Plenty of Healthy Bodies at LB
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:32 pm
At spring practice a year ago, the University of Florida football team could not field a two-deep at linebacker. Only four scholarship linebackers were available, quite a contrast to spring 2008 when the Gators will have double that amount when practice begins Wednesday afternoon. Plenty of healthy bodies means an opportunity for competition at all three linebacker positions, a necessity as the Gators try to rebuild the defense to the standards set in years one and two of the Urban Meyer era.
The Gators return all three starters and several young players that got their feet wet in 2007. There is also a true freshman on hand, so this makes for a wide open spring.
There looks to be one casualty due to injury as sophomore Jerimy Finch does not look to be totally healed from an injury that kept him out of the last 10 games of the 2007 season. Still, the talent on hand should lend itself to some great positional battles.
Here is what we want to see this spring ...
DUSTIN DOE (JR); Career: Played in 27 games starting all 13 games of his sophomore season. In 2007 Doe had 85 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two passes broken up.
Doe returns as the starter at the weak side linebacker position. He had a very good season for a player that was thrown into starting duty after very little playing time the year before. Doe did battle consistency problems last season and that is the area we look for him to improve this spring. Doe has an uncanny ability to make the backside tackle and is very energetic in his play. Hopefully he has increased his strength and will continue his growth as a quality linebacker at Florida.
BRANDON SPIKES (JR); Career: Has played in 22 games with nine starts as a sophomore. In 2007 Spikes led the team in tackles with 131, had 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and seven passes broken up.
Spikes has already been named to the pre-season Lombardi watch list for the nation’s best linebacker. Spikes started at middle linebacker last season and was the team leader in tackles as well as a true force in the middle. Spikes has to take complete leadership of this defense this year and also not fall into a funk like he did in a couple of games last season. He can start that leadership and goal of consistency this spring.
RYAN STAMPER (R-JR); Career: Has played in 15 games with one start. In 2007 Stamper had 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Stamper surprised fans a few times with some stellar play at linebacker. He didn’t get much of a chance to shine but really seemed to do so when given that opportunity. He was a backup that played multiple positions when starters came out of the lineup and I am not sure that is not the best role for him. There are so many young linebackers that seem to be ready for playing time and that may keep him at one position, which is a good problem to have for the coaching staff. Stamper needs to challenge one of the two outside linebacker starters for their spot in the rotation.
LORENZO EDWARDS (SO); Career: As a true freshman in 2007 he did not see the field much playing in six games and finishing with three tackles on the season.
Expectations were high for Edwards after a stellar high school career and a high school all-star performance where the coaches there thought he was the best defender on the team. He came to Florida overweight and probably not in the right mindset to make waves on a defense that needed playmakers at linebacker. Edwards has been rumored to be on the fast track now and ready to make his move this spring. He needs to be somewhere between 235 and 240, which is some 20 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. Edwards needs to push for either of the outside spots.
BRANDON HICKS (SO); Career: As a true freshman in 2007 he had his moments. Playing in all 13 games during the season, he had 13 tackles, a half sack, and a pass broken up.
Hicks came in last year and was an instant success on special teams, which earned him the trust of the coaching staff. He was usually the first freshman linebacker on the field last season. He led all true freshmen in tackles and made a name for himself with a few nice plays on defense. This spring, he needs to push A.J. Jones at the strong side linebacker spot and he should do so.
A.J. JONES (R-SO); Career: Red-shirted due to injury in 2006, Jones started all 13 games as a freshman in 2007. He had 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass broken up in 2007.
Jones returns as the incumbent starter at the strong side linebacker spot. Priority one for Jones this spring is to gain some weight, making him a force in the middle of the defense when he is called upon to stick his nose in there. Make no mistake about it, Jones is one of the hardest and most instinctive hitters on the defense but he just needs bulk and muscle. We have just recently learned that he played all of last year with an injured hand and so if he’s healthy, he should be able to make more plays.
JOHN JONES (SO); Career: As a true freshman in 2007 Jones had ten tackles including one tackle for loss on the season.
Throw him in there with Hicks and Edwards. Jones is another one that needs to buckle up his chin strap and come to work this spring. Like the other two, he has a chance to push the starters at either outside spot. A little weight gain from last season wouldn’t hurt, but Jones is a real athlete that flies around to the ball.
BRENDAN BEAL (FR); A true freshman that entered Florida early and is participating in his first semester as a Gator.
The word is that Beal showed up this spring with a chip on his shoulder and he is going to do anything it takes to see the field. He could play middle linebacker or strong side, but Beal has the attitude the staff is looking for. He is already in the 240 range, so size is not an issue. He will have to learn the system fast, but he is intelligent. I expect him to be mixing it up with the best of them all spring.
Here is what needs to happen this spring for a successful fall ...
War, absolute war among the guys battling for playing time. In my opinion, Spikes is the only lock to start in the group. You have to put odds on the other returning starters to keep their spots, but the battles between now and mid April ought to be fun to watch.
Beal has made it known to the older guys he intends to start, so we will have to see how they take to that announcement. Edwards comes in with a new lease on life and a new dedication he didn’t have at the start of last year. Hicks is the prototype size that NFL teams look for and will use his tools to try and unseat someone.
It all makes for a lot of fun and probably a position where the depth chart will change from week to week all spring long. There will be tempers flaring and some will get upset, but that is the way it goes when you have this kind of competition among players. Just like the coaches like it.
The Gators return all three starters and several young players that got their feet wet in 2007. There is also a true freshman on hand, so this makes for a wide open spring.
There looks to be one casualty due to injury as sophomore Jerimy Finch does not look to be totally healed from an injury that kept him out of the last 10 games of the 2007 season. Still, the talent on hand should lend itself to some great positional battles.
Here is what we want to see this spring ...
DUSTIN DOE (JR); Career: Played in 27 games starting all 13 games of his sophomore season. In 2007 Doe had 85 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two passes broken up.
Doe returns as the starter at the weak side linebacker position. He had a very good season for a player that was thrown into starting duty after very little playing time the year before. Doe did battle consistency problems last season and that is the area we look for him to improve this spring. Doe has an uncanny ability to make the backside tackle and is very energetic in his play. Hopefully he has increased his strength and will continue his growth as a quality linebacker at Florida.
BRANDON SPIKES (JR); Career: Has played in 22 games with nine starts as a sophomore. In 2007 Spikes led the team in tackles with 131, had 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and seven passes broken up.
Spikes has already been named to the pre-season Lombardi watch list for the nation’s best linebacker. Spikes started at middle linebacker last season and was the team leader in tackles as well as a true force in the middle. Spikes has to take complete leadership of this defense this year and also not fall into a funk like he did in a couple of games last season. He can start that leadership and goal of consistency this spring.
RYAN STAMPER (R-JR); Career: Has played in 15 games with one start. In 2007 Stamper had 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Stamper surprised fans a few times with some stellar play at linebacker. He didn’t get much of a chance to shine but really seemed to do so when given that opportunity. He was a backup that played multiple positions when starters came out of the lineup and I am not sure that is not the best role for him. There are so many young linebackers that seem to be ready for playing time and that may keep him at one position, which is a good problem to have for the coaching staff. Stamper needs to challenge one of the two outside linebacker starters for their spot in the rotation.
LORENZO EDWARDS (SO); Career: As a true freshman in 2007 he did not see the field much playing in six games and finishing with three tackles on the season.
Expectations were high for Edwards after a stellar high school career and a high school all-star performance where the coaches there thought he was the best defender on the team. He came to Florida overweight and probably not in the right mindset to make waves on a defense that needed playmakers at linebacker. Edwards has been rumored to be on the fast track now and ready to make his move this spring. He needs to be somewhere between 235 and 240, which is some 20 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. Edwards needs to push for either of the outside spots.
BRANDON HICKS (SO); Career: As a true freshman in 2007 he had his moments. Playing in all 13 games during the season, he had 13 tackles, a half sack, and a pass broken up.
Hicks came in last year and was an instant success on special teams, which earned him the trust of the coaching staff. He was usually the first freshman linebacker on the field last season. He led all true freshmen in tackles and made a name for himself with a few nice plays on defense. This spring, he needs to push A.J. Jones at the strong side linebacker spot and he should do so.
A.J. JONES (R-SO); Career: Red-shirted due to injury in 2006, Jones started all 13 games as a freshman in 2007. He had 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass broken up in 2007.
Jones returns as the incumbent starter at the strong side linebacker spot. Priority one for Jones this spring is to gain some weight, making him a force in the middle of the defense when he is called upon to stick his nose in there. Make no mistake about it, Jones is one of the hardest and most instinctive hitters on the defense but he just needs bulk and muscle. We have just recently learned that he played all of last year with an injured hand and so if he’s healthy, he should be able to make more plays.
JOHN JONES (SO); Career: As a true freshman in 2007 Jones had ten tackles including one tackle for loss on the season.
Throw him in there with Hicks and Edwards. Jones is another one that needs to buckle up his chin strap and come to work this spring. Like the other two, he has a chance to push the starters at either outside spot. A little weight gain from last season wouldn’t hurt, but Jones is a real athlete that flies around to the ball.
BRENDAN BEAL (FR); A true freshman that entered Florida early and is participating in his first semester as a Gator.
The word is that Beal showed up this spring with a chip on his shoulder and he is going to do anything it takes to see the field. He could play middle linebacker or strong side, but Beal has the attitude the staff is looking for. He is already in the 240 range, so size is not an issue. He will have to learn the system fast, but he is intelligent. I expect him to be mixing it up with the best of them all spring.
Here is what needs to happen this spring for a successful fall ...
War, absolute war among the guys battling for playing time. In my opinion, Spikes is the only lock to start in the group. You have to put odds on the other returning starters to keep their spots, but the battles between now and mid April ought to be fun to watch.
Beal has made it known to the older guys he intends to start, so we will have to see how they take to that announcement. Edwards comes in with a new lease on life and a new dedication he didn’t have at the start of last year. Hicks is the prototype size that NFL teams look for and will use his tools to try and unseat someone.
It all makes for a lot of fun and probably a position where the depth chart will change from week to week all spring long. There will be tempers flaring and some will get upset, but that is the way it goes when you have this kind of competition among players. Just like the coaches like it.