1987alum wrote:That being said, I'm stunned that Brandon would tell a freshman he has a shot at starting. Note the kid said starting, not just playing.Jacobs4Heisman wrote:Throw a few more pounds on the kid and suit him up. We certainly need help at linebacker, which definitely appears to be our weakest group on the team heading into next year (kickers not included).
Looking toward 2006, as things stand now, I'd have to pencil in White, Winovich and Briggs as the starters at LB. Now, Briggs played both LB and DE, so who knows that means. Then we have the possibility of Winovich moving to another position (likely DE).
Other names in play - Will Myles (converted from DB), Scott Goodwin (limited PT last year), John Haneline, Adrian Baker.
I would much rather see Briggs with his hand on the ground, getting after the quarterback. I think you could pinpoint QB pressure as the biggest area in which the D needs to improve next season. I only remember one game in which we got consistent pressure on the QB -- Miami. Even in that game, almost all the pressure came from the edges (like Briggs). We rarely saw a push up the middle from our DTs last year. We really need some of those young, bigger DT prospects to step up in the next couple of years, as well as developing the edge rushers like Briggs.
The biggest thing I want to see our linebackers, whoever that might be, do next year is tackle somebody. Just once, I want to see a BG linebacker fill a hole by himself and form tackle a runningback, planting said back about 2 feet deep in the Doyt grass. I think I would cry if I saw that happen.
