Who Will Emerge at Inside Linebacker Alongside Manti Teo?
If you believe Brian Smith will hold off hard-charging Steve Filer and Kerry Neal at outside linebacker it means there’s only one starting spot on the linebacking unit yet to be determined. The two main suspects to play Manti Te’o’s co-pilot in the middle are Anthony McDonald (Jr.) and Carlo Calabrese (So.). McDonald is a big, agile athlete who runs like a deer, but he has a tendency to play a bit soft sometimes which leads to him getting swallowed in the scrum of the offensive line from time to time. Brian Kelly has harped on the fact that the coaches would like to see Anthony play a more physical brand of football. This raises an eyebrow. If there’s one thing you don’t want with a defense based on toughness—it’s a middle linebacker who’s hesitant to mix it up. Will he rise to the challenge and develop a presence or is he doomed to be the next Anthony Vernaglia? Calabrese, on the other hand, is someone who likes nothing more than to lay the boom on anyone who comes in his path. Coach
