Twitter Film Study Pt. 7: Four Veratile LBs Commanding Attention

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time to focus our attention on the leaders at the heart of the defense. These four linebackers have to not only be a physical run-stopping force who's willing to take on double teams, but are also asked to cover speedy slot receivers as they race towards the endzone. That amount of responsibility is nothing for these four versatile defensive linchpins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1145510"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1145510' first='Owen' last='Pimbert'] is an unbelievably aggressive linebacker for Saguaro. He's so quick to react to the ball and does so with a vengeance for whoever ends up with it. Finishing the year with over 100 tackles, Pimbert was fying all over the field. In coverage, he does an excellent job swiveling his hips to be able to fluidly move through his responsibilities in zone situations. Pimbert plays the game with incredible instincts. Seemingly feeling the routes as they develop around him. Against the run, you really see his physicality come into play as he viciously rips through the line of scrimmage. Pimbert plays the game with such a high motor that it feels like his impressive athleticism is constantly on display. He has no problem taking on bigger linemen or chasing down speedy running backs from behind. He's such a well-rounded linebacker with his combination of speed, physicality, football IQ, and pass coverage – all things that are becoming so important for linebackers looking to play on Saturdays. His incredibly impressive skillset will translate very smoothly to the next level. There's no doubt at all that Pimbert's a player flying under the radar, but I don't expect it to stay that way.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f574750"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16069239/654d1a76578d9203d8c53373' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f574852"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["368981"],"_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 more I watch [player_tooltip player_id='368981' first='Adrian' last='Dahlene'] play, the more impressed I am with his ability to read the game. He flows so nicely with the offense that he often ends up standing right where they're trying to attack. He uses great speed to keep running backs from getting around the edge. Dahlene also uses that speed in coverage where he shows just how athletic he truly is. It's not just speed, but quickness and agility too. He does a great job of baiting opposing quarterbacks into throws they think they can make, but he's just too athletic to sneak it by. Whether it's his impressive vertical or the lateral quickness, sometimes it seems like he's covering two people at once. With his physical style of play, Dahlene doesn't need to focus on being the biggest linebacker out there. There is no hesitation when it comes to putting his body on the line to make the play. That's the kind of toughness that coaches love to see. He recently received a Division 1 offer to the University of Idaho, and that's likely the first of many for the true all-around linebacker as he prepares for his senior season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f5748d7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16222159/654a31a1a0237909680966e2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f5748ff"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1369395' first='Dante' last='Bruley']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"215","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Basha","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1369395' first='Dante' last='Bruley'] played extremely well against the top competition in the state as only a sophomore on Basha's defense this past season. Playing in just six games, he was still able to tally 57 total tackles and two sacks. He's able to get a decent pass rush in large part due to his skills as a blitzer. Bruley has really long strides that allow him to cover a lot of ground in a hurry, often crossing the line of scrimmage before the linemen can even get out of their stance. He's very physical in coverage and does a great job of being disruptive and messing up the receiver's timing. Listed at 6'2” 215 lbs, he possesses a really nice combination of speed and strength. He doesn't seem to have any issue pushing back linemen who have the size advantage over him. I think some added quickness could really take his game to the next level. He does a great job of reading the play, that extra burst getting to the ball-carrier will make him an electrifying player in the middle of a very stout defense. With another year of experience under his belt, Bruley is sure to take a massive jump. As he learns to put them all together, he's certainly a name to watch heading into his junior year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f5749f9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17801855/65760d7bc1244d02ac59e9d5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f574a24"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1147233"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1147233' first='Vernon' last='Humphrie'] has really good rhythm when he's playing the run. He almost seems to move with the offense, slipping and bursting through slices in the offensive line when he sees his opportunity. He has good lateral quickness in coverage that allows him to stick with receivers while keeping his eyes on the quarterback. As he gets more time to add some weight onto his 5'11” frame, he'll become even more of a physical player than he already is. He does a great job using his speed to break through the line of scrimmage. As he faces the bigger lineman at the higher levels, he'll need to focus on keeping his center of gravity low when attacking the line of scrimmage. With that leverage, he'll be able to drive players back, even when he does find himself at a size disadvantage. You can clearly tell he has a good understanding of the game, and that's only going to improve as he gets more experience.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f574a9a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19736827/65454c0ada523408d4481bba' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f3d2f574ac1"} /-->