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2015 linebackers - more of the same?

BWahlberg

BWahlberg

Well-known member
DONOR
From a few posts that AlabamaGrizzly and I have been doing a few positions haven't been discussed. The one with maybe the least amount of debate/discussion on positioning is the linebacker corps. Everyone returns - that we're aware of.

2-deep will presumably look like this:

OLB: Herbert Gamboa (Sr) / Connor Lebsock (Sr)
MLB: Jeremiah Kose (Sr) / Tucker Schye (Soph)
OLB: Kendrick Van Ackeren (Sr) / Connor Strahm (Soph)

Solid group, all three backers started every game last season I believe. Our three starters at linebacker were our #1, #2, and #4 tacklers on the team. This year they enter as the grizzled veterans and will be expected to play as good, or even better, than they did in 2014.

The concern here is minor in the short term but something that the coaches have to be aware of. Our 2 deep has 4 seniors. In 2016 only Schye and Strahm return and will presumably be coming in with good but not great experience playing their position (by virtue of Kose and KVA presumably taking most of the snaps this season).

Obviously I think this year we may see more rotation to help keep this group fresh through the games. It struck me that the starting 3 were really leaned upon because the backups were still too green at their job. They've had a full season now and I'd bet will be expected to contribute more throughout each game.

There's also the depth beyond these guys - do any other linebackers get a shot to take some reps in junk time, play ST, or rocket through the depth? We've got a ton of LBs coming off their red-shirts...

Zach Vis (RS-Frosh) - A converted WR that was showing a few good signs in fall camp before suffering an injury that I believe cost him his entire 2014 season. A lighter guy at 6-3 / 205.

Alex Thomas (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted, a littler shorter than other backers but a speedy guy.

Josh Buss (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted as well, I think he played both RB and LB in high school.

Tyler Richtmyer (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted in 14, played TE and LB in high school, could develop into a middle linebacker, a little bigger than the other RS-frosh LBs.

Shane Cochran (RS-Frosh) - Yet another RS, OLB-type of guy I believe.

Dylan Stenseth (RS-Frosh) - Biggest of the red shirt linebackers at 6-2 / 225 pounds.

Lot of linebackers that are going to be vying for time. 2015 might not hold a lot of reps for these guys but 2016 will present at least 4 available spots on the 2-deep for these 6 players.
 
Given Kose's health problems of the past, Schye might see a lot of playing time in 2015. I hope that's not the case, but football is such a brutal sport on the body.

I hope Jeremiah has a great, healthy and productive senior year, and I was greatly surprised last year not by his high level of play, but the fact he was able to stay healthy all year and through two playoff games. Hopefully 2015 is a repeat of '14 for him !!!
 
billingsgriz said:
Given Kose's health problems of the past, Schye might see a lot of playing time in 2015. I hope that's not the case, but football is such a brutal sport on the body.

I hope Jeremiah has a great, healthy and productive senior year, and I was greatly surprised last year not by his high level of play, but the fact he was able to stay healthy all year and through two playoff games. Hopefully 2015 is a repeat of '14 for him !!!
Click to expand...

I think a lot of egrizzers were writing Kose off based on his prior injuries - and were getting excited because Tucker Schye was making some plays in spring ball last year. Fast forward through the season, Schye is a great special teamer and certainly molding into a great middle linebacker - and Kose just rocked it in the middle.

Much like a lot of our senior middle linebackers I wonder if Kose is approaching his senior season the same way. Both Brock Coyle and Caleb McSurdy vastly improved the amount of turnovers they forced. Would really like to see Kose (and all of our backers) do the same.
 
Agreed--if Kose can mold into a MLB like McSurdy-Coyle his senior year and stay healthy, he would have a great senior season and that could only be good news for our D's effectiveness next fall.
 
Since I'm a stat-dork I wanted to look at it on paper

2010 McSurdy: 80 tackles / 0.5 sacks / 1 FF
2011 McSurdy: 130 tackles / 4 sacks / 2 INTs / 2 FF / 1 Fumble recovery

2012 Coyle: 107 tackles / 2 sacks / 2 FF / 1 Fumble recovery
2013 Coyle: 125 tackles / 4 sacks / 2 INTs / 5 FF / 1 Fumble recovery

2014 Kose: 117 tackles / 1 sack / 1 INT / 1 FF / 3 Fumble recoveries
 
Former Sheldon Linebacker and teammate of Connor Strahm is on the market, was left homeless with UAB shuttering their program.

http://www.northwesteliteindex.com/2015/01/19/d1-lb-james-banks-on-the-market/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
BWahlberg said:
From a few posts that AlabamaGrizzly and I have been doing a few positions haven't been discussed. The one with maybe the least amount of debate/discussion on positioning is the linebacker corps. Everyone returns - that we're aware of.

2-deep will presumably look like this:

OLB: Herbert Gamboa (Sr) / Connor Lebsock (Sr)
MLB: Jeremiah Kose (Sr) / Tucker Schye (Soph)
OLB: Kendrick Van Ackeren (Sr) / Connor Strahm (Soph)

Solid group, all three backers started every game last season I believe. Our three starters at linebacker were our #1, #2, and #4 tacklers on the team. This year they enter as the grizzled veterans and will be expected to play as good, or even better, than they did in 2014.

The concern here is minor in the short term but something that the coaches have to be aware of. Our 2 deep has 4 seniors. In 2016 only Schye and Strahm return and will presumably be coming in with good but not great experience playing their position (by virtue of Kose and KVA presumably taking most of the snaps this season).

Obviously I think this year we may see more rotation to help keep this group fresh through the games. It struck me that the starting 3 were really leaned upon because the backups were still too green at their job. They've had a full season now and I'd bet will be expected to contribute more throughout each game.

There's also the depth beyond these guys - do any other linebackers get a shot to take some reps in junk time, play ST, or rocket through the depth? We've got a ton of LBs coming off their red-shirts...

Zach Vis (RS-Frosh) - A converted WR that was showing a few good signs in fall camp before suffering an injury that I believe cost him his entire 2014 season. A lighter guy at 6-3 / 205.

Alex Thomas (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted, a littler shorter than other backers but a speedy guy.

Josh Buss (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted as well, I think he played both RB and LB in high school.

Tyler Richtmyer (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted in 14, played TE and LB in high school, could develop into a middle linebacker, a little bigger than the other RS-frosh LBs.

Shane Cochran (RS-Frosh) - Yet another RS, OLB-type of guy I believe.

Dylan Stenseth (RS-Frosh) - Biggest of the red shirt linebackers at 6-2 / 225 pounds.

Lot of linebackers that are going to be vying for time. 2015 might not hold a lot of reps for these guys but 2016 will present at least 4 available spots on the 2-deep for these 6 players.
Click to expand...
It's a good thing you started this Brint. I was just gonna cut and paste mine from last year. :)
Not much more can be said about the two deep except mabey that Schye was the team leader in special teams tackles with 10 and Lebsock(7) and Strahm(6) were second and third(according to the play by play summeries at Go Griz). I would hope to see some of these new guys fill some of those special team rolls

I'm really big on Josh Buss. He's a converted RB and hadn't really started on D since he was a safety his So year in high school and as a Sr, he only played about 15 plays in nickle situations. He was Idaho's sou con offensive player of the year and 1st team all state as A Jr and a Sr. What will help his transition to defense I think is as a Jr he was an All American in Lacrosse and he also lettered in wrestling. At 6'3" and 195 as a Sr in high school, he can get bigger. He's a very physical runner and most deffenetly is not afraid of contact. I think when he picks up the speed of 1-AA football and learning to read offenses, he is going to be a great LB.

Milan Morrero was another Fr in last years class that hasn't been on the roster but is enrolled at the U. I'm sure he's planning on playing coming here from San Diego as a 4 year letterman, 2 time All Leauge and Con DPY his Sr season. I also think Shayne Cochran from 8-man Culbertson will become one of the better ones.
 
Alaska Griz said:
Also...I assume King will be here in 2016 and could be a force.
Click to expand...


King will be dominant, considered by many to be the best commit out of MT last year.
 
alabamagrizzly said:
BWahlberg said:
From a few posts that AlabamaGrizzly and I have been doing a few positions haven't been discussed. The one with maybe the least amount of debate/discussion on positioning is the linebacker corps. Everyone returns - that we're aware of.

2-deep will presumably look like this:

OLB: Herbert Gamboa (Sr) / Connor Lebsock (Sr)
MLB: Jeremiah Kose (Sr) / Tucker Schye (Soph)
OLB: Kendrick Van Ackeren (Sr) / Connor Strahm (Soph)

Solid group, all three backers started every game last season I believe. Our three starters at linebacker were our #1, #2, and #4 tacklers on the team. This year they enter as the grizzled veterans and will be expected to play as good, or even better, than they did in 2014.

The concern here is minor in the short term but something that the coaches have to be aware of. Our 2 deep has 4 seniors. In 2016 only Schye and Strahm return and will presumably be coming in with good but not great experience playing their position (by virtue of Kose and KVA presumably taking most of the snaps this season).

Obviously I think this year we may see more rotation to help keep this group fresh through the games. It struck me that the starting 3 were really leaned upon because the backups were still too green at their job. They've had a full season now and I'd bet will be expected to contribute more throughout each game.

There's also the depth beyond these guys - do any other linebackers get a shot to take some reps in junk time, play ST, or rocket through the depth? We've got a ton of LBs coming off their red-shirts...

Zach Vis (RS-Frosh) - A converted WR that was showing a few good signs in fall camp before suffering an injury that I believe cost him his entire 2014 season. A lighter guy at 6-3 / 205.

Alex Thomas (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted, a littler shorter than other backers but a speedy guy.

Josh Buss (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted as well, I think he played both RB and LB in high school.

Tyler Richtmyer (RS-Frosh) - Red shirted in 14, played TE and LB in high school, could develop into a middle linebacker, a little bigger than the other RS-frosh LBs.

Shane Cochran (RS-Frosh) - Yet another RS, OLB-type of guy I believe.

Dylan Stenseth (RS-Frosh) - Biggest of the red shirt linebackers at 6-2 / 225 pounds.

Lot of linebackers that are going to be vying for time. 2015 might not hold a lot of reps for these guys but 2016 will present at least 4 available spots on the 2-deep for these 6 players.
Click to expand...
It's a good thing you started this Brint. I was just gonna cut and paste mine from last year. :)
Not much more can be said about the two deep except mabey that Schye was the team leader in special teams tackles with 10 and Lebsock(7) and Strahm(6) were second and third(according to the play by play summeries at Go Griz). I would hope to see some of these new guys fill some of those special team rolls

I'm really big on Josh Buss. He's a converted RB and hadn't really started on D since he was a safety his So year in high school and as a Sr, he only played about 15 plays in nickle situations. He was Idaho's sou con offensive player of the year and 1st team all state as A Jr and a Sr. What will help his transition to defense I think is as a Jr he was an All American in Lacrosse and he also lettered in wrestling. At 6'3" and 195 as a Sr in high school, he can get bigger. He's a very physical runner and most deffenetly is not afraid of contact. I think when he picks up the speed of 1-AA football and learning to read offenses, he is going to be a great LB.

Milan Morrero was another Fr in last years class that hasn't been on the roster but is enrolled at the U. I'm sure he's planning on playing coming here from San Diego as a 4 year letterman, 2 time All Leauge and Con DPY his Sr season. I also think Shayne Cochran from 8-man Culbertson will become one of the better ones.
Click to expand...

Talk to KurtisMichael about Buss. Hes a close friend of the family and is really high on Buss.
 
gah-riz said:
Former Sheldon Linebacker and teammate of Connor Strahm is on the market, was left homeless with UAB shuttering their program.

http://www.northwesteliteindex.com/2015/01/19/d1-lb-james-banks-on-the-market/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click to expand...

Perfect. Go get him AND Strahm's brother. :thumb:
 
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