Jordyn Brooks: Alvin Mack, The Program
Perhaps the impetus for this entire piece was this comparison, in the soon-to-be-released Touchdown Wire Top 11 linebackers. So, I am getting ahead of myself a bit…
But think to “The Program,” and Alvin Mack, the heart of the ESU defense. Sure, Mack was not concerned with a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court, but he sure knew how to execute his assignments:
Mack was a ferocious downhill player who was fearsome against the run but also was able to attack the opposing passer as a pass-rusher. In ESU’s defense, he was not consistently asked to drop into coverage, but from the explosiveness we saw from him, and his deep understanding of coverages and assignments, we can extrapolate his ability to execute that part of the playbook.
Brooks is a similar player. He has a quick trigger down near the line of scrimmage and can run through contact en route to the ball-carrier. When tasked with underneath zone coverage he displays solid processing ability and is always scanning for the nearest receiver in his zone. He can play between the tackles with ferocity, much like Mack. “Find ball, hit ball” is his mentality, which is why Sam Winters trusted him at the core of his ESU defense.