Which Alabama LBs are working as green dot communicators?

Photo comes via Alabama athletics

It does not get as much attention as some of the offensive position battles, but the middle “Mike” linebacker role is highly important for Alabama football.

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Three linebackers – Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green – are in the NFL Draft process, so Kalen DeBoer has to locate replacements. The defense performed better in Friday’s scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium, causing the quarterbacks to not be as sharp.

DeBoer highlighted the leadership Caleb Woodson, a transfer from Virginia Tech, continues to bring – yet he also named two young guys that are working as green dot communicators.

Kalen DeBoer names two young LBs as green dot communicators

QB Reese and Luke Metz are getting an opportunity to see how well they can operate Kane Wommack’s system.

The purpose of wearing the green dot on a helmet is for the coaches to communicate the call to the player and for him to get the call across the board to his teammates.

This particular player is trusted by the defensive coaches to make sure everyone knows what’s going on so the defense can play fast and focused.

Reese and Metz have potential to be really good inside linebackers.

Both possess playmaking abilities, lateral quickness, coverage skills, and the ability to pressure if needed. Reese, a Birmingham (Ala.) native, is in his third year, while Metz is a true sophomore. DeBoer sees both as impact guys when Woodson is not in.

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“There are so many guys rotating in right now,” DeBoer said about the competition at inside linebacker behind Caleb Woodson.

“When Caleb is not in there, you’re going to have, you know, the other guys have this combination of Luke and QB.”

Alabama has to figure out who can handle being a green dot communicator. 

DeBoer is rotating different guys in, but it looks like Reese and Metz have shown the most consistency to this point after Woodson.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.