Tackle leaders

[hwk23]

The LB's aren't pulling their weight, obviously. Last year our LBs were the top 3 tacklers. This year Lowdermilk 1st, Lomax 3rd, King 5th and Mabin 8th have 214 tackles whereas LBs Alston 2nd, Spearman 9th, Bower 11th and Jewell 12th only have 144 tackles.

1	John Lowdermilk	SR	DB	71	7.89
2	Quinton Alston	SR	LB	64	7.11
3	Jordan Lomax	JR	DB	60	6.67
4	Louis Trinca-Pasat	SR	DL	55	6.11
5	Desmond King	SO	DB	44	4.89
6	Drew Ott	JR	DL	44	4.89
7	Nate Meier	JR	DL	42	4.67
8	Greg Mabin	SO	DB	39	4.33
9	Reggie Spearman	SO	LB	34	4.86
10	Carl Davis	SR	DL	25	2.78
11	Bo Bower	FR	LB	24	2.67
12	Josey Jewell	FR	LB	22	3.14
13	Travis Perry	JR	LB	19	2.11

 

[1hawkeye1]

Not surprising. Most of us knew the LB's would struggle this season, but this has been beyond struggling.

 

[hawkinn3]

I figured they would struggle with pass protection but at least be able to make stops in the running game, even that isn't happening right now. What as well play in Dime all the time at this rate.

 

[Hawknick]

With the injury to Travis Perry I would also consider running some 5-2. Unleash it against the bad-gers and they won't know what hit them. Nickel and dime should be effective against Illinois.

 

[NEIChawk]

Big Carl @ #10...why is that I wonder? Double team, getting gassed, or just not effective...I guess I'm searching for answers, and this kind of surprises me a little

 

[Hawknick]

Double teams, taking up blockers, he would make a great NG in a 5-2.

 

[homes]

Revealing. Last year the 3 LBs had 322 tackles and the DBs had 279 tackles - +43 for the LBs

This year, through 9 games the LBs have 163 tackles (adding in Perry) and the DBs have 214 tackles - -51 for the LBs. Over 9 games that's a little more than 7 less tackles per game. Adding that 7 difference to the remaining three games (not including the bowl game) and that would be -72 tackles for the LBs compared to the DBs.

Compare to last year, that's a difference of 115 tackles. That tends to support that a lot of running plays are getting to the 2d level.

I thought the more experienced DL would help the cover for the inexperience of the LBs.

 

[hawkphan00]

Just like Kirk says we got to tackle better… Or recruit better players, get said players in position to make a play and don't coach to lose, coach to win.

 

[ibahawkeye]

Big Carl @ #10...why is that I wonder? Double team, getting gassed, or just not effective...I guess I'm searching for answers, and this kind of surprises me a little

I would say all of those things as well as the nature of the DT position. Unelss it's coming right up the gut... not too many DT's chasing RBs and QBs down sideline to sideline.