• May 2, 2024

Spikes Must Keep Young LB’s Calm

Takeo Spikes identified the key to the Birds young linebackers' playing well this Sunday.   The young linebackers must communicate everything they're seeing on the field and the specifics of how the Packers are attacking them.

You can be sure that Green Bay will run some type of misdirection or reverse early in the game to get the young, emotionally sky-high defenders to overrun plays.  It makes sense to take advantage of their aggressiveness.  You know these guys will also run some draws and screens.  These kinds of plays require patience to identify and that's the thing most young players don't have.  Most of the time at the beginning of a game, young players are unable to harness their adrenaline.  Gaither and Gocong are going to have to keep themselves under control. 

Spikes talked about how they have to communicate after the first and second series.  Good veteran players come off the field and let all their teammates know what they’re seeing and what the offense is trying to do to them.  At other times I've seen players panic and start yelling and go on a profanity-laced tirade.  Young guys can't afford such a waste of time on the bench.  Each player needs to sit and talk to their coaches and find out as much as they can before it's time to get back on the field.

Paying attention to detail is extremely important when it comes to recognizing plays and tendencies.  Every offensive coordinator has a personality.  It's just like a police detective on CSI following the evidence to the killer.  There might be a change in formation from the way the LB's saw a play run on film, or it might be a change in the way they’re blocking a certain running play.  The Packers might change a pass route to better disguise a play.  If you’re an alert player, you become aware of it and make the necessary adjustments.  If you listen attentively to the quarterback, you might be able to steal an audible.  Football is a thinking man’s game and that’s why veterans have such an advantage over youngsters.  The Eagles young linebackers have to grow up quickly and play with their minds along with their emotions.

Each game you face something different, so the key is putting the plays together like a jigsaw puzzle to figure out the opponents’ game plan.  When Spikes, Gocong and Gaither come off the field they have to sit down immediately and discuss how the Packers are trying to attack them.   Spikes should also remind the youngsters that Brett Favre is a master of looking people off.  Gocong was beaten for a touchdown in the first preseason game against Baltimore because he let Steve McNair look him off.  You can believe that Favre saw that on film and will not think twice about exploiting it.

GCOBB

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