LB play--and the hip checks

[Ru-baby]

Last year the LB was rough and had felt and posted that this was an area of significant need. Did not seem to get treated that way with the portal. The first game this year was even worse.

Most confusing of all was that the highly regarded recruits who had been in the program over a year-McClary and Archie-were not near the top of the list to play Instead we saw starters of Morris and Allison, who both seemed to be in over their heads physically and skill wise. Hoping it was a one off bad day but 3 Allison plays in the first two quarters stick out as very concerning. One was the 4th and one where Allison had a clear shot at stopping the TE ball carrier. He chose what can be described as a hip check to stop the runner. This may have worked with smaller lower division players, but the larger ball carrier bounced off easily for the first down. Second, he was in space on a short pass with a chance to stop the play and just whiffed. Third, on another pass play out came the hip check again which yielded no stop again. (IS IT THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LIVE TACKLING PERIODS IN PRE SEASON TO SEE THESE ISSUES?). Besides being overmatched size and speed wise, there appears to be tackling and skills issues. It's head scratching to consider why these two rose to the starting position OTHER than stats at previous stops. The eye test didnt support it. Perhaps this is where GS was referring to when he knew better and let it happen (Not sure why no one followed up as to what he meant)

Walker and Wright were better, but Walker's issues have been seen over years and he is unfortunately a back up talent in the B 10. Wright has shown promise in the past pre injury. That takes us to the highly regarded prospects who likely were so rated due to athleticism. Yes McClary was not stout enough last year. BUT don't we need some athletes who can fly around t least somewhat? Dont see Allsion and Morris being that and being situational back ups if any success is to be had.

You play experience over more talented youth because the experience won't open holes and will make obvious stops. When the older players cant do that, the reason to play them dissipates. Hopefully some hard LB looks were given this week.

 

[RUShea]

Was also wondering about McClary. He was a pretty big recruit if I recall. If he's not better than what we saw against UMASS, that's disturbing.

Is Morris #10? I noticed at least 3-4 times he's staring into the pile while a runner was breaking outside of him. He had zero awareness where the ball was.

 

[Anon17890609591074267]

Last year the LB was rough and had felt and posted that this was an area of significant need. Did not seem to get treated that way with the portal. The first game this year was even worse.

Most confusing of all was that the highly regarded recruits who had been in the program over a year-McClary and Archie-were not near the top of the list to play Instead we saw starters of Morris and Allison, who both seemed to be in over their heads physically and skill wise. Hoping it was a one off bad day but 3 Allison plays in the first two quarters stick out as very concerning. One was the 4th and one where Allison had a clear shot at stopping the TE ball carrier. He chose what can be described as a hip check to stop the runner. This may have worked with smaller lower division players, but the larger ball carrier bounced off easily for the first down. Second, he was in space on a short pass with a chance to stop the play and just whiffed. Third, on another pass play out came the hip check again which yielded no stop again. (IS IT THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LIVE TACKLING PERIODS IN PRE SEASON TO SEE THESE ISSUES?). Besides being overmatched size and speed wise, there appears to be tackling and skills issues. It's head scratching to consider why these two rose to the starting position OTHER than stats at previous stops. The eye test didnt support it. Perhaps this is where GS was referring to when he knew better and let it happen (Not sure why no one followed up as to what he meant)

Walker and Wright were better, but Walker's issues have been seen over years and he is unfortunately a back up talent in the B 10. Wright has shown promise in the past pre injury. That takes us to the highly regarded prospects who likely were so rated due to athleticism. Yes McClary was not stout enough last year. BUT don't we need some athletes who can fly around t least somewhat? Dont see Allsion and Morris being that and being situational back ups if any success is to be had.

You play experience over more talented youth because the experience won't open holes and will make obvious stops. When the older players cant do that, the reason to play them dissipates. Hopefully some hard LB looks were given this week.

I mentioned McClary and Archie in a previous thread. Neither of them are on the "participation" list for the U Mass game on the official Rutgers site.
Neither is Isaiah Deloatch, whom I read several positive reports on during the Spring.
None of those three could have helped with that mess last Thursday ?

 

[Ru-baby]

Perhaps this is where GS said he knew better and let something proceed (playing Morris and Allsion)???

 

[SeaGlass]

Last year the LB was rough and had felt and posted that this was an area of significant need. Did not seem to get treated that way with the portal. The first game this year was even worse.

Most confusing of all was that the highly regarded recruits who had been in the program over a year-McClary and Archie-were not near the top of the list to play Instead we saw starters of Morris and Allison, who both seemed to be in over their heads physically and skill wise. Hoping it was a one off bad day but 3 Allison plays in the first two quarters stick out as very concerning. One was the 4th and one where Allison had a clear shot at stopping the TE ball carrier. He chose what can be described as a hip check to stop the runner. This may have worked with smaller lower division players, but the larger ball carrier bounced off easily for the first down. Second, he was in space on a short pass with a chance to stop the play and just whiffed. Third, on another pass play out came the hip check again which yielded no stop again. (IS IT THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LIVE TACKLING PERIODS IN PRE SEASON TO SEE THESE ISSUES?). Besides being overmatched size and speed wise, there appears to be tackling and skills issues. It's head scratching to consider why these two rose to the starting position OTHER than stats at previous stops. The eye test didnt support it. Perhaps this is where GS was referring to when he knew better and let it happen (Not sure why no one followed up as to what he meant)

Walker and Wright were better, but Walker's issues have been seen over years and he is unfortunately a back up talent in the B 10. Wright has shown promise in the past pre injury. That takes us to the highly regarded prospects who likely were so rated due to athleticism. Yes McClary was not stout enough last year. BUT don't we need some athletes who can fly around t least somewhat? Dont see Allsion and Morris being that and being situational back ups if any success is to be had.

You play experience over more talented youth because the experience won't open holes and will make obvious stops. When the older players cant do that, the reason to play them dissipates. Hopefully some hard LB looks were given this week.

I watched the Game replay and I did not see any 'hip checks' by Allison that you mentioned. Yes, he did miss several tackles and i'm not sure what the reason would be as they appeared to be arm tackles reaching for the ball carrier.

For me the bigger disappointment is Morris who was not even in position to miss tackles, he was MIA!! The boxscore indicates. Allison had 6 Solo tackles and 2 assists. Morris had 0 solo and 5 assists.

Criticizing our leading tackler who missed the last QTR with an injury is surprising as there are so many other players who need to step up.

 

[RU Jeep]

I watched the Game replay

You rewatched that disaster ??

 

[Ru-baby]

Watch the 4th and 1 TE run. Certainly not a wrap up attempt. And the pass in the flat was the same. Hopefully it will be worked on.

Criticizing leading tacker? Did you watch the game and missed tackles out of position etc. To indicate stats tell any positive story belies watching the game situations and where tackles were made.

 

[Ru-baby]

Listened to the TKR film review.

Was interesting to hear them note 3x that Allison flung his shoulder into a ball carrier instead of wrapping up, the times I noted above. Perhaps it should have been described as a shoulder check rather than a hip check, but either way it was clear this was poor tackling and something that likely worked on smaller, lower level players from force, but fell way short last week (and have little chance in B10 games).

Those plays get made and UMass gets stopped early on and they may not play so freely. Having a flying around even mostly tackling lb would make so much difference.

On another note, two observations (btw Anderson is the best of the podcast bunch analysis wise) that were made on the podcast that were alarming: The D was perhaps vanilla not because of any desire to do that but because it was all the new players could handle: and the huge cushion the db's gave evidence lack of skill and confidence and that those quick easy looks are what BC seeks. If we see big cushion this week that will be very frustrating given OBrien's penchant for dink and dunk passing.

 

[Ru-baby]

How is allison playing He is far too small to plug a gap and is getting thrown around. He has no shot to get into the quarterback. Its unreal watching the open gaps

 

[tico brown]

Last year the LB was rough and had felt and posted that this was an area of significant need. Did not seem to get treated that way with the portal. The first game this year was even worse.

Most confusing of all was that the highly regarded recruits who had been in the program over a year-McClary and Archie-were not near the top of the list to play Instead we saw starters of Morris and Allison, who both seemed to be in over their heads physically and skill wise. Hoping it was a one off bad day but 3 Allison plays in the first two quarters stick out as very concerning. One was the 4th and one where Allison had a clear shot at stopping the TE ball carrier. He chose what can be described as a hip check to stop the runner. This may have worked with smaller lower division players, but the larger ball carrier bounced off easily for the first down. Second, he was in space on a short pass with a chance to stop the play and just whiffed. Third, on another pass play out came the hip check again which yielded no stop again. (IS IT THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LIVE TACKLING PERIODS IN PRE SEASON TO SEE THESE ISSUES?). Besides being overmatched size and speed wise, there appears to be tackling and skills issues. It's head scratching to consider why these two rose to the starting position OTHER than stats at previous stops. The eye test didnt support it. Perhaps this is where GS was referring to when he knew better and let it happen (Not sure why no one followed up as to what he meant)

Walker and Wright were better, but Walker's issues have been seen over years and he is unfortunately a back up talent in the B 10. Wright has shown promise in the past pre injury. That takes us to the highly regarded prospects who likely were so rated due to athleticism. Yes McClary was not stout enough last year. BUT don't we need some athletes who can fly around t least somewhat? Dont see Allsion and Morris being that and being situational back ups if any success is to be had.

You play experience over more talented youth because the experience won't open holes and will make obvious stops. When the older players cant do that, the reason to play them dissipates. Hopefully some hard LB looks were given this week.

McClary and Archi HAS to be getting The Talk at the end of the season if they’re not better than this slop that’s they somehow are behind.

 

[kupuna133]

Don’t know how Walker was not seeing a majority of the snaps. Pointed out in the game thread last night the kid was all over the field making plays. Most athletic pure football player on the field last night. And he was sitting behind a kid that is simultaneously on roller skates and cement shoes. Didn’t know that was posssible.

 

[RU#1fan]

How is allison playing He is far too small to plug a gap and is getting thrown around. He has no shot to get into the quarterback. Its unreal watching the open gaps

This. The LB #41 does not belong on the field. He will get pulverized in B1G play. Actually when he came out the LB play looked better ( Moses Walker and #10 transfer from Rice). Also the DB transfer from South Dakota is in way over his head….should go back to FCS.

 

[tico brown]

So… what happens if McClary and Archie STILL get no reps vs USC? I mean they’d not be able to walk and chew gum while breathing if they still can’t get on the field despite the play from those in front of them.

 

[RU#1fan]

So… what happens if McClary and Archie STILL get no reps vs USC? I mean they’d not be able to walk and chew gum while breathing if they still can’t get on the field despite the play from those in front of them.

That’s the million dollar question. Doesn’t make any sense at all. Unless they are in his dog house. One of the transfer LBs won’t start or see any playing time on any FBS team.

 

[sct1111]

That’s the million dollar question. Doesn’t make any sense at all. Unless they are in his dog house. One of the transfer LBs won’t start or see any playing time on any FBS team.

No defensive player has been developed since Harasymiak.

 

[tico brown]

That’s the million dollar question. Doesn’t make any sense at all. Unless they are in his dog house. One of the transfer LBs won’t start or see any playing time on any FBS team.

THIS IS INSANE!!!!

 

[Ru-baby]

Ques for GS

Why are the lbs that are playing playing and why are highly rated recruits a few years in program not?

What accounts for the aggression from Walker, Jones and DE who had off side in 2nd half that was not there for 3 qrtrs?

 

[RU#1fan]

Ques for GS

Why are the lbs that are playing playing and why are highly rated recruits a few years in program not?

What accounts for the aggression from Walker, Jones and DE who had off side in 2nd half that was not there for 3 qrtrs?

Schiano’s stubbornness is a major factor in his Coaching failure.Hope we never see this type of HC at RU ever again.

 

[Ru-baby]

I am not so sure that GS makes the decisions on substitutions on the o and d. We need to see some data and it appears that he is letting the coordinators make those decisions, I'm sure with some input.

On stubborness, I was one of the first to point that out in the early 2000s. I think that is less accurate in 2.0 and today, and many examples exist over the years including a prime one of letting Gleeson use 3 different qbs on the first 3 plays of a game, soemthing GS would likely never do. While that is somewhat apart from stubborness, it does speak to letting coordinators do their thing until they fail. The question shopuld be posed who chose the starting lbs each game. My guess is KC and TJ made the initial personnel choices. If GS said take 41 out then good for him. That would not be stubborness, it would be oversight.

None of that excuses the errors through two games, but the same old tropes that are inaccurate dont assess what is happening.

 

[RU#1fan]

Still refusing to return Kick offs and Punts when lanes are clearly open for our Returner ? The only HC in CFB to do this. Pathetic. Stupid stubbornness playing not to lose. Not putting a spotter on a known running QB in every game that we play one until the second half? Stubborn

 

[jsol_05]

That’s the million dollar question. Doesn’t make any sense at all. Unless they are in his dog house. One of the transfer LBs won’t start or see any playing time on any FBS team.

When you are 0-2, there should be a doghouse. If you can play you should be o the field.