'17 AL LB Will Ignont (UT commit 10/26/2016)

#576
#576
chavisut said:
We've signed a ton of LBs. What gives?
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We have? Maybe you have to define "a ton." In 2015, we signed three - DKJr., Sapp, and Smith. DKJr. and Sapp got hurt. DKJr. was a starter, and Sapp was going to play this year. Smith got moved to DE.

In 2016, we signed two - Bituli and Blakely. Bituli, although a true freshman, will probably see time on Saturday. Blakely was always going to have to add weight this year. He was listed at 220 coming in, but I believe the word was that he was lighter.

The older guys, the 2014 LB signees (4) are the head scratchers. Bates, Berry (finally coming along), Bryant, and J. Johnson. Bates hasn't lived up to the hype, no one knows the real reason behind Bryant, and Berry is just now showing development albeit due to injuries to others.

Between injuries to the 2015 LBs and the lack of production from the 2014 class, we are seeing the effects. With that said, I don't think we've signed "a ton."
 
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#577
#577
So the LBs supposedly not knowing where to line up in their 3rd years(Berry and Bryant) isn't a problem..... those guys should be able to line a defense up easily by now.
 
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#578
#578
LynxVol said:
We have? Maybe you have to define "a ton." In 2015, we signed three - DKJr., Sapp, and Smith. DKJr. and Sapp got hurt. DKJr. was a starter, and Sapp was going to play this year. Smith got moved to DE.

In 2016, we signed two - Bituli and Blakely. Bituli, although a true freshman, will probably see time on Saturday. Blakely was always going to have to add weight this year. He was listed at 220 coming in, but I believe the word was that he was lighter.

The older guys, the 2014 LB signees (4) are the head scratchers. Bates, Berry (finally coming along), Bryant, and J. Johnson. Bates hasn't lived up to the hype, no one knows the real reason behind Bryant, and Berry is just now showing development albeit due to injuries to others.

Between injuries to the 2015 LBs and the lack of production from the 2014 class, we are seeing the effects. With that said, I don't think we've signed "a ton."
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Saw the comment above on playing nickel. Don't you think that is more a result of trying to get our better players on the field? I want Gaulden on the field versus the alternative. JMO.
 
#582
#582
The Breakerboy said:
They all look to not know what's going on.

Who besides Kirkland looks good in our last class? They moved Smith I know. But who else?
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Last year's class we have both Bituli & Blakely that were supposed to be our best LB's coming in as freshmen. Or, are you talking about the class that came in with Kirkland?
 
#584
#584
LynxVol said:
We have? Maybe you have to define "a ton." In 2015, we signed three - DKJr., Sapp, and Smith. DKJr. and Sapp got hurt. DKJr. was a starter, and Sapp was going to play this year. Smith got moved to DE.

In 2016, we signed two - Bituli and Blakely. Bituli, although a true freshman, will probably see time on Saturday. Blakely was always going to have to add weight this year. He was listed at 220 coming in, but I believe the word was that he was lighter.

The older guys, the 2014 LB signees (4) are the head scratchers. Bates, Berry (finally coming along), Bryant, and J. Johnson. Bates hasn't lived up to the hype, no one knows the real reason behind Bryant, and Berry is just now showing development albeit due to injuries to others.

Between injuries to the 2015 LBs and the lack of production from the 2014 class, we are seeing the effects. With that said, I don't think we've signed "a ton."
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If 9 in 3 years for a nickel defense isn't a ton, it is still plenty to have developed depth.
 
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#585
#585
chavisut said:
If 9 in 3 years for a nickel defense isn't a ton, it is close.
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And we have only 2 good LBs. Jumper is playing well but he's who he is.

Also if Thigpen hasn't lost a step recruiting wise then why isn't he bringing in top LBs every year? The biggest difference to me between us and Alabama is the LB recruiting. They are loaded with big fast LBs that will hit you in the mouth. Their guys run like our smaller guys. And they have quite a few of them at that. All other positions are close but LB they are dominating there. And it's happening again this year.
 
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#586
#586
sonofUT62 said:
That's garbage. And I say that will all due respect because you're a solid poster. IMG might be hard to handicap because they don't play a local schedule or playoffs. But Grayson does, and we know exactly how good they are. What IMG did to them speaks volumes.
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Their players receive the best coaching this side of a college campus.
If they had to play a schedule like Miami central, booker t or any top Miami Hs, that record and those individual rankings wouldn't be so high.

Have to be careful of kids who have been tremendously coached up at a young age. They always look better than their counterpart scholastic player who is as talented as them. later on the playing field evens out

When it all shakes out in a couple years, that team is not as good and their players aren't what people are hyping them up to be
Think along the lines of say a Dillon Bates ...

Sorry for derailing the thread because I do Like Ignont a ton.
 
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#588
#588
Either way on the LB depth argument, hopefully this kid stays committed to us, I think he will be a nice addition... If Bates, Berry, Bryant, and Bynum can't seem to really see the field on a regular basis, he has just as good a shot as any to see playing time early... I am still holding out on JRM shocking everyone by getting a medical RS and coming back next season... If so, JRM with Kirkland, and backups with more experience are Sapp, Cortez, Bituli, Blakely, and now maybe Ignont, that would be some great depth...
 
#590
#590
The Breakerboy said:
And we have only 2 good LBs. Jumper is playing well but he's who he is.

Also if Thigpen hasn't lost a step recruiting wise then why isn't he bringing in top LBs every year? The biggest difference to me between us and Alabama is the LB recruiting. They are loaded with big fast LBs that will hit you in the mouth. Their guys run like our smaller guys. And they have quite a few of them at that. All other positions are close but LB they are dominating there. And it's happening again this year.
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He has been in on all of our other top guys tho. LB recruiting has been bad for sure.
 
#593
#593
LynxVol said:
Don't you think playing nickel as much as we do is a result of injuries at LB? The 2014 class just wasn't any good.
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We've lined up in in primarily all year. JMO but Smith isn't moved to DE if we want to run mostly 4-3. Again, JMO there.
 
#594
#594
chavisut said:
We've lined up in in primarily all year. JMO but Smith isn't moved to DE if we want to run mostly 4-3. Again, JMO there.
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Anyone else feel that playing nearly exclusive 4-2-5 is behind us really struggling with the run game?

Not sure I believe that but it has entered my mind as a possibility.
 
#598
#598
VolMike16 said:
Sure but unlike 45 he disrupts plays behind the LOS at a much higher rate. DK hits folks and 45 grabbed them. DK has the best closing speed of a LB at UT in a long time imo.
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I agree with the closing speed. However it takes him a long time to get off blocks. He rarely attacks the line of scrimmage unless he is blitzing. Aj controlled his gap and got off blocks well his last year. Dk can still get a lot better but I'm not as impressed with him as others. No doubt he has the ability though.
 
#599
#599
VolSummitt44 said:
I agree with the closing speed. However it takes him a long time to get off blocks. He rarely attacks the line of scrimmage unless he is blitzing. Aj controlled his gap and got off blocks well his last year. Dk can still get a lot better but I'm not as impressed with him as others. No doubt he has the ability though.
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I'll have to disagree on AJ getting off blocks that's one reason he made those tackles so far from the line he was talking about. He's attacked ball carriers and Qb's more in one year than AJ did altogether. Never was a fan. AJ had what one sack or something like that? Love DK.
 
#600
#600
BruinVol said:
Anyone else feel that playing nearly exclusive 4-2-5 is behind us really struggling with the run game?

Not sure I believe that but it has entered my mind as a possibility.
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DL outside of Barnett, and missing JRM and DK
 
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