Chad Greenway sort of early in KFs tenure.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Jewell's instincts aren't that great:

Excellent example. Jewell took like 3 steps before the RB even had the ball. My guess is he was reading that right guard who was directly in front of him. When he pivoted to start pulling to the left is what triggered Jewell to follow him. A high percentage of plays with a guard pulling like that are designed for it to follow him.

 

[RobHowe]

https://www.hawkeyenation.com/footb...notes-linebacker-puzzle-still-coming-together