In kind of a nice counter to my post the other day about whether Pruitt might decide to deploy on occasion a four-OLB set, Ian Boyd looks at offensive trends in the NFL and college and wonders if we’re about to see a transformation at inside linebacker.
In an attack like the Buckeyes’, the spread RB was not marginalized but elevated over inside linebackers chosen for their ability to dominate between the tackles. Ezekiel Elliot accomplished the seemingly impossible task of running for over 200 yards on the Tide D.
The result has been teams beginning to prize speedsters rather than big thumpers at the inside linebacker positions. Ohio State has been ahead of the curve here, starting with weakside linebacker Ryan Shazier, who brought freakish athleticism to the position. Despite sizing in at 6’1″ 237, he ran the shuttle in 4.21 seconds (faster than many CBs) and the 40 yard dash in under 4.4 seconds (faster than most RBs)…
… Teams are lining these players up in the box where their size allows them to play between the tackles but their speed to pursue the ball or skill players to the edge prevents spread teams from easily flanking them.
These elite athletes will undoubtedly push further evolutions to the linebacker position as defensive coordinators figure out how to best use such rangy and versatile athletes to stop spread attacks.
I think some of what he posits is a bit of a stretch – his question “Which college teams want to invest the time and energy on one player who will be hit hard every play when they can get even greater production from a QB who often goes untouched?” has a pretty obvious answer from teams still playing with a classic, drop back pocket passer and/or teams that rely on a bruising running game needing depth at tailback – but it’s still interesting to look at more ways to skin the spread ’em out cats that have proliferated at the college level.
I’m wondering, though… does Georgia have anyone with the kind of speed Boyd describes who’s ready to play ILB?
Get The Picture 
Ogletree was that guy. Floyd could physically but he can’t make the reads fast enough at ILB.
LikeLike
For me, these kinds of stories fall into the No Shit, Sherlock category. I’ve never even been in the arena, but finding 237 pound linebackers who are more agile and quick than smaller DBs and RBs doesn’t really strike me as keen insight. I mean those guys are a dime a dozen, right?
LikeLike
tOSU won because they had a freakishly big, fast, elusive, strongarmed QB, who had the games of his life in the playoffs, and it took most of the opponent’s defenses to try to catch or contain him. The rest of the team did their part. There have been undersized, fast ILBs like Shazier since football began with the first peachbasket hung on Funck & Wagnalls backporch:-)
LikeLike
That’s pretty much the way I saw it, W Cobb Dawg. That guy had the game of the year and if he’s that good all of next year, OSU can chalk up another NC. I’m hoping it was an illusion or at least a once in a lifetime performance. It was something to watch.
LikeLike
I feel this is an evolving issue in CFB and coaches are in a bind about committing totally to the new thinking. It would easier in the Big 12 and PAC 12 to go with lighter, faster ILBs, and easier for Big ? coaches to stay with stronger bulkier ILBs. Not the same for SEC coaches who face, and must contain more power running offenses and a few spread attacks. The right answer for UGA might be the most difficult because in addition to that dilemma we face at least one Triple Option attack a year where not stopping the A Dive means Tech can control the ball and time of possession, this year we face two. It really puts pressure on the DL to get continual penetration to disrupt the play and allow the backers to attack earlier.
LikeLike
Who’s the 2nd triple option team we play? I know GSU does not still run the triple option.
LikeLike
Have you seen Ganus’ 40 time? He has the speed to get it done at ILB and is a tackling machine.
LikeLike
Is everyone forgetting what we just got from Montezuma? Now do you see that he is a big deal and why? He and Trenton will play this year.
LikeLike
Ledbetter too
LikeLike