Linebackers comfortable in roles for Purdue defense
More: 2017 primer
Purdue’s linebackers feel a lot of comfort right now.
They’re good with how they’re being used, frequently in three-linebacker schemes but occasionally with four on the field, or maybe only two. And that comfort — and the confidence that comes with it — stems from feeling that co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Nick Holt is placing them in positions to have success, they say.
For Danny Ezechukwu, that’s up on the line of scrimmage, attacking the ball-carrier and lessening the instances where he’s out in space; for Ja’Whaun Bentley, that’s playing inside the box, watching the flow of blockers and trying to fight through to make plays; for Markus Bailey, it’s the variability of his skillset, as he can find areas to make plays inside the box or outside, if needed; for T.J. McCollum, it’s his knowledge of the system, having played it a couple years before at Western Kentucky and knowing the best ways to produce; for Rob Simmons, it’s rushing the passer; for Garrett Hudson, it’s his physical strengths inside.
“We understand the positions we work best in,” Ezechukwu said Saturday following Purdue’s third practice of training camp. “I think my teammates know I’m really strong when I’m on the ball, and I can do that. We understand that when Ja’Whaun is in the box, he can read pulls and see flow. We know Marcus is really good at covering, and really good in the box and out.
“We know our strengths, and we know when we’re at a disadvantage in certain areas, we know we can do our job first and then kind of cover for our buddies in the room, so we all look good.”
That knowledge, an understanding of strengths and weaknesses of personnel, plus having a couple linebackers with the versatility to play a couple of positions, is helping the Boilermakers get their best defenders on the field. Through the first three days of practices, it’s meant four linebackers in certain packages, with Ezechukwu moving up on the line of scrimmage, Bailey, who is generally the starting weak-side, moving over to the strong, and McCollum jumping in at Will, with Bentley in the middle.
When Purdue's been in nickel, it's frequently Bentley and Bailey together. Purdue's mixing and matching, and willing to do so, to get it's best on the field given the situation.
“We’ve got to find our best 11 and really best 22, and if that means four linebackers on the field, so be it. Or five linebackers, so be it,” Holt said. “We’ve got to put the best guys on the field in a position to do what they do best and give us a chance to be successful.”
Purdue’s linebackers are welcoming the opportunities. Ezechukwu knows he has to continue to try to get better as a defender in space if he wants to continue to get those opportunities. Because if he doesn’t, the Boilermakers have other options.
It’s a focus.
G.A. Sean Robinson, in particular, has been on Ezechukwu to get his footwork correct when he is dropping into coverages, using the right angles, etc., because if he doesn’t then bad can happen for others.
“You could really put your team in a bind,” he said. “But I don’t plan on doing that.”
Nor does Purdue. Holt has a good feel for the linebackers’ strengths — Ezechukwu said it’s like the coach has been around for years, rather than only since the spring — and is unlikely to put them in positions to fail. At least regularly.
“He knows when he’s putting us in a certain situation, he walks us through it,” Ezechukwu said, "‘This is what you need to expect. This is what you need to see, so that you can be at your best, even if this probably isn’t what you’re best at.’”
Couple captains
Bentley was an expected captain.
It was the third time for the senior. But for fellow senior Ezechukwu, his first captaincy was more of a surprise.
“We kind of saw Ja’Whaun coming. Everybody did,” said Ezechukwu, whose title gives the Boilermakers two captains in the linebacker room. “But it’s a testament to the leadership in the room. Coach Holt and Coach Robinson, they groom us and they tell us what we need to know. They don’t keep anything from us and it’s really an open room, and I think that has attributed to this outcome, having two linebacker captains.”
Confidence growing for Simmons
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