Weakest group on D: Linebacker

wesleyd21

wesleyd21

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Jul 16, 2007
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I know, I know, P.J. Davis is a beast....but let's take a look at this group as a whole:

Starters:

P.J. Davis - 5-11, 218 lbs, Junior: 119 tackles, clear-cut, hands-down our best linebacker.

Tyler Marcordes - 6-4, 235 lbs, Redshirt Senior: 31 tackles last year, 7 of which came in the Georgia game.

Beau Hankins - 6-1, 231 lbs, Redshirt junior: 11 tackles last year, 3 of which came in the Georgia game.

If/when we struggle on D this year, my gut feeling is it will be the linebackers that aren't getting the job done. Outside of P.J. Davis, we are not returning much experience at all. We've definitely had more heralded groups at linebacker over the years here at Georgia Tech.

Back ups:

Domonique Noble - 6-2, 216 lbs, Redshirt Senior: (5 tackles last year)

Terrell Lewis - 6-2, 227 lbs, Sophomore: (hasn't played a snap)

Chase Alford - 6-1 234 lbs, Junior: (4 tackles last year)

Pretty safe to say we are fairly thin at the linebacker position. Here's hoping we don't suffer too many injuries or we could be in a bind pretty quick. I also think losing Anthony Harrell hurt us a good bit. :hsughcry:
 
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Harrell would have been good to have, but I think we'll be fine. It's less important given the amount of plays we use 5 DBs and 2 LBs (I admittedly don't know the percentages, but from Roof comments I would guess it's the majority of the time). Marcordes has been around awhile and Hankins is primed for a breakout season. And as you said, we have one of the better LBs in the conference in PJ.
 
gtrower said:
It's less important given the amount of plays we use 5 DBs and 2 LBs...
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This. If I recall, toward the end of last season, Roof was using the nickel package almost exclusively. I'd guess probably 80-90% of snaps. You can walk that extra DB up into run support and he can cover the RB out of the backfield. Hopefully the DL will be good enough, plus having PJ in the middle, that we can get away without having a really deep LB core this year. We'll miss Quayshawn Nealy though. He was too good not to miss.
 
Possible Cooksey or Mitchell could play.

Marcordes is really more of an edge rusher, 3rd down guy than everydown LB.
 
Have heard 0 on how the LBs have been practicing in camp. No mention of any of the freshmen.

I wonder if JHD playing a hybrid DL/LB role is a possibility.
 
What was the deal with Harrell anyway? He finally has a great opportunity to be starter, then he jumps ship. Why did he transfer or why was he kicked off the team?
 
Heard on fan day that Brant Mitchell has a screw loose and is trying to kill whoever has the ball. Might be a surprise contributor somewhere along the line this year.

Go Jackets!
 
gtzulu said:
What was the deal with Harrell anyway? He finally has a great opportunity to be starter, then he jumps ship. Why did he transfer or why was he kicked off the team?
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Sounded like a situation where he was going to be suspended, so he 'decided to transfer' before that could be handed down. Sort of a "You can't fire me, I quit" deal.
 
gtfan1147 said:
Sounded like a situation where he was going to be suspended, so he 'decided to transfer' before that could be handed down. Sort of a "You can't fire me, I quit" deal.
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OK, but suspended for what? Anyone know? Just curious what happened.
 
Could tell but would have to kill....ah what the hell let's break out the slander machine and guess ganja.
 
Thankfully, we apparently run a base 4-2-5 now, so our LBs most often on the field will be PJ Davis and (fillinltheblank).
 
beej67 said:
Thankfully, we apparently run a base 4-2-5 now, so our LBs most often on the field will be PJ Davis and (fillinltheblank).
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technically a nickel and not a 4-2-5. nickel swaps SAM out for a corner. 4-2-5 swaps SAM out for a safety. our nickel is a corner.
 
Upgraded DL will likely make LBs much more effective. Nothing like absorbing the OL so the hit men can hit.
 
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