Sports
Plant Panthers Summer Preview: The Linebackers.
This week South Tampa Patch takes a look at the starting linebackers for Plant.
Last week we looked at the guys up front on defense. This week we’ll go over the linebackers.
It starts with junior Mitchell Wright. Wright could play defensive end in some sets. Defensive coordinator John Few uses a 4-3 base, but will shift between a 4-3 and a 3-4 base with the same personnel.
"We coach an eleven-player defense," said defensive coordinator John Few.
Find out what's happening in Tampawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
What Few means is that every player on his defense has to have enough versatility to play different positions. He needs to have the ability to change base defensive sets without bringing a bunch of players on and off the field.
Wright is the key. He can move up on the line and put a hand down, he can blitz or cover swing routes as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 set, and he can step back into short and intermediate coverage as a 4-3 outside backer.
Find out what's happening in Tampawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Wright is just a junior and it’s an awful lot of responsibility on him, but the coaching staff is very confident. According to DBs coach Bo Puckett, Wright should develop into a big time prospect.
“Right now, he’s as good as anybody we have,” said Few.
Lucky for Wright, he’ll be lining up next to a veteran and team leader senior Michael Tate. Tate was second on the team in tackles as a junior with 53 solo and 112 total tackles, averaging about eight per game. He also recorded five sacks last year, three of them in the state title game against St. Thomas Aquinas. Tate’s dad played at The University of Florida so you know he comes from good stock. According to Puckett, he’s incredibly athletic.
“Tate is the guy we hope to put the pressure on to make tackles,” said Few.
Next to Tate is senior Tate Rogers. Rogers also plays full back on offense but will start at outside linebacker for the Panther defense this year. According to DBs coach Bo Puckett, while Rogers is not your prototypical linebacker, he’s got great instincts and is a gritty, downhill runner.
Will these three need a break? Absolutely.
Will some other linebackers emerge and enter into the mix? You can bet on it.
For now, it looks like these three will take the field on September 2.
