Larvez Mars

[cyfan964]

Does anyone else remember that name?

He was a linebacker in the class of Knott/Klein. He was down to us and Florida International and chose FIU. I remember being completely downcast that day because i thought we lost out on immediate starter at linebacker. I see he doesn't even appear on the stat sheet for FIU this year.

My point?

I know we have a couple of questions on our team going into next year, but who's to say someone we have won't surprise us and step in a take over.

Let's be optimistic around here for a change!

[dualthreat]

his loss

[cycloneman003]

all you have to do is a little research to find out that larvez mars redshirted this season after breaking his ankles, soooooooo a little early to throw judgments out there

[CrossCyed]

We played a heck of a lot more nickel than 4-3 this year - partly due to Taufoou getting hurt, and partly due to playing the pass.

Would Mars have been good enough here to justify playing him in the 4-3 over Reeves in the nickel? (And yes, I know Benton is the nickel back - but us playing the nickel says we feel more confident on defense with Reeves out there than Taufoou/George/whoever is at MLB) Who knows.

[jtdoyle1]

all you have to do is a little research to find out that larvez mars redshirted this season after breaking his ankles, soooooooo a little early to throw judgments out there

Was he trying to tackle Shontrelle Johnson?

[Cyclophile1]

Was he trying to tackle Shontrelle Johnson?

I saw what you did there.

[Tre4ISU]

We played a heck of a lot more nickel than 4-3 this year - partly due to Taufoou getting hurt, and partly due to playing the pass.

Would Mars have been good enough here to justify playing him in the 4-3 over Reeves in the nickel? (And yes, I know Benton is the nickel back - but us playing the nickel says we feel more confident on defense with Reeves out there than Taufoou/George/whoever is at MLB) Who knows.

No because I think Benton at suedo LBer and Knott and Klein are just as good as the three LBers. I wouldn't be shocked if Benton was at safety, but I think in that case we may see some more 4-3 stuff unless Someone has stepped up.

[Bipolarcy]

We played a heck of a lot more nickel than 4-3 this year - partly due to Taufoou getting hurt, and partly due to playing the pass.

Would Mars have been good enough here to justify playing him in the 4-3 over Reeves in the nickel? (And yes, I know Benton is the nickel back - but us playing the nickel says we feel more confident on defense with Reeves out there than Taufoou/George/whoever is at MLB) Who knows.

Let's face it. We played nickle out of necessity, due to lack of LBs capable of playing the position and a lack of depth overall at LB. If we had a LB who could play that position, he would never come off the field.

[CYVADER]

i wanted marry a lot more then mars. i really only wanted mars if we didn't get marry, and we ended up with neither.

interesting that mars and marry were the 2 everyone here wanted the most, and we got klein and knott and jackson(JUCO now a 4 star). man if jackson woulda came our lb core would be beast mode.

edit: we also got tau'o'foou and lattimer who were listed as lbs. jesus talk about hitting home runs!

[Rural]

I thought we were a much better defense when Reeves was on the field. MO is that he was one of our better defensive players. His only drawback at all is his size.

[cyfan964]

all you have to do is a little research to find out that larvez mars redshirted this season after breaking his ankles, soooooooo a little early to throw judgments out there

Your point on redshirting is valid, but I was more or less referring to the fact that none of us really thought Knott/Klein would be as good as they are. I remember everyone saying, "Our LB core is in significant trouble" and it turned out to be a bright spot for us.

[cycloneman003]

i know what the point of the post was, but saying the kid wasnt any good because he didnt appear on the stat sheet wasnt fair because you didnt mention that he never played.

im not disappointed in our LB's at all!! Knott and Klein are amazing and its great to have those two. we dont have any depth however so him or mike marry still would have been nice!

[CrossCyed]

No because I think Benton at suedo LBer and Knott and Klein are just as good as the three LBers. I wouldn't be shocked if Benton was at safety, but I think in that case we may see some more 4-3 stuff unless Someone has stepped up.

I'm gonna try and kill the notion that Benton played any sort of linebacker/psuedo linebacker every time I can.

[clone4good]

I love knott and Klein. But i sometimes think we need more "athletic" LB to help out with our defensive line (which is horrid). Jackson, Merry and Mars would have helped out with that part. I still would never trade knott or klein for one of those guys!

[Tre4ISU]

I'm gonna try and kill the notion that Benton played any sort of linebacker/psuedo linebacker every time I can.

I didn't say he did. What I meant was that unless someone steps up I wouldn't mind seeing him there rather than at one of the outside corners because I think Reeves gives us what Benton does in coverage and Benton gives us another dimension if he is lined up and takes the responsibilities of an outside linebacker, especially in passing situations.

I love knott and Klein. But i sometimes think we need more "athletic" LB to help out with our defensive line (which is horrid). Jackson, Merry and Mars would have helped out with that part. I still would never trade knott or klein for one of those guys!

Yes, obviously Knott and Klein provide no athleticism.