We "fix" the linebackers by fixing the D-line. The defense (according to ESPN) had no hurries or sacks on Hooker. Lower leg power workouts are a must for both the O-line and the D-line... Pushing sleds every week is a must regimen in practice.
The Hopper transfer truly deserves a thread titled "Befuddled", right? The only thing I can imagine is that when the new staff took over they played it too close to the vest for comfort. It's also hard to understand why fast, athletic "tweeners" aren't making a difference even if 10lbs undersized. Scheme, coaching, ??? Staff made a mistake letting the LB corp become depleted through transfers. We don't even know if staff tried to talk the LB in question out of transferring. But what do I know?
Hopper has a cousin at Mizzou and it seemed his mind was made up to leave. I'm sure they tried to get him to stay. Of course with hindsight maybe they could've got the collective to try harder, who knows. *Also it seems CRob, LB coach, went out bitter and telling guys to leave. LB is hard, having to make reads pre/post snap plus needing instinct and aggressiveness to get to the right spot FAST before a much bigger blocker (OL) beats them and takes them out of the play. Hard to play decisive and fast without mastering the playbook, a lot of coaching, a lot of film review, and a lot of experience. Also hard for some to un-learn bad habits under pressure.
I am REALLY thinking that there were players on the team that had had enough...and so, some transferred out. I guess they just got tired of the staff, the food, etc.
Linebacker isn’t just size and speed, it’s takes a different kind of player to hit rbs in the hole several times a game. They need that mentality and they have to be where they are supposed to be. It’s not often you convert someone ti the middle.
100 percent agree. It’s is a violent position. It takes a lot intelligence to read the play, flow to the gap, protect the back side cut, or know when to drop. Then you have to be able to cover a 6’6” tE, or smash a 5’11” running back. It is not an easy position to fill.
heard - but have no facts to back this up - that Hopper was pushed to transfer to Mizzou by family for family reasons. Much if not most of the move was out of his hands due to family considerations. Only heard it from one source (GNFP) but they sometimes have decent contacts.
I know his cousin came from UNC so obviously he had a relationship with Bateman. I imagined that it wasn’t a great relationship and maybe his family put pressure on Hopper to transfer because of that relationship and then yes, Robinson did trash UF on his way out the door which probably didn’t help.
We've entered the "true believers only zone." It's either all-in or all-out now. And that is how it should be.
Why not try to recruit proven stud players from other teams especially from Georgia. There are multiple advantages...you get a proven commodity and hurt your rival at the same time. Even if Georgia has to pony up more money to keep them at Georgia..... that is less money they can spend on other recruits. It is the wild west right now and there is no player tampering like the NFL so I would definitely spend my NIL money on proven players especially at rivals over high school kids.
I'm not sure why that wasn't clear from the get go before a down of football was ever played in 2022.
^This Not much could have been done to save this one. Bogle was a disappointing loss. And I know the staff REALLY liked him and wanted him to stay. Then there is Diabate. Who had no LB instincts but would have been “good” if not “great” Buck/Edge guy, which was he primarily played in HS and was in his comfort zone. But Todd ruined him unfortunately. We need to bleed out the position and have a blood transfusion. Not just at LB but a few others as well.