2017 4* LB Tyler Taylor

[ellitor 33,101]

18 minutes ago, Mikey said:

This is exactly why I think AU not offering Johnston at LB was a big mistake. Yes, we have three other good LB prospects already committed. If Taylor chooses elsewhere, we'll then have signed four LB's over the last two years. That's not enough to maintain at the position, let alone build depth. Is Muschamp the only coach to pass through here that sees the need for numbers of quality linebackers?

Keep on signing four every two years and we'll be right back into the fix we were in before Muschamp signed five LB in the '14 class. "Those who don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it".

Assuming there are 3 LB positions that play since we never play more than 3 at a time on any play. How many do you want signed per LB position over a 4 year cycle? No snarkiness here. Just a genuine question.

[ellitor 33,101]

Also I don't know this to be true but many people including Keith say that tackle stats for high school kids are the biggest farce in recruiting. He said he has seen stat people give tackles to kids for being 3 yards away when a tackle was made.

That's not to discredit TJ in any way. It's just to point out high school tackle stats are not a predictor of college success at the P5 level. If CKS & T-Will don't feel TJ can get it done sideline to sideline in the SEC then I trust them given their track record on seeing & developing talent.

[Mikey 16,614]

3 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Assuming there are 3 LB positions that play since we never play more than 3 at a time on any play. How many do you want signed per LB position over a 4 year cycle? No snarkiness here. Just a genuine question.

Considering the alarming number of disappointments at the position, three a year would be barely adequate. We are very lucky in that of the five Muschamp signed in '14, four are still on the team, with Colbert being the only one gone. Even with that, we still had to have a grad transfer take a bunch of snaps last season. A 50% loss rate at the position has been more the norm over the years. We should have been ready, willing and able to take five LB's this year to make six over the last two years.

[Mikey 16,614]

Yep, back then everybody but me was saying we signed 3 LB's and two DB, not 5 LB's. Regardless of what they were "signed for" I was correct in that all five played LB at AU and the four still on the team are still at LB. Colbert and Atkinson played LB in high school and were listed as LB by the recruiting services. I've always said they were LB's and after they got here, LB is where they were put.

[ellitor 33,101]

12 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Considering the alarming number of disappointments at the position, three a year would be barely adequate. We are very lucky in that of the five Muschamp signed in '14, four are still on the team, with Colbert being the only one gone. Even with that, we still had to have a grad transfer take a bunch of snaps last season. A 50% loss rate at the position has been more the norm over the years. We should have been ready, willing and able to take five LB's this year to make six over the last two years.

Too bad that yearly 25 total limit thing and needs at other positions gets in the way.

[Mikey 16,614]

3 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Too bad that yearly 25 total limit thing and needs at other positions gets in the way.

 I think an opening could have easily been made for another quality LB, two more if Taylor disappoints us. OL depth, while unproven is about the best on the team. I'd rather have had Johnston than a JUCO Ol. No disrespect to the OL guy, glad he picked AU, but I think the slot was needed more at LB.

[ellitor 33,101]

3 minutes ago, Mikey said:

 I think an opening could have easily been made for another quality LB, two more if Taylor disappoints us. OL depth, while unproven is about the best on the team. I'd rather have had Johnston than a JUCO Ol. No disrespect to the OL guy, glad he picked AU, but I think the slot was needed more at LB.

FWIW I think attrition #s at LB will decrease & production increase at LB under CKS & T-Will. When we went through those tough times at LB for 8-9 years we had a yearly revolving door at LB coach or DCs who coached LBs. With CKS & T-Will I'm comfortable if we have 9-10 schollied LBs on roster at all times.

[ellitor 33,101]

8 minutes ago, Mikey said:

 I think an opening could have easily been made for another quality LB, two more if Taylor disappoints us. OL depth, while unproven is about the best on the team. I'd rather have had Johnston than a JUCO Ol. No disrespect to the OL guy, glad he picked AU, but I think the slot was needed more at LB.

Meant in general. Not this year specifically. I agree on the OL but like @bigbird I would use it at safety first given 3 likely starters graduate next year.

[ClaytonAU 4,606]

Tyler is closer to Travis Williams than any other coach 

[GwillMac6 20,685]

3 minutes ago, ClaytonAU said:

Tyler is closer to Travis Williams than any other coach 

hopefully that wins the day but since Stidham we have been in a rut recruiting when it comes to the blue chippers mixed in with some bad luck.

[AUpreacherman22 3,888]

My philosophy in recruiting numbers may be a little bit too simple, but I think it works. 

We have 22 starters on O and D. A good goal would be to try and sign an average of 1 per position each year.  The additional 3 can be for specialists, available blue chippers, and filling gaps. Obviously, adjustments will need to be made every year based on injuries, development, attrition, and available talent, but the one per year per position idea is a general principle. 

This principle would fulfill Mikey's need for 12 LBs per 4 years. And I would agree with Mikey that LB is a position that is more likely to suffer from injuries, development, and attrition, making the 12 in 4 years a minimum. 

[AUpreacherman22 3,888]

So location and TWill are our strongest selling points. I can live with that. 

I have to admit, I liked hearing that the talent and depth at AU made early playing time a selling point for LSU!  It's been a long time since we could say that. 

[bigbird 60,560]

6 hours ago, ellitor said:

Meant in general. Not this year specifically. I agree on the OL but like @bigbird I would use it at safety first given 3 likely starters graduate next year.

[ellitor 33,101]

2 hours ago, AUpreacherman22 said:

This principle would fulfill Mikey's need for 12 LBs per 4 years. And I would agree with Mikey that LB is a position that is more likely to suffer from injuries, development, and attrition, making the 12 in 4 years a minimum. 

Mikey wants more than 12 as 12 in 4 years is 3 per year which he said is barely adequate..

[Mikey 16,614]

38 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Mikey wants more than 12 as 12 in 4 years is 3 per year which he said is barely adequate..

I'd be glad to accept barely adequate! So far, we haven't kept up with that. As much as I hate to hold up the bamzos as a standard, they do seem to grasp the importance of keeping the LB cupboard filled. These LB type guys are very useful. Good special teams players, fill SS or TE slots in an emergency, on and on. 3 QUALITY LB's per year is fine, once there is a good supply already on the team. Three per year will not build an insuffucuent supply up very quickly.

[ellitor 33,101]

4 minutes ago, Mikey said:

I'd be glad to accept barely adequate! So far, we haven't kept up with that. As much as I hate to hold up the bamzos as a standard, they do seem to grasp the importance of keeping the LB cupboard filled. These LB type guys are very useful. Good special teams players, fill SS or TE slots in an emergency, on and on. 3 QUALITY LB's per year is fine, once there is a good supply already on the team. Three per year will not build an insuffucuent supply up very quickly.

Ahhh! Thanks for the clarification!

[ScottsboroAuburnFan 462]

A new CB for Taylor to LSU & one for Johnson to AU.

[triangletiger 1,599]

2 minutes ago, ScottsboroAuburnFan said:

A new CB for Taylor to LSU & one for Johnson to AU.

Who is Johnson?

[GwillMac6 20,685]

Just now, triangletiger said:

Who is Johnson?

Ryan........... the DE from Mobile (St Pauls)

[triangletiger 1,599]

2 minutes ago, GwillMac6 said:

Ryan........... the DE from Mobile (St Pauls)

Ah, yes, the smart kid with the offer to Stanford.  Thanks.

[ellitor 33,101]

13 minutes ago, ScottsboroAuburnFan said:

A new CB for Taylor to LSU & one for Johnson to AU.

The Johnson pick has no validity. It's from a Bama reporter. The Taylor pick may have some as it's from the SEC Country LSU guy who wrote the article GWill posted last night.

[augolf1716 21,202]

Two things.... I still feel good about Taylor and as long as TWill is here I am not worried about LB recruiting/development......jmo

[GwillMac6 20,685]

14 minutes ago, ellitor said:

The Johnson pick has no validity. It's from a Bama reporter. The Taylor pick may have some as it's from the SEC Country LSU guy who wrote the article GWill posted last night.

chris nee just put in a CB for Auburn for Ryan Johnson. Drew Champlin is a bama reporter? thought he was troy.

[ellitor 33,101]

Just now, GwillMac6 said:

chris nee just put in a CB for Auburn. Drew Champlin is a bama reporter? thought he was troy.

Go to al.com's recruiting sections & see who does most of the Bama recruiting articles.

[GwillMac6 20,685]

1 minute ago, ellitor said:

Go to al.com's recruiting sections & see who does most of the Bama recruiting articles.

ewwwwwww al.com HARD PASSSSSSSS on that one.