The LB position has been scrutinized for years, but it is slowly getting better and better. I think last year they could be classified as decent.
In the new 3-4 scheme, Brian Gamble will coach the inside backers, Dennis Smith will coach the outside backers. Bob Diaco is doing a lot of work with the outside backers as well.
Gamble and Smith are learning the defensive calls daily. Diaco will call plays from the stands so that they can get the experience in calling in the plays.
Dennis Smith is the most energetic person you’ll ever come across, so much intensity.
The strong side outside backers are referred to as “DOGs,” and the weak side outside backers are referred to as “CATs.” I included the DOGs (Willie Baker and Tristan Allen) in the defensive line post because they are essentially defensive ends.
Collin Scott:
-not going to blow you away with flashy athletic ability, but has improved every year
-best pass rushing inside LB that we have, I think Diaco will utilize this skill more than we’ve seen
-struggles to shed blockers when OL get to his level
-he has improved tremendously in coverage, Diaco likes zone in the middle part of field it seems, that will benefit him
-when Wallace did his job, he was phenomenal this spring at getting to the football
Connor Taylor:
-I have mixed thoughts on Taylor, he’s obviously a smart player, but I can also see why other programs where hesitant to pull the trigger on him in the recruiting process
-he’s a tackler, makes a ton of tackles
-he struggles in space in coverage, also can struggle to get off blocks
-he’s very vocal, a leader, plays with an edge
James Jackson:
-the epitome of a player developing throughout his time in a program and becoming a good contributor in his 4th and 5th year, I think he’ll get a shot in the NFL
-so physical, so good in the box
-fits Diaco’s system perfectly with his athleticism, showed a tendency to rush really well off the edge because of his speed and ability to bend
-not the most vocal kid, leads by example
Trey Baldwin:
-best LB on the team, I’ll stand by this all season
-so physical, will absolutely light you up, he’s mean on a football field
-has shed 10 pounds or so, a true sideline to sideline LB, in excellent shape
-can struggle to pick up responsibilities at times, but has improved since he arrived
-if he gets a chance to get significant playing time, our LB corp will be really good, gosh I love watching him play
Ezekiel Barnett:
-playing the CAT spot behind Jackson, Mr. Consistent
-not flashy, not the most athletic, slightly undersized, but just does his job
-I think Holtz mentioned on signing day that he’s been added to scholarship
-core special teams player
Brandon Floyd:
-finally healthy, maybe for the first time since the beginning of fall camp last year, had shoulder surgery during the season last year
-a little bit of a tweener between a CAT and a DOG, not great in space, can have issues at point of attack in run game
-had one of the more dominating scrimmages that I’ve seen since I began covering the team
Jacorion Andrews:
-continuing to evolve as a player, in that James Jackson mold
-extremely talented, motor isn’t all the way turned up at times which caused him to fall a little on the depth chart as spring practice progressed in my opinion
-I’ve had many tell me he’s better than Jaiden Cole, who was supposed to be the more highly rated recruit out of Neville in 2017
-LOVES CONTACT more than anyone on the roster, plays with reckless abandon
Randy Hogan:
-missed all of 2018 with an injury
-will be a depth guy, solid early in the spring but fell off late
-core special teams guy
Alex Zayed:
-core special teams guy
-seems to be improving as a LB, was working with the 2s late in the spring
-scares the heck out of me in coverage because he doesn’t have even decent foot speed
Reggie Cleveland:
-knee injury against NSU in 2017 really put a damper on his career, he was a great athlete before the injury
-still feeling his way around after that knee injury, I’d advise him to drop 15 pounds, I think it would help him
-hopefully he can help on ST
Isaiah Windmon:
-had offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa State, Miss State, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech out of HS in the 2018 class
-missed most of, if not all of senior year of HS due to ACL injury
-signed at 190 pounds, up to around 205 right now, when he gets to 220, look out
-he’s a freak, sideline to sideline guy like Trey Baldwin
-he’ll grow up behind the scenes over the next year or two, but I have really high hopes for him, he’s so dang talented
-brother plays OLB at UNLV
Overall:
-this group struggles getting off blocks in the middle, but most do. When Wallace does his job up front in occupying blockers, they fly to the football and make plays in the backfield
-lack of athletic ability between Scott and Taylor concerns me a bit
-Diaco seemed to do a good job at masking their lack of ability with a lot of zone over the middle
-I think we’ll see more ILB blitzes than we’ve seen in recent years, Diaco likes to use them as part of stunts inside
In the new 3-4 scheme, Brian Gamble will coach the inside backers, Dennis Smith will coach the outside backers. Bob Diaco is doing a lot of work with the outside backers as well.
Gamble and Smith are learning the defensive calls daily. Diaco will call plays from the stands so that they can get the experience in calling in the plays.
Dennis Smith is the most energetic person you’ll ever come across, so much intensity.
The strong side outside backers are referred to as “DOGs,” and the weak side outside backers are referred to as “CATs.” I included the DOGs (Willie Baker and Tristan Allen) in the defensive line post because they are essentially defensive ends.
Collin Scott:
-not going to blow you away with flashy athletic ability, but has improved every year
-best pass rushing inside LB that we have, I think Diaco will utilize this skill more than we’ve seen
-struggles to shed blockers when OL get to his level
-he has improved tremendously in coverage, Diaco likes zone in the middle part of field it seems, that will benefit him
-when Wallace did his job, he was phenomenal this spring at getting to the football
Connor Taylor:
-I have mixed thoughts on Taylor, he’s obviously a smart player, but I can also see why other programs where hesitant to pull the trigger on him in the recruiting process
-he’s a tackler, makes a ton of tackles
-he struggles in space in coverage, also can struggle to get off blocks
-he’s very vocal, a leader, plays with an edge
James Jackson:
-the epitome of a player developing throughout his time in a program and becoming a good contributor in his 4th and 5th year, I think he’ll get a shot in the NFL
-so physical, so good in the box
-fits Diaco’s system perfectly with his athleticism, showed a tendency to rush really well off the edge because of his speed and ability to bend
-not the most vocal kid, leads by example
Trey Baldwin:
-best LB on the team, I’ll stand by this all season
-so physical, will absolutely light you up, he’s mean on a football field
-has shed 10 pounds or so, a true sideline to sideline LB, in excellent shape
-can struggle to pick up responsibilities at times, but has improved since he arrived
-if he gets a chance to get significant playing time, our LB corp will be really good, gosh I love watching him play
Ezekiel Barnett:
-playing the CAT spot behind Jackson, Mr. Consistent
-not flashy, not the most athletic, slightly undersized, but just does his job
-I think Holtz mentioned on signing day that he’s been added to scholarship
-core special teams player
Brandon Floyd:
-finally healthy, maybe for the first time since the beginning of fall camp last year, had shoulder surgery during the season last year
-a little bit of a tweener between a CAT and a DOG, not great in space, can have issues at point of attack in run game
-had one of the more dominating scrimmages that I’ve seen since I began covering the team
Jacorion Andrews:
-continuing to evolve as a player, in that James Jackson mold
-extremely talented, motor isn’t all the way turned up at times which caused him to fall a little on the depth chart as spring practice progressed in my opinion
-I’ve had many tell me he’s better than Jaiden Cole, who was supposed to be the more highly rated recruit out of Neville in 2017
-LOVES CONTACT more than anyone on the roster, plays with reckless abandon
Randy Hogan:
-missed all of 2018 with an injury
-will be a depth guy, solid early in the spring but fell off late
-core special teams guy
Alex Zayed:
-core special teams guy
-seems to be improving as a LB, was working with the 2s late in the spring
-scares the heck out of me in coverage because he doesn’t have even decent foot speed
Reggie Cleveland:
-knee injury against NSU in 2017 really put a damper on his career, he was a great athlete before the injury
-still feeling his way around after that knee injury, I’d advise him to drop 15 pounds, I think it would help him
-hopefully he can help on ST
Isaiah Windmon:
-had offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa State, Miss State, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech out of HS in the 2018 class
-missed most of, if not all of senior year of HS due to ACL injury
-signed at 190 pounds, up to around 205 right now, when he gets to 220, look out
-he’s a freak, sideline to sideline guy like Trey Baldwin
-he’ll grow up behind the scenes over the next year or two, but I have really high hopes for him, he’s so dang talented
-brother plays OLB at UNLV
Overall:
-this group struggles getting off blocks in the middle, but most do. When Wallace does his job up front in occupying blockers, they fly to the football and make plays in the backfield
-lack of athletic ability between Scott and Taylor concerns me a bit
-Diaco seemed to do a good job at masking their lack of ability with a lot of zone over the middle
-I think we’ll see more ILB blitzes than we’ve seen in recent years, Diaco likes to use them as part of stunts inside
