[BJWilliams]

We look at the second level of the defense this week after some delays:

Players Lost
Andrew Jauch
Bobby Partilla
Dylan Lewellyn
Nick Sigmon (2014 Big South All-Conference)

Players Returning
Miles Hunter (Senior 2Y)
Lucas Irons (R-Freshman 4Y)
Nick Newman (Junior 2Y)
Jimmy O'Grady (R-Senior 1Y)
Dexter Robbins (Junior 3Y)
Zach Schreiber (Senior 2Y)
Dia'Vante Brown (R-Sophomore 3Y)

This is a group that has a lot of chemistry, even with the losses of Jauch, Partilla, Lewellyn (brother of former Flames player and current assistant coach Bryant) and all-conference star Sigmon (shout outs to sigmo7).

O'Grady and Newman definitely are the leaders of the group heading into spring football, with Robbins making a name for himself last year also. O'Grady has come into his own after dealing with injuries as a redshirt freshman. The biggest question will be depth at the position with 7 total LBs returning and only 1 LB in the 2015 signing class (more on that in a couple weeks).

[flameshaw]

O'Grady needs to show some maturity and leadership this year. Took a few very dumb personal foul penalties last year at critical times.
Newman looks like he is going to be a monster.
Go Flames.

[BJWilliams]

Hunter, O'Grady and Schreiber all have to step up this year being the senior leaders for a unit with only 8 players. That and we can ill afford to have injuries at this position unless we pick up a couple transfers/walk-ons this spring and summer

[olldflame]

Hunter, O'Grady and Schreiber all have to step up this year being the senior leaders for a unit with only 8 players. That and we can ill afford to have injuries at this position unless we pick up a couple transfers/walk-ons this spring and summer

I think you are still stuck in the Rocco era BJ, when we played a 3-4 and needed a ton of LBs. We are a 4-3 team now, and I would estimate on close to half our defensive snaps we will have 5 or 6 DBs in the game with only 2, or even 1 LB. This is why we are loading up on DBs and not signing as many LBs as we used to.

We have a R-Freshman, Lucas Irons, who the coaches really like, and add in incoming Freshman Jaylyn McKinney, who has the talent to play right away. Put those 2 with what we have back and we'll be fine on the outside. I'm a little worried about the Mike, where we lose a 4 year starter in Sigmon. I'm not sold on O'Grady. I'd love it if Newman could put on about 15 pounds and move to the middle. With his speed and aggressiveness, I think he could be a sideline to sideline tackling machine playing there.

Just because a player is a senior doesn't mean he will be a leader. The ones who haven't played a lot in their fiirst 3 or 4 years in the program will likely continue to spend most of their time on the bench.

[BJWilliams]

What I should have said is that the burden is going to be on those three, particularly Hunter and O'Grady, to be leaders because they are seniors. I do agree that the latter of those two has the most to prove, and Irons is going to be an interesting case as he takes the field for spring ball and gets his first crack at the two-deep.

[sigmo7]

I'm not a fan of all the rotating they do at the MLB position. 2013 and 2014 prior to Nick and Jimmy getting hurt those two rotated quit a bit. when they both came back from injury you had a rotation of Nick,Jimmy and Dexter every 1/2 series and towards the end of the season they were rotated every 3 to 4 snaps. It wasn't an issue of being winded because after halftime whomever s number was up that's who started the 1st defensive series. Being a dad you always want to see your kid playing, I always have and always will. But me personally I want to win first and if my kid plays that's icing on the cake. i'm a firm believer in rhythm on the field. I'm sure i watched the LB's more than most people, but I can't count the times i saw Jimmy Nick or Dexter make a big play and be pumped up only to get pulled because it was rotation time. and it didn't matter what the field position was or what down it was. Don't really know Dexter's parents that well but have spoke to them and they seem really cool. Jimmy and Nick are roommates so I have been around Jimmy's parents a whole lot more and trust me they are real cool. hang out with them if you ever have the chance. any who me and poppa Jimmy discussed the situation and agreed and I would like to think Dexter's parents would agree as well. Even though we wanted our kid to play we thought it would be better for the team to pick one of the 3 which ever one it was and go with them till they need a breather. It seems to work with just about every other HS, college or pro team.

[Sly Fox]

Anytime #45 was off the field was a bad thing IMHO. NN's last half of the 2014 season has me jazzed to see what he can do this fall. Irons was supposedly really impressive in practice this past fall. Let's just see if it translates to gameplay.