starting linebackers next year?

[irishmarine]

i think it will be fun to see who all is going to be our starters out of each postition group for next year. personally i can see te'o and flemming on the outside with carlo and filer splitting time and smith in the middle. that sounds like a nasty bunch. hopefully they all raise each others play and learn how to get off of a damn block when they blitz

 

[chyrspchuck]

Toryan gets no time?

 

[OCIrish]

I think our LB play next year will be huge. The reason I say that is the fact that Newman, Cwynar, Williams, and Lewis-Moore will all have a year under their belts. They'll be counted on to step in and make plays along the line of scrimmage. If they can take some heat off of Ian Williams and our LB's, watch out. Throw into that mix Ethan Johnson and Flemming, along with Mo Richardson and Kerry Neal coming from the outside, I think our D is finally going to start complimenting our O a little bit.

 

[OCIrish]

Oops, I forgot to say who'll start. Smith will start, Brian that is, Toryan is finally going to finally get off of his ass and do something for the Blue and Gold, Neal has a spot locked up, and the other is a tossup. We'll see if Manti can come in and compete, or if it's going to go to Flemming, or Motta. Don't forget about Poszluzny, and Filer. We've finally gotten some horses at the LB position, so I'm not worried who starts, cause' if they're not getting the job done, someone will step in and take care of business.

 

[classickiller]

i think it depends on the package we run. like last year i think we will have guys out there whose positions will rely on the package. i think the main two that play hybrid s/lb will be zeke motta and harrison smith. then we will have hybrid de/lb's in kerry neal and brian smith.

i think if we blitz the house we will have these lbs in: zeke motta, harrison smith, kerry neal, and brian smith.

if our linebackers play coverage i think it will be: manti te'o, kerry neal, toryan smith, brian smith.

if we are playing goal line i think it will be: manti te'o, kerry neal, brian smith, carlo calabrese.

thats all assuming we dont save carlo for a fifth year. i think he has the run-stopping abilities that will make him hard to keep off of the field as does zeke motta. plus i think motta and te'o will prove to be faster than kerry neal and brian smith. whatever arrangement of linebackers we have in next year all i know is it will be one of the toughest corps in the country. im pretty pumped about it.

 

[Irishlew]

Harrison Smith is moving to safety.

i think the LB will be... B.Smith, Te'o, T.Smith, and Fleming. With Filer getting some action as well. I just don't think Fox, Motta, or Carlo see the field in 09...maybe special teams. That's not a bad thing though, their still gonna learn a lot from watching.

 

[chyrspchuck]

Harrison Smith is moving to safety.

i think the LB will be... B.Smith, Te'o, T.Smith, and Fleming. With Filer getting some action as well. I just don't think Fox, Motta, or Carlo see the field in 09...maybe special teams. That's not a bad thing though, their still gonna learn a lot from watching.

I agree completely, I think that statement is true and I think it won't hurt them at all....

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Manti Te'o will start...He is special and the best D recruit we've landed for a looooooong time.

 

[GOLDENISTHYTATE]

I agree that Fox, Motta, and Calabrese won't see the field much either in '09, and to be honest I don't really want them to. I want them to learn. Motta already being on campus probably gives him the best chance to see the field early. Let's not forget that last year's crop of linebackers were quite amazing themselves. Filer, Fleming, and McDonald all were top-10 linebackers, and Pozlunsky (man I always misspell his name) was an excellent player who obviously comes from a fantastic football pedigree. Fleming showed as a freshman what he can do when given a chance, and I have no doubt that Filer and McDonald will do the same. Especially McDonald, people always forget this kid and he is a stud. Nonetheless, I love the fact that we can now debate which linebackers should play with so many options.

 

[ACamp1900]

Obviously the last two classes Dramatically improved our LB core... but as of right now it all starts and ends with Brian Smith... he is now our rock on Defense by which that ENTIRE side of the ball will look to... (And think when he committed a large portion of this board was somewhat dissapointed that we didn't get someone "better")

but the young guns at LB are obviously one of the more exicting aspects of this team now, Moore, T Smith, Fleming (Who I think is THE GUY), Filer and of course now Teo and possibly Motta is a Great, not good, core of linebackers that imo turns the entire Defensive image of Notre Dame around real quick


GO IRISH

 

[ACamp1900]

I agree that Fox, Motta, and Calabrese won't see the field much either in '09, and to be honest I don't really want them to. I want them to learn. Motta already being on campus probably gives him the best chance to see the field early. Let's not forget that last year's crop of linebackers were quite amazing themselves. Filer, Fleming, and McDonald all were top-10 linebackers, and Pozlunsky (man I always misspell his name) was an excellent player who obviously comes from a fantastic football pedigree. Fleming showed as a freshman what he can do when given a chance, and I have no doubt that Filer and McDonald will do the same. Especially McDonald, people always forget this kid and he is a stud. Nonetheless, I love the fact that we can now debate which linebackers should play with so many options.

No shit! Remember when CB came in and went to the 3-4 the big question then was also "who is gonna play linebacker" but then it was from the standpoint that we didn't have enough to fill a 4-3 roster let alone a 3-4... NOW it's from a wow, which can't miss stud do we put out there first???

In just two short years that is a dramatic turnaround

 

[Junkhead]

I shudder when I remember Travis Thomas playing LB at 206lbs.

 

[IrishAddiction]

not teo. just gonna throw it out there.

 

[aaronb]

I'll take a stab at the opening game defense:

Base 3-4

DL
Mo Richardson
Ian Williams
Ethan Johnson

OLB
Neal
Harrison Smith

ILB
Brian Smith
Manti T

DB

Walls
McNeil
Danny McCarthey
Sergio Brown

 

[WabashFalcon]

I'll take a stab at the opening game defense:

Base 3-4

DL
Mo Richardson
Ian Williams
Ethan Johnson

OLB
Neal
Harrison Smith

ILB
Brian Smith
Manti T

DB

Walls
McNeil
Danny McCarthey
Sergio Brown

Don't think you're right for OLB. Harrison's going to move back to his natural safety position... I just don't like Sergio "Purple Rain" Brown.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

not teo. just gonna throw it out there.

So you really think Te'o is not gonna start?? I find that hard to believe...CW spent sooooooo much time on him...Why would he spend that much on a recruit that he didn't think would start as a Freshman? Especially when his job may be on the line? I agree he's definetly going to have to earn his PT but still..From what I've seen he is ready to contribute...

 

[WabashFalcon]

Pete Carrol called Manti T'eo the BEST player he has ever recruited. They offered him 55... the number of the Immortals at the unholy institution Sneaky Pete coaches for.

If he doesn't start... I will take a vow of chastity until he does... and if i'm wrong (which I won't be) it will be long, long, long three years.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Pete Carrol called Manti T'eo the BEST player he has ever recruited. They offered him 55... the number of the Immortals at the unholy institution Sneaky Pete coaches for.

If he doesn't start... I will take a vow of chastity until he does... and if i'm wrong (which I won't be) it will be long, long, long three years.

Agreed. This kid will play next year and play a lot.

 

[fightinirish68]

depends where some of these linebacker/ends end up.

kerry neal has gained some mass to him, he could be a pass rush guy like morrice richardson.
darius flemming is just a mad man if u ask me. i love the guy. so much speed and so quick with his first move. he could be at outside linebacker or rush de.

i say

mlb
brian smith
toryan smith finally playin well
or steve filer bc he played well towards the end when he came in

olb is tough
like i said kerry neal/darius fleming
manti could come in and do work. a player that good cant be benched.
zeke motta is apparently worth the hype.

 

[JeremyND07]

I agree Teo is good but our current LB's are not scrubs so I do not expect him to start right away.

MLB Brian and Toryan Smith

OLB Neal and Fleming

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Seems like current LBs aren't LBs but bodies told where to go.
A true LB is allowed to read the play.

Just got back from church. Girl normally in third pew to the back left did not show up.

 

[ARALOU]

Is Teo really that good? I know he was highly regarded but so were a few others that have not exactly panned out.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

We'll see.

 

[gairish]

liebackers

liebackers

The guy that interests me is Filer, he was a hitter in high school and just a kid last year, I thought schemes ( meaning adjusting to a complex scheme ) made it hard for him but from what I was told he can hit and plays mean. Its a trying first year adjustment for some guys.

 

[dulac]

Hell, let's get real crazy when we go 4-3 and put 7 LBs out there at a time.
Two of the hy-brids on the ends (yeah, both sides) 3 natural backers and H Smith & Motta in the backfield

 

[chyrspchuck]

neutered doomer.....love the fact that you went to church for a chick, i went this morning as well for the hot chicks.

 

[Junkhead]

I'd like to see Teo get some PT, especially if he is gone for two years after. With Brian Smith, Fleming, Filer, Toryan Smith, etc, LB is not what I'm worried about.

 

[Stalking_Eagle]

neutered doomer.....love the fact that you went to church for a chick, i went this morning as well for the hot chicks.

I went out to get my girl and I some take out to cure the hangover and I saw two hookers working the streets at 2:00 pm. I didn't know hookers were out before the sun went down.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

neutered doomer.....love the fact that you went to church for a chick, i went this morning as well for the hot chicks.

The GF is making me go to her church Sunday...I can't wait...at least its not during football season!!

 

[ACamp1900]

Seems like current LBs aren't LBs but bodies told where to go.
A true LB is allowed to read the play.

Just got back from church. Girl normally in third pew to the back left did not show up.

LMAO... this one is a classic