April 19th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
my point is that you want Ross because you think he's better than Bolden, not because he's from Michigan and Bolden is from Ohio. Hell, I want Ross more than Bolden personally.
But if Ross was from Florida, and Bolden was from Michigan, and everything else was the same as it currently is--i.e. same playing ability and same chances of landing them as we have now--I'd still take Ross.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:03 AM ^
I think that's perfectly valid. I was speaking more in the abstract than to the specific scenario of Bolden vs. Ross.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
that you aren't going to recruit in Michigan though. Don't get me wrong (not that you did). But I'm gonna cherry pick in-state and take the kids that i REALLY want.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
April 19th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
Not as important as getting talent is. It just happens to be a bit easier if the kids are regional.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^
Yes, it is easier to convince them if they're closer to home but it also draws in other top talants which are also instate. If you get a guy from California there is a lot less chance that he attracts other California prospects. That's why it is more important to get instate guys... but Ross is a better player in my opinion which I already explained earlier in this post.
I want him because of the instate thing too. Mattison will coach him up if he isn't as good as an Ohio kid
April 19th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
I'd rather have Ross just because he's an instate kid and they're always nice to grab. I definitely like both of them though. Ross seems more of an impact player to me, I want him to be our Ray Lewis... I just can't help it.
I want to keep Ross far away from osu and psu.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^
Bolden is a great prospect and would be a great get, but Ross is a great player and an Ohio offer as well. If Bolden goes Blue and we close the linebacker offers, you can bet Ohio will be top two finalist for Ross. That can't happen. We need to get Ross first and foremost.
FWIW...I wish we had this problem three years ago, considering we're in the running for Ross (#3), Bolden (#27), and Biegel (#22) after already getting verbals from #2 Jenkins-Stone and #9 Ringer.
April 19th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
In-State
72. Royce Jenkins-Stone
86. Aaron Burbridge
99. Danny O'Brien
115. James Ross
137. Ron Thompson
145. Devin Funchess
154. Terry Richardson
187. Mario Ojemudia
280. Dennis Norfleet
Out-of-State notes
25. Zeke Pike
28. Brionte Dunn
40. Jordan Diamond
64. Sheldon Day
113. Chris Wormley
145. Armani Reeves
150. Jarrod Wilson
191. Halapoulivaati Vaitai
206. Kaleb Ringer
252. Joe Bolden
265. Wayne Morgan
April 19th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
we just picked up the best recruit in the state of Michigan, what happened to Dantonio owning in-state recruiting?
April 19th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
I'm lazy. Thanks!
April 19th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
I enjoy looking at the rankings. I was curious about how they ordered the in-state kids mostly
April 19th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
if you believe these rankings, that stuff about the state of michigan having an incredible talent pool this year looks like it was overblown.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
37. Lawrence Thomas
64. DeAnthony Arnett
76. Brennan Beyer
131. Justice Hayes
144. Anthony Zettel
151. Valdez Showers
248. Jake Fisher
264. Onaje Miller
April 20th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
hey, thanks. here's 2010 in case anyone's curious:
29. William Gholston
43. Devin Gardner
133. Mylan Hicks
140. Rob Bolden
155. Austin White
163. Max Bullough
167. Ricardo Miller
177. C.J. Olaniyan
180. Dior Mathis
April 19th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
I haven't heard anything on Burbridge. Is ot just assumed he's heading to State, or has he expressed any interest to...well, anywhere, I suppose.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^
Of the 3 FHH kids, I'd say he's probably the least likely to come here, just from level of chatter and such. I wouldn't say he's a Spartan lock either though; he's got offers from ND, OSU and much of the rest of the Big Ten, etc.
We'll have to see what happens. One reason we might not have heard a lot about him is that WR isn't a really a priority for us this year. We SHOULD be taking 1 IMO and probably will at the least but his recruitment could be going a bit slower then other kids.
I heard that he has some work to do in the classroom. I think once that is taken care of he will see more offers.
It's assumed he's going to Michigan State.
Burbridge couldn't visit Michigan or anywhere else recently because of his poor grades...
...but he's going to the MSU spring game. That ought to tell us something.
April 19th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
Has anyone confirmed for sure if Lloyd Brady is graduating this year or not? His attendance next year is essential to the positive mindset of the Michigan fan base and players alike.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^
Our new kicker
April 19th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
From the video I've seen, I don't really think RJS is yet worthy of a Top 100 ranking..........however, he definitely has a Top 100 offer list. I guess we'll have to trust the experts on this one.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
Personally, I put more weight in the offer list than anything. I trust BCS level coaches and scouts over recruiting gurus (who are good at what they do, don't get me wrong) on rivals or scout.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
Your mom isn't worthy of a Top 100 ranking
April 19th, 2011 at 11:51 PM ^
Disagree.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:41 AM ^
Hey lets get off of mothers, since I just got off yours.
/Good Will Hunting
Wasn't that, "White Men Can't Jump"?
Nope. Casey Affleck says that line in one of the many scenes where they are all in a car.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:09 PM ^
To FB. It makes too much sense. We have too many LBs as it is. Plus Desmond is big and cab run- played QB in HS.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:27 PM ^
Desmond is a beast at LB. I played against him this year and last year. Even though he only played QB vs us this year because of injury, he is still a very good LB. Plus he never blocked in HS so it wouldn't make sense for him to be a FB.
He was a battering ram as a QB, couldn't really throw. I don't think there's any reason to put him at FB either.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:35 PM ^
Newb question: what talents/skills determine if someone is better suited for SAM vs WILL? With the number of counters and misdirections, aren't OLBs pretty much the same? Are SAMs expected to cover TEs in pass coverage?
I'll have a post up about this at 8:00 a.m. over at Touch the Banner, but we really only have one OLB, which is the SAM. The WILL is an inside linebacker. He lines up in the A gap, between the C and G. SAMs are expected to cover tight ends at times, yes.
Your last sentence reads like something Gollum would say.
Gives it to us. We needs it.
precious
"we really only have one OLB"
That is the case in the 4-3 Under, but not a balanced 4-3 or 4-3 Over... correct?
Do we expect the D to exclusively run a 4-3 Under?
Based on the Ravens D I would say that we will run a lot of 4-3 under. Meaning that the Sam will be doing more rushing as opposed to covering the TE. So basically this position will need to be your most versatile athlete on defense.
In a balanced 4-3 or a Tampa Cover 2, you would have two OLB's (the SAM and WILL).
In a 4-3 Over, the WILL is the only OLB. He would be walked up on the line of scrimmage to the weakside, away from the tight end. Meanwhile, the SAM would then be an inside linebacker.
Hoke said that we would run 4-3 Under and 4-3 Over. I expect both, but predominantly Under.
Would it make sense to swap your personnel so that the Sam in the 4-3 Under goes to Will in the 4-3 Over (and vice versa)?
That depends on your goal of running the Over front. If you think your WILL can handle stopping the run, then it wouldn't be a bad idea. But if you've got a 210 pound WILL at the point of attack who's taking on a 240 lb. fullback in Over, then it might be a bad idea to flip-flop those linebackers.