Pope to play linebacker

[Treadway21]

He may very well be making these move to save face to try to get the SMU job imo. But hey, I would would do the same to keep the paychecks coming.

or just trying to win games like any person who has ever coached in any sport would try to do.

You really do have an issue - what is so hard for you to comprehend. I am a soccer player and could tell you Pope was being wasted at RB. Have you even made one argument why Mason shouldn't have moved him back.

Do you want Pope to play running back or LB? If you were coach where would you play him? If you say LB then STFU.

[JasonB]

Just MO. I think Nwosu is better suited inside, move Yenga outside in place of Seals. Either Nwoso or Horton with Pope. Throw in Tui, and you have a nice inside outside rotation. I just think Nwoso is too short for outside (rushing off the edge and pass coverage ... plus speed). I think ... what I have seen is he does OK inside. He is physical, and has a nack to duck and dive under the OL and make a play.

As mentioned above by Stallion, Nwosu had all of his success at Rice at OLB. I'm sure that is where he is most comfortable, forced to play MLB here out of necessity. Don't think he is any less athletic than Sanders, and Seals just never seems to make any plays.

I'd like to see Nwosu, Pope & Yenga at LB's with Shakiel & Richardson at the safety spots. Would also be great if Zelt would ever get his attitude right and lay claim to one of the DE spots.

Doesn't rice play a 4-2-5? If so, I think that would be considered more of a MLB, but with the protection of a 4 man front you are supposed to just be fast and active, not take on blockers so much. Regardless, that is one thing I actually got right when people were talking about instantly putting him in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season . The linebacker scheme in a 3-4 can be difficult to figure out and takes time to adjust to.

One thing to keep in mind: Mason made a point of saying that Pope would call the defense and that he would play BUCK.

1) When Pope moved to offense, the only two players with significant experience in the system who could play inside were Yenga and Bordano. I suspect this explains why Bordano has played so much this season, despite his obvious physical limitations. He is the one player who can get the defense lined up.

2) Pope is moving to LB to replace Bordano at Buck, not to go to SAM and replace Yenga. In order for Yenga to move to OLB, Tui or Horton would have to move to SAM or Nwosu would have to be ready to play.

I think in the end, by putting Pope in there and leveraging his knowledge and leadership skills, it is going to allow Mason to get his best, most athletic four LBs out on the field. But I just wanted to point out that Pope moving to LB isn't a one-to-one swap with Yenga...

[Stallion]

Sorry pal-you were all in favor of Pope moving to RB and didn't think he was better than the guys replacing him at LB

[JoeKidd]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

[Rebel10]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

Well, there were some that said it would be a popular move to hire Tom Rossley. All of a sudden Mason tries to hire Tom Rossley. Imagine that.

[Junior]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

Well, there were some that said it would be a popular move to hire Tom Rossley. All of a sudden Mason tries to hire Tom Rossley. Imagine that.

you can't seriously believe that PF is the source of inspiration for the coaching staff, right?

[Grant Carter]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

Well, there were some that said it would be a popular move to hire Tom Rossley. All of a sudden Mason tries to hire Tom Rossley. Imagine that.

Are you going to be able to attend the lunch and ask mason if he made the move with pope because of fan sentiment? Please say yes.

[Junior]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

Well, there were some that said it would be a popular move to hire Tom Rossley. All of a sudden Mason tries to hire Tom Rossley. Imagine that.

Are you going to be able to attend the lunch and ask mason if he made the move with pope because of fan sentiment? Please say yes.

Ha! That would be awesome!

"Ah, yes, Coach. Rebel 10 here. Is it true that the Pope move back to linebacker was the result of a few guys who haven't played football in 20 years asking why he wasn't playing linebacker? I'll sit down now and let you answer."

[Stallion]

better question is why it took him this long to figure out that Pope was more valuable on defense than offense. Pope got 3 carries last week while ECU had 7 scoring drives of over 65 yards on his defense

[Planter's Punch]

better question is why it took him this long to figure out that Pope was more valuable on defense than offense. Pope got 3 carries last week while ECU had 7 scoring drives of over 65 yards on his defense

From Mason's interviews, it seems like he was putting all his focus in being a HC and making sure we have an offense that can move the ball. Now, he is returning his focus back on defense, he even said in an interview he had been to caught up being the HC and neglected his role as also being the DC for the last game.

If Mason had immediately moved Pope back to D before the offense had a chance to catch its footing, it would look like he is just doing what it takes to secure his next job as a D-coordinator and not acting like a HC. Also there was no clear front runner for starting RB going into this last game.

[Digetydog]

better question is why it took him this long to figure out that Pope was more valuable on defense than offense. Pope got 3 carries last week while ECU had 7 scoring drives of over 65 yards on his defense

From Mason's interviews, it seems like he was putting all his focus in being a HC and making sure we have an offense that can move the ball. Now, he is returning his focus back on defense, he even said in an interview he had been to caught up being the HC and neglected his role as also being the DC for the last game.

If Mason had immediately moved Pope back to D before the offense had a chance to catch its footing, it would look like he is just doing what it takes to secure his next job as a D-coordinator and not acting like a HC. Also there was no clear front runner for starting RB going into this last game.

Considering what he was working with, it seems like Mason has his priorities in order. Time to beat the Bearcats?

[footballdad]

better question is why it took him this long to figure out that Pope was more valuable on defense than offense. Pope got 3 carries last week while ECU had 7 scoring drives of over 65 yards on his defense

Yeah, Mason is doing a horrible job, should probably be demoted. Let's promote Suan to the top job with Barocio-Leon as the co-interim head coach.

[SMU 86]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

Well, there were some that said it would be a popular move to hire Tom Rossley. All of a sudden Mason tries to hire Tom Rossley. Imagine that.

Coach Rossley is popular with the fan base.

[SMU 86]

Mason stated the biggest two reasons for this move:

1.) The D needs senior leadership from the Buck to get lined up correctly, can't play good D when you start off lined up wrong

2.) KC seems to finally be coming into his own and he looks way more talented than Pope when he plays to his potential and already have a good blocking back in P Line.

Statements made by PF members about him listening to public opinion to keep his job are asinine.

Well, there were some that said it would be a popular move to hire Tom Rossley. All of a sudden Mason tries to hire Tom Rossley. Imagine that.

Are you going to be able to attend the lunch and ask mason if he made the move with pope because of fan sentiment? Please say yes.

If he was doing those things for that reason I don't think he would admit it publicly. I don't know of many people that would.

[Planter's Punch]

better question is why it took him this long to figure out that Pope was more valuable on defense than offense. Pope got 3 carries last week while ECU had 7 scoring drives of over 65 yards on his defense

From Mason's interviews, it seems like he was putting all his focus in being a HC and making sure we have an offense that can move the ball. Now, he is returning his focus back on defense, he even said in an interview he had been to caught up being the HC and neglected his role as also being the DC for the last game.

If Mason had immediately moved Pope back to D before the offense had a chance to catch its footing, it would look like he is just doing what it takes to secure his next job as a D-coordinator and not acting like a HC. Also there was no clear front runner for starting RB going into this last game.

Considering what he was working with, it seems like Mason has his priorities in order. Time to beat the Bearcats?

Two weeks to see how far this team has come!