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One comment about EMU's defense, hopefully this year is the year we see fundamentally sound tackling something that has been missing for oh about 20 years of EMU football. We've talked about the 3-4 and so if we are going 2 deep at that position that means 8 LBs. Don't to disagree with Wooden but the guys at this position last year were very young and you'll note several have bulked up this year.

Returnees:

Great Ibe 6'0 230 JR
Ike Spearman 6'0 225 JR
Anthony Zappone 6'2 250 SO
Hunter Matt 6'0 240 JR
Derric Williams 6'0 210 SO
Nathan Adams 6'1 215 SO

Position shift: Gabriel G-Rodriquez 6'0 240 SO

Newcomers:

Clay Dawson 6'4 225 JR (JUCO)
Tyler Onda 6'0 225 preferred walk on FR
D'Marcus Moon 6'1 225 FR
David Francis 6'3 215 FR
Kyle Rachwal 6'3 215 FR
Lavonte Robinson 5'8 240 R-FR

There has been talk about several DBs (Houston) etc. may be switching to LB.

Again this area has seen numbers in the 2015 class recruiting class.

The good news is that most, if not all of the returnees saw legit game action last season. The bad news is while there are some talented kids, this group was pretty disappointing last year. I expect much better from them this season. Guys like Spearman and Matt are more talented than they showed last year. Especially Spearman...I think he has All-MAC potential. The question is if he can live up to it.

Lack of speed and pursuit angles seemed to be a huge problem last year. May have been the product of poor coaching.



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(08-18-2014 01:27 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote: [ -> ]Lack of speed and pursuit angles seemed to be a huge problem last year. May have been the product of poor coaching.



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I hope so. The switch to 3-4 hopefully means they see enough talent in the linebackers to get the job done. Too many time last year the LB would not fill the gap, or miss the tackle, or be out of position. These are things that hopefully can be coached up.

(08-20-2014 11:08 AM)Huron Boy Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-18-2014 01:27 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote: [ -> ]Lack of speed and pursuit angles seemed to be a huge problem last year. May have been the product of poor coaching.



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I hope so. The switch to 3-4 hopefully means they see enough talent in the linebackers to get the job done. Too many time last year the LB would not fill the gap, or miss the tackle, or be out of position. These are things that hopefully can be coached up.

In another thread posting I shared I viewed this may be the only position that is a huge question mark heading into the season for us, LBers. Here is where our safeties can really save our defense. Mark it on this thread that our LBers is our main concern and we are not talent or deep there with big play makers. I really hope I am wrong.

If you want to win on defense you MUST be strong up the middle. Example: nose/tackles, Middle LBer, safeties. The key to winning football.

NKOTB
New Kid On The Block.