Iowa Linebackers

NCHawker

NCHawker

Well-Known Member
Help me with this. Besides middle line backer (MIKE) I don't know who played the other two spots over the years.


Kirksey, Hitchens, Greenway, Edds, humphal, etc, etc

Who were the previous linebackers that played wide outside linebacker as Neiman did?


Who were the previous linebackers that played where Bo Bower did?
 
NCHawker said:
Help me with this. Besides middle line backer (MIKE) I don't know who played the other two spots over the years.


Kirksey, Hitchens, Greenway, Edds, humphal, etc, etc

Who were the previous linebackers that played wide outside linebacker as Neiman did?


Who were the previous linebackers that played where Bo Bower did?
Click to expand...

Kirksey had the speed so I think he was wideside, Hitchens was the Bower type short side.

Edds had great coverage skills and I think he was wide side. I remember Greenway making a huge open field TFL at Minny in the waning moments and he was covering the wide side. He just attacked that running back and forced a much longer FG that was missed.
 
MIKE (MLB): Jewell, Morris, Angerer, Hodge
Knows the playbook and makes the calls on the field, exceptional in run support and solid against the pass.

LEO (OLB): Niemann, Kirksey, Edds, Greenway (I think)
Great in space, flexed out against the slot against 3+ WR sets. Essentially a LB/S hybrid in our defense.

WILL (WLB): Bower, Fisher, Hitchens, Hunter
Good in run support, not always the best coverage guys but dependable.
 
The coverage skills at OLB are have more emphasis recently than under Norm Parker. The 4-3 defense has become more 4-2-5(ish) over the years.
 
AreWeThereYet said:
The coverage skills at OLB are have more emphasis recently than under Norm Parker. The 4-3 defense has become more 4-2-5(ish) over the years.
Click to expand...
NP always had LBs in coverage. Rarely used a Nickle or Dime package, unless we were playing really pass happy offenses.
 
Thanks.



BVHawk95 said:
MIKE (MLB): Jewell, Morris, Angerer, Hodge
Knows the playbook and makes the calls on the field, exceptional in run support and solid against the pass.

LEO (OLB): Niemann, Kirksey, Edds, Greenway (I think)
Great in space, flexed out against the slot against 3+ WR sets. Essentially a LB/S hybrid in our defense.

WILL (WLB): Bower, Fisher, Hitchens, Hunter
Good in run support, not always the best coverage guys but dependable.
Click to expand...
 
Greenway was a WIL. Hunter was a LEO.

All KF LB squad: Mike Jewell, WIL Greeway, LEO Edd or Kirksey (a good arguement could be made for Nieman)
 
help me understand the acronyms

MIKE is from Middle Inside Linebacker

LEO is from ?

WIL Wide ??
 
NCHawker said:
help me understand the acronyms

MIKE is from Middle Inside Linebacker

LEO is from ?

WIL Wide ??
Click to expand...
In the simplest form of a 4-3 (which Iowa runs) you have a:

MIKE - Middle LB, runs the defense, spies QB/RB, and follows the ball.
WILL - Weak side LB, lines up weak side, usually smaller and faster with good hands, can drop into coverage.
SAM - Strong side LB, lines up on the TE, pass rusher sometimes.

Mike is always an "inside" linebacker, Will and Sam are "outside" linebackers (when you hear OLB it isn't a specific position, it's anyone who isn't a middle linebacker).

The LEO position is relatively new, sort of a hybrid between a DE and LB. They normally line up closer to the line of scrimmage and quite a bit wider. Think of it as a pass rushing LB. If they drop back, they can take shallow coverage, a la Dillon Doyle.

That's obviously over simplified; there are a million different sets but this one gives you a good idea. Since Iowa doesn't play a 3-4, using a LEO either interchanges with Will or Sam and a safety is usually brought up.
 
BVHawk95 said:
MIKE (MLB): Jewell, Morris, Angerer, Hodge
Knows the playbook and makes the calls on the field, exceptional in run support and solid against the pass.

LEO (OLB): Niemann, Kirksey, Edds, Greenway (I think)
Great in space, flexed out against the slot against 3+ WR sets. Essentially a LB/S hybrid in our defense.

WILL (WLB): Bower, Fisher, Hitchens, Hunter
Good in run support, not always the best coverage guys but dependable.
Click to expand...
uihawk82 said:
Kirksey had the speed so I think he was wideside, Hitchens was the Bower type short side.

Edds had great coverage skills and I think he was wide side. I remember Greenway making a huge open field TFL at Minny in the waning moments and he was covering the wide side. He just attacked that running back and forced a much longer FG that was missed.
Click to expand...
Holy mother Mary, I love you guys but why is there no Larry Station love in this thread? 492 tackles, all time career leader.
 
Last edited:
Fryowa said:
Holy mother Mary, I love you guys but why is there no Larry Station love in this thread? 492 tackles, all time career leader.
Click to expand...
Love me some Larry Station too even though I'm not old enough to have watched him play. I just assumed we were only talking Ferentz era since he brought Norm and the 4-3 to us.
 
NCHawker said:
what do the letters L E O stand for? thats what I was asking. I'll hang up and listen
Click to expand...
They don’t stand for anything.

Back in the day coaches started using names to call out the linebacker spots. Middle, weak, and strong. It’s easier to yell out and identify names like Mike, Will, and Sam on the field, so that’s what stuck. The names are not an acronym for anything other than the first letter. When a QB yells out MIKE! everyone knows exactly who he’s talking about. Leo is just another guys name for a “new” LB when it became common to use one. Some people claim it came from “L” - linebacker and “E” - defensive End, but there’s nothing really to prove it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top