Post by grayman on Jan 13, 2023 14:45:34 GMT -8
Assuming that Speights is gone, the Beavers lose both starters at inside LB, along with Jack Colletto.
That means Easton Mascarenas-Arnold is the top returning player at the position with the Utah transfer coming in and John Miller, Melvin Jordan IV, Michael Erhart, Kord Shaw, Jontae Allen, Porter Phillips, Braydon Bruener, Tyree Blake all still on the roster at the position AFAIK.
Losing three of the top four players at the position is not the greatest spot to be in and the new group will no doubt need to find that chemistry together as another poster pointed out on the recruiting board.
But how big of an issue is it when looking at the position through the seasons at OSU?
Well, it seems that the Beavers have been very good at continuing to plug in productive players at ILB. The ILBs are always the top tacklers, though the position dictates that to a high degree.
In 2006, Joey Larocque led OSU with 98 tackles with Derrick Doggett 2nd at 87. In 2007 it was Doggett first with 93 and Larocque second with 86.
This seems to be the big key for the Beavers. When one top ILB moves on, another has always stepped in.
When Larocque and Doggett were done, Keaton Kristick was the top guy (No. 2 in 2008 with 82 tackles and No. 1 in 09 with 95) with Dwight Roberson helping out, When Kristick was gone in 2010, Roberson led the team with 88 tackles. Then Michael Doctor stepped in as the No. 2 (78) guy in 2011 and No. 1 (83) in 2012. Doctor was injured and Jabral Johnson was the No. 2 tackler with 94 in 2013. D.J. Alexander had two good seasons in 2012 and 13 and then was No. 2 with 70 tackles in 2014 as Doctor returned for 67 (third).
From then it was 2015: 1. Rommel Mageo 87, 2. Caleb Saulo 69; 2016: 1. Saulo 95, 2. Manase Hungalu, 83; 2017: 1. Hungalu 97; 2018: 3. Doug Taumolau, 54; 2019: 1. Avery Roberts, 84; 2. Speights 73; 2020: 1. Roberts 69, 2. Speights 53 (shortened season): 2021: 1. Roberts, 128, 2. Speights 89; 2022: 1. Speights 83, 3. Fisher-Morris 77
The outlier is 2018. Otherwise, an ILB has either led the team (12 of the past 17 seasons or was second (four seasons). The other leaders were always safeties.
If history is any indication, the two starting ILBs will not drop off statistically. I am aware that I did not include TFL or sacks in this for space and time considerations, but most of the above players did well in those categories. Few had noticeable gaps.
That means Easton Mascarenas-Arnold is the top returning player at the position with the Utah transfer coming in and John Miller, Melvin Jordan IV, Michael Erhart, Kord Shaw, Jontae Allen, Porter Phillips, Braydon Bruener, Tyree Blake all still on the roster at the position AFAIK.
Losing three of the top four players at the position is not the greatest spot to be in and the new group will no doubt need to find that chemistry together as another poster pointed out on the recruiting board.
But how big of an issue is it when looking at the position through the seasons at OSU?
Well, it seems that the Beavers have been very good at continuing to plug in productive players at ILB. The ILBs are always the top tacklers, though the position dictates that to a high degree.
In 2006, Joey Larocque led OSU with 98 tackles with Derrick Doggett 2nd at 87. In 2007 it was Doggett first with 93 and Larocque second with 86.
This seems to be the big key for the Beavers. When one top ILB moves on, another has always stepped in.
When Larocque and Doggett were done, Keaton Kristick was the top guy (No. 2 in 2008 with 82 tackles and No. 1 in 09 with 95) with Dwight Roberson helping out, When Kristick was gone in 2010, Roberson led the team with 88 tackles. Then Michael Doctor stepped in as the No. 2 (78) guy in 2011 and No. 1 (83) in 2012. Doctor was injured and Jabral Johnson was the No. 2 tackler with 94 in 2013. D.J. Alexander had two good seasons in 2012 and 13 and then was No. 2 with 70 tackles in 2014 as Doctor returned for 67 (third).
From then it was 2015: 1. Rommel Mageo 87, 2. Caleb Saulo 69; 2016: 1. Saulo 95, 2. Manase Hungalu, 83; 2017: 1. Hungalu 97; 2018: 3. Doug Taumolau, 54; 2019: 1. Avery Roberts, 84; 2. Speights 73; 2020: 1. Roberts 69, 2. Speights 53 (shortened season): 2021: 1. Roberts, 128, 2. Speights 89; 2022: 1. Speights 83, 3. Fisher-Morris 77
The outlier is 2018. Otherwise, an ILB has either led the team (12 of the past 17 seasons or was second (four seasons). The other leaders were always safeties.
If history is any indication, the two starting ILBs will not drop off statistically. I am aware that I did not include TFL or sacks in this for space and time considerations, but most of the above players did well in those categories. Few had noticeable gaps.
