Evaluating Virginia Tech's Options at Mike Linebacker

Of all the positions in Bud Foster's defense, the play of the mike linebacker is the most difficult for me to analyze. Unlike the backer, the mike rarely has edge responsibilities, and the high volume of tackles seems to indicate that the mike doesn't necessarily have a pre-determined gap responsibility pre-snap. As best as I can tell from observing film, the mike linebacker (who aligns in different alignments from the center to the wide side of the field) steps to the direction of the play and then fills the first gap bubble that forms between the down defensive linemen. If the defensive linemen occupy their gaps properly, the mike linebacker will find himself in the bubble unblocked, and often that results in a tackle right behind where the center snapped the ball.

Here is a terrific example from Jack Tyler on how to play downhill as a mike linebacker in Tech's scheme. Tyler was a walk-on at Virginia Tech, and wasn't physically imposing taking on blocks. However, he had an uncanny ability to read that bubble and get himself through it in good tackling position. As result, it always seemed like Tyler's most memorable tackles were right behind the center. In the 2010 ACC Championship game, Tyler replaced an injured Bruce Taylor and delivered a memorable performance.

On this play, Florida State runs a zone lead play away from Tyler. Tyler doesn't scrape laterally to his left, like a traditional 4-3 middle linebacker would.

Instead, he finds a bubble created between the right defensive end and the right defensive tackle, and he shoots through the bubble to tackle the Seminole running back for a 2-yard loss. If you watched every game Jack Tyler started at VT, you would see mirror images of this play several times a game.

R-SO Andrew Motuapuaka (6-0, 238 pounds)

Andrew Motuapuaka has been the No. 1 mike thus far through fall camp. Motuapuaka started four games after he replaced an injured Williams against Pitt. During those games, Motuapuaka made plenty of tackles (22 solo tackles and 23 assisted tackles). However, he had some high profile misses that hurt the Hokies in big spots, and, coincidence or not, Tech went 1-3 in games Motuapuaka started. I was very high on Motuapuaka coming out of high school, and thought it was very possible that he would replace Williams as the starter at some point last season. Now, with only true freshman Carson Lydon and Dahman McKinnon (returning after leaving the program in January) standing between him and the starting job, Motuapuaka has his opportunity to establish himself as the center of the Lunch Pail Defense.

However, I became apprehensive after I reviewed the Motuapuaka's film. I watched the spring game, and Motuapuaka was not involved in many tackles. On Trey Edmunds' touchdown, Motuapuaka sat back and didn't attack the hole that opened for Edmunds to run through. Edmunds was able to get downhill momentum and he carried Motuapuaka into the end zone.

Part of that equation is simply that Trey Edmunds is a bad, bad, bad man. However, this isn't the technique that I believe Bud Foster wants to see from his mikes.

I decided to take a second look at some of those old game films and see if this stood out as a theme in Motuapuaka's play last season, and sure enough, time and again Motuapuaka played laterally instead of attacking the bubble.

Here, Miami runs an inside zone to the right with a wham block back to the left. The Hurricanes package the run with a screen fake to the bottom of the screen.

A bubble forms between Ken Ekanem and Nigel Williams (who gets destroyed by a double team). Motuapuaka should immediate attack that bubble when he reads inside zone. Instead, he takes a flat step laterally to his left, tries to correct, and at that point, Williams is almost in his lap so he pursues laterally. As best as I can tell, Foster wants his mikes to attack downhill on the path shown with the dotted line.

Motuapuaka's hesitancy caused him to make the less risky play. It didn't help matters that his defensive tackle was getting pushed back into him. However, his decision resulted in a six-yard gain. Executing the system correctly and a sure tackle would have resulted in a one-yard loss. A single play showcased how Motuapuaka's lack of experience and improper technique coupled with a less dominant d-line left the Virginia Tech defense to sometimes struggle without Chase Williams and Luther Maddy.

In the spring, Bud Foster glowed over Motuapuaka's improvement.

After Tech's first open scrimmage of fall camp, Foster told Beamerball.com, "Andrew Motuapuaka is really playing well. He had a good scrimmage."

Motuapuaka has tremendous pursuit ability for a man his size and that puts him into a position to be a high-volume tackler. If his instincts for attacking downhill improve, he will be a productive mike for the Hokies.

FR Carson Lydon (6-2, 239 pounds)

During the Virginia Tech Signing Day Live, Bud Foster said of early enrollee Carson Lydon, "He is a guy who will compete for a starting position at that spot (mike linebacker)." Lydon struggled a bit in spring practice (not surprising given the difference in the speed of the game). In the spring game working against the twos, Lydon demonstrated a natural instinct to get downhill just like Bud Foster loves to see his linebackers do. Here the Hokies second teamers run an inside zone. Lydon finds the bubble in the blocking between the defensive tackles, gets downhill, and meets Steven Peoples squarely right in the hole.

As a high school senior, Lydon looked very comfortable and instinctive attacking his gap reposnsibility, and he also is very comfortable dropping into zones.

"Carson Lydon is very improved. His key reads are much better. Much better than in the spring," Foster told Beamerball.com Tuesday.

As he gains experience, it will be very difficult to keep Lydon off the field, and his ability to run and tackle squarely will make him an asset on special teams immediately.

R-JR Dahman McKinnon (6-1, 275 according to HokieSports.com)

Last season, Dahman McKinnon was an important special teamer and backed up Williams and Motuapuaka at the mike linebacker spot. McKinnon also played whip and backer during his time in Blacksburg. McKinnon is a workout warrior and has run a 4.4, 40-yard dash.

After missing some time last season with two injuries (meniscus), McKinnon decided to leave the program in the winter, and as result he missed spring practice. It appears he has had a change of heart. Corey Marshall had a huge comeback season after a leave of absence.

"Dahman McKinnon was a bright spot for us. He was just very active and had good awareness," Foster said about McKinnon's scrimmage performance.
McKinnon will have to improve his productivity and prove to the coaching staff that they can trust that he wants to be part of the team before he can move beyond a special teams role. He has all the physical ability to be a very good player.

R-SO Sean Huelskamp (6-1, 207 pounds)

Sean Huelskamp joined the Hokies as an invited walk-on in 2013. Last season, Huelskamp earned an opportunity to travel and was a key contributor to the Hokies kickoff coverage team, including an open field tackle on the kick off following Marshawn Williams' first quarter touchdown run against Ohio State. Huelskamp tore his ACL against the Buckeyes and was limited in the spring. With attrition of athletic tacklers like C.J. Reavis and Melvin Keihn from special teams, Huelskamp will be counted on to contribute if he is healthy.