Spring Practice Photos
If you just want to see all of the pictures, you can skip to the gallery at the end, but here are a few of the more-interesting photos from media availability.
Denard lines up mostly in the shotgun when the media is allowed to watch, and also gets to wear white pants (an Adidas prototype, not available in maize yet).
Devin lines up mostly under center (though both QBs practice taking snaps under center).
Since the Athletic Department already spoiled the surprise in Tuesday's "Play of the Day" video, I don't feel guilty pointing it out. Yes, that is Mike Martin lined up at rush linebacker, and he sometimes drops into coverage as well.
Not gonna lie, Cam Gordon looks slick in all-whites.
Your starting defense appears to be Roh, Van Bergen, Campbell and Martin on the line, along with Tony Anderson, Carvin Johnson, Kovacs, and Avery in the secondary. The linebackers changed from practice-to-practice, with Cam Gordon the only constant (He's joined by Herron and Mike Jones on this play).
Thomas Gordon's name is spelled wrong on his jersey. That's probably why he's one of the few guys to wear a game jersey in practice (i.e. because it's defective).
Brady Hoke points at things a lot.
Troy Woolfolk back on the field! Here getting a pick in defensive skeleton drills. Looks much happier than he did in bowl practices:
He was also joking around with JT Floyd, his fellow injured DB.
OH LB Joe Bolden was at practice Tuesday. (For more on him, check out Wednesday Recruitin' and Tom's update).
The rest of the photos live in this picture gallery:
I think Mattison may be using Martin on some pass plays like the Lions used Suh at LB last year.
The interesting comparison is that when Roh was in this spot everyone went ARGH! The coaches are stupid, put him on the line. With the respect Mattison has it's AHA! Evil Genius. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
We'll see how it turns out. Finding creative ways to use your best player is always something to look at, but there are plusses and minuses to trying to do too much vs letting teams gameplan him out of the game.
Where we are at as a defense with limited differnce makers, I think getting the most out of Martin is a good gamble..
Last year Mike Martin dropped back into coverage a couple times, and on those occasions, he did pretty well.
Well, first off, it was ROH, not the fans, who told the coaches they were stupid and he should be on the line.
Second of all, this coaching staff seems to have a handle on who can do what, and then letting those players do "what" to the best of their abilities.
You can think back to 2010 and decide for yourself whether GERG 1.0 did the same.
I said "everyone" not fans which would have included Roh if my logic class still holds.
Why are you asking me to look at Greg? I wasn't defending his usage of Roh.
Can we at least get to a Spring Game before we praise the staff for getting the best out of their abilities? I said I like the use of Martin, but there can be a downside.
April 15th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
No, it's already clear the defensive staff is better than Rodriguez's.
Yeah, Ziff, how DARE you question this coaching staff, which was put together by God himself!!! Argh MANBALL!!!!
If GERG lined up Mike Martin in a rush LB position this website would be getting Bad Gateway errors from the amount of people logging in to freak out.
There is a big difference in having Martin drop back a couple plays a game as a changeup and having Roh play LB full-time.
I agree. Mattison said it himself that he wants to create mismatches and advantages for the defense. I'm really excited about the presnap movements and the different alignments.
Brian might have to come up with more names for his UFR though.
The mere threat of a blitz, nonetheless an actual blitz, has me very excited.
Love me some all whites. Bring back Ricky Leach too.... That really looks great for some odd reason, makes the helmets stand out even more or something.
D Rob telegraphed that pick btw. Martin in coverage, even though he is starting from a standing position is not too far unlike a zone blitz package where a lineman drops back... its something that he may do at the next level also.
Yeah, I'm all for the all-whites. That's the uniform my dad wore back in the early 70s. I think it looks much better.
I am converted. I thought that all whites would look terrible and they should never be worn, but after seeing it, I gotta say I kinda like it.
April 14th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
Count me for all-whites, as well. Like somebody else said, it really makes the helmet pop.
essential for MANBAWL
What does it say about Talbott and Christian that your CB starter for now is Tony Amderson, previously almost unknown and unseen?
Who even is Tony Anderson? a walkon?
Yeah, he is a walk on from Redondo Beach, California.
Terrence Talbott missed some practices early on so I understand that, but I'm not sure about Buck.
Props to Redondo Beach!
Every time I hear Redondo Beach, I think of this skit(the guy right at the beginning)
So Herron is in now for an injured Demens. He switched LB positions? Anyone recall why Herron didn't see the field much last year compared to two years ago? I recall he got lots of camp hype in 09 for his speed, and played more in 09.
By far my favorite picture.
I need some of those white pants to wear around the office
Great post, Tim, as always
I think they look mean as hell. Hopefully we see them on the field.
Dirt nuggets, grass stains and blood combine on bare white very taco-like. And we can't have taco pants. Case against.
April 14th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
The key is no stripes on the pants.
With the winged helmet, we'll never look like Penn State.
Do we really have a tag for "Denard Robins?"
Great to see Woolfolk doing things.
April 14th, 2011 at 10:06 PM ^
Nice to see Hoke teaching Devin and Denard how to point. They're not quite up to his level yet, but I expect their pointing ability to be up to Hokes level by fall camp.
it's a new system of pointing
MANPOINT!!!!!!
April 14th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
For the Spring Game? What's the over/under? Anyone talked to Jamie Mac?
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