With Djimon Colbert opting out this season, Seth Wallace has a lot less experience at the linebacker position but an eager, competitive group that is working hard to get ready for the opener. At media day, Wallace talked about his group of linebackers and which players have stepped forward this fall.
Read our notes and watch some of the video below.
Q: IF you guys play with a LEO backer, that would be Wade, correct?
WALLACE: Very much so. I would say that the Barrington Wade has played weakside as well and if you pay attention to the defense, there’s a lot of carryover between what was the LEO and the outside backer.
If we got out there today in a traditional look it would be Barrington, Jack in the middle, and Nick.
Q: Can you discuss Jestin Jacobs and how he has played?
WALLACE: He’s doing great. To Phil’s point that he made earlier, you walk out to practice behind these guys and it’s impressive to see the length. I think he’s put on 30 some pounds. He enrolled early, but he also had a shoulder injury, so he wasn’t in the weight room all that much putting on muscle.
Q: When you look at Jack Campbell, he carries himself differently early in his career. What do you like about him? Will the game slow down for him?
WALLACE: I don’t know that it will slow down enough. I think everyone is going to face with the in the opening week or the first few weeks where everything is stuck on fast forward and not be able to slow it down because of practice. There was lot he took from last year and also we have Nick Niemann in a position right next to him is paying off right now. The two of them are socially distant in the meeting room, but they are right next to each other and conversations take place. On the field, Nick is helping Jack and really there are some things Jack learned last year in his opportunity that are paying off.
Q: You have had to replace the middle linebacker multiple times now since Josey left. Is that part of the reason why Jack has emerged there, you can plug him in there and have someone for an extended period of time and put a more experienced guy next to him?
WALLACE: There is a little bit of difference in the athletic ability and the coverage knowledge between the two you are comparing now. MIKE doesn’t get in space as much and in some cases, doesn’t have to take the back out of the backfield. I think Nick is a little bit more advanced. I think at some point, maybe Nick has to go to the MIKE and Jack could go to the WILL. I could say that about anyone in our position group right now. With things the way they are this year, everyone has to be able to know the other positions because we might have to plug and play at times this year. We just don’t know. You are seeing it in college football and the NFL.
Q: Given the time constraints this fall with practice and classes going on, what has been the biggest challenge for you as a coach?
WALLACE: Probably the inability to create a camp environment. I could give you specifics, but it’s boring. The amount of time that is available during a true camp setting, evenings, mornings, and everything in between is not there right now. Guys have tutors in the evening and classes in the afternoon and on line classes. So we are battling with what’s available in the morning, the little that’s there in the afternoon, and how much can they take from the firehose.
