(7/30/12) Depth Chart & Fall Position Battles
QB
1. Denard Robinson (Sr.)
2. Devin Gardner (RS So.)
3. Russell Bellomy (RS Fr.)
RB
1. Fitzgerald Toussaint (RS Jr.)
2a. Vincent Smith (Sr.)
2b. Thomas Rawls (So.)
4. Justice Hayes (RS Fr.)
5. Dennis Norfleet (Fr.)
rs: Drake Johnson (Fr.)
FB
1. Stephen Hopkins (Jr.)
2. Joey Kerridge (RS Fr.)
3. Paul Gyarmati (RS Sr.)
rs: Sione Houma (Fr.)
WR1
1. Roy Roundtree (RS Sr.)
2. Jeremy Jackson (Jr.)
3a. Devin Gardner (RS So.)
3b. Ricardo Miller (RS So.)
WR2
1. Jeremy Gallon (RS Jr.)
2. Jerald Robinson (RS So.)
3a. Amara Darboh (Fr.)
3b. Jehu Chesson (Fr.)
Slot
1. Drew Dileo (Jr.)
TE
1. Brandon Moore (RS Sr.)
2. A.J. Williams (Fr.)
3. Devin Funchess (Fr.)
4a. Mike Kwiatowski (RS Sr.)
4b. Jordan Paskorz (RS So.)
LT
1. Taylor Lewan (RS Jr.)
2. Michael Schofield (RS Jr.)
3. Graham Glasgow (RS Fr.)
rs: Erik Magnuson (Fr.)
LG
1a. Elliott Mealer (RS Sr.)
1b. Kyle Kalis (Fr.)
3. Joey Burzynski (RS So.)
rs: Blake Bars (Fr.)
C
1. Ricky Barnum (RS Sr.)
2. Jack Miller (RS Fr.)
RG
1. Patrick Omameh (RS Sr.)
2a. Elliott Mealer (RS Sr.)
2b. Kyle Kalis (Fr.)
4. Chris Bryant (RS Fr.)
rs: Blake Bars (Fr.)
RT
1. Michael Schofield (RS Jr.)
2. Elliott Mealer (RS Sr.)/Patrick Omameh (RS Sr.)
3. Erik Gunderson (RS Jr.)
rs: Ben Braden (Fr.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WDE
1. Brennen Beyer (So.)
2. Frank Clark (So.)
3. Craig Roh (Sr.)
4. Jake Ryan (RS So.)
rs: Mario Ojemudia (Fr.)
NG
1. Will Campbell (Sr.)
2. Richard Ash (RS So.)
3. Ondre Pipkins (Fr.)
DT
1. Jibreel Black (Jr.)
2. Quinton Washington (RS Jr.)
3. Ondre Pipkins (Fr.)
4. Kenny Wilkins (RS So.)
rs: Matt Godin (Fr.)
rs: Willie Henry (Fr.)
SDE
1. Craig Roh (Sr.)
2. Jibreel Black (Jr.)
3a. Nathan Brink (RS Jr.)
3b. Keith Heitzman (RS Fr.)
rs: Chris Wormley (Fr.)
rs: Tom Strobel (Fr.)
WLB
1. Desmond Morgan (So.)
2. Brandin Hawthorne (Sr.)
3a. Antonio Poole (RS Fr.)
3b. James Ross (Fr.)
MLB
1. Kenny Demens (RS Sr.)
2. Joe Bolden (Fr.)
3. Mike Jones (RS Jr.)
rs: Kaleb Ringer (Fr.)
SLB
1. Jake Ryan (RS So.)
2. Cam Gordon (RS Jr.)
rs: Royce Jenkins-Stone (Fr.)
WCB
1. Blake Countess (So.)
2a. Courtney Avery (Jr.)
2b. Raymon Taylor (So.)
SCB
1. JT Floyd (RS Sr.)
2. Raymon Taylor (So.)
NB
1. Courtney Avery (Jr.)
2. Delonte Hollowell (So.)
rs: Terry Richardson (Fr.)
FS
1. Thomas Gordon (RS Jr.)
2. Jarrod Wilson (Fr.)
3. Tamani Carter (RS Fr.)
rs: Jeremy Clark (Fr.)
SS
1. Jordan Kovacs (RS Sr.)
2. Marvin Robinson (Jr.)
3. Josh Furman (RS So.)
rs: Allen Gant (Fr.)
FB, Slot & NB- Notice these positions are in italics. I realize you can't have 12 players on the field at once. This is my way of recognizing that. (Personally, I believe Shotgun, 3 WR, 2 RB will be our primary set along with the Pro Set formation).
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FALL POSITION BATTLES...who wins?
-
#2 RB - Vincent Smith or Thomas Rawls?
(Vince, will definitely be the 3rd down back...so it's not most PT. Who starts in place of Fitz? Who's Fitz' sub on 1st and 2nd down? Who's the #2 RB?) - Freshman WR Battle - Amara Darboh or Jehu Chesson?
- #1 LG - Elliott Mealer, Kyle Kalis or Joey Burzynski?
-
#1 WDE - Brennen Beyer or Frank Clark?
(This is assuming Clark returns) - #2 NG - Richard Ash or Ondre Pipkins?
-
#2/#3 SDE - Nathan Brink or Keith Heitzman?
(This is #2/#3 because Pipkins or Washington could potentially come in at DT and Black could move to SDE) - #3 WLB - Antonio Poole or James Ross?
-
#2 MLB - Joe Bolden or Mike Jones?
(This isn't really a battle, Bolden pretty much won it in the spring, but it gives everyone a chance to say "WHO!?!") - #1 P - Matt Wile or Will Hagerup?
***Who do YOU have winning each battle???***
RB
Like others have mentioned, I see Smith being deployed as the 3rd down back and Rawls winning that backup RB job and seeing the majority of carries spelling (replacing) Fitz.
WR
I see Gardner beating out Ricardo Miller and Chesson beating out Darboh for the 3 WR spots largely because Chesson can fill in as your resident slot ninja if Dileo goes out where Darboh is more of a Gardner/Miller jump ball type.
OL
Looks like the coaches aren't too happy with Bryant which makes me think we shouldn't count on him to contribute. We are super thin. I'd bet Mealer wins the starting LG gig and Kalis ends up backing up both guard spots. If Lewan or Schofield goes down, Mealer moves over to T and Kalis ends up at G (which the depth chart seems to insuinuate)
DL
I'd be shocked if Pipkins isn't ahead of both Ash/Washington and rotating in at both spots (due to his quickness) by the time the season starts. Brink probably wins the backup SDE job, but it seems like if Roh goes down, Black would slide over leaving Pipkins starting at DT (with my previous assumption).
LB
Ross beats out Poole for the garbage time LB/special teams spot.
Darboh can really do it all. I've lived in Iowa for 24 years now and have seen a lot of local football. Darboh is easily the best WR prospect to come out of this state in a long time. He and Chesson are very close in size, but I think Darboh wins out on playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. I've seen Chesson on film and think that Darboh is more elusive after the catch. Either way, it's nice to be able to have to discuss depth more than worry about what happens if a starter gets dinged.
As does Darboh according to Rivals. Darboh ran track as well. Don't know his results as I'm not a big Track and Field guy. I just think Darboh adds the playmaking ability that few possess.
Because I am working on this anyway, I will post Michigan's data here - I built a hypothetical two-deep based on this depth chart, and this is where you would approximately be for size at each position:
| POSITION | AVG. HEIGHT | AVG. WEIGHT |
| QB | 74 | 200 |
| RB | 68 | 183.5 |
| FB | 72 | 229.5 |
| WR1 | 73.5 | 187.5 |
| WR2 | 70.5 | 195.5 |
| Slot | 70 | 172 |
| TE | 77.5 | 257.5 |
| LT | 79.5 | 300.5 |
| LG | 77 | 306 |
| C | 75.5 | 277.5 |
| RG | 76.5 | 304.5 |
| RT | 78 | 304.5 |
| WDE | 74.5 | 226.5 |
| NG | 76 | 311.5 |
| DT | 75 | 281 |
| SDE | 75.5 | 264.5 |
| WLB | 72.5 | 217 |
| MLB | 74 | 239 |
| SLB | 75 | 226 |
| WCB | 70.5 | 174.5 |
| SCB | 71 | 177 |
| NB | 70 | 168.5 |
| FS | 72.5 | 199 |
| SS | 73 | 198.5 |
I sort of like how this this stacks up. At most positions, at least in terms of size, we are within earshot of conference means at most positions and are about to get bigger at a few in the near future if the 2013 class stays together.
As for the battles themselves, like others, I like Rawls as a possibility at RB and I think we have a pretty good stable of RBs that will get used situationally on occasion, with Smith as a good 3rd down back, I think. I also believe Gardner has to figure into this at one of the WR charts - I think he sees more action at WR than most people think, particularly in passing situations.
OL depth - I like Kalis as a backup at both guard positions; there's just enough to sustain some degree of injury, but yeah, much beyond two significant injuries and we have problems here.
Beyer, Black, Campbell and Roh would be a good front four, especially if Campbell has a hug year, I think. I have to wonder if Pipkins doesn't start seeing time later in the year though. If these four can hold up against good rushing attacks, we're doing well here.
Gordon and Kovacs at safety is something I actually find comforting. I don't see too many long touchdowns getting through if we stay injure-free here.
Spring Game was ONE game...Mealer started the majority of the spring, is the scholarship player...and is better in the minds of many. It's not that far fetched. Not like we're saying AJ Williams is going to be the starting LG.
I'm shocked his name hasn't been mentioned much...he had a very good spring. I wouldn't be shocked to see him be the "Desmond Morgan" of this year.
Problem is the Des Morgan of last year didn't have to compete with a Roh, Black, Brink for playing time. So while I think he'll be solid, a little mistake prone and a headache from time to time...he's not going to be called on like Morgan was.
With that said, depending on the progress of Wormley, Strobel and Pipkins/Washington (who could move Black to SDE), I wouldn't be totally shocked to see Heitzman starting in '13-'14.