Deciding MLB spot

#1
LittleVol

LittleVol

Of course I can help you, Coach Heupel.
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#1
First off, there is going to have to be some circle of life drills between some of these MLB candidates.

Austin Smith vs Dillon Bates

Darrin Kirkland Jr. vs Ken Bynum

Colton Jumper vs Gavin Bryant

I think it will help with the filtering process.


Secondly, looking at Kirkland and Austin Smith reminds me of 4 years ago when A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt got to campus.

They were the big new recruits that we had needed for a while on defense! I remember everybody saying that's how you draw linebackers up. Looking back neither disappointed on the field. Both made a lot of plays. Curt's best is yet to come.

Anyway, I look at Kirkland and Smith, and I see a more talented duo then Curt and AJ were.

I think Austin Smith ends up as LEO and Kirkland will be the man at MLB.
Even though these guys are not in the 2 deep yet. Just watching them move, I don't see any of the other MLBs
that has their upside.


Thank God for football
 
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#2
#2
I may sail alone here, but I think the MLB spot should be Bates' for the taking right now. He was impressive last year before he went down.
 
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#3
#3
LittleVol said:
First off, there is going to have to be some circle of life drills between some of these MLB candidates.

Austin Smith vs Dillon Bates

Darrin Kirkland Jr. vs Ken Bynum

Colton Jumper vs Gavin Bryant

I think it will help with the filtering process.


Secondly, looking at Kirkland and Austin Smith reminds me of 4 years ago when A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt got to campus.

They were the big new recruits that we had needed for a while on defense! I remember everybody saying that's how you draw linebackers up. Looking back neither disappointed on the field. Both made a lot of plays. Curt's best is yet to come.

Anyway, I look at Kirkland and Smith, and I see a more talented duo then Curt and AJ were.

I think Austin Smith ends up as LEO and Kirkland will be the man at MLB.
Even though these guys are not in the 2 deep yet. Just watching them move, I don't see any of the other MLBs
that has their upside.


Thank God for football
Click to expand...
Agree. Austin Smith is going to be an absolute beast.
 
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#4
#4
If Bates does not emerge at MLB, does he move back outside? It would be a complete waste to have him on the bench!
 
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#5
#5
Ill take Dillon Bates - smart heady football player - high football IQ, high motor and will deliver a hit........
 
#6
#6
chatt-townVOL said:
I may sail alone here, but I think the MLB spot should be Bates' for the taking right now. He was impressive last year before he went down.
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You are definitely not alone. Given what we've already seen from him I have a feeling he's in the lead, especially considering he's basically the only one we've seen in game.
 
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#7
#7
wolfej said:
You are definitely not alone. Given what we've already seen from him I have a feeling he's in the lead, especially considering he's basically the only one we've seen in game.
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Bynum has the most experience by a landslide
 
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#8
#8
I think Kirkland will be at least in the 2 deep. They ran tests on him and the coaches said he almost had a photographic memory. If that's the case he's going to be the fastest learner out there which will give him a significant advantage, not to mention his talent and athleticism. We'll see if all this translates to the football field.
 
#11
#11
I like bates because of his football iq, lateral speed, and also because he's been in the program for a little while as compared to Kirkland and Austin. But for what it's worth...how amazing is it to have 4 Guys competing for the spot? We have depth at so many different positions now it makes fall camp a lot more fun than in recent years. Take just for example mlb, the last couple of years there was literally nobody behind aj. Thank the lord he avoided any major injuries
 
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#12
#12
vol73 said:
I do agree Bynum will be the starter at least for the first part of the season. He's highly underated in my opinion.
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Do you have eyes? Bynum, when he is on the field, is the absolute slowest middle linebacker in the SEC. He is smart, and knows the defensive calls (and thus gets everyone lined up properly) better than any of the other candidates. However, his physical skills are not even SEC average. If he plays, it will be only as a placeholder until Kirkland or Jumper know the position well enough to play.

Bates has more athletic ability than any candidate, and will hit you in the open field if he can line you up, but doesn't have the MLB mentality of sticking his nose in every play and being sufficiently territorial like top notch middle linebackers.

We have more outside linebacker candidates than middle linebacker types. We COULD move JRM to the middle, and let someone like Bates play outside, his better position. However, that would mean that all candidates for MLB have failed, as JRM is top-echelon in his position and does NOT need to be moved.
 
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#13
#13
chatt-townVOL said:
I may sail alone here, but I think the MLB spot should be Bates' for the taking right now. He was impressive last year before he went down.
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He was "impressive" at OLB. What does that have to do with this?
 
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#14
#14
I think it's a good sign that Butch moved Jacob Johnson to TE for the time being. He must feel good about MLB depth. Bynum outplayed him by a mile. Look for Bynum to start early at MLB and Kirkland or Bates to start a few games in.
 
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#15
#15
OH-Vol said:
If Bates does not emerge at MLB, does he move back outside? It would be a complete waste to have him on the bench!
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I think not having Cortez on the field is a waste...not giving him JRM's minutes tho. Double edged sword of recruiting talent...someone potentially great SITS. :thumbsup:
 
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#16
#16
chatt-townVOL said:
I may sail alone here, but I think the MLB spot should be Bates' for the taking right now. He was impressive last year before he went down.
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I'm not sure the extent of Bates's injury. I can tell he's been lifting so I think he is full go. He's bigger now for sure. It has to translate somewhat to him becoming more of a downhill backer.

I wouldn't say it was for the taking. The good thing about Dillon is that he is versatile.
- He can play the nickelbacker position (diff from Nickel)
McDowelll and Elliot Berry play this spot
- He could be the back up SAM
- He could play MLB.

In other words Dillon will play somewhere.
I'll reserve my opinion about Dillon for now. Lets' see how things shake out during camp.

As far as intelligence like someone mentioned. Kenny Bynum, is up there, and so is Jumper on the football IQ. Darrin Kirkland is also a very bright young man (honor roll , photographic memory). So is Austin Smith (Buford is a great school for academics )
Every guy I mentioned will not make you cringe if giving an interview lol.
I don't know if Bates exceeds any of these guys in that department.

Bates is too good to keep on the bench.
 
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#17
#17
ATLVols said:
I think it's a good sign that Butch moved Jacob Johnson to TE for the time being. He must feel good about MLB depth. Bynum outplayed him by a mile. Look for Bynum to start early at MLB and Kirkland or Bates to start a few games in.
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Sorry but Bynum hasn't out played anyone by a mile. I like the kid but I just dont see an SEC MLB.
 
#18
#18
GLDunlap said:
Sorry but Bynum hasn't out played anyone by a mile. I like the kid but I just dont see an SEC MLB.
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My point is that he outplayed Jacob Johnson, which isn't saying a ton on the surface. Jacob was lost and really hurt us against Mizzou. Bates was hurt by that time, so was a non-factor when we needed him. Bynum played well in the bowl game. He's not AJ Johnson quality, but gave us quality reps.
 
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#19
#19
Reports say 6-7 guys competing for this spot???

If that is correct that number has to shrink to 2-3 very very quickly to get enough reps to develop guys and find a guy that can provide good minutes at that spot IMO.

It's the single biggest worry of a position IMO
 
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#20
#20
ATLVols said:
My point is that he outplayed Jacob Johnson, which isn't saying a ton on the surface. Jacob was lost and really hurt us against Mizzou. Bates was hurt by that time, so was a non-factor when we needed him. Bynum played well in the bowl game. He's not AJ Johnson quality, but gave us quality reps.
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Okay but I just think had Bynum started against Missouri they would have exposed him just like they did JJ. Bynum played a lot against Vandy and started against Iowa and had maybe 2 tackles in each game. Most MLB's have that before they get off the bus. I do agree out of those two I would take Bynum but just dont see him starting past game one this year.

I think Jakob will play somewhere eventually but this has got to be frustrating for him.
 
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#21
#21
GLDunlap said:
Okay but I just think had Bynum started against Missouri they would have exposed him just like they did JJ. Bynum played a lot against Vandy and started against Iowa and had maybe 2 tackles in each game. Most MLB's have that before they get off the bus. I do agree out of those two I would take Bynum but just dont see him starting past game one this year.

I think Jakob will play somewhere eventually but this has got to be frustrating for him.
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One thing that sticks in my mind about Bynum, during the Iowa game, one run play in particular, The RB came up the middle, Bynum was in the right position, but allowed himself to get sucked in and blocked, that led to a very big gain for them. A LB like AJ would have read the play better and had been patient to make the play. Some of the best linebackers, as another poster stated, seem to own the field.. If I wasn't on mobile, I would find that play in particular. I know one bad play don't make a player.. But that play kind of sums up to me about his ability IMO, kinda what GL is saying..
 
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#23
#23
Austin Smith is the 3rd best linebacker on this team (after JRM and Curt when he lines up at LB). I think they play him at MLB eventhough he's a natural SAM linebacker/DE. Kirkland serves as the backup to MLB this year. And takes over the starting job next year when Austin moves takes over for Curt Maggitt.

I think Dillon Bates is an outside linebacker. He should be the primary backup to JRM.
 
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#24
#24
butchna said:
He was "impressive" at OLB. What does that have to do with this?
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I think you understand exactly what I mean, I assume most here are aware he was in a different role last year. He was impressive as an athlete within the LB corp last year.

Thanks for the show off attempt though.
 
#25
#25
I don't think the circle of life drill will have anything to do with who plays MLB,there are a lot of options,somebody will have to step up and own the position before fall practice is over with,or it will be a long year
 
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