The Lions' Pride

You can recruit them, but no more package/buddy deals as one usually thinks for the other apparently.

I am not at all comparing Kenwick Thompson to Vandy. However, Thompson is helping these guys get drafted (4 or 5 guys in six years). That says to me that he is probably a solid football coach.

Also Zach Follett would have been starting and producing if not for a career ending neck injury in 2010 (not bad for a 7th round guy). Mychal Kendrick (rookie) also looks like a stud in Philly (From what I have read).

You missed the point of my comment, Tedford might not be there next year...I would have been more concerned about that than who my position coach (who from all accounts seems like a good coach).

Lack of playing time or lack of starts? We all know the way the game is played these days that players rotate in and out to stay fresh. He's capable of playing inside and outside and was probably the 4th best linebacker on the team, so he most likely would have been on the field for over half the game. That's plenty of opportunity to prove yourself to the coaches, and if somebody in front of you gets injured or struggles you're looking at being on the field for 80% of the game.

He and his family say it's playing time. I think it's recognition they crave.

That reeks of Lavar.

Lavar didn't care to follow game plans or techniques. In his mind, the "best" was simply who was most athletic, not who was the most seasoned or well positioned on the field. So I have no doubt he was telling Fortt "dude, you are so good, so athletic, you are the best on the team..." Even if he was out of position often or late or not reading plays, etc...

I will lose a lot of respect for him if this is true.

Fortt's dad being in his ear didn't help either. Guy Fortt is a huge douchebag who thinks his kid is the next coming of Lawrence Taylor. Potentially he had the tools to be as good as Hodges but he never seemed to want it enough. That last detail has been confirmed by members of the team and several peeps on the beat

I hope Mychal Kendricks turns out to be good for the Eagles. Only Cal linebacker I can think of though.

In my mind, Fortt was right on the level of our starting crew, when healthy. In the PSU defensive scheme, you can only have 3 LBers on the field at a time, so someone is going to be considered "2nd" string. I think Fortt would have gotten plenty of playing time, but sounds like he wanted to have the word "starter" associated with him. I am sure that if the coaches have a 3-4 package that Fortt would have been the 4th LBer in.

Oh well.....I am excited to see what Hull, Kline, and Wartman bring to the table. I think all three have the potential to eventually become All Big Ten caliber players.

Im sad to see Fortt go as I believe he is due to breakout this year or next year IF he wants it enough. However, I trust Vandy on who the best LBers are on our team.

Well the thing about Lavar is that he could cover the checks that his brain wrote. He might have been out of position but had the ability athletically to make up for most mental errors. Umm Fortt not so much. Heard Fortt wasn't much of a "team player" which seems obvious to me. Gotta ask why he and Vandy didn't mesh? Wartman not seeming to have any issues, or the other 6+ PSU backers in the NFL

Fortt never looked comfortable out there. Great athlete, but his feel for the position was questionable. Could have gotten better, as Hodges had the same issue, bur it takes time and great coaching to correct that. Not getting it at Cal. Vandy actually improves players. My God, look what he did for Josh Hull.

I wish Khari the best at Cal. I imagine he willbe a star in their D at the LB position. He is a tremendous athlete with great potential. It is sad to see him go, but I understand wanting to play. Ranking him on our team is neither here nor there to me as I wasn't at every practice or meeting. Wish many players would have stayed but best of luck to them all. We still are...and always will be...!!!!

Didn't Sean say something about him wanting to sit to get back to 100%?

Also, FIFY to where it's correct. And I'm pretty sure BOB and Vandy could give two s what the Fortt family thinks. The best players play, and Fortt never played. Guess he wasn't the best.

At least he'll get a great education at Cal. Best of luck to him, but it's hard to see them having any kind of success in his time there, short of a Tedford coaching miracle.