Linebacker: Quarterback of the defense

[FaithInIrish Forever 4,738]

Sneed makes a great play right? Beats Tyree to the corner? But before that watch them do their jobs. Bertrand our Mike , reacts first. He knows we have heavier personnel out there and  Tyree is likely to get the ball. Sneed knows the flow is coming his way. On the backside Ausberry knows I've got to stay home to avoid the ball reversing. Sneed reads his keys correctly and gets the ball out of bounds before it turns the corner.

Linebacker play  is even more challenging with 2 out there and 3 run gaps to fill. Not to mention pass coverage responsibilities. Hartman makes linebackers jobs even harder as wide receivers will spread the field and lbs will often carry the most inside receiver(called the #3) in pass coverage.

Over the next week I'll add some more screenshots of LB play as I found it very interesting in the scrimmage. These 3. Bertrand, Sneed and expecially Ausberry had strong days

[tneun89 979]

For as much as fans complained about LB play last season, I think it was actually quite good for the most part. My major gripe is the coaches playing Liafau more than anyone else. He should be used more as a pass rush specialist. Get Bertrand at Mike and Kiser at Will (with Sneed getting snaps there too since he seems more comfortable there than Rover). Also excited to see Ausberry and Ziegler continue to develop - they had great springs by all accounts, including their performance in the Blue Gold Game. I was sad to lose Kollie (although, I completely understand his desire to transfer), but we've got some solid depth and lots of young talent. 

[FaithInIrish Forever 4,738]

Sorry about the double image patch work screenshot. But this shows how ND'S linebackers are tested sideline to sideline. Ausberry is detached to cover Tyree as he's the one behind the line of scrimmage with a bunch. Tyler locks on with his eyes an Ausberry drives underneath it for the pass break-up.

[jessemoore97 1,295]

On 5/4/2023 at 2:01 PM, tneun89 said:

For as much as fans complained about LB play last season, I think it was actually quite good for the most part. My major gripe is the coaches playing Liafau more than anyone else. He should be used more as a pass rush specialist. Get Bertrand at Mike and Kiser at Will (with Sneed getting snaps there too since he seems more comfortable there than Rover). Also excited to see Ausberry and Ziegler continue to develop - they had great springs by all accounts, including their performance in the Blue Gold Game. I was sad to lose Kollie (although, I completely understand his desire to transfer), but we've got some solid depth and lots of young talent. 

Liafau was really bad last season.  He's not a pass rush specialist, he has no vision.  He took himself out of so many plays by flying straight into blockers or completely running right by the ball carrier.  I wasn't impressed by our LB performances all year.