Linebacking Losses Won’t Leave Huskers Lacking
2 comments so far
May 14, 2009 by
A year ago at this time, Nebraska had some major question marks surrounding the linebackers. With only one player with starting experience in the mix and not many more with playing experience, the Huskers had to find some linebackers for the 2008 campaign. This season, the Huskers may again lose up to four scholarship players at the position. Yet the position seems surprisingly deep.
The Losses
Cody Glenn played less than a full season at linebacker, but he showed enough for the Redskins to spend a fifth round draft pick on him. Phillip Dillard has started at middle linebacker last season, but has been in the coaches’ doghouse and so his future at Nebraska could be in doubt. Blake Lawrence emerged as a starter late last season, but there’s some concern that concussions could prematurely end his football career. LaTravis Washington was a two-deep linebacker before moving to quarterback. The fact that the coaches encouraged him may be an indication that things aren’t all that desperate at linebacker.
Walk-ons Welcome
If there’s any position where a walk-on can excel, it’s linebacker. The 2009 NFL draft was evidence of that. USC’s Clay Matthews was a first round pick and he wasn’t the only walk-on drafted at linebacker. The Huskers have sent linebackers to the NFL in the past like Stewart Bradley and Scott Shanle. Brian Shaw was a fixture on one of Nebraska’s best defenses ever.
And it’s a good thing, since the 2009 Huskers will likely need to rely on walk-ons. Colton Koehler will be competing to start at middle linebacker. Matthew May could start on the weakside and as a former safety, he’s got good speed. Matt Holt also cracked the three-deep a year ago on the weakside. Thomas Grove has become a mainstay on special teams and could crack the two-deep at linebacker.
The Youth Movement
With their redshirt years behind them, Sean Fisher, Will Compton, Alonzo Whaley, and Micah Kreikemeier will now compete for two-deep positions. If not for the redshirts, Compton and Fisher would have already had them. Fisher and Compton in particular were big-time recruits a year ago and coaches and players alike will be eager to see them in action.
Count them all up and there will be at least eight players competing for three positions. And it’s more like two and a half positions since the Huskers will frequently substitute extra defensive backs for linebackers to match-up with the spread offenses that are so prevalent in today’s game. When the story of the 2009 season is written it seems unlikely that we’ll look back at the linebackers as an Achilles’ heel. Rather, it should be one of the key features of an improving defense.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get Husker news by email
Follow us on Twitter
Related Stories: Linebackers
Post a comment
darren May 14 09
I suspect the Linebackers will be the most improved unit for the Huskers in 2009.
Consider them like last year's D-Line. There is real talent there, it just needs to emerge.
With coaching, I'm confident it will. And Coach Ekeler sounds pretty darn intent about it.
iggy May 14 09
I'm never one to shy away from raw talent, but LB is a position where a smart player and the term football speed comes into play. as much you would like a physical specimen in the middle of the field when you have a guy like Suh on the D line having smart LBs that can read and react with the ability to recognize and exploit the opportunities created by D-linemen who need to be accounted for by multiple O-linemen. I think NU has that going right now with a good mix of seasoned (Smart Guys) and talent rich young guns. What that tells me is that Bo and Carl are in a psotion to customize the Defensive back seven to the team more effectively than they were able to last year. To me that spells trouble for opposing offenses. A secondary that is more athletic and smarter, combined with a versatile and deep group of LBs and a Potential All American and two other D-linemen with siginifigant starting expirience in Allen and Turner and you have yourself the makings of a top twenty D.
I realize everyone is concerned about Turner, but I think this guy will play lights out simply becuase this is his last shot at the NFL and he has something to prove. Same with Allen. I alos think whoever they put next to Suh is going to be better for it becuase his job will be much easier with Suh getting all the attention.