With everyone saying Auburn has a weakness at Linebacker...

[CadaverDawg]

I'm thinking Marcus Green and Brandon Hill's ability to get out there and make them cover could be a major factor in Saturday's game. We have got to get TD's when in the redzone, and Hill and Green give us good matchups against, what many have said, are weak Linebackers. This may have been talked about already, sorry if so, but can someone that knows more about Auburn's linebackers elaborate on their situation at that position. Are they young? Inexperienced? Both? They're bound to have talented guys at that position, so why is it a weakness?

I'd love to see Brandon Hill catch 2 or 3 TD's against these fools Saturday. Marcus Green on the other hand, could help us or kill us...you never know if the playmaker Green will show up, or the stone-hands Green.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

If we're counting on Green and Hill to be difference makers then we are in trouble. They've never been major factors in any game. As for the Auburn LBs, one of their problems is tackling. That's somewhat of a problem for the whole team but when your LBs aren't great tacklers, it is magnified. They are also a little undersized for LBs. Bates in particular is small for a LB, and he converted there from safety. I don't think there's a lot of speed there either. The Auburn fans hate Jake Holland in the middle but the backup is a senior who is a former walkon. After seeing guys like Karlos Dansby, Dontarrius Thomas, Josh Bynes, and even Tray Blackmon when he wasn't breaking the law, Auburn fans got spoiled with elite LB play.

 

[CadaverDawg]

Thanks for the LB info.

When I say Hill and Green could be major factors...I specifically mean by giving us an advantage in the redzone by taking away run support, bc we're making Auburn's LB's cover our tight ends. Not to mention, with our lack of separation at the WR position, maybe our tight ends have a better chance of getting open in key redzone and 3rd down situations. Who knows. Just a thought.

 

[lazlow]

If we're counting on Green and Hill to be difference makers then we are in trouble. They've never been major factors in any game. As for the Auburn LBs, one of their problems is tackling. That's somewhat of a problem for the whole team but when your LBs aren't great tacklers, it is magnified. They are also a little undersized for LBs. Bates in particular is small for a LB, and he converted there from safety. I don't think there's a lot of speed there either. The Auburn fans hate Jake Holland in the middle but the backup is a senior who is a former walkon. After seeing guys like Karlos Dansby, Dontarrius Thomas, Josh Bynes, and even Tray Blackmon when he wasn't breaking the law, Auburn fans got spoiled with elite LB play.

In being a "difference maker" we just need them to hold onto to the ball when it hits them in the numbers. Hill&Green making their catches and HOLDING ON TO THE BALL is a key ingredient to State's success on Sat. After watching the Clemson game our TE's can have career games if they can find the handle and keep it off the turf. Auburn's blitz packages play into the hands of heady TE play and hot reads.

Another big key is for TR to throw the damn ball away when it aint there.

 

[CadaverDawg]

Another big key is for TR to throw the damn ball away when it aint there.

^This^ is a good point. Not only could it cost us a fumble,sack, or INT if he holds it too long or forces one, but it could also cost us a QB by him getting crushed

 

[JackShephard]

actually doesn't this give Tubby even more of an opportunity to make plays? If we go 4 wide with him and Bumphis on the inside and Clark/Morrow and Smith on the outside....won't a LB be covering Lewis? Or a SS at least. He should abuse LBs or Safeties with his open field moves. Conversely, if this forces them into a Nickel, you run Perkins or Robinson or Milton up the middle out of the pistol or other 1-back set and force a LB to tackle them in open space. this also negates their strength at DE.