Sam Webb on LB Recruiting
In response to my email question this morning Sam Webb said that we are definitely in on OLB prospect Jimmie Swain from Missouri. No offer yet, but one is likely in the near future. Kudos to Balrog of Morgoth for uncovering this guy in the Kyron Watson thread yesterday. Swain's highlights are impressive and he has the frame to play SLB.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1332538/highlights/25488376
Sam also mentioned what many of us had already surmised - that we are likely now looking for at least three linebackers in this class - perhaps two SLB plus Ferns.
Nice. A cool-story-bro moment disguised as recruiting news.
True SLBs.
Over the past 2 years, this has proven to be the most consistent pass rush desipte multiple people playing DE.
of having terrifying Thunder God at SLB while no true stars at DE. It's not really a schematic thing; Mattison has been pretty clear about putting specific players in pass rush situations rather than specific positions. Also note that a large chunk of pass rush came from Kovacs ninja blitzes.
We do have McCray coming in 2013, plus evidently Ferns can play SAM. So it seems unlikely that would take two SLBs in 2014 plus Ferns. Maybe one SLB (Winovich or Swain), plus another MLB/WLB prospect?
IMO, Morgan, Bolden, Ferns will be the heart and soul, captain, leaders of the defense.
Not James Ross??
I still say Cain Coulter was short on 4th and 1. That's when I knew Ross was for real. Spring videos look like he has made major strides which is scary!
I think he mentioned those players because they are all MLBs. Usually people say the MIKE is the captain of the defense.
He says MIKE and WILL are basically the same thing.
Three LBs? Do we really need 3 in such a small class?
We took 4 (now 3) the year before and we only graduate 1 Sr. If the class balloons to about 20, I could see 3.
85 scholarships and 22 positions means that we should have 4 players at every position. So, the goal should be to take 1 player at every postion each year. 3 LB spots means 3 LB recruits.
Keep in mind that, last year, we were talking about a small class as well and we had lots of people leave the team. On top of normal attrition, we could also have guys like Paskorz, Furman, and Hagerup not be extended 5th years.
I'm talking in general terms here to get an idea of what each class should look like, not some hard-and-fast rule. There are also factors outside of just recruiting and graduation like red shirts and different types of attrition that this doesn't accout for.
So, if you really want to get technical about it, OL almost always redshirt. That means you only need to recruit 4 per year to maintain a 4-deep at each position. That brings your total class size to 21. 21 x 4 = 84. Use the scholarships from attrition to get a kicker every other year and recruit for positions of need after attrition.
Gah. It's hard to detect sarcasm when facts are actually used.
but there is no way he would not be granted a 5th year if he does everything that Hoke has set up for his penance.
True. The situation is never as simple as 1 SR graduating so only need 1-2 LB's. Attrition always happens, as we are painfully aware. Especially considering, any LB's we bring in will be freshman and will probably need at least 1-2 years to develop before they can contribute. That would mean that next year we lose Jake Ryan and Morgan and will be needing replacements. Ryan's loss is particularly critical because we will then have either a JR/RS So McCray and 1-2 So/RS FR LB's to fill that gap. Taking more SLB (2 let's say) gives us more opportunities that one of them will work out.
If we're talking about refilling the roster, Cameron Gordon will graduate and Ringer/Jones have left. There's some flexibility, but if your roster is balanced in the first place, then you probably want to take as many players (or more) as you're losing.
Ferns seems much better suited to the inside, and it seems he was recruited to play there. I agree that he has some length and speed so could play SLB, but most scouts see him as a prototypical MLB/WLB... with emphasis on the MIKE.
EDIT- meant this as a reply to EGD who sees Fernes as a SLB.
I don't disagree with you. It's just that a few days ago, when it still looked like the staff was after Kyron Watson, the consensus seemed to be that if Winovich didn't go Blue, then we would take Watson as an MLB and Ferns would come in as a SAM. Though, it could be that was never the case, or if it was, the coaches may have reconsidered.
I must confess that I don't know much about Jimmie Swain, but he looks like he has some great potential, after watching his film. Sounds like Michigan hasn't offered him yet, but does anyone know what his offer sheet looks like?
click on "show all" under college choices and look at the "offer" column.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/kansas/football/recruiting/player-Jimmie-Swain-147399
Odd that Rivals shows his Nebraska interest as "Low", while 24/7 predicts that he will wind up a 'Husker. That will all change when he gets his Michigan offer.....
Looks like a decent offer list, but it seems to be missing big name blue chip schools. That's surprising, given how big this kid is.
Oregon, Northwestern, Mizzou, Kansas , Kansas State, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Michigan State, TCU
Looks like a good find. But as others have noted, if the class stays small (under 20), I think they'll pick up a third LB only toward the end, space permitting. They still have holes at other positions that are more pressing, at least in my opinion.
I have no idea why you think that.
The coaches hosted a LB this past weekend (Winovich), dropped another this past week (Watson), and are now extending new offers / looking at new kids for the SLB position.
Based on that, I have no freaking clue how you could arrive at "they'll only pick up a 3rd LB if..." scenario. Unless you are a small child or mentally incapacitated.
"Based on that, I have no freaking clue how you could arrive at "they'll only pick up a 3rd LB if..." scenario. Unless you are a small child or mentally incapacitated."
That seems . . . harsh.
I guess he was living up to his name.
We've been talking about this recruit for a while.
Are you sending them by mail? M&M or bust.
You don't want to get the wrong delivery....
Lee's Summit is the same school that Evan Boehm attended, whom some of you may remember from the 2012 class. He had some interest in Michigan but ended up committing to Mizzou.
Where in the LB corp is Gedeon projected at? It seems like his name isn't mentioned too much in discussions. Wasn't his nickname in HS "The Freak"? Just wondering why he isn't brought up too much.
He's projected to be a WILL, maybe a MIKE if he bulks up.
Balrog of Morgoth son of Balrag?
No. Morgoth = Melkor, the true Dark God of the Tolkein world.
The Balrogs were Maiar, essentially demi-gods that chose to follow Melkor (Morgoth). Others of the Ainur that followed the other Gods became the 5 Istari (Wizards)...Gandalf, Saruman, Ragdstad and the two other ignored ones..
Yay Silmarillion and Tolkein dorkiness! o.O