Is he coming back? Anyone know? Pretty nervous for the linebacker position if he doesn't, unless Elko has something up his sleeve.

So far yes. Him and Noah Mikhail will lead the way. Definitely need one more in addition to the Tulsa guy

Doesn't sound like we are getting anyone else. Unless someone transfers that we weren't expecting

Sanford, Mikhail, Lockhart, Coney, Riggins, Beck, King, Miller, Watkins (safety?)

Unproven besides Sanford, but there is some athleticism there.

I thought we were projected to get the standout from Arky since we hired his coach


No dice on that?

Lockhart was apparently flashing in practices and they think he has upside and should be in 2 deep (was close last yr).

Why Coney, Sanford, Lockhart, Mikhail are most likely 2 deep LB corps and hopefully Riggins progresses to step up too.

Incoming '26 fish class has lots of potential, but hard to be SEC ready immediately.

I see a rotation of Sanford/Coney getting majority of snaps. With Mikhail and Lockhart getting quality substitute snaps. 4 is a solid number of linebackers with experience. Injuries obviously will put you.in a bind. Similar to the last couple years when Scooby went down

I will be curious if Elko starts tweaking his base 4-2 to more of a 4-3 after his comments about stopping the run.

I wouldn't mind having an extra safety move down to help out. Someone like Myles Davis

LB12Diamond said:

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I will be curious if Elko starts tweaking his base 4-2 to more of a 4-3 after his comments about stopping the run.

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It'd be really dope if we morphed into a 3-4


Have all the athletic edges on the field at one time

I think all options are on the table but I'm not sure moving from 4 D line is the path to stopping SEC run games.

vander54 said:

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I wouldn't mind having an extra safety move down to help out. Someone like Myles Davis

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I think we are already do that or try to do it. That's why I'm thinking a 4-3 option at times. No idea if it's easy to work in with his base 4-2-5.

We had 4 down this year & we were dog**** at stopping the run


Kirby runs a 3-4 w a bunch of freaks on the outside & they've been pretty good against the run



I don't know that we have a true nose tackle though... we probably end up soft in the middle

vander54 said:

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Doesn't sound like we are getting anyone else. Unless someone transfers that we weren't expecting

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Hey Vander. Just not anymore linebackers right?

LB12Diamond said:

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I think all options are on the table but I'm not sure moving from 4 D line is the path to stopping SEC run games.

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I agree. You go an odd front you better be really good at inside linebacker. You create a natural bubble that takes linebackers who can take on and get off blocks.

CoachLB said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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I think all options are on the table but I'm not sure moving from 4 D line is the path to stopping SEC run games.

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I agree. You go an odd front you better be really good at inside linebacker. You create a natural bubble that takes linebackers who can take on and get off blocks.

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Username checks out!

What do you think my LB stands for?

Pichael Thompson said:

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We had 4 down this year & we were dog**** at stopping the run


Kirby runs a 3-4 w a bunch of freaks on the outside & they've been pretty good against the run



I don't know that we have a true nose tackle though... we probably end up soft in the middle

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I don't think our problem against the run was the even front. The problem was we would be stopping the run and then a linebacker would have a bad run fit. Or a dline guy jumped into the wrong gap. It does not matter what defense you run if your guys bust assignments, assigned gaps etc. We reacted to what our eyes saw at times instead of playing our assigned gaps. In my point of view the defense alignment you play does not matter as long as your players understands the assignments, gaps, run fits and are disciplined enough to play them.

Seemed to me that our LB's were guessing which gap the RB would hit and many times committed while the RB had not yet committed.

akm91 said:

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Seemed to me that our LB's were guessing which gap the RB would hit and many times committed while the RB had not yet committed.

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Yep, thst is a great example of what I was saying. that overused but true "eye discipline" If you do not fit your gap and run where you think the back is going you screwed yourself and the defense. You play your assignment no matter what you think or see.

akm91 said:

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Seemed to me that our LB's were guessing which gap the RB would hit and many times committed while the RB had not yet committed.

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I love York, but he seemed to run right into a DL's ass way too often

vander54 said:

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I wouldn't mind having an extra safety move down to help out. Someone like Myles Davis

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I was really hoping to see some more of Miles. He's got the body and isn't afraid to hit.

jt16 said:

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akm91 said:

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Seemed to me that our LB's were guessing which gap the RB would hit and many times committed while the RB had not yet committed.

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I love York, but he seemed to run right into a DL's ass way too often

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. Linebackers are taught cloudy or clear. If you are sliding down the line, if a back is bouncing outside, if it s cloudy you keep sliding. If it is clear you have to fill that gap. Stuff like you pointed out drove Elko crazy I am sure. I like the new LB coach we hired. I expect him to clean that stuff up.

CoachLB said:

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Pichael Thompson said:

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We had 4 down this year & we were dog**** at stopping the run


Kirby runs a 3-4 w a bunch of freaks on the outside & they've been pretty good against the run



I don't know that we have a true nose tackle though... we probably end up soft in the middle

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I don't think our problem against the run was the even front. The problem was we would be stopping the run and then a linebacker would have a bad run fit. Or a dline guy jumped into the wrong gap. It does not matter what defense you run if your guys bust assignments, assigned gaps etc. We reacted to what our eyes saw at times instead of playing our assigned gaps. In my point of view the defense alignment you play does not matter as long as your players understands the assignments, gaps, run fits and are disciplined enough to play them.

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Great DL penetration and anticipation fixes most of that. So much easier on the LBs when run plays are disrupted by the DL in the backfield.

The play side linebacker on the big run against Miami shot straight through on a gap early on in the play. It seemed like it was almost a stunt or a run blitz. I did not understand it at all. And guess what Miami did the running back was going right Where he voided. Probably the play of the game.

I was at a loss, No idea why we would do that on first down.

I do see undersize linebackers, such as York at times not play the run correctly and take on blockers but try to go around And and it can come up to Bite you in the butt many times.

CoachLB said:

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vander54 said:

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Doesn't sound like we are getting anyone else. Unless someone transfers that we weren't expecting

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Hey Vander. Just not anymore linebackers right?

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Correct

Yeah, York did run around blocks a lot. Taking off running full speed through a gap on a run blitz is bad technique. You have to be under control to tackle someone or to be able to change direction. It is supposed to be a controlled blitz. If not a good back will make you miss. Probably not a bad call but poor technique or he blitzed through the wrong gap.

LB12Diamond said:

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I "stopping SEC run games."

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How about stopping any teams run game and stop making Joe Schmo RB or QB play like Walter Payton and Michael Vick?