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| Jibreel Black |
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 278 lbs.
High school: Cincinnati (OH) Wyoming
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #55
Last year: I ranked Black #17 and said he would be the starting 3-tech, with 25 tackles and 3 sacks. He was the backup 3-tech and had 20 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble.
Black mostly played behind Will Campbell last year, but getting 5 TFL's and 3 sacks for a backup defensive tackle is pretty good. That was his first year on the inside after having played weak- and strongside end in his first two years on campus. He was more effective on the interior in 2012 than playing off the edge as an underclassman, so it makes sense to keep him at the 3-tech spot instead of bumping him out to strongside end now that Craig Roh has departed. Black started the spring game at the 3-tech position.
I have seen some suggestions that Black has been resistant to adding weight, and that seems plausible considering he's the exact same size as last season. Normally, the coaches would probably want their 3-tech tackle to be 290-310 lbs. or so, but Black weighs approximately the same as Roh did. This could pose a problem against some teams with huge offensive lines, but he should mostly be able to hold his own; furthermore, the position often puts him one-on-one against offensive guards in the pass rush, and the former defensive end usually has the advantage there. I think Black will have a pretty good season as the nominal starter, but I imagine a couple other guys will get some run there, too; he won't dominate but he won't be a liability, either.
Prediction: Starting 3-tech defensive tackle; 30 tackles, 4 sacks
Black should be good as long as he is next to a NT that demands a double team. Black along with Q Wash should get the job done
ReplyDeleteIn an ideal world (one with good depth at every position in 2010, no coaching changes, etc.), how do you think Black's career would have gone? Where would he have played on the line?
ReplyDeleteFree safety
Delete- Lanknows
A fan!
DeleteI think Black's role will gradually decrease as the year progresses. Henry, Wormley, and Pipkins will all eat into his snaps. As you said, he's not the prototype for what these coaches want in their 3-tech. There are young guys who are the prototype. I think he'll play a decent amount all year but will not be the go-to guy at DT in the second half. Pipkins will play beside Washington some, and one of either Henry or Wormley will step up.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree..it's just happened that Black has ended up as a tweener, who has reached his ceiling of production, and is apparently unable to add the extra 15-20 pounds that would make him a more viable 3-tech at the major college level. He is what he is at this point, and there's certainly value in having a guy with his experience in there with the younger players, but I don't think he'll be the one everyone is buzzing about towards the end of the season. As the capsule says, he won't be a liability, but he will likely not make a huge impact, either.
DeleteIs it just me, or did he back up the Strong-side End a lot last year? I thought I remembered him playing there mostly at the beginning of the year, and moving inside towards the end of the year. I felt like he made big plays whenever he was inside. I disagree with the thought he will be non-exceptional at either end of the spectrum this year. In my opinion, his speed should make for exceptionally great plays in the backfield. Conversely, his lack of size will make for some exceptionally bad plays on some running plays from strong guards that can overpower him.
DeleteIs it just me, or did he back up the Strong-side End a lot last year? I thought I remembered him playing there mostly at the beginning of the year, and moving inside towards the end of the year. I felt like he made big plays whenever he was inside. I disagree with the thought he will be non-exceptional at either end of the spectrum this year. In my opinion, his speed should make for exceptionally great plays in the backfield. Conversely, his lack of size will make for some exceptionally bad plays on some running plays from strong guards that can overpower him.
DeleteDid black play a lot at strong-side end last year? I seem to remember him being very blah at the beginning of last year, but causing havoc as he moved inside toward the end of the year. Regardless, I disagree that he profiles to make less positive or negative impact. In fact, his profile oozes the exact opposite. He is undersized and quick, which will allow him to play in the backfield often, but he will get pushed around a lot by better guards that can handle his athleticism. I think he will be a boom or bust player on a game to game, or play to play basis.
DeleteI will not be surprised if Black has a good year and is the sack leader on the DL. He does not have prototype size, but DT is nonetheless a more natural position for him than DE and he is a good penetrator. He looked very quick off the snap in the spring game and think he may be coming into his own. Mattison's 3-tech is a spot that can free up a pass rusher, especially on play action passes. There'll be a lot of snaps to go around on the interior but I see Black continuing to be a mainstay in there.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that Mattison's 3-Tech is not supposed to be huge (i.e., "Pipkins" huge), but is supposed to be a penetrator; whereas, the NT was supposed to be huge so withstand double-teams from OL. If true, then the Black-Washington or Black-Pipkins combination would seem to be a good fit. So, I expect good things from Black. And, I would expect ILB support behind Black against good downhill running teams.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, the ideal (for Mattison) is to have two players who are interchangeable at NT and DT, so that they can flip, as dictated by offensive formations. Heard similar notions about the safeties, corners, the two ILB spots. Seems like with Black, we're a ways off from that but as we add more guts like Poggi, Henri, Mone perhaps we're moving in that direction.
ReplyDeleteFor now, Black seems like the best option. He's got experience and has shown flashes of good talent. Hopefully his senior year he puts it all together.