Who will play the hybrid SAM role in 2016?
Thanks to a mention from GVSUGoBlue in another thread, I went and listened to some of the recent coaching staff interviews from the Huge Show (featuring Harbaugh, Drevno, Brown as well as Lewis and Butt). A few of the things Don Brown said stuck out to me:
Well we'll start with for down guys and we're not uniquely just a four down defense. You know well we'll get into multiple substitution groups but I'm also big believer you got to stop the run, and that's make them one-dimensional and then chase that quarterback as hard as you can
Pretty standard. We knew or suspected this from watching tape of the BC defense. He mentioned Mattison not being worried about a transition back to a four down front. He also mentioned that as 'the easy part' and then:
We had 5 linebackers walk out the door so that that part of it is a little bit more difficult and not really having true hybrid SAM type that I'm looking for. You know we've, we've had to, you know, scramble on that in the recruiting a little bit but I felt like we've got we've got a couple, you know, great candidates there and a couple guys on campus that will be looking at as well
So this leads to the title of the thread: Who will play the hybrid SAM role in 2016? I assumed that the D would be a two ILB and Peppers as a base, but this has me thinking otherwise. Maybe it's just a situational or part time role but it sounds important to Brown. Before you answer, consider this quote from the interview:
Well, you know we tell that, we told everybody in our recruiting trail 'don't come in here with the thought of, or thinking to redshirt' you know that's just satisfying you know, we feel like an all 3 levels we've got guys that can come in and do that
So a couple guys already on the roster and a couple of the recruits. Now is the time for baseless speculation and way-too-early predictions cause it's the off season and that's what we do.
First off, it seems the Rueben Jones position switch from DE to LB fits that role and Josh Uche is mentioned as a hybrid.They seem to be obvious candidates, but what about others? Can Carlo Kemp or Lawrence Marshall fill that role? How about McCray? Will the hybrid SAM be for a three down front/sub package or in addition to the four DL?
I'm curious about what the Board thinks of the potential players for that spot since I'm sure others are more aware of the skill set require to play that position.
Edit: User ifis found that the hybrid SAM is more of a fast athlete (he like, looked at BC's roster. genius) and I found this article about the current player and the hybrid position:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/09/10/matt-milano-passed-first-…
February 5th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
He can knife through and beat blocks that way, but I'm not really sure his length allows him to be a player that consistently sets the edge. Think you still want him a little more split from the LOS or at the DB level.
February 5th, 2016 at 8:08 AM ^
I think it's hard to argue that it's a better fit for the 3-4 right now. He's good enough to adapt to what he has, while recruiting for what he wants.
February 5th, 2016 at 8:40 AM ^
We have a ton of depth & talent on the DL, and LB is the biggest unknown (read: weakness) position group right now. Makes sense to get as many experienced & talented guys on the field as possible while limiting how many young LB's we throw on the field.
But like Brown said, they will use both 3 & 4 man fronts - probably depending on opponent and even situations within a game. Personally I'm excited to see a strong 4-man DL with Gary, Wormley, etc. playing in front of athletic LB's, and possibly even a 4-2-5 base with Peppers roaming all over on the weak side.
February 5th, 2016 at 8:32 AM ^
Who becomes the weakside LB? Does that push Peppers out of the slot and back to safety, or would he play more of a WILL/nickle hybrid?
February 5th, 2016 at 8:50 AM ^
I will be EXTREMELY surprised if our starters at LB next season vs Hawaii are not Ben Gedeon, Mike McCray, and Furbush with Wangler, Winovich, and one or two of the freshmen contributing. It hurts that Winovich wanted to try out on offense last year because he lost a full year of experience at linebacker.
February 5th, 2016 at 8:56 AM ^
Nothing surprises me with Harbaugh, anymore. For all we know, we could see Zach Gentry at weak side defensive end and Ahmir Mitchell at LB.
February 5th, 2016 at 9:07 AM ^