Our 1st and 2nd Unit Linebackers

[AsthmaField]

Albright isn't the type of OLB Kiffin is looking for. Just look at the LB's he's brought in.

Ernie Sims resigned 6-0 230
Justin Durant signed as a FA 6-1 240
Devonte Holloman drafted 6-1 245 ex-safety
Brandon Magee signed as a UDFA 5-11 230


They moved Wilber to DE and he's smaller than Albright.

Kiffin said before the draft that he had nowhere to sit in DL meeting because there were so many guys there, but that there were only 5 guys in the LB meeting... which is why he told team he needed LB's not DL in draft.

1. Sean Lee
2. Bruce Carter
3. Ernie Sims
4. Justin Durant
5. Cameron Sheffield
6. Caleb McSurdy

I doubt Albright was in the LB room for a number of reasons.

When Dallas ran a 43 before and drafted a 6-5 260 pound guy, 10 out of 10 times that guy was DE and not a LB.

Nearly every single 43 defense similar to Kiffin's in the NFL has LB's close to 6-1, 240 and has DE's close to 6-5, 260.

I never say never, so I suppose there is a slim chance they play Albright at LB... but if they do, he will be a reserve and won't help the team much.

As a backup to Spencer at SDE I can see him playing a good bit to rest Spencer and even being a pretty good nickle rusher from that spot... which is the same spot he played at Boston College, BTW.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Albright isn't the type of OLB Kiffin is looking for. Just look at the LB's he's brought in.

Ernie Sims resigned 6-0 230
Justin Durant signed as a FA 6-1 240
Devonte Holloman drafted 6-1 245 ex-safety
Brandon Magee signed as a UDFA 5-11 230


They moved Wilber to DE and he's smaller than Albright.

Kiffin said before the draft that he had nowhere to sit in DL meeting because there were so many guys there, but that there were only 5 guys in the LB meeting... which is why he told team he needed LB's not DL in draft.

1. Sean Lee
2. Bruce Carter
3. Ernie Sims
4. Justin Durant
5. Cameron Sheffield
6. Caleb McSurdy

I doubt Albright was in the LB room for a number of reasons.

When Dallas ran a 43 before and drafted a 6-5 260 pound guy, 10 out of 10 times that guy was DE and not a LB.

Nearly every single 43 defense similar to Kiffin's in the NFL has LB's close to 6-1, 240 and has DE's close to 6-5, 260.

I never say never, so I suppose there is a slim chance they play Albright at LB... but if they do, he will be a reserve and won't help the team much.

As a backup to Spencer at SDE I can see him playing a good bit to rest Spencer and even being a pretty good nickle rusher from that spot... which is the same spot he played at Boston College, BTW.

I think he'd help the team alot more as the starting SLB, than at backup DE..

 

[blindzebra]

I think he'd help the team alot more as the starting SLB, than at backup DE..

Since SLB is not a focal point in Kiffin's D, I think 15-20 snaps keeping Ware and Spencer fresh means a heck of alot more than 50 snaps at SLB.

 

[AsthmaField]

I think he'd help the team alot more as the starting SLB, than at backup DE..

lol, you didn't read the rest of my post? Albright isn't a starting SLB in a Kiffin defense, period. Just look at the guys they brought in to compete for that spot. They're nothing like Albright physically. That isn't what they want there.

Albright is built like a DE in Kiffins defense.

 

[sbark]

from another thread.......some are throwing Church in a possible mix at weakside LB.....

 

[RoyTheHammer]

lol, you didn't read the rest of my post? Albright isn't a starting SLB in a Kiffin defense, period. Just look at the guys they brought in to compete for that spot. They're nothing like Albright physically. That isn't what they want there.

Albright is built like a DE in Kiffins defense.

No offense, but i think i'll wait and see what the coach's opinion is. You are caught up over size more than looking at all the other abilities the player has. He may be a bigger LB, but he's got similar atheticism to Durant.. not to mention there are people out there that think Durant isn't even a 3 down LB and its not like we broke the bank to sign the guy either. Its certainly not a lock that he starts for us with the talent we have on this team. I'd prefer Sims or Albright over him, but we'll see how TC goes.

 

[Yuma Cactus]

Tank Reed could be in the mix at SAM also. Great instincts and excellent tackler.

 

[Kristen82]

from another thread.......some are throwing Church in a possible mix at weakside LB.....

We're already ridiculously lacking in experience at S as it is. This would really exacerbate the situation.

 

[AsthmaField]

No offense, but i think i'll wait and see what the coach's opinion is. You are caught up over size more than looking at all the other abilities the player has. He may be a bigger LB, but he's got similar atheticism to Durant.. not to mention there are people out there that think Durant isn't even a 3 down LB and its not like we broke the bank to sign the guy either. Its certainly not a lock that he starts for us with the talent we have on this team. I'd prefer Sims or Albright over him, but we'll see how TC goes.

That's cool. If you want to hope they play Albright at OLB, then by all means, do so.

His numbers are not bad, I know. His 40 is light years from Durant though.

Durant 40 yard dash: 4.51 at combine
Durant 3 cone: 6.77 Combine
Durant 20 yard shuttle: 4.09 Combine


Albright 40 yard dash: 4.86 (at 248 pounds, not 260) at pro day Did not run at combine.
Albright 3 cone: 6.98 Pro day
Albtright 2 yard shuttle: 4.03 Pro day

Typically, pro day numbers are better than combine numbers, but Durant ran so well at the combine that he didn't run at a pro day.

Had Durant been in this years draft, he would have been the second fastest LB behind Zaviar Gooden, and that would be not by much. Durant can run like the wind.

And despite what the numbers are from Albrights pro day, I promise you that Durant will change directions better than Albright.

But whatever man. I suppose we shall see what happens come training camp.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

That's cool. If you want to hope they play Albright at OLB, then by all means, do so.

His numbers are not bad, I know. His 40 is light years from Durant though.

Durant 40 yard dash: 4.51 at combine
Durant 3 cone: 6.77 Combine
Durant 20 yard shuttle: 4.09 Combine


Albright 40 yard dash: 4.86 (at 248 pounds, not 260) at pro day Did not run at combine.
Albright 3 cone: 6.98 Pro day
Albtright 2 yard shuttle: 4.03 Pro day

Typically, pro day numbers are better than combine numbers, but Durant ran so well at the combine that he didn't run at a pro day.

Had Durant been in this years draft, he would have been the second fastest LB behind Zaviar Gooden, and that would be not by much. Durant can run like the wind.

And despite what the numbers are from Albrights pro day, I promise you that Durant will change directions better than Albright.

But whatever man. I suppose we shall see what happens come training camp.

We shall.. the latest example of a guy like Albright starting for Kiffin? His last years with the Bucs, with a guy named Barrett Ruud. Numbers similar to Albright as far as athleticism, but also a very intelligent and tough player, also like Albright.

Im not saying he's gonna be the guy.. but i like what he can bring to the table at the position, and overall, im just hoping for an open competition at the position. Im really just hoping its not handed to Durant or anyone else.

 

[AsthmaField]

We shall.. the latest example of a guy like Albright starting for Kiffin? His last years with the Bucs, with a guy named Barrett Ruud. Numbers similar to Albright as far as athleticism, but also a very intelligent and tough player, also like Albright.

Im not saying he's gonna be the guy.. but i like what he can bring to the table at the position, and overall, im just hoping for an open competition at the position. Im really just hoping its not handed to Durant or anyone else.

Thanks for the good debate man, I've enjoyed it.

Ruud is 6-2, 240. That is a far cry from Albright's 6-5, 260, and is pretty close to Durant's 6-1, 240. Ruud was also a second round pick, like Durant was. His athleticism might be closer to Albright's than Durant's though.

I agree that Albright is an intelligent, tough player and that Ruud is too... but Durant is no dummy and his toughness has never been questioned that I know of.

As far as the position being handed to Durant - I don't think you have to worry about that. Even if they move Albright to DE like I think they will, Justin will still have plenty of competition at LB. He will have to fight it out with Sims, Magee, and Holloman for a starting position and frankly, with the team being so willing to play young guys now and the defense being easier to learn and more intuitive in general, I think it very well could be Holloman or Magee that beats out Durant.

Look, I love Albright as a player. He is smart, tough, loves the game and plays it the right way. But at LB, he is going to have marginal athleticism and marginal speed for a Kiffin defense, which puts a premium on those things. What he would have a lot of at LB would be size. That simply isn't as important to Kiffin and Marinelli as it is to most other defensive coordinators.

However, as a DE, Albright would have well above average athleticism, speed and movement skills. He would be undersized a little, but his athleticism would give defenses fits on pass downs. He would go from being a liability at LB to having some pretty rare traits at DE. He has the length to do it and he's only a little light for DE, and man would his change of direction ability stand out at DE.

IMO, it just makes too much sense to play him at DE on either side. I think he could be the primary backup at either position and he would be on the field any time either Ware or Spencer needed a breather.

Like I said earlier... maybe you're right and they play him at LB, but I would be pretty surprised if they do so. It would go against just about everything Kiffin has done in his career up to this point.

If you're correct, I will give you a lot of props for seeing it when most people didn't - and like I said, I do like Albright a lot as a player, so please don't think I'm hating on Albright, because I'm not.

 

[blindzebra]

Thanks for the good debate man, I've enjoyed it.

Ruud is 6-2, 240. That is a far cry from Albright's 6-5, 260, and is pretty close to Durant's 6-1, 240. Ruud was also a second round pick, like Durant was. His athleticism might be closer to Albright's than Durant's though.

I agree that Albright is an intelligent, tough player and that Ruud is too... but Durant is no dummy and his toughness has never been questioned that I know of.

As far as the position being handed to Durant - I don't think you have to worry about that. Even if they move Albright to DE like I think they will, Justin will still have plenty of competition at LB. He will have to fight it out with Sims, Magee, and Holloman for a starting position and frankly, with the team being so willing to play young guys now and the defense being easier to learn and more intuitive in general, I think it very well could be Holloman or Magee that beats out Durant.

Look, I love Albright as a player. He is smart, tough, loves the game and plays it the right way. But at LB, he is going to have marginal athleticism and marginal speed for a Kiffin defense, which puts a premium on those things. What he would have a lot of at LB would be size. That simply isn't as important to Kiffin and Marinelli as it is to most other defensive coordinators.

However, as a DE, Albright would have well above average athleticism, speed and movement skills. He would be undersized a little, but his athleticism would give defenses fits on pass downs. He would go from being a liability at LB to having some pretty rare traits at DE. He has the length to do it and he's only a little light for DE, and man would his change of direction ability stand out at DE.

IMO, it just makes too much sense to play him at DE on either side. I think he could be the primary backup at either position and he would be on the field any time either Ware or Spencer needed a breather.

Like I said earlier... maybe you're right and they play him at LB, but I would be pretty surprised if they do so. It would go against just about everything Kiffin has done in his career up to this point.

If you're correct, I will give you a lot of props for seeing it when most people didn't - and like I said, I do like Albright a lot as a player, so please don't think I'm hating on Albright, because I'm not.

As I recall the zone blitz was a big part of Kiffin's D in TB. So Albright adds that to the table as well.

 

[AsthmaField]

As I recall the zone blitz was a big part of Kiffin's D in TB. So Albright adds that to the table as well.

That's true. He would be able to drop back in his zone better than most DL because of his experience and his athleticism.

I still wouldn't want him in coverage very often.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Thanks for the good debate man, I've enjoyed it.

Ruud is 6-2, 240. That is a far cry from Albright's 6-5, 260, and is pretty close to Durant's 6-1, 240. Ruud was also a second round pick, like Durant was. His athleticism might be closer to Albright's than Durant's though.

I agree that Albright is an intelligent, tough player and that Ruud is too... but Durant is no dummy and his toughness has never been questioned that I know of.

As far as the position being handed to Durant - I don't think you have to worry about that. Even if they move Albright to DE like I think they will, Justin will still have plenty of competition at LB. He will have to fight it out with Sims, Magee, and Holloman for a starting position and frankly, with the team being so willing to play young guys now and the defense being easier to learn and more intuitive in general, I think it very well could be Holloman or Magee that beats out Durant.

Look, I love Albright as a player. He is smart, tough, loves the game and plays it the right way. But at LB, he is going to have marginal athleticism and marginal speed for a Kiffin defense, which puts a premium on those things. What he would have a lot of at LB would be size. That simply isn't as important to Kiffin and Marinelli as it is to most other defensive coordinators.

However, as a DE, Albright would have well above average athleticism, speed and movement skills. He would be undersized a little, but his athleticism would give defenses fits on pass downs. He would go from being a liability at LB to having some pretty rare traits at DE. He has the length to do it and he's only a little light for DE, and man would his change of direction ability stand out at DE.

IMO, it just makes too much sense to play him at DE on either side. I think he could be the primary backup at either position and he would be on the field any time either Ware or Spencer needed a breather.

Like I said earlier... maybe you're right and they play him at LB, but I would be pretty surprised if they do so. It would go against just about everything Kiffin has done in his career up to this point.

If you're correct, I will give you a lot of props for seeing it when most people didn't - and like I said, I do like Albright a lot as a player, so please don't think I'm hating on Albright, because I'm not.

I enjoy the debate as well.. i do notice though you took my comparison a bit out of context.

While i was trying to compare Ruud to Albright, i was referring more to the athleticism of both players, not the size. I know Ruud is closer to Durant as far as size goes, but as far as athleticism, he resembles Albright alot more. However, his intelligence and toughness allowed him to excel in Kiffin's scheme. That's what i see in Albright. Not the fastest guy, not the most agile, but he's tough, very intelligent, and is always around the football it seems.

Whoever wins the job, i look forward to seeing Albright get increased playing time this year to see everything he can bring to this defense. I hope to see alot of Sims, as well.