Blue White Illustrated

2 0 1 8 S E A S O N P R E V I E W know yet. I'm playing for my family. We're talking about my life here, so I have to do everything I can do in my control that's going to get me to that next level and reach my potential." While Farmer has been ramping up his workload this off-season, it's not neces- sarily his physical tools that need sharp- ened. His priority has been to hone his instincts and understanding of the posi- tion, qualities that will allow him to be as aggressive as possible on the field. "It's 100 percent a mindset," he said, noting that he's been watching film of recent Linebacker U alums Brandon Bell and Mike Hull in hope of emulating their play. He's hoping the film study and condi- tioning work will pay off the way they did for his former roommates. "If that means I have to run 10 100[- yard sprints] after practice so I can run to the football every play sideline to sideline, 40 yards up, 40 yards back, then that's something I have to do," he said. "I have to have a motor. I have to fly to the foot- ball, play 4.4, play fast, get these tackles, get these interceptions and just be a play- maker." It helps that he's gotten settled in as a linebacker, and at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, he said he's "the most comfortable I've ever been" at the position. Part of his development includes the addition of another position to his reper- toire. A year ago, he was the first-team Sam linebacker, often playing the field in passing situations, covering slot receivers and tight ends or blitzing off the edge. Now, as defensive coordinator Brent Pry works to fill vacancies from last year's linebacker corps, he's looking for flexible options. That likely means that Farmer will have some new responsibilities as a senior. In the spring, he practiced both at Mike and Will, and he said he expects to see a large portion of his playing time in- side the box. "Last year, I was a third-down line- backer, but honestly I know all three po- sitions and the coaches know that, too," he said. "So for me, it's mastering all those positions, it's watching the film. Film is probably the most valuable thing you can do – watching that and knowing the playbook and that kind of stuff. Ulti- mately, I want Coach Pry to look at me and send me in on third down, or first down, at any position." As the oldest linebacker on the team, Farmer is eager to show his effectiveness as a three-down player. After all, it will only enhance his resume for next year's draft. He has the speed to light up the combine like his roommates did this past February. Now he's just working on the film. ■ suming Farmer returns to the Sam OLB spot at which he started last season, the key to the rest of the lineup ;gures to be how everything comes together at Mike. Is Brooks, a redshirt freshman, ready to take charge? Will Cooper or Johnson be able to parlay their seniority into a start- ing job? If so, the Lions will be able to keep Brown outside and bring Parsons along at his own pace. If not, Brown might be the choice inside, creating an opening at OLB that could be ;lled by any number of players, with Parsons and Miller heading up the list of contenders. It helps that almost everyone in this group can play more than one position. And it also bears mentioning that the Lions don't need to operate primarily out of their base 4-3-4 defense; with the proliferation of spread o

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