2009 starting LB's

[rebdawg 5]

Has anyone thought of just how deadly our linebaking corps could be next year with Bynes in the middle and Stevenson and a healthy Blackmon on the outside? Blackmon and Bynes on the field at the same time could be more potent than Thomas/Dansby.

Now, talk amongst yourselves.

[WDE4 0]

Has anyone thought of just how deadly our linebaking corps could be next year with Bynes in the middle and Stevenson and a healthy Blackmon on the outside? Blackmon and Bynes on the field at the same time could be more potent than Thomas/Dansby.

Now, talk amongst yourselves.

im assuming that stevenson is stevens. and what about having bynes, blackmon and eltoro on the field at the same time.

[rebdawg 5]

Has anyone thought of just how deadly our linebaking corps could be next year with Bynes in the middle and Stevenson and a healthy Blackmon on the outside? Blackmon and Bynes on the field at the same time could be more potent than Thomas/Dansby.

Now, talk amongst yourselves.

im assuming that stevenson is stevens. and what about having bynes, blackmon and eltoro on the field at the same time.

Yes, Stevens, thank you. Oh we have some talented depth at this position and a very good LB coach. This could be an amazing LB group over the next few years. Maybe like the group we had '93 - '95 with Mostella and co.

[tgr4lfe 220]

Evans, Johnson, and Harden are LBs that graduated from last years team. Lots of guys returning that didn't play. But with Bynes, Stevens, Blackmon, and Pybus returning as previous starters, then add in Freeman, who will most likely be contributing, they should be a very good and fast LB corp!

[Justin5 20]

After being fooled too many times, I won't count on Blackmon's help until I see him out there.

[AU Cav 0]

After being fooled too many times, I won't count on Blackmon's help until I see him out there.

Ditto. He's my guy, but I've gotta see him play before I start to count on him.

[PChamp119 96]

After being fooled too many times, I won't count on Blackmon's help until I see him out there.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

And as for Eltoro Freeman - how often have we been fooled by these big 5 star or 4 star recruits come in and not do crap, if even able to stay on the team? I'll believe it when I see him on the field making an impact.

[weglchamp 0]

What about De'shaun Barnes? Anyone know about him?

[PigskinPat 3,076]

I think Pybus is going to end up being a beast before it's all said and done!

[Tigermike 4,246]

What about De'shaun Barnes? Anyone know about him?

He's on the roster and he did play some this past season. I think spring training will be interesting with a new staff in place.

[WaDE'05 8]

After being fooled too many times, I won't count on Blackmon's help until I see him out there.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

And as for Eltoro Freeman - how often have we been fooled by these big 5 star or 4 star recruits come in and not do crap, if even able to stay on the team? I'll believe it when I see him on the field making an impact.

Yeah, I'm with you PC... I saw Eltoro Play a couple of times in HS and looked like a solid LB, but didn't exactly set the world on fire. In fact, once when they played Opelika, OHS's LB who wasn't even in the Rivals Database looked better, to me (I coached at AHS, so I'm not an Opelika fanboy, but their MLB looked good that game.) But, I also played HS ball against Saleem Rasheed and Karlos Dansby, and I was quite sure of the fact that Karlos couldn't even hold Saleem's jockstrap, and Mayo Sowell would be a better LB in college than Dansby. Shows what I know... Point is, you just don't know until they get on the field. I remember Mayo Sowell being all-world coming out of HS and no one had even heard of Dontarious Thomas. With all that said, I hope Eltoro proves me wrong just like Dansby!

[BoJtrueAUman 4]

Has anyone thought of just how deadly our linebaking corps could be next year with Bynes in the middle and Stevenson and a healthy Blackmon on the outside? Blackmon and Bynes on the field at the same time could be more potent than Thomas/Dansby.

Now, talk amongst yourselves.

im assuming that stevenson is stevens. and what about having bynes, blackmon and eltoro on the field at the same time.

Yes, Stevens, thank you. Oh we have some talented depth at this position and a very good LB coach. This could be an amazing LB group over the next few years. Maybe like the group we had '93 - '95 with Mostella and co.

Mostella damn I haven't thought about him in ages he was one of my most fav LBs he was one of the nicest players I have ever met, I remember the stadium getting loud with Mostella whenever he hit the field or somebody.

[mcgufcm 4,109]

Did someone start this thread by comparing Bynes and Blackmon to Dansby and Thomas? Really? I think I read the rest of the posts in this thread, but I might have blacked out for a minute. That's absurd. DT was the best middle linebacker at Auburn in the last decade, and Dansby was either the best or second best linebacker on the Plains since Pat Dye. Blackmon can't stay on the field and Bynes is basically a liability against the run.

Now I'm not saying those guys aren't good. They are. Tray could be great if he could: 1) stay out of trouble, 2) stay sound in the classroom, and 3) stay off the trainer's table. BUT like a lot of people have said already... I'll believe it when I see it. As for Bynes, he's young. He's got great range. He's a solid tackler. But it's a problem when you're MLB is better in coverage than he is at filling a gap.

The LBs next year are a huge question mark. We don't know how is going to be on the depth chart on the weakside. No clue. Tray has done it before, but he's much much much better inside AND he's the best middle backer on the roster. So moving him out is an option, but it's not really a great one. Bynes has never played outside. Pybus and Stevens will man the strongside, but neither of those guys had a great year this past year.

The even bigger question is how our DTs do at keeping blockers off the backers. You can be the best LB in the world, but if you're constantly having to shed 300 pound linemen... you won't make a lot of plays. Our tackles did a bad job of occupying blockers after Sen'Derrick went gimpy. If the other guys don't get better, it won't matter how talented the LBs are.

[JB33 1]

After being fooled too many times, I won't count on Blackmon's help until I see him out there.

Am I the only one not enamored with our LB play? Granted, Bynes took a giant leap forward this year. But what about the others?

Last I heard, it was a toss-up at best whether Blackmon would even be on the team next year. Have I missed something?

Also pretty ambivalent Stevens. He makes plays here and there, but I don't hear his name called a whole lot. Maybe (hopefully?) he's doing things I don't notice. In any case, '09 is his year to step up.

Pybus was a major factor on special teams, and he's obviously an athletic, motivated kid. That said, to me he didn't seem to make much of an impact at LB; hopefully, a full offseason will allow him to take the next step.

If Eltoro is all (or even half?) they say, he should be able to make an immediate impact . . .

[DonCorleone 0]

I think our linebackers are tremendously undersized... You can see it clearly in the Alabama game, we just looked way undersize... Tray Blackmon has ability to be a Takeo Spikes but the rest of the LB's i'm not that impressed with.

[cadillacattack 0]

two words:

Tony

Bell

[WDE4 0]

I think our linebackers are tremendously undersized... You can see it clearly in the Alabama game, we just looked way undersize... Tray Blackmon has ability to be a Takeo Spikes but the rest of the LB's i'm not that impressed with.

Tray couldn't carry Takeo's Jock. He just doesn't have the size to take the pounding that a middle linebacker takes. he , if he comes back, is better served to be outside. Also Bynes has the size to play inside he just needs to be coached up some more on where to be against the run. Wrong gap too much and letting the center get too far off the ball on certain plays and affecting where he needs to be. If he is that good in coverage maybe he should move outside as well and we can find someone that can play the middle.

also to caddyattack what does tony bell have to do with our linebackers....he was a safety that never really saw the field except special teams.

[TN TIGER 2]

If signed.....Middle Linebacker Petey Smith, with Blackman,Bynes and The Bull outside.

[mcgufcm 4,109]

We aren't undersized at all. We got pushed around because our line didn't occupy blockers, we didn't have depth in the linebacking corp, and our backers were out of position too often. But it had nothing to do with lack of size. Bynes in about 230-240, Stevens is 220, and Evans/Johnson were both 210 or more. There's no problem with size in that crowd.