Tag: middle linebacker

Iowa LB Jack Campbell catches Dolphins fans’ eyes

The Hawkeye won the Butkus Award in 2022.

As Miami Dolphins fans awake on Saturday morning, with more NFL Combine to go, it’s natural that wishlists have been made across the social-media verse. While Miami is without a first-round selection, they’ll make their initial 2023 draft pick at No. 52.

In what’s excellent news for the Dolphins, and fans who understandably have newly found fandom in the prospects they covet to land in Miami, positions of need such as inside linebacker, tight end and running back seem to be plentiful in the areas where they select.

In the top 85 picks, Miami has three (No. 52, No. 77 and No. 84), which all could be perfect spots for their needed positions.

Again, they’re out of the first round, but with at least four quarterbacks, and several players from already accounted-for positions like wide receiver, edge and defensive tackle likely off the board in the first 31 picks, the Dolphins are in a solid spot based on their vacancies to land a plug-and-play starter.

Miami is very thin overall at linebacker and can use a pure-inside “Mike” style man-in-the-middle, and while many Dolphins fans have one in mind, No. 52 may be a tad too late for combine stock-riser in Iowa’s Jack Campbell.

Prior to the combine, Campbell was inside of the top-100, and a third-round mock-drafted player from analysts like Chad Reuter of NFL.com. As his mid-February three-round mock played out, and ironically, Reuter had Campbell’s name fictionally called by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 83, one slot before Miami’s pick at No. 84.

Campbell is a hard-nosed, tough inside linebacker who can start Week 1 for any team in need. Miami is certainly one of them, and while his numbers at the combine arguably move him into the top three or four at the position, he just may have spiked his value to creep up into the early portions of the second round, if not higher.

As per his number at the combine and the Next Gen Stats they produced, he was first among linebackers in Athleticism Score at 89, fifth in Production Score at 74, and third in overall Total Score at 82.

He clocked a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, a 37.5” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump and a three-cone drill of 6.74 seconds. These numbers match with what is on tape from his years at Iowa, and that’s his physical, clearly athletic and much-needed cerebral play with his high football IQ.

At 6-foot-five and weighing 249 lbs, Campbell has great length and could be a captain-quality player in the near future. Miami’s new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, would have a perfect pupil in Campbell.

As social media indicated, Campbell is becoming rather popular on social media.

Now, of course, it’s very likely that Campbell now can move into a top 40 area, and if Miami is serious about him, there could always be the possibility of a trade-up. However, with limited picks in 2023, general manager Chris Grier may have to work some slight magic to position himself for a chance to make Campbell a Miami Dolphin.

Perhaps Grier can call upon a team with a surplus of picks, cap room and a need for a veteran player with which the Dolphins can assist. If Campbell clears the first round, Miami should do anything in its power to move up the 15-20 slots to select this potential difference-maker on defense.

Yet, if a team sees crystal-clear potential in the Iowa Hawkeye and calls his name in the first round, at this point, it’d come to nobody’s surprise, as he’s looking like a bullseye pick.

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Micah Parsons set to start Cowboys minicamp at middle LB

The first-rounder says he’ll start the team’s rookie camp at the position he played in college and is already scouting the 2021 schedule.

Micah Parsons raised a few eyebrows during draft weekend when he announced that he wanted to wear his familiar No. 11 for the Cowboys. Now, about to tackle his first day of minicamp as an NFL rookie, he’s also secured the position he prefers to play.

“Right now, I’m at MIKE linebacker,” the 21-year-old told the team website, referring to the middle linebacker role he filled at Penn State. “Looking at the playbook, this is a position for me to go sideline to sideline and make a lot of plays and really stop that run, how I’m supposed to do.”

As rookie minicamp kicks off on Friday, the Cowboys will feature just 31 players, according to the team. Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, Keanu Neal, and fellow rookie Jabril Cox will all figure into the linebacker mix this season as well; the exact spot Parsons eventually occupies could obviously change by the time the competition across the line of scrimmage is wearing different colors.

To that end, the first-round selection is also quickly adjusting to the idea that in the pros, there are no non-conference matchups to ease into things once the season begins. He’ll be making his NFL debut against none other than five-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, who himself was drafted out of the Big Ten in 2000… before Parsons had even celebrated his first birthday.

“I was, like, ‘Wow,'” Parsons smiled when asked about the Cowboys’ upcoming schedule. “It’s definitely weird coming into the NFL. You’ve got Tom Brady [in the] first game, then you’ve got [Patrick] Mahomes down the line. I said, ‘We’ve got all the nice running backs.’ I said, ‘That’s cool. Whatever. Can’t do nothing about it.’ Got to play ball no matter what, right?”

And starting now, Parsons in playing ball in the NFL.

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David Ugwoegbu: “We just got to wake up the rest of the college football world”

During spring camp, MLB David Ugwoegbu dishes on position switch, individual growth, and Alex Grinch’s impact.

Oklahoma’s defensive line made significant strides in 2020 under Alex Grinch’s tutelage. The unit became one of the most formidable fronts in college football disrupting the pocket and harassing quarterbacks. The front four brought consistent pressure in Grinch’s ‘get up and attack’ style of defense.

Now, the linebacker group is looking to make the same impact in 2021. Middle linebacker David Ugwoegbu discussed with media via zoom how the defensive line set the standard last year and elevated the expectations for the second and third levels of OU’s defense.

“Gives us all the confidence. We have already known that about our defensive lineman and it just took the rest of the world … to catch up and finally realize it. That is exactly how we feel about this linebacker group. We have real vets in there: we got [Brian] Asamoah, D-White [DaShaun White], like you said Caleb Kelly. We got a whole bunch of guys that go under the radar but are real dogs. Everybody in that room can play. So, we already feel as if that is us, we just got to wake up the rest of the college football world.”

Ugwoegbu along with the linebacker corps. will be out for blood this upcoming season and it begins with the preparation and commitment during spring camp. Confidence breeds success and translates onto the gridiron. The main priority of growth for Ugwoegbu during the offseason is pass coverage.

“The main area that I see I need to improve in is my pass coverage. Whether it’s dropping into a zone or whether it’s just man [coverage] on a tight end or running back- that’s one area in my game that I’ve taken the time out for me and the whole linebacker position group- we’ve been putting in a whole lot more work. Working and focusing on our man protection, man coverages, and our zone drops and everything.”

Continuity and reps will benefit Oklahoma’s Mike. Ugwoegbu underwent a transition from edge rusher to middle linebacker in Grinch’s system. Instead of penetrating and bursting off the edge in a one-gap scheme, he has the responsibility of reading the offense and calling out formation strengths and signals to the rest of the defense. Ugwoegbu was no longer able to just react and collapse the pocket, but had to wait until the play developed. He is now the anchor in an increased leadership role.

“When the move happened and I got into linebacker, the coaches let me know from coach [Lincoln] Riley to coach [Alex] Grinch to coach [Brian] Odom … that this is what they wanted and that they have full faith in me playing linebacker here. So, I’ve just been focusing on that middle spot … I needed a confidence booster when I first got into the room because I went from playing rush end and not having to know much, to being the inside backer and you are pretty much the quarterback of the defense. So, I had to learn the whole defense through different eyes and I had to learn to be more vocal out there because I’m making calls to the D-Line and to the back end; communicating with both of them pre-snap.”

Oklahoma’s linebacker room is filled with veterans heading into 2021 and Ugwoegbu leads the charge.

Chiefs LB Anthony Hitchens placed on COVID-19 reserve

Kansas City Chiefs middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens was placed on the COVID-19 reserve due to being a high-risk close contact.

The Kansas City Chiefs may have to find a replacement at linebacker for their Week 16 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.

Starting middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens was placed on the COVID-19 reserve on Tuesday. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Hitchens was designated a high-risk close contact. It opens up the possibility that Hitchens could return for the Sunday afternoon game at 12:00 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium. Hitchens would have to test negative for the next five days to be eligible to play.

The former 2014 Dallas Cowboys fourth-round pick from Iowa has tallied 78 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and a pass breakup in his 14 games this season, all of which he has started.

Hitchens played 33 snaps against the New Orleans Saints in the 32-29 win in Week 15. The 28-year-old collected three combined tackles in the win.

If Hitchens is unable to go, Ben Niemann could replace him. The former 2018 undrafted free agent from Iowa has collected 41 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games, four of which he has started.

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Three things we learned from Texas’ loss to TCU

Tom Herman can take away a lot of things from Saturday’s game against TCU. Here are three things we learned from the Big 12 season opener:

Texas revealed its true colors against TCU on Saturday, falling to the Horned Frogs for the seventh time in nine seasons, 33-31. Tom Herman’s squad struggled in every facet of the game, falling short in what could have been a winnable matchup.

From the offensive perspective, quarterback Sam Ehlinger struggled. The senior admitted “losing bothers [him] the most.” Ehlinger has been the starting quarterback against TCU four times and has lost three of them. Not connecting with his receivers and head-scratching play-calling from Mike Yurcich led to a struggling offense.

Moving to Chris Ash’s side of the ball and the inability to stop Max Duggan ultimately lost Texas the ballgame. Not only having a solid display in the air but the sophomore quarterback led the Horned Frogs in rushing, getting into the end zone three times. With Spencer Rattler on deck, it will only get harder for the Longhorns’ defense.

A lot can be taken away from the TCU loss if Texas wants to get its hat back into the Big 12 championship race. In year four, Tom Herman should be able to identify the problems and adjust quickly.

Here are three things we learned from the TCU loss:

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Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner named to 2019 PFWA All-NFL Team

For the fourth consecutive season, Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner has been named to the Pro Football Writers’ All-NFL Team.

The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) have announced the selections for the 2019 PFWA All-NFL Team.

For the fourth consecutive season, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner has made the cut for his work in the middle.

Here’s a look at the offensive, defensive and special teams selections for the 2019 PFWA All-NFL Team.

Offense

QB – Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

RB – Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; Christian McCaffery, Carolina Panthers

WR –Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

TE – George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

C – Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles

G –Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens

T – Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints; Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens

Defense

DE – Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

DT –Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

OLB – Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

MLB – Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks 

CB –Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots; Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills

S – Jamal Adams, New York Jets; Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Special Teams

PK – Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

P – Brett Kern, Tennessee Titans

KR – Cordarrelle Patterson, Chicago Bears

PR – Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints

ST – Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

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