I don't know how it will work but Weathered will return to the LB rotation. He has been an absolute force when given a chance this season.
Ive heard some speculation that Maggitt will move to LB and either he or JRM will play the middle. We ve been running a lot of nickel.
Is Vereen hurt? Saw him getting taped up on the sideline against UK. If Maggitt moves to Lb, we need Vereen to play well. Maybe Hendrix gets more work too. Weathered, Vereen and Hendrix need to log valuable snaps.
It's nice to have options. As good as Weatherd has been, you can't really take Maggitt or JRM off the field either
I'm very surprised but there isn't a lot of room for reps when you've got a guy like Barnett that you can't justify ever taking off the field.
Maggitt has turned it on recently and found his mojo on rushing downs. Hate to lose him in those situations. Hopping someone else can fill the void at LB with this whole A J thing.
I think Weathered gets a chance to shine. If Vereen plays more snaps he needs to make the best of them Need everyone to step up a notch
We could go Nickel with JRM and Weatherd at LB with McNeil as a rover of sorts. If we go 4-3 I think it'll be JRM-Jakob-Weatherd. Jakob looked pretty good in reserve duty against Kentucky and the staff could use this as a chance to scout for next year as we'd have to replace AJ anyway. But more specifically, this is where losing Randolph for the first half will hurt. The biggest loss from AJ will be pre-snap reads and adjustments. With Randolph out the first half, now that's almost all of our upperclassman leadership gone for that half.
Mizzou runs 4/5 WR all game. We will be in nickle almost exclusively. JRM and Maggitt/Weatherd at LB. TKJr will be fine. He's more athletic/talented than Randolph. Mosely stepping up lately really helps out the secondary as Coleman can play NB exclusively. This is what I'm thinking the starters look like on D if AJ is still suspended: DE: Barnett DT: Williams DT: O'Brien DE: Vereen/Lewis LB: JRM LB: Maggitt/Weatherd CB: Sutton FS: TK Jr SS: McNeil NB: Coleman CB: Mosely
That's pretty much how I see it. I think Maggitt goes to DE on passing plays and Weatherd comes in. Coleman is really best in run support from the NB position. The loss of Randolph really only affects our pre-snap reads and DB adjustments but really most of that was AJ anyway. Hopefully JRM or Maggit are good leaders and know the Mizzou O and our D's adjustment packages inside and out.
Something else to consider is if we are in Nickel most of the game, who comes in if Coleman, Moseley, or Sutton is gassed. Williams would have been 1st up.
Malik Foreman has gotten some decent playing time. Evan Berry, Rashaan Gaulden or D'Andre Payne would also potentially start getting some time in. All have played in multiple games this year so they aren't getting RS'd.
