Is it just me, or are we overdoing it a little with all of these tweener strong safety/linebackers. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Miles is doing well and getting so many highly regarded players. It just seems like there are now other needs that could be addressed. Please no more small linebackers or huge SS.:nope: If we don't end up with at least 3 or 4 offensive linemen in this class I will consider it a disappointment. However, I am pretty confident that we will get at least 4.:thumb:
Slow down, it's still early. Wait for these assessments until after the recruiting season. You'll have just cause for worry if we still only have 2 O-lineman come signing day... Concerning size, top college football programs have some of the best guys on staff to help players gain wait. Demarcus Ware, 1st round pick of the cowboys, came to Troy as a Wide Receiver...
What is wrong with signing the McCray's, Clemmon's, Gidden's, and Gbadyu's of the world? We need help at OLB and safety. We get these guys on campus, if the staff feels like they have the frame to be an OLB they will be putting on an additional 15-20 LB's, if not they'll be ready to step in and play safety. I think we'll still go after OLB's (Jonas Mouton, anyone?) and sell them on the fact that the other guys are being recruited as safety's.
Whoa! "...consider it a disappointment"??? No offense, but any time you have 13 commitments BY AUGUST 1st, and 8 of them are 4-stars and 1 is a 5-star, you CAN'T be serious about considering it a disappointment. That's a bit harsh, IMO. Gidden is listed as an ATH/Safety, so I don't think LB is in his cards. Gbadyu, who actually weighs 212 (from quotes made by his high school coach), not the 205 listed by rivals, is going to be an OLB here--if he's not actually one already... Basically, we only have TWO, "tweener" commitments in Clemons and McCray. And if you look around at the OLB recruits for this year, you'll see that the top end OLB's aren't 220+. They're in the 205-210 range--a range that you'll also find some top-notch safeties. The difference is that the guy at 205 that runs a 4.5-forty, runs DB-speed and therefore can do both. Trust me, I don't think it's a bad thing. You can't coach speed. You can hardly build on speed. You can add weight, but it's very difficult to get faster. In short, I certainly don't mind the "S/OLB" commitments. They do nothing but increase our over-all defensive speed. Small OLB that are fast thrive in a defense that has a lot of "beef" on the line. And 329 lbs of DT Al Woods is just what works and we certainly have some "monsters" on the line capable of drawing double teams freeing up our LB's to roam and make plays.
When Saban introduced a lot of the blitz packages to LSU, it required players to be flexible in their positions. I dont think it is a bad thing to have a flexible undersized LB that can do more than lay some wood. Looks like Pelini will continue that same style.
Well, when that's the type of athletes your team posses, it is best to go with their strengths. Saban couldn't have asked a 230 lbs OLB that runs a 4.7 to blitz from the outside and expect him to get to the QB more times than not....
I'd say the only tweener is McCray. Giddens is a safety, Bani is a LB, and Clemons probably is a safety. And people act like small LBs can't play. Plenty are successful at the college level. You want Lionel Turner or Jonathan Vilma? Yes we have other needs, but this is recruiting it isn't like you get to get people whenever you want and whoever you want. This isn't free agency. We are going to get O-linemen. It is only August and we have like 12 more commitments to come. We probably have the second best class in the nation right now. Relax and enjoy it.
