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Spring Preview: Linebackers

  • Cbrenn44 said...

    I feel the total opposite I think wooten has a great upside and will be a huge special teams contributor and think might really battle for a nickle spot and reps on 1st and 2nd down.

    Based on what?

    beck881psu

  • I wish there were 1-2 JUCO LBs we could go after and get them started in camp and have them learn the system. My question might be a stupid one here but pardon me for asking this. If we actually do get a JUCO LB this spring, they wouldn't be able to join the team for Spring practice and would have to wait til the end of the summer to start practicing with the team along with Issah and Bell?

    jmmstate

  • Usually there is no shortage of people who have an informed opinion about certain players.... the radio silence re Wooten is deafening. I can't wait for the BW Game to see if he gets some run and how he does. Wooten on defense, Lynch at RB, Lewis at WR, and the QBs--that's my watch list for the BW Game.

    GRS154

  • Wooten came in late and spent time on the scout team I guess, then had winter workouts.

    We'll see what happens this spring. Didn't they essentially pick him up off the streets, he was working at a lumber yard or something? Probably took him a bit to get back to a playing speed, let alone D1 playing speed + learn the defense, etc. He has time.

    If winning was easy even losers would do it.

    Lang06 ●

  • Agreed. Really curious to see what Wooten brings. Wooten has that beautiful hair that makes me dream he could be our own version of Brandon Spikes.

    Bottom Line is that we have talent but are these guys going to be facing more guards on them because of inexperience in the middle of the d line in front of them. I feel like we are weaker in the middle of the line this year and therefore these guys are going to have spray themselves with Teflon to get off those extra blockers.

    IronLion05

  • Lang06 said...

    Wooten came in late and spent time on the scout team I guess, then had winter workouts.

    We'll see what happens this spring. Didn't they essentially pick him up off the streets, he was working at a lumber yard or something? Probably took him a bit to get back to a playing speed, let alone D1 playing speed + learn the defense, etc. He has time.

    Agreed, I'm not trying to rush the process here or say that he's the next all-american LB, I was just expecting to have heard something on him either 1) decent practice player for depth purposes but won't be much more, or 2) a real diamond in the rough that the staff is excited about. I guess it could be in the middle and I guess we might not know yet. But I haven't heard ANYTHING from people in the know, including on this board and that's just note worthy in my opinion.

    GRS154

  • GRS154 said...

    Agreed, I'm not trying to rush the process here or say that he's the next all-american LB, I was just expecting to have heard something on him either 1) decent practice player for depth purposes but won't be much more, or 2) a real diamond in the rough that the staff is excited about. I guess it could be in the middle and I guess we might not know yet. But I haven't heard ANYTHING from people in the know, including on this board and that's just note worthy in my opinion.

    Yea, that would have been more comforting.

    We'll know by summer where he stands for sure. I remember a few years back (pre 247) I asked about a player named Malcolm Willis and at the time there were no reports out about him either, he turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

    I'm hoping Ben Kline makes an impact, like myself, he is a former Dallastown Wildcat!

    If winning was easy even losers would do it.

    Lang06 ●

  • Lang06 said...

    Yea, that would have been more comforting.

    We'll know by summer where he stands for sure. I remember a few years back (pre 247) I asked about a player named Malcolm Willis and at the time there were no reports out about him either, he turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

    I'm hoping Ben Kline makes an impact, like myself, he is a former Dallastown Wildcat!

    Yea the knock on Willis was always "speed" but as he's gotten more experience and playing time he's played faster than his "measurables" would suggest. I also have high hopes for Kline, but I'll temper those for Spring ball based on the off-season surgery/recovery.

    GRS154

  • There was an article piece back during the season somewhere stating that the staff has great expectations for Wooten and if you actually watch his film he has great closing speed off the edge so he could be utilized in zone blitzes on 3rd down and doesnt do a bad job shedding blocks and he doesn't exactly play against cup cakes in his film

    This post was edited by Cbrenn44 on 3/6/2013 at 1:17 PM

    Cbrenn44

  • Hasn't Hull been the strongest guy on the team (lb for lb) since he got on campus....

    Very exciting to have a beast like him coming in with good experience and two years of eligibility...

    I see him blowing up this year as Hodges replacement and filling Mauti's leadership shoes.

    Great to have Carson back. We are going to need a big year from him holding down the center of our front 7, arguably our weakest spot on D. (OT: I think Jones is going to make a better nt than hill and we have a pretty good competition to watch for 3 tech spot)

    I think Kline gets the strong side spot with hull taking weak.. unless wartman really impresses, which is IMO best case scenario, and can take the weak with hull at strong...

    smlion

  • smlion said...

    Hasn't Hull been the strongest guy on the team (lb for lb) since he got on campus....

    Very exciting to have a beast like him coming in with good experience and two years of eligibility...

    I see him blowing up this year as Hodges replacement and filling Mauti's leadership shoes.

    Great to have Carson back. We are going to need a big year from him holding down the center of our front 7, arguably our weakest spot on D. (OT: I think Jones is going to make a better nt than hill and we have a pretty good competition to watch for 3 tech spot)

    I think Kline gets the strong side spot with hull taking weak.. unless wartman really impresses, which is IMO best case scenario, and can take the weak with hull at strong...

    Jones struggled at 1-tech last year and had to be moved to 3-tech after the 2nd or 3rd game

    Nittny65 ●

  • Nittny65 said...

    Jones struggled at 1-tech last year and had to be moved to 3-tech after the 2nd or 3rd game

    Hrmmm.. missed that part

    +1 to you for making my post look dumb haha

    smlion

  • smlion said...

    Hrmmm.. missed that part

    +1 to you for making my post look dumb haha

    Yea - i really don't know what they will do - i assume keep Jones at 3-Tech and have Austin Johnson or Dowrey battle it out for 1-tech.... Baublitz will be Jones back-up, because I am not sure that Baublitz could play 1-tech.

    Nittny65 ●

  • I think we'll be fine at LB. I'm not so sure about Special Teams. The young guys would normally see playing time on ST but with no depth, can't really take the injury risk. Hope our fleet of TE's can tackle.

    Proudly delusional PSU fan for 40 years.

    blckbeardsdlite

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