Shore Tacklers: Noteworthy LBs Returning to the Shore Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebackers are often considered the quarterback of the defensive front. They typically make the calls, ensure everyone is lined up correctly, and are the middle-level that communicates to both the secondary and the down linemen. Linebacker is a demanding position in that they are required to be equally proficient in playing the run as they are the pass. These defenders possess an ideal combination of strength, size, and speed as well. To boot, the Shore Conference has as many good ones as any other conference in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we evaluate the film of a few stud linebackers who play within the Shore Conference. Read below to find out who made today's lists and what makes them successful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["693826"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"For as much as we praise the season that Toms River North had, we often acknowledge standouts like [player_tooltip player_id='172516' first='Micah' last='Ford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='363403' first='Ja'elyne' last='Matthews']; however, there are at least nine others on the field who contributed to the Mariner's success last fall. Defensively, they are led by LB [player_tooltip player_id='693826' first='Anthony' last='Rodriguez']. At 6 foot 215lbs, this 'backer made 92 stops (15.5 for a loss), 1.5 sacks, and 1 Int in 2022.rnrnRodriguez offers versatility, being able to play both inside the box and bump out in coverage outside the box vs. 3x1 sets. When doing so, he effectively reads the route concepts in front of him and maintains his leverage to be in position to make a tackle with support rallying. He follows the QB's eyes when taking his pass drops too, again, playing with correct body leverage to limit windows, redirect receivers, and force back to his help. Rodriguez sees things in front of him and breaks quickly, often undercutting passes. He times up his stunts well and has shown the ability to split defenders by finding a crease to shoot through en route to a tackle. The Mariners will be even u003cemu003estingier u003c/emu003eon defense as Rodriguez becomes more physical in his tackles and makes less arm tackles. A solid offseason in the weight room should take care of this.rnrnWith three key cogs returning for their high school career finales, expectations will be higher than ever before as Toms River North looks to build upon last year's, literally, perfect season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d0021d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16776511/638ec220bed6e40b5cd49329' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d00297"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AntRodriguez27","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AntRodriguez27 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["736703"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Lacey Lions had somewhat of a mercurial season; however, they could rely on the stabilizing, consistent play of LB [player_tooltip player_id='736703' first='Corey' last='Smith']. At 6 foot, 195lbs, Smith, who is also a lacrosse player, was credited with 45 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 hurries, and 1 FR.rnrnSee hole, fill hole: that is exactly what Smith does on a down-to-down basis. He does a great job reading keys-to-flow, being in position to make plays either by scraping underneath or fighting over the top. From all over the field, Smith makes plays by pursuing full speed. If he does get blocked, he does a nice job knifing his gap-arm free to stop a ball carrier's progress. Smith should look to get more depth in his pass sets, never playing u0022in-between.u0022 If he sees pass, play pass.rnrnThere is a lot to like about Smith's game. After a really strong campaign, I am excited to see how he and his Tigers build upon last season as they strive for a playoff birth.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d00329"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16501559/6367a93d664c850658777dd7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d0035c"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Smithcorey88","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Smithcorey88 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["736704"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Barnegat Bengals had a menace of a LB roaring off the edge each and every play last fall. At 6'2u0022 195lbs [player_tooltip player_id='736704' first='Cole' last='Toddings'], who also plays hoops for the Bengals, made 94 tackles (19 TFL), 2 sacks, 7 QB pressures, 1 Int, 2 FF, and 1 PBU while playing both edge LB and TE all season.rnrnAn edge rusher must be quick off the snap - Toddings is no exception to this. He is a speed demon when in pursuit from the backside, yet disciplined in both playing bootlegs and triple option coming both ways. I might attribute this to his week-to-week film study and buying into his team's game plan. Toddings is physical when taking oncoming blockers, preferring to be the hammer and not the nail. He also has enough speed to slip inside blockers time-to-time. It appears that he is not often asked to play coverage, but is capable, and rallies to the the ball with ease on routes underneath him. As a TE, Toddings is a pretty smooth route runner and makes sure to catch with his hands. He is an adequate blocker, although he would benefit to take some of defensive tenacity and apply it to the other side of the ball.rnrnToddings is a really nice chess piece on the field for the Tigers. Believe it or not, this talent is only just completed his u003cemu003esophomore u003c/emu003ecampaign. There is a lot of upside and promise to come for Toddings in the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d003d5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16327120/6374e977b534a408a866284b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d003fe"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/coletoddings","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/coletoddings </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["423554"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Aside from winning, there might not be anything football coaches love more than big, versitle toys on the field to play with. Look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='423554' first='Jake' last='Toye'] from the Brick Township Green Dragons. At 6'4u0022 200lbs, this LB does a little bit of everything on the field. Defensively, Toye made; 60 tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 Int, 1 FR, and 1 DTD. Offensively, he made 19 receptions and 19 carries for 230-and 191 yards, respectively. He also blocked two punts.rnrnFor as big and as strong as he is, Toye is NOT strictly a pass rusher. In trips formations he will bump out and cover #2. I think it is his athleticism that allows him to always be within close range to make a play on the ball carrier. By contrast, it is his hustle that makes several plays for him. On more than one occasion, from the play's backside Toye chased down and made the stop on a frontside read play. Toye also does a great job tipping a lot of passes, thus interrupting passing lanes. Toye takes on blockers well, but given his size I believe he should be mutilating them more often.rnrnIf Toye actually was a toy, I think he would be a jack-in-the-box. He is the type of player that you know will leave his mark on the game, but because of his dynamism you just do not know when or how.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d00476"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15141671/635ff866a018e30e5801e663' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d0049d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jtoye20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jtoye20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["736705"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I tend to get giddy when scouting impact sophomores - especially when they are 6'4u0022 220lbs, fast, and highly disruptive. Enter [player_tooltip player_id='736705' first='Luke' last='Wafle'] of the Middletown South Eagles. During his varsity debut campaign, the basketball player made 57 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 7 sacks, and 1 FF.rnrnWafle is a really interesting prospect in how he plays the game. Starting with his tackle, Wafle goes in low looking to wrap, drive, and dump. In other words, he is looking to lay the wood and make big hits. He possesses great speed for his size, which he likes to utilize when pass rushing. It manifests itself as an inside-out, shimmy rush. Perhaps he adapted that move from his basketball euro-step? His speed turns into power when rushing bigger linemen, getting under their pads and walking them backwards. Wafle also gets hands on the man in front of him, disrupting the release of TEs or down blocking lineman alike. He handles double teams well, managing to rip off to make stops. So young, Wafle will evolve into a pass rushing menace as he works his hands and activates his hips more. College coaches would love to see a few more clips of him in pass coverage, should he wish to play LB at the next level.rnrnI hate to sound like I am gushing about this prospect, but hey, maybe I am. There is a lot to like at Middletown South. With Wafle returning for two more years and on the heels of a 9-2 season (with one loss being to a parochial power), both the Eagles and Wafle have tremendous upside entering 2023.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424796d00503"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15308773/63418acc0660c604e86158f1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424825c681d5"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/WafleLuke","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WafleLuke </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->