Figueroa Keeps Impressing

[The Franchise]

Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.

Chise, I think he's a solid, serviceable MLB at UM, no not Ray Lewis, not even Jon Vilma, but a guy who I thought last year improved( especially as Curtis Porter came back upfront). He's not great, but I don't see him as a liability, either. There have been a lot of players in this program throughout the years who benefitted from having supreme talent besides them- Gaines hasn't had that luxury

It's tough to play MLB when you're choking on Darius ****' backtits on every running play. When your DTs are either cripples like Darius **** or freshmens, who aren't physically ready to play, then your LBs are going to get beat on.

Re-wind some of the run plays against the bigger more physical OLs we played, and watch the travesty of the DTs getting mauled and a small guy like Shayon Green getting single-blocked and pushed down the field by a TE, and that's all you need to know.

 

[millertime26]

Gaines is average at best.

He's alright. I don't mind him out there. Not much a playmaker but usually hes at least in the right position and makes the plays that come to him. At DT and LB, thats about all we can ask for off the bench. Takes time to build depth.

Problem is he is a starter and contributes alot on the field. We have too many guys who get burn who arent "playmakers" on this defense. Someone needs to step the **** up. Dammit

Its comin...If these guys stay healthy we have 2 guys off the hoof that are serious playmakers in DP52 and Bush. Develop at least one legit playmaker on that DL and we have a legitimate threat at each level...add to it some possible diamonds in the rough like Figs here hopefully. I'm praying Chickillo steps up this year, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

dont forget about Rayshwan. If Rayshwan Jenkins can get it mentally he could be the best player on D. Hes been mostly playing WR his whole career except for last year so once he gets the mental side down he will be a beast. Theres a reason why Saban wanted him.

 

[crossover22[]_[]]

6 foot 3 231 is a big LB. id love to see him at 240.

 

[The Franchise]

I'd like to see him at 300 pounds. Lavon Kirkland II.

 

[Fzac75]

Loved this kid when he signed, and cemented by what I was told about what the folks at Greentree feel about him. Simply put expectations on this kid over there is he ends up being one of the great ones. That's how highly he is thought of already. So yeah, no pressure Figs.

 

[Dandycane]

Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.

Chise, I think he's a solid, serviceable MLB at UM, no not Ray Lewis, not even Jon Vilma, but a guy who I thought last year improved( especially as Curtis Porter came back upfront). He's not great, but I don't see him as a liability, either. There have been a lot of players in this program throughout the years who benefitted from having supreme talent besides them- Gaines hasn't had that luxury

It's tough to play MLB when you're choking on Darius ****' backtits on every running play. When your DTs are either cripples like Darius **** or freshmens, who aren't physically ready to play, then your LBs are going to get beat on.

Re-wind some of the run plays against the bigger more physical OLs we played, and watch the travesty of the DTs getting mauled and a small guy like Shayon Green getting single-blocked and pushed down the field by a TE, and that's all you need to know.

D was stacked. No excuses. Poor scheme.

 

[gongorad]

kid is what we need on this team. hard worker not entitled. bought into Corch, the msg, and the team. Got the right mentality and has it upstairs.

 

[supacane]

Im pretty confident with Gaines out there actually. He had two picks last year so he has done things.....good things. He will get the other players in the right spots. And btw No D scheme is not really made for individual players like our old defense. They funnel the plays the certain players. Thats why u see a guy holding his position at time and you wondering why he is not stepping to the ball carrier....its not his job. His job is to maintain his position unless the ball carrier runs into him etc

 

[supacane]

Ill use the same anology as i do with Winston at FSU, he has not played a down of CFB. Show me

 

[BrazilCane]

Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.

all I wanted to say, but my laziness prevented me... + rep

 

[brittle757]

I really wish we could have redshirted Kirby

 

[sotacane22]

i think there all gonna get some good playing time and juwand blue is looking good to

 

[UMcanesfan420]

i think there all gonna get some good playing time and juwand blue is looking good to

****. Forgot about Blue. I look forward to seeing what he brings to the table.


On comparing Figs to Winston from FSU, there are alot of different factors in that but I get it. He is a QB though and FSU has a whole new staff of assistants. I don't follow FSU that closely so I don't know if Winston is impressing like Figs is here.

 

[BlackKeysFan]

Im pretty confident with Gaines out there actually. He had two picks last year so he has done things.....good things. He will get the other players in the right spots. And btw No D scheme is not really made for individual players like our old defense. They funnel the plays the certain players. Thats why u see a guy holding his position at time and you wondering why he is not stepping to the ball carrier....its not his job. His job is to maintain his position unless the ball carrier runs into him etc

Idk if you recall the two picks or not but they were both literally thrown right to him. Not to say he isn't servicable, but just had to get that out there

 

[Biscuits]

Gaines get a bad wrap out there because he doesn't have elite athleticism. Not even close.

Our starting MLB shouldn't be a guy who 'just makes the plays he's supposed to.' That's some Shancokerized bull****. I'd even argue that until the last four games or so, he never even did that in his career. He and Cain were a litany of missed tackles and wide open receivers. He did solidify, as noted, and that was good to see.

He might be a nice fill-in, but to date in his career, he hasn't shown anything that suggest he's starting caliber on a top-10 team, which is where we need to be headed. Where we could be headed by the end of the season. If it plays out that way, we'll likely be facing solid talent in a (god willing) bowl game. Gaines will have needed to up his game significantly by then to still be getting burn. Make some plays that aren't just chalk.

 

[crossover22[]_[]]

We need him to live up to the hype. with the loss of e. johnson we need a LB to step up.

 

[drifters1234]

I dont like putting too much pressure on kids like this. When UF comes to town on Sept 7th and Matt Jones is running downhill in 95 degree heat, all 6'2 230lbs of him.. then lets see if Figueroa is ready to make an impact or not. I feel like I have heard this script so many times the past 10 years only to be disappointed most of the time. I will take the wait and see approach..

The problem with Gaines is that he is one dimensional. Those kinds of LBs are becoming instinct. Like the "3 down" RB. Nobody really has Marshall Faulk type RBs anymore. There is the main back and the 3rd down back. Nowadays LBs have to stay on the field all 3 downs and Gaines is a huge liability in pass coverage. Thats the reason I think most people want Kirby taking that job. With Gaines playing as needed. But i think Gaines will win out in the end because of exp. Which I dont mind because talent alone isnt gonna be UF..We need guys who have been in the trenches and are not gonna be afraid or intimidated to go toe to toe for 3.5 hours with UF..

actually, i think Marshall Faulk is a great comparison to Duke Johnson.

 

[drifters1234]

Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.

Chise, I think he's a solid, serviceable MLB at UM, no not Ray Lewis, not even Jon Vilma, but a guy who I thought last year improved( especially as Curtis Porter came back upfront). He's not great, but I don't see him as a liability, either. There have been a lot of players in this program throughout the years who benefitted from having supreme talent besides them- Gaines hasn't had that luxury

yeah, Gaines is probably a Bernard Clark / Howard Clark talent, but missing the stud supporting cast around him.

 

[Cans4life]

Gaines is a slightly more athletic Glenn Cook.

 

[Consigliere]

Gaines is a slightly more athletic Glenn Cook.

Seriously?