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Thoughts on 2015 LBs
whatshouldicareabout
Member Posts: 13,018
When looking ahead to 2015, there's been a lot of discourse on the OL and DL, and rightfully so. Those two position groups are losing 4 starters each, including 2nd stringers who contributed in 2014. However, the LB group for 2015 will be the same as the secondary for 2014: 1 starter returning and virtually no depth at the position group. Even though we're only losing 2 players (Shaq and Timu), LB might be our weakest position group in terms of combined talent and experience.
Players who are returning in 2015 who have experience at LB are:
Feeney (SR) . . 60 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FR
Littleton (SR) . 37 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FR
Lawyer (SR) . . 20 tackles, 1.0 TFL
Bierria (SO) . . 35 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 sack
Victor, Constantine, and O'Brien mainly played on special teams last year, so I excluded them from the list since this is players with experience playing at LB.
Yup, that's it. 4 players with LB experience. Based on the above list, it looks like LB will be the thinnest position group of 2015. And unless all three of the aforementioned special teamers step up in the spring and secure starting or 2nd-string status, we'll be seeing Lewis or some of the true freshman on the field this fall, not unlike our secondary in 2014 which played 5 freshman (which is why we loaded up on LB in this recruiting class).
Because of the inexperience here, and at the DL, and all the underclassman in the secondary, Feeney and/or Littleton will need to be the leader of the defense next year. We only have 5 seniors on defense, and the only one that was a starter last year was Feeney (although Littleton started at RUSH under Sark before moving to OLB with Petersen). Even though Feeney and Littleton are both seniors with starting experience, they'll be two of the most important players to watch this spring because they need to step into a leadership role if we hope to have a decent defense next year. And if we hope to have a decent defense in 2016 and beyond, we need to see something more out of Bierria and the other SO LBs.
Players who are returning in 2015 who have experience at LB are:
Feeney (SR) . . 60 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FR
Littleton (SR) . 37 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FR
Lawyer (SR) . . 20 tackles, 1.0 TFL
Bierria (SO) . . 35 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 sack
Victor, Constantine, and O'Brien mainly played on special teams last year, so I excluded them from the list since this is players with experience playing at LB.
Yup, that's it. 4 players with LB experience. Based on the above list, it looks like LB will be the thinnest position group of 2015. And unless all three of the aforementioned special teamers step up in the spring and secure starting or 2nd-string status, we'll be seeing Lewis or some of the true freshman on the field this fall, not unlike our secondary in 2014 which played 5 freshman (which is why we loaded up on LB in this recruiting class).
Because of the inexperience here, and at the DL, and all the underclassman in the secondary, Feeney and/or Littleton will need to be the leader of the defense next year. We only have 5 seniors on defense, and the only one that was a starter last year was Feeney (although Littleton started at RUSH under Sark before moving to OLB with Petersen). Even though Feeney and Littleton are both seniors with starting experience, they'll be two of the most important players to watch this spring because they need to step into a leadership role if we hope to have a decent defense next year. And if we hope to have a decent defense in 2016 and beyond, we need to see something more out of Bierria and the other SO LBs.
Comments
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Thoughts on 2015 LBs
I thought this was going to be about the LPT -
Timu played like his only experience was special teams.
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Should be special
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DL & LBs are certainly a concern, but not even close to the biggest concern.
My bigger concern of the 2 is the DL. Qualls & Mathis played meaningful time last year and did pretty well. And there was some talent in the Frosh class and they are hopefully ready for the 2 deep. Turpin & Finau have to improve or they'll get passed up, as they have not shown anything to date. Going 2 deep with quality on the DL is muy importante.
At LB, losing Timu is addition by subtraction. Losing Shaq is certainly going to hurt. Littleton has shown he can play, and if a couple from the group of Bierria, Lawyer, Victor and O'Brien step up, it may not be that big of a dropoff.
Concern #1 - QB
Concern #2 - OL
Concern #3 - DL
Concern #4 - Most everything else -
Feeney+Victor+Bierria
UW will be young and thin at a lot of position groups in 2015. But LB isn't one of them. -
I thought Feces in his Throat said Victor didn't like Coach Pete? I figured Victor'd be selling his couch.
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Those stats are from the 2014 season and not career numbers, right?
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The thought of a LB crew of Feeney, Lawyer, and Littleton gives me a great big soft one
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I know Timu has never been popular here, what with his frustrating plays over the years (numerous mistackles and dropped INTs/pick sixes), but the guy was productive. I do not see it as addition by subtraction next year. He lead the team with 108 tackles last year, 12 passes defended (next highest PDs were Jones/Baker with 7 each), and 2 pick sixes in 2014. I don't see anyone getting close to those numbers next year, especially when his two back-ups (Lawyer and Victor) have a combined 46 tackles in 6 years at UW.
I don't think anyone could make the argument that Lawyer and/or Victor is going to be better than Timu.
Yeah, those are 2014's stats only. I should have labeled that table better, but those are the career numbers for Bierria (duh) and pretty much the same for Lawyer (38 tackles total in 4 years at UW).CFetters_Nacho_Lover said:Those stats are from the 2014 season and not career numbers, right?
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hang in there...AD Woodman said we're in a trough with respect to winning...should have UW competitive in the next 15 years... keep those donations coming!!PostGameOrangeSlices said:Should be special
