Coffee too short some say?

SCFlabbergaster · 07-01-2008

If the knock on the 4* LB, Matt Coffee is that he is too short, how tall do schools feel their LB's need to be? At 5'11", I would think his size would be fine for any position in the back 7. Maybe you'd want taller safeties, but CB's can be short (usually better, as taller guys rarely have the hips they need) and LB's don't need the same size as say, D-Linemen. If they can put on the weight to shed blockers & take on fullbacks, who really cares how big they are?

What I was planning on getting around to is, what was the name of the Arkansas MLB that everyone had passed on b/c he was too short? By his senior year, I think he was All-SEC and was a true terror. He was considerably shorter than 5'11". I wonder if Coffee can turn out to have that kind of impact. I'd take a midget if he could rack up 120 tackles a year. (Of course, that would be one tough short dude!)

Gamec0ck · 07-01-2008

Not sure who you are referring to but there was a guy from right here in SC that went to Aubrun and became All-SEC. We told him he was too short and he went and proved otherwise. I would take Coffee in a heart beat as he is a very good player. I hope he commits sooner than later.

SCFlabbergaster · 07-01-2008

It was a WLB: Sam Olajabutu. I had to look it up. He had 118 tackles his junior year at 5'9" and was a pre-season All-American the next. Of course, he got hurt & only played in 6 games in 06, though (which may be the argument some would make for "small frames"). But Olajabutu was only 225 as a senior & the hs senior Coffee is already 214.

BTW, it appears Coffee committed to us today.

SWEEEET!!!

Gamec0ck · 07-02-2008

I was thinking about the guy from Columbia who wanted to come to USC but Holtz thought he was too short. I still cannot think of his name. He was a good one and just graduated two years ago I believe. All SEC.

Of course you also have the great Sam Mills! What a stud he was on the field.

Gamec0ck · 07-02-2008

Travis Williams is who I was thinking of.

willy · 07-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCFlabbergaster

If the knock on the 4* LB, Matt Coffee is that he is too short, how tall do schools feel their LB's need to be? At 5'11", I would think his size would be fine for any position in the back 7. Maybe you'd want taller safeties, but CB's can be short (usually better, as taller guys rarely have the hips they need) and LB's don't need the same size as say, D-Linemen. If they can put on the weight to shed blockers & take on fullbacks, who really cares how big they are?

What I was planning on getting around to is, what was the name of the Arkansas MLB that everyone had passed on b/c he was too short? By his senior year, I think he was All-SEC and was a true terror. He was considerably shorter than 5'11". I wonder if Coffee can turn out to have that kind of impact. I'd take a midget if he could rack up 120 tackles a year. (Of course, that would be one tough short dude!)

I Don't think a mans size has anything to do with it. It's whats in his heart that counts.

gamecock lifer · 07-02-2008

I think Ty Nix would have found coffee to be too short, but for ELLIS JOHNSON... 5-11 to 6-1 is the perfect size for his LBs... he likes 'em a little leaner and faster. Of course he happens to be blessed with two massively sized and massively talented LBs in JB and Eric Norwood this season. Who would PASS on a proptotypical 6-5 260+ pound BEAT of a man like JB at MLB? No DC in his right mind would complain about that....

So, getting coffee to compliment the other two we already have committed and to go along with guys like Paulk and Ingram- who will be Jrs or seniors by the time these kids get a shot at playing- we seem to have already left the gaping void we expect to be there next year after JB leaves.

spartcock77 · 07-05-2008

Yeah I have to agree that he may be too short for some defensive coordinators, but for Ellis Johnson, i think Coffee will fit great with his athletic ability and especially his speed.