Lyndell Gibson replaces Jake Johnson in starting lineup
Darryl Slater
Oct 31, 2009
Virginia Tech has a new starter at one of its two inside linebacker positions, as Bud Foster has decided, at least for Thursday’s game at East Carolina, to replace sophomore Jake Johnson with redshirt freshman Barquell Rivers.
The move isn’t exactly surprising, because Rivers has been getting more snaps of late. Johnson, who is in his first season as a starter, played mostly on special teams last year. The Hokies had two senior linebackers, Brett Warren and Purnell Sturdivant, who they needed to replace coming into this season. In addition to Johnson, Foster, who also coaches inside linebackers, turned to sophomore Barquell Rivers at the other spot.
A look at Johnson’s snaps versus Gibson’s this season ...
Alabama, 75 (Gibson none)
Marshall, 56 (Gibson 6)
Nebraska, 66 (Gibson 4)
Miami, 31—tweaked his ankle (Gibson 29)
Duke, 53 (Gibson 18)
Boston College, 18—a blowout (Gibson 26)
Georgia Tech, 37 (Gibson 33)
North Carolina, 16 (Gibson 55)
Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster decides to make a move at inside linebacker.
Nov. 1, 2009 at 07:18 PM
Gibson is replacing Johnson. Rivers will still start the other inside linebacker spot.
Nov. 1, 2009 at 06:37 PM
Darryl,
I am confused. Is it Rivers or Gibson that is replacing Johnson?
-VT has struggled this year on away games with 2 losses and Duke which wasn’t anything to write home about. I hope they are on their game against ECU.
-T Taylor looked like a rookie the 2nd quarter against NC and not a quarterback that was in his 3rd year of playing. Except for the last flurry towards the end of the quarter VT lost 14 yards from what they ended the 1st quarter. It was as if he had hit the off button.
-There are “good” players on the defensive side of the ball this year, but not “great” players like they have had in other years. I think that explains a lot.
Enjoy Greenville.