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With Bland Out, is it Darren Markle Time?
Written by Sean Hawkins   
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 09:16


So after some real promise with young Jeff Tuel vs. Cal?  Now the bad news.  Louis Bland, yeah, you know, probably the best defensive player on the roster?  That guy.  He's pretty much done for '09.  In fact, Grippi speculates that not just for '09, but, perhaps even spring ball is going to be a big question mark.  Sounds like that pesky PCL in the knee has finally run it's course.  All the best in a speedy recovery to Louis Bland. 

This loss hurts.  I mean hey, they ALL hurt.  But losing Bland off a defense that needs his fire, passion and intensity, not to mention he's a pretty damn good football player?  Not good.  So what does that mean?  Well, the weekly depth chart has Alex Hoffman-Ellis back atop the middle linebacker spot, but he's battled the staph infection injury in his arm and still may not be all the way back to full strength.  This probably means a lot more PT for Mike Ledgerwood, the sophomore who led the linebackers in tackles with eight vs. Cal last week.  But man oh man, the linebackers are looking awfully thin all of a sudden.  Grippi also reported that Andy Mattingly is banged up with a left knee bruise.  And last week they had moved Myron Beck back to safety, but this week he is right back to linebacker.  Thin, thin, thin.

So here's a question for you Coug Nation.  There's a reason I picked the picture above, with Louis Bland and the youngster next to him.  This is right up Sutra's alley in regards to redshirt-burning, but, is it time for Darren Markle, the super-strong true frosh, to play?  There is still a lot of football left, five full games.  The linebackers are just battered right now, and you wonder who else may go down in the coming weeks?  Maybe more so than even the young true frosh DB's in Washington and Carpenter, Darren Markle is needed RIGHT NOW!  Now Markle wasn't listed on the depth chart this week, so he may not even make the trip to San Antonio.  But you have to wonder if things might change, sooner rather than later? 

You probably remember Darren Markle.  All-everything linebacker from Meridian, Idaho, and he has made a great impression in his first go-around with the Cougar coaches.  But he really turned some heads back in high school with his weight-room prowess, sporting a 400+ pound bench, and a 600+ pound squat??  Here he is doing 615 pounds on the squat rack in January.  This is when he was still a high school senior! 



That's a lot of weight.  You know, for some people maybe.....

Anyway, that's about it for now, a pretty light post today.  And no, sorry, but we didn't get the radio show covered last night.  Hopefully we are back at it next week.

Enjoy your Wednesday, and of course, GO COUGS!
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radio show
written by selahcoug, October 28, 2009
I listened to the radio show, but I didn't take notes to give you all the details. Just a couple of notes from the show, Wulff expects the Cougs to play well this week and thinks they should make it a competitive game. He mentioned they need to take a big step forward this game, no more excuses. More on the slow starts, Wulff just said he didn't give a very nice response to his wife right after the game when she mentioned that they need to start faster. As you said, he mentioned Bland being out.

One caller asked him about scheduling "smaller" schools as he was trying to ask about scheduling cupcakes. Wulff mentioned that he thinks they should at this point to get their confidence up. He mentioned that they are playing Montana State next year besides Okie State and SMU.

Someone asked about visiting the Alamo, but Wulff didn't think they would have time as they only get there late Friday so the only time would be Saturday morning, but he didn't think that was probably a good idea. That is about all I can remember.
Burn Baby Burn
written by stiffmiester, October 28, 2009
Markle isn't in need of more weight room time unless they are trying to make him into a DL. We need him now so put him in.
...
written by ptowncoug, October 28, 2009
My no. 1 rule: You don't burn a redshirt unless the player is going to start in at least 50% of the games for the season or injuries require you to. Sorry, there are only 5 games left and clearly there is a backup in Ledgerwood who is available to play. It is not like at this pt in the season we are going to benefit with a trip to a bowl game.
...
written by kaddy, October 28, 2009
HELL no! The learning curve for LB is much smaller than a QB or DB, for example, so to take away his entire 5th year for 5 games in a lost season would be a complete waste, no matter how bad we need him. I say we manage as best we can with Hoffman-Ellis and Ledgerwood.
I like it ptown
written by SeanHawk, October 28, 2009
I agree on the 50% rule, and it makes sense. Otherwise it might not be worth it. And there isn't much chance of a bowl game, unless we win out?? smilies/smiley.gif

And Kaddy, good point. One full year for five games doesn't seem worth it when you put it that way. But I still remember what Wulff said in last week's radio show, about all the youth that was playing. Some of it wasn't necessarily by choice, but by necessity. I like the idea of getting by with Hoffman-Ellis and Ledgerwood and hope they can cover the middle as we play out the string, but, still, a lot can happen in five games. I hope they remain healthy from here on out and we aren't forced to burn that redshirt. But this year? As we've seen, ANYTHING can happen!
...
written by The Rag Top Man, October 28, 2009
I kind of thought he would be playing from the beginning since he is already so physically developed. But burn his RS after 7 games have been played? HELL NO!! Looking back, it's too bad we didn't sit Bland instead of playing him at 80-90% and then losing him. I'm not blaming Wulff. It was a tough call and I'm sure Bland was lobbying his butt off to play this year.
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written by Longball, October 28, 2009
P-town, you and I both know the best reason not to burn Markle's shirt is to avoid the wrath of Gecas.

Seriously, we have 2 MLBs right now. We should do everything we can to preserve a full year of eligibility for Markle.

Is Halston Higgins even serviceable at LB? He looks like a DT on the sidelines, so i can't imagine he's a real speedster, but he's been around a while and I'm not sure i've ever seen him on the field.
...
written by kaddy, October 28, 2009
Halston Higgins has played some, and I honestly forgot about him. That said, even more reason not to burn Markle's shirt.

Here's a thought...redshirt Bland next year, depending on how his knee recovery is. We'll still have Markle, Hoffman-Ellis, and Ledgerwood. Discuss.
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written by JasonUW, October 28, 2009
Goodness...Darren Markle. Would love to see you cougs beat up on the Damies this weekend. Best of luck.
Sokepe Kafusi??
written by Yakicoug, October 29, 2009
What is the deal with this guy? He is so damn big, will he end up playing the middle or moving to DE?
Save the shirts, Kafusi to d-end
written by BornCoug, October 29, 2009
It's too late to play Markle. I know they thought about it but with 5 to play you do what you can to get through the rest of the year. Markle, Washington, and Carpenter should keep their shirts on.

I think Kafusi will end up at d-end where maybe his speed and quickness will give him an edge. He's pretty big for a linebacker and maybe not quite quick/fast enough for where they want to go. I have heard good things about him though although maybe he is a bit of a 'tweener at this point.

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