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2018 Linebackers (predictions)

D

dbrocket

HB MVP
Jan 5, 2010
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As all of you know, we're replacing all 3 of our starting LBs and, I believe, one of our top backups in Kevin Ward. A bunch of these guys have closed out blowouts, stepped in for injured players, and/or played in sub-packages, so they're not completely green, but it could get rough. So, I'm curious what everyone thinks.

Front runners for a starting spot have to be Amani Jones, Aaron Mends, Kristian Welch, Jack Hockaday (if healthy) and, to a lesser extent, Nick Niemann. The first four are all inside linebackers who've played MLB and/or WLB, which should make things interesting - though I believe Welch was looked at for OLB at the start of his career. We haven't heard much from Nick Niemann, but he looked so much like his brother coming out, and the list is skewed so heavy to inside guys that I've included him. Other guys include Kyle Taylor, Barrington Wade and Ben Campos. I don't know much about Campos, but the other two looked like inside guys coming out. So, who starts and in what spots, guys?

The full LB roster:

45 Ben Campos LB 6-1 213 Fr. West Des Moines, Iowa Valley

43 Keegan Glaus LB 6-0 215 Fr. LeClaire, Iowa Bettendorf

48 Jack Hockaday LB 6-1 232 Jr. Forsyth, Ill. Maroa-Forsyth

52 Amani Jones LB 6-0 235 So. Chicago, Ill. Phillips

42 Joe Ludwig LB 6-2 215 Fr. Middleton, Wis. Middleton

31 Aaron Mends LB 6-0 227 Jr. Kansas City, Mo. Winnetonka

49 Nick Niemann LB 6-4 225 #Fr. Sycamore, Ill. Sycamore

50 Jacob Sobotka LB 6-3 235 Jr. Clearfield, Iowa Mount Ayr

55 Kyle Taylor LB 6-0 225 #Fr. Silver Spring, Md. Gonzaga College HS

35 Barrington Wade LB 6-1 223 #Fr. Skokie, Ill. Niles North

34 Kristian Welch LB 6-3 232 So. Iola, Wis. Iola-Scandinavia

29 Nate Wieland LB 6-1 220 Fr. Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City

Oh, lest this be seen as a cop-out, I think we see a starting group of Mends (WLB), Welch (MLB) and Niemann (OLB), backed up by Amani Jones and Jack Hockaday. I'm least confident that Mends can beat out Jones. It's possible Jones wins out and Mends competes with Niemann at OLB, but I don't think Mends is suited to OLB (I see he and Jones as similar, downhill strikers, best suited to WLB).
 
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That thread was days ago and is buried. And, guess what? It's the top off-season topic and there isn't shit to talk about - as evidenced by the 25 threads on Nebraska and ISU I don't see you crying about. If you're looking for every thread to be a brand new, never-before-seen snowflake, you deserve to be disappointed.
 
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Sensitive much? By "buried" you mean I had to go back a tab? It's all good man I get that there isn't much to talk about but 9/10 people have already said thier predictions multiple times.
 
I worry that linebacker will be in the same position that the wide receiver position was in a few years ago when we missed on so many recruits and just didn't have anyone. Only difference is we haven't really missed on linebackers, we've just neglected to really recruit at that position the last few years.
 
Like all I want the best players to play. I think if 1 or 2 younger (read soph or younger) get the start we will see some junior attrition. Hockaday isnt going anywhere because its too late but if Colbert(sp) gets that outside spot with Neimann as the other a couple guys will leave. Imo.
 
Oh, man. I forgot Colbert moved to LB. He'd be competition with Niemann at OLB, for sure. We have a lot of bodies. We just need to find guys who can play. I honestly think this could be an athletic upgrade, though, depending on who plays. It obviously won't be in terms of production.
 
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I think we will be down at Linebacker. We have to be because one of the best all time is graduating. That does NOT mean that we are going to suck at LB. I trust Phil Parker and Levar Woods to come up with a salty LB corps.
 
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Suterman said:
I think we will be down at Linebacker. We have to be because one of the best all time is graduating. That does NOT mean that we are going to suck at LB. I trust Phil Parker and Levar Woods to come up with a salty LB corps.
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Agreed. If we are somehow better at LB...well shite man...look out.
 
I have a feeling Weiland is going to be a very good hawkeye. He played QB in high school and we know how well those guys do as LB’s at Iowa :D
 
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dbrocket said:
That thread was days ago and is buried. And, guess what? It's the top off-season topic and there isn't shit to talk about - as evidenced by the 25 threads on Nebraska and ISU I don't see you crying about. If you're looking for every thread to be a brand new, never-before-seen snowflake, you deserve to be disappointed.
Click to expand...
He's a wannabe who no doubt looks just like his avatar. He's only happy when he gets to cry about the coaching and recruiting as he doesn't actually know much about 'real' football, only the fantasy stuff. I've learned how to handle him as I spend a lot of time dealing with mouth middle schoolers. He's not any different.
 
You are a miserable little man muskie. Are you smart enough to follow the rest of his and my convo? Unlike you this chap wasn't butthurt about somebody pointing something out and a positive conversation takes place.
 
Muskie5 said:
He's a wannabe who no doubt looks just like his avatar. He's only happy when he gets to cry about the coaching and recruiting as he doesn't actually know much about 'real' football, only the fantasy stuff. I've learned how to handle him as I spend a lot of time dealing with mouth middle schoolers. He's not any different.
Click to expand...

This is the 2nd time you have mentioned my avatar and not realized the irony of it literally making fun of people like you. I have already told you my name and considering your creeper pro status I'm sure you have no doubt researched me.
 
dbrocket said:
As all of you know, we're replacing all 3 of our starting LBs and, I believe, one of our top backups in Kevin Ward. A bunch of these guys have closed out blowouts, stepped in for injured players, and/or played in sub-packages, so they're not completely green, but it could get rough. So, I'm curious what everyone thinks.

Front runners for a starting spot have to be Amani Jones, Aaron Mends, Kristian Welch, Jack Hockaday (if healthy) and, to a lesser extent, Nick Niemann. The first four are all inside linebackers who've played MLB and/or WLB, which should make things interesting - though I believe Welch was looked at for OLB at the start of his career. We haven't heard much from Nick Niemann, but he looked so much like his brother coming out, and the list is skewed so heavy to inside guys that I've included him. Other guys include Kyle Taylor, Barrington Wade and Ben Campos. I don't know much about Campos, but the other two looked like inside guys coming out. So, who starts and in what spots, guys?

The full LB roster:

45 Ben Campos LB 6-1 213 Fr. West Des Moines, Iowa Valley

43 Keegan Glaus LB 6-0 215 Fr. LeClaire, Iowa Bettendorf

48 Jack Hockaday LB 6-1 232 Jr. Forsyth, Ill. Maroa-Forsyth

52 Amani Jones LB 6-0 235 So. Chicago, Ill. Phillips

42 Joe Ludwig LB 6-2 215 Fr. Middleton, Wis. Middleton

31 Aaron Mends LB 6-0 227 Jr. Kansas City, Mo. Winnetonka

49 Nick Niemann LB 6-4 225 #Fr. Sycamore, Ill. Sycamore

50 Jacob Sobotka LB 6-3 235 Jr. Clearfield, Iowa Mount Ayr

55 Kyle Taylor LB 6-0 225 #Fr. Silver Spring, Md. Gonzaga College HS

35 Barrington Wade LB 6-1 223 #Fr. Skokie, Ill. Niles North

34 Kristian Welch LB 6-3 232 So. Iola, Wis. Iola-Scandinavia

29 Nate Wieland LB 6-1 220 Fr. Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City

Oh, lest this be seen as a cop-out, I think we see a starting group of Mends (WLB), Welch (MLB) and Niemann (OLB), backed up by Amani Jones and Jack Hockaday. I'm least confident that Mends can beat out Jones. It's possible Jones wins out and Mends competes with Niemann at OLB, but I don't think Mends is suited to OLB (I see he and Jones as similar, downhill strikers, best suited to WLB).
Click to expand...
As I've said before, I think Campos and/or Glaus will be moved to FB as there isn't much depth there. I'd bet Glaus for sure as he spent a lot of time at RB at Bettendorf.
From what we've/I've seen so far, I think the starters will be Mends (WILL), Welch (MIKE), and Hockaday (LEO). I think Hockaday was dinged up most of the year (I don't think he was even on special teams, like he was the year before), so hopefully he gets healthy because he has the most experience of all of them. Amani Jones is an animal on special teams but he must be struggling with his reads or in coverage. The rest are all just big question marks but they are good athletes and there are probably a couple 'good stories' in there that I'm waiting to emerge. They pretty young and raw still, so we'll have to see who's 'light bulb' goes on first. Will it be the great athlete Barrington? Or the highest regarded LB recruit among the bunch,Taylor? Will Niemann be able to quickly replicate his brother's cunning and consistency? Or will a Colbert or Wieland jump everyone for the LEO spot? Tune in tomorrow.......
 
Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll said:
This is the 2nd time you have mentioned my avatar and not realized the irony of it literally making fun of people like you. I have already told you my name and considering your creeper pro status I'm sure you have no doubt researched me.
Click to expand...
I couldn't care less who you are. You're just another self absorbed loser as far as I'm concerned. I'm a retired coach (so I have no idea what your avatar would have to do with me) and you are just another mouthy wannabe. See what I mean, you think you are SO important that someone would catch or care what your name is and would take the time to 'research' you, LOL. No one cares loser. You're not important. We just humor you because it's fun to antagonize people like you and listen to you cry and whine. Most of us don't even read you're whole posts, as most of them are just the same drivel over and over. Hang in there, I think there is hope for you.
 
The irony.

Wait. You are a retired coach who hangs around middle schoolers all day? Are you a PE teacher or just a weirdo? Or you lied again, I forgot with you I have to include that variable.

Edit: you totally have that washed up, angry/divorced, has been/really never was, PE teacher vibe. That would make total sense.
 
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Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll said:
You are a miserable little man muskie. Are you smart enough to follow the rest of his and my convo? Unlike you this chap wasn't butthurt about somebody pointing something out and a positive conversation takes place.
Click to expand...
You've already used that line sonny. Besides being a loser, you're horribly uncreative. Get some new material, would ya. You're constant whining, shallow backhanded jabs at people, and your childish, feeble attempts at insults are quite boring. When I hear people use language like 'little man' and 'butthurt' etc., I know exactly the type of person I'm dealing with. You're a dime a dozen, a nobody, and you always will be. Like I said, get some new material and try to learn something or just shut up because it's obvious that everyone is tired of listening to you. Hell, I'm the only one that will talk to you most of the time and that's just because I feel sorry for you.
 
"Anything you post= Recipe for disaster."

"If you act like an idiot, I'll be glad to let you know. That's my 'style'."

"And more middle school insults, How typical. You really made me feel bad with that zinger, lol. Can't wait for your next post. It's been a while since you've cried and carried on about the coaching."

"You're a COMPLETE idiot. That's a compliment as I think most on here are incomplete idiots."


Some of my favorite muskie qoutes.

Then there is this whole thread of him getting owned.
https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/threads/rewatched-purdue-first-half.212404/page-2#post-4879052

Again dude, you actually post decent stuff every now and then if you could just shut the insecure internet tough guy bs stuff off every now and then people might like you.
 
dbrocket said:
As all of you know, we're replacing all 3 of our starting LBs and, I believe, one of our top backups in Kevin Ward. A bunch of these guys have closed out blowouts, stepped in for injured players, and/or played in sub-packages, so they're not completely green, but it could get rough. So, I'm curious what everyone thinks.

Front runners for a starting spot have to be Amani Jones, Aaron Mends, Kristian Welch, Jack Hockaday (if healthy) and, to a lesser extent, Nick Niemann. The first four are all inside linebackers who've played MLB and/or WLB, which should make things interesting - though I believe Welch was looked at for OLB at the start of his career. We haven't heard much from Nick Niemann, but he looked so much like his brother coming out, and the list is skewed so heavy to inside guys that I've included him. Other guys include Kyle Taylor, Barrington Wade and Ben Campos. I don't know much about Campos, but the other two looked like inside guys coming out. So, who starts and in what spots, guys?

The full LB roster:

45 Ben Campos LB 6-1 213 Fr. West Des Moines, Iowa Valley

43 Keegan Glaus LB 6-0 215 Fr. LeClaire, Iowa Bettendorf

48 Jack Hockaday LB 6-1 232 Jr. Forsyth, Ill. Maroa-Forsyth

52 Amani Jones LB 6-0 235 So. Chicago, Ill. Phillips

42 Joe Ludwig LB 6-2 215 Fr. Middleton, Wis. Middleton

31 Aaron Mends LB 6-0 227 Jr. Kansas City, Mo. Winnetonka

49 Nick Niemann LB 6-4 225 #Fr. Sycamore, Ill. Sycamore

50 Jacob Sobotka LB 6-3 235 Jr. Clearfield, Iowa Mount Ayr

55 Kyle Taylor LB 6-0 225 #Fr. Silver Spring, Md. Gonzaga College HS

35 Barrington Wade LB 6-1 223 #Fr. Skokie, Ill. Niles North

34 Kristian Welch LB 6-3 232 So. Iola, Wis. Iola-Scandinavia

29 Nate Wieland LB 6-1 220 Fr. Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City

Oh, lest this be seen as a cop-out, I think we see a starting group of Mends (WLB), Welch (MLB) and Niemann (OLB), backed up by Amani Jones and Jack Hockaday. I'm least confident that Mends can beat out Jones. It's possible Jones wins out and Mends competes with Niemann at OLB, but I don't think Mends is suited to OLB (I see he and Jones as similar, downhill strikers, best suited to WLB).
Click to expand...

A lot of really good information, I think we are good at linebacker. I’m a big fan of Welch, jones and Mends, I just think these guys are very athletic and bring more speed to the field. Both Mends and Jones squat over 600 lbs, not your average athletes. I think Niemann could be starting along with my sleeper Nate Wieland. I think the fact that the coaches have opened this thing up makes me think they’re looking leadership. Who that is will be interesting to see.
 
I'm very intrigued by Barrington Wade and his athleticism though he is still very young.
 
David1979 said:
I think it is way too early to tell who will emerge. But I think they do have talent on the roster. The competition should be fun to watch.
Click to expand...
On this note, one thing I've been mulling is how many guys you can give sufficient reps to evaluate and develop them. I'm sure they'll have to narrow the competition to 6 or so pretty quickly.
 
No. He actually is capable of intelligent conversation when he isn't in a giant pissing match. Plus he doesn't use stars or RSxx when referring to players and while it isn't unprecedented for gilligan to forget what account he is on and argue with himself I believe I have seen muskie and Kilroy get after each other. Muskie and Chad is still up for debate.
 
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