Started By
Message
Linebackers stepping up.
Posted on 10/20/14 at 10:52 pm
Posted on 10/20/14 at 10:52 pm
Reggie Ragland, Xzavier Dickson, Ryan Anderson, and of course Trey Depriest have come to play over the last four games, and I've been really excited about the progress I've seen from this group.
Depriest is solid and steady and has seemed to have a knack for reading the play and being in the right spot except for a few times in pass coverage. While he's third on the team in tackles, I think his leadership is more important than his ability.
Dickson is always around the football, leading the team in TFL(8) and sacks(5.5). After a disappointing season in 2013, he's bounced back nicely this year.
Anderson started a little slower than the rest of them but has really come on of late and actually led the team in tackles against TAMU. Did anyone else notice how well he played in pass defense?
Finally, Reggie Ragland... It's like a light just clicked on for this guy. From a special teams standout to the second-leading tackler on the team(behind Collins)? Through seven games this is what RR's stat line looks like:
Tackles
22 Solo
23 Asst
45 Total
5 TFL
1.5 Sacks
Pass Defense
1 Interception
2 PBU
3 PD
1 QBH
He's also recovered two fumbles for good measure.
Granted, a portion of the linebacker success probably comes as a benefit of playing behind that awesome defensive line, but still, I think these guys have improved significantly over the last few weeks and deserve some credit for it.
Depriest is solid and steady and has seemed to have a knack for reading the play and being in the right spot except for a few times in pass coverage. While he's third on the team in tackles, I think his leadership is more important than his ability.
Dickson is always around the football, leading the team in TFL(8) and sacks(5.5). After a disappointing season in 2013, he's bounced back nicely this year.
Anderson started a little slower than the rest of them but has really come on of late and actually led the team in tackles against TAMU. Did anyone else notice how well he played in pass defense?
Finally, Reggie Ragland... It's like a light just clicked on for this guy. From a special teams standout to the second-leading tackler on the team(behind Collins)? Through seven games this is what RR's stat line looks like:
Tackles
22 Solo
23 Asst
45 Total
5 TFL
1.5 Sacks
Pass Defense
1 Interception
2 PBU
3 PD
1 QBH
He's also recovered two fumbles for good measure.
Granted, a portion of the linebacker success probably comes as a benefit of playing behind that awesome defensive line, but still, I think these guys have improved significantly over the last few weeks and deserve some credit for it.
6
Posted on 10/20/14 at 11:07 pm to Goombaw
Random Auburn fan after last season on Ryan Anderson
I usually don't stress over recruiting or whatever but I'm still salty af over Whitley flipping to UCLA. Our LBs certainly have stepped it up the past couple of weeks but I think he could've found a role immediately similar to Mosley in 2010.
quote:
How soon we forget bama taking that dude from daphne who will never play a down on defense to get yeldon... everybody does it.
I usually don't stress over recruiting or whatever but I'm still salty af over Whitley flipping to UCLA. Our LBs certainly have stepped it up the past couple of weeks but I think he could've found a role immediately similar to Mosley in 2010.
Posted on 10/20/14 at 11:26 pm to imraged
quote:
I usually don't stress over recruiting or whatever but I'm still salty af over Whitley flipping to UCLA
Not gonna lie, this flip caused me the most butthurt. He would have been perfect for our scheme. Reminded me of Mosley's size. The ILBs we have recruited are bigger than him, but I prefer the Mosley size as opposed to the Depriest type.
He either hasn't done anything yet or he is redshirting because I couldn't find any stats for him at UCLA. It is ironic because one of the big reasons he flipped was depth chart and immediate playing time issues. He'd probably start next year if he had stayed with his commitment. Oh well. Hope he does well at UCLA.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 12:45 am to chattabama
I was worried Anderson was heading towards never contributing. I was hyped for him as a recruit, but after a quiet career before this year, I figured he was a bust. Glad to be wrong.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 3:06 am to Goombaw
quote:
Depriest
quote:
I think his leadership is more important than his ability.
I think it was overlooked, but we lost our 3 guys that were really our get the other guys in the right position pre-snap guys in Mosley, HaHa, and Sunseri. I think you can see a difference in this area from Depriest just since the Ole Miss game where we looked completely befuddled at times especially by their bunch formation. Even with A&M's pace we never seemed to be out of position.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 4:57 am to Goombaw
Reggie Ragland is a fuggin beast. He is definitely not afraid to lay a hit.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 7:27 am to BAMAisDIESEL09
Glad Ragland is stepping up. We need an anchor on D not named Landon and who isn't a liability in coverage SOMETIMES.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 1:33 pm to thatdude1985
Man I know this is a thread about lb's but reading all of this reminded me...What if Sunseri stayed? This defense is already awesome but man his playmaking ability......lord it wouldn't even be fair.
He got some playing time last week for the Saints and actually did pretty well all things considered. The only reason he saw the field was because of injuries but from everything I have heard they are very pleased with him so far. Good to hear! I thought he came out too early but good for him.
Also mannnn I was so hyped for some of these younger guys to get playing time and I would always skip over Dickson while looking at the Defense...
Im sorry man! Dude is beasting out there this year. He's playing very well.
He got some playing time last week for the Saints and actually did pretty well all things considered. The only reason he saw the field was because of injuries but from everything I have heard they are very pleased with him so far. Good to hear! I thought he came out too early but good for him.
Also mannnn I was so hyped for some of these younger guys to get playing time and I would always skip over Dickson while looking at the Defense...
Im sorry man! Dude is beasting out there this year. He's playing very well.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 2:47 pm to Goombaw
My opinion of Dickson has changed this year. He looks a lot faster for some reason.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 3:17 pm to CrimsonChin
I think one thing that is helping is we are using Ragland and Anderson and lining them up at Defensive end in some of our schemes. We did this a lot with Upshaw and Hightower in 2011 and it created huge mismatches. I see these two taking big advantage of this helping the pass rush in a big way!
Posted on 10/21/14 at 4:02 pm to Crimsongreatness15
Yeah we usually line OLBs up at an End spot in pass rushing situations. Of course Hightower/Ragland move/moved down from ILB to do it.
What amazes me is that the only real losses (barring Reed or Pettway leaving early) in the front 7?
DePriest, Dickson, and Ivory.
And Ivory is hardly a loss, addition by subtraction.
What amazes me is that the only real losses (barring Reed or Pettway leaving early) in the front 7?
DePriest, Dickson, and Ivory.
And Ivory is hardly a loss, addition by subtraction.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 4:17 pm to Crimsongreatness15
The biggest difference for me this year is that the guys rushing the passer aren't 270+. Guys like Anderson, Ragland, Tim Williams, Evans are very fast, and more weight would lessen their effectiveness. Weight has been one of my only complaints of the Saban defense. Think about how many more sacks Courtney Upshaw could've had if he had weighed 240 like a Jack should.
That's my rant. But yes, the Linebackers are really really playing well this year.
That's my rant. But yes, the Linebackers are really really playing well this year.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 5:09 pm to Goombaw
Every group of linebackers on a football team needs an alpha male. Reggie is an alpha male. Trey is not. Reggie has played elite the last several games. Have been very impressed with his play.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 8:45 pm to Goombaw
I fully expect Ragland to make at least one first team AA team this year. The level he is playing at now, combined with the fact that he's going to be on the biggest stage in the country four or five more times. The interception last week against aTm was in some ways the most incredible pick I've ever seen. To catch a hard thrown ball at almost point blank range, no bobble. Incredible.
Posted on 10/21/14 at 10:40 pm to eric4UA08
quote:
Think about how many more sacks Courtney Upshaw could've had if he had weighed 240 like a Jack should.
True, but at 260-270 he was an absolute monster at setting the edge in run defense. One of the best I've ever seen at it. That doesn't show up on the stat sheet but is a very big part of it.
The play vs. A&M where Ryan Anderson was praised for setting the edge and making the play was vintage Upshaw. CU did that every time.
Sorry. I still have a mancrush on that guy.
Page 1 of 1
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News