Virginia Tech announced on Monday that starting mike linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka could miss up to 4 weeks with a sprained MCL suffered in the Hokies' 42-3 win over Furman. Frank Beamer was a guest on Tech Talk Live Monday night and discussed how Tech will move forward at mike.
"(Motuapuaka) he's definitely out (against Purdue), and going to be out for a while," Beamer said. "That's a hard loss too. It's at a position we don't have a lot of experience at, but (Carson) Lydon he's the guy that's gonna come in there and do well. He's a smart guy, and he'll get a lot of reps this week in practice. He'll do the best he can, and he's got skill and he's got smarts. I think that'll be good."
If you're interested in the full audio, it was provided to TKP by the IMG VT Sports Network.
Tech previously planned to redshirt Lydon this season, but it's apparent Beamer Co. has reversed course and the true freshman will have an opportunity to earn his way on the field ahead of schedule. Lydon enrolled early and practiced as Tech's No. 2 mike linebacker in the spring. This is a snippet of what French wrote about Lydon when he watched his high school film.
Foster's mike linebackers must fit interior gaps and find the football. Often, that requires the mike to identify a bubble in the defensive line (most often a cutback lane), fill the bubble, and find the football. So often, Hokie fans saw Jack Tyler or Chase Williams tackling a running back just behind where the center lined up. It wasn't because they were blitzing. Tyler and Williams were in that position because they read the play, and with their defensive line tying up blocks the bubble was unblocked. The mike has to read the play properly and get into that hole. If he can, he will put up big numbers.
After the initial gap fit, the mike has to pursue to the football, but only after the gap is secured. This nuance is a huge reason why linebackers who played downhill/north-south like Vince Hall and Jack Tyler were so effective in college, but received little NFL attention where inside linebackers play more of an east-west pursuit style.
Lydon fits that model. He has a knack for timing where to step into that interior hole without getting blocked
Walk-on Sean Huelskamp replaced Motuapuaka in the third quarter against Furman and tallied 2 tackles. The 6-1, 207 pound redshirt sophomore Chantilly product was listed as the No. 2 mike behind Motuapuaka on Tech's latest depth chart prior to the announcement of Motuapuaka's injury. Redshirt junior Dahman McKinnon is the No. 2 backer, but has experience at mike.
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster is set to meet with Tech's media this evening, and will hopefully be able to provide some additional clarity.
Comments
I think we are all excited for this kid's future. He has instincts and size (something we have often lacked). If he can develop in the next few weeks, we could have a multi year anchor for our defense.
Can't wait to see what he'll be like after getting Gentrified.
Imagine having a Mike in our system that can run at 6'2" 245.
I heard that he'll really get after ya.
Q for French et al:
on the video review of Furman's successful option plays, we see Motu lined up about 5 yards off the LOS and immediately move forward about three yards when the ball is snapped. That put him just in range to be blocked on those outside runs. Is the move forward by the MLB a mistake or is he moving into an assigned gap first, then trying to get to the sideline?
As far as I understand it the Mike is supposed to shoot that gap or bubble created by the lineman which usually leads to the Mike meeting the ball carrier at the LOS or behind it for a loss. You can see this in many of French's posts on the subject. Especially where he shows Chase Williams in the ACCCG against FSU.
If Motu is running up and then trying to run to the side before getting past the line that may be his problem, of course I'm no x's and o's guy and I could be completely wrong. That's my take on it though without seeing specifically what you are talking about.
3rd and 4th video clips in French's "scrimmage" article
When we signed Lydon, I seem to remember people being high on him. I hope he brings a few LB instincts along with that frame he's got, and, if so, I hope he gets in and learns the defense quickly. I'm officially off the redshirt-for-anyone bandwagon, so let's get him in the game and see what he's got.
Bigger Cody Grimm???
If he was a bigger Cody Grimm that would exceed anybody's expectations. I would love for him to be in the mold of Vince Hall or Adibi.
How about the physicality of Adibi/Hall but the instinct of Grimm? That's just the dream.
That is Fully Dipped Dork Magic applied well!
Sorry for Motu that he's injured.
From what little bit I've read on TKP, it sounds like Lydon may have the physical frame and instincts to play the Mike well.
If necessary, is it possible for the backer or whip to make the def calls instead of the mike while Lydon gets up to speed?
I was wondering the same thing. One of the more experienced LBs should be able to help out with the play calls and leadership, shouldn't they?
Would love to see Dahman McKinnon get a shot this weekend, physically the tools are all there but I want to see the guy on the field.
Wonder if the only reason Lydon wasn't higher on the depth chart is because they were redshirting him. Hopefully that is the case.
Awesome. Not a surprise to start the more experienced guy
Hope his knee holds up. He was wearing a brace on it in the Furman game.
The size of Lydon is needed in the middle