What is the deal with Alton Meeks? I have barely seen him on the field all season and then he gets in for a couple plays against WVU and forces a fumble, after that I didn't see him on the field again. Does anyone have any insight on why he hasn't been on the field all year? With how bad our defense is I don't see a reason for not playing him
Alton Meeks
- Thread starter cyclONE443
- Start date
This...
He is a very big LB but has to get the college game down mentally. He will be a stud next year or the year after at the latest.
I'm not sure we have many linebackers who "get it" mentally. I don't get why we don't just put him out there and at least see what he has this late in the year.
Well, considering our LB's after Miller went down were either Fr. or So. or have no business being a starting LB for a power 5 school I'll let it slide. The young LB look promising just need experience.
I was curious also. The last 3 or so games have been the first in the Wally era that we have rotated LB's which was refreshing to see, but last game Meeks was only in 1 series where he forced a fumble. On the bright side, I thought for the first time that Seely really played well.
I'll be honest, I haven't fully appreciated our good LB play in years past...until this year.
I always took for granted you could just plug in a big athletic guy and he would be able to succeed eventually, but it obviously takes more than just a redshirt year to learn the position.
Now I'm thinking it takes until your junior year to be able to play against big 12 competition. Unless you're crazy talented.
Rewatching games, I can see the LB's are out of position, don't make the right read, or are not getting off blocks a lot. I understand that the below avg dline play is part of the problem, but hopefully both get fixed in the near future.
I always took for granted you could just plug in a big athletic guy and he would be able to succeed eventually, but it obviously takes more than just a redshirt year to learn the position.
Now I'm thinking it takes until your junior year to be able to play against big 12 competition. Unless you're crazy talented.
Rewatching games, I can see the LB's are out of position, don't make the right read, or are not getting off blocks a lot. I understand that the below avg dline play is part of the problem, but hopefully both get fixed in the near future.
Exactly. I hope we see a lot of the young guys out there so they can get exposed to the speed of the game. What do we have to lose?
This goes for Brackens more than most, I don't know how many times he likely had backside protection on the zone read and bit on the fake to the back and gave up some big gains. I am assuming this is why he didnt play over Ferch. Obviously he flies around making a few plays here and there but gives up a lot too. My 12 year old who plays linebacker saw it a couple of times that is how bad it was.
Not sure on the reason. Maybe poor attitude after getting benched in place of Miller, but that's pure speculation.
See I don't buy this. This whole "mental game" is derived by the coaching staff because we don't have as gifted of players. How can every other school in the country have so many freshman/sophomores starting? You think Texas Tech and Kansas freshman are just smarter than ours? I don't buy the whole "learning" the game thing. Most of these kids have been playing since 3rd grade. You're telling me they can't mentally pick up the game in 2 years? I'm not buying it.
Tx Tech's defense is worse than ours, and Ku's is right there also, so those are bad examples.
When you see a freshman starting for a top 25 program you know he's crazy talented or else he wouldn't have beaten out the junior or senior that's his backup. And the freshmen will make a few mistakes, but he'll probably make up for it by making more spectacular plays. Plus they have better supporting casts to cover up their mistakes.
Totally agree, which makes it even more annoying when he makes a tackle and stands up and starts flexing.
He left the NDSU game early with an injury. Never heard the cause of the injury. It was quite apparent he was in pain when he came off the field in the NDSU game. I'm not sure he saw meaningful minutes the rest of the season.
The biggest problem with the LBers is that it isn't one RS freshman or Sophomore, it is 5 or 6. The junior and senior players are either walkons, undersized guys that should be safeties, or just plain not very good. A DL that was not getting destroyed on every play would help some of these guys.
I don't get it either. Played QB in high school so grasping the game shouldn't be an issue. I think he'll be a stud, just wish he would have seen the field more after Miller went down.
How many long runs against us for TDs? Many since Miller went down. These runs are a product of our LBs being out of position and there is no fix for this. They are learning on the field and we are losing. Its tough and wont get better very quickly. Saw Brian Mills on several tackles last week after reading about his progress. We need lots of this... Please.... Pretty Please... with sugar. Hoping the redshirting of the JUCO mike pays off too