These are the ones listed at LB, but yeah you are right, a few will play DE. This is likely the listing for a 3-4 scheme.Baron is almost certain to play DE... and be great. I believe Eason is also working with the DE's, right?
I don't think any of the guys in trouble now will be booted. We will see.
OTOH, if I were in Heupel's shoes I'd be recruiting every LB in the portal and also the top FCS/DivII LB's.
True in some respects but teams also ask more of them since only two are usually playing at a time.I think an argument could be made the linebacker is not as important as it once was. Maybe in the Big 10 with big rushing teams like Wisconsin you need that second line of defense but in the SEC, Pac 12 and especially the Big 12 with Spread/RPO big passing systems a Dime defense could work. Our d-line needs to be good to keep teams honest and a mobile QB could kill us but you work with the players you have.
Yep. Gonna need to load up at LB with transfers. Folks just need to accept the crap storm that's coming next year. This idea that Heupel will work some sort of hurry up magic with this roster is just being naive. 6 wins would be fantastic. Anything above that would have me thinking he's SEC coach of the year material.
It's not that linebacker is unimportant, you just really need them to be able to play in space now more than in the past. It's true you can have fewer linebackers now because you are in nickel more but the ones we have need to be more athletic than ever at linebacker for us to be good on defense. And we will still see a power run game at least from UGA and UK.I think an argument could be made the linebacker is not as important as it once was. Maybe in the Big 10 with big rushing teams like Wisconsin you need that second line of defense but in the SEC, Pac 12 and especially the Big 12 with Spread/RPO big passing systems a Dime defense could work. Our d-line needs to be good to keep teams honest and a mobile QB could kill us but you work with the players you have.