Chris Bryant (Tibia), Kaleb Ringer (Knee) Out For The Season
According to Chris Balas at Rivals (TheWolverine):
@Balas_Wolverine OL Chris Bryant out for the yr with a fractured tibia; LB Kaleb Ringer to redshirt in 2012 after successful knee surgery
Hurts depth, for sure.
[BISB - Added Ringer to title]
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
Terrible about Chris, but since no injury is mentioned for Ringer, could it be he had some longstanding issues they decided to move on with surgery, knowing there's enough depth at LB to redshirt Ringer now and make him healthier in the long run? Anybody have more info on the cause?
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
He had minor knee surgery during his senior season, so my hunch is that it's a lingering issue...but that's not based on any inside info.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:13 PM ^
I'm guessing that is related to the MCL sprain he suffered last year.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
You're expecting more info from Michigan about injuries?
I'll do my best Chris Webber impersonation and say, "Good luck."
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Depth is one of those things that when you lose it for whatever reason (in this case a coaching transition 4 years past with a very different recruiting emphasis), it seems like it takes 2 or 3 times longer to restore it.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:19 PM ^
Good thing Joe Bolen and Ross are ready to go if needed. How's RJS doing? Out LB depth is promising. Speedy recovery to both Chris and Kaleb.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
RJS came in only at 213, which is 2lbs lighter than what was listed on his rivals profile. I'm sure we can pencil him into getting a RS unless he somehow bulks up magically in a weeks time.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
He's made it clear he wants and expects to play. It's not just about team need, but player preference.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:45 PM ^
It's really not about player preference. He said like 6 months ago that he expects to come in and play, but lots of guys say that, and frankly it's good that they think that. Many of them, however, realize that they're buried on the depth chart and/or not as big as other college football players and redshirt.
Remember - in order to burn a redshirt a player needs to actually play. So RJS can decide he doesn't want to redshirt, but it doesn't mean Hoke is going to put him in the game.
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:53 PM ^
Its not uncommon for stories to come out where a player plays somewhere, against the coaches wishes. (e.g., Cato June playing DB instead of LB). Michael Shaw seemed to get a promise from Rodriguez to start as a freshman - he started the first game then was quickly marginalized.
Sometimes we say 'argh wasted red-shirt'...pretty sure the coaches say the samething.
Sure, Hoke can be stubborn and not play RJS, but if he does that against the player's wishes, he risks RJS being unhappy and transferring. That's not how an intelligent program manager would handle things. Hoke is going to communicate the situation to a potential red-shirt and try to steer him in one direction, but if a guy is as determined as RJS has sounded in the past - he'll likely play.
Besides, with Poole and Ringer going down, we might be able to use him on special teams.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^
Do you have anything to back this up? I'm sure all players wants to, or expects to play. That doesn't mean the strength/coaching staff see it the same way.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
Coaches don't present things that way because they're not idiots. They say "look, you're not going to see the field at linebacker this season and we think you're going to be a special player here. We'd hate for you to waste a season playing in blowouts or special teams"
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^
The Ringer injury is manageable as he wasn't going to be needed this year anyway, but good god is our Oline depth scary as hell.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
Michigan's new offensive line two deep:
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT | |
| 1 | T. Lewan | E. Mealer | R. Barnum | P. Omameh | M. Schofield |
| 2 | HALOL | LMAO | J. Miller | WHAAA? | *giggles* |
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:37 PM ^
Kyle Kalis is not amused.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
He may be a very good freshman, but he's still a freshman and that's still terrifying at a position like OL.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:49 PM ^
Especially when you might be the first backup at multiple spots on the OL.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
in full scowl mode that we can use with the "Kyle Kalis is not amused" meme?
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
If anyone deserves to be on the 2 line its Burzynski. Miller still hasn't done anything.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:47 PM ^
But he's one of two guys on our team who plays center, so he's the second string center.
August 23rd, 2012 at 4:29 PM ^
Was Jack Miller recruited as a DE?
Who would theoretically be behind Jack Miller?
August 23rd, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
ND recruited him on the DL, and the scouts had him rated as a DE, but M wanted him at OL from the beginning.
August 23rd, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT | |
| 1 | T. Lewan | E. Mealer | R. Barnum | P. Omameh | M. Schofield |
| 2 | M. Schofield | J. Burzynski | J. Miller | J. Burzynski | P. Omameh |
| 3 | E. Mealer | K. Kalis | J. Burzynski | K. Kalis | B. Braden |
With no "duplicate names"...
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT | |
| 1 | T. Lewan | E. Mealer | R. Barnum | P. Omameh | M. Schofield |
| 2 | E. Magnuson | K. Kalis | J. Miller | J. Burzynski | B. Braden |
| 3 | D. Gibbs | E. Gunderson | B. Pliska | G. Glasgow | K. Mateus |
Coach Hoke keeps mentioned an 8-man rotation...or feeling comfortable with 8 guys. I think it is clear they are:
- Lewan
- Omameh
- Schofield
- Barnum
- Mealer
- Burzynski
- Miller
- Kalis
That's not bad, but there is NO depth that we feel comfortable with at OT. Meaning we'd likely move Mealer or Omameh outside if need be and Burzynski or Kalis in at OG.
August 23rd, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^
I think Mealer worked as RT with the 2's in the spring game... So I would have him as # 2 RT over Omameh. And as far as your "no duplicate name" chart if you go by the spring game I believe Mateus was LT, Gunderson was RT, and Glasgow was LG.
August 23rd, 2012 at 5:44 PM ^
LT: Lewan, Schofield, Magnuson
LG: Mealer, Kalis, Burzynski
C: Barnum, Miller, Burzynski
RG: Omameh, Burzynski, Kalis/Bars
RT: Schofield, Mealer, Braden
Hoke did say 4 frosh may be on the depth chart so I wouldn't count Bars out.
August 23rd, 2012 at 5:47 PM ^
It's never a good thing when your back-up at one spot is a starter at another.
August 25th, 2012 at 2:50 PM ^
Kalis be the #2 backup at LG, but potentially #4 at RG?
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:19 PM ^
Is he a walk on or something?
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
losing Bryant will be a bigger issue than Ringer. But, I wish a successful recovery for both players and look forward to their return next season.
After watching Michigan football since the 1970's, these kind of pre-season injuries are pretty normal. Last year was unusually light in comparison to history. This year is probably average to slightly above average. Hopefully, it won't get any worse.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^
I believe Kalis and magnuson are better than lamo and whaaa.....
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
By most accounts, Ringer was likely to redshirt anyway. Main downside now is that he'll lose some practice and conditioning time (though perhaps not an entire year of it, as Wormley will). Assuming this isn't a chronic problem, Ringer might benefit in the long run.
As for Bryant, well, that's really sad for him. But it's true, isn't it, that broken bones usually heal faster and more completely than tendons and ligaments? Hopefully he'll also be at full speed by next summer.
And yes, the o-line depth now borders on terrifying. But, hey, if you must play freshman, you could do a lot worse than Kalis, Magnuson, and Bars. The odds say at least one of these big fellas will at some point be serviceable. They've got game-ready size, at least.
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^
Maybe it's just me but I read "chronic problem" and immediately thought of Mario Manngingham
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^
Yes - broken bones typically heal quickly and completely. The tibia, however, is a pretty solid bone (the fibula would have been preferred) which is why he's likely out for the season. Although it's not unlikely that he's able to go by the bowl game.
August 23rd, 2012 at 4:20 PM ^
Although it's not unlikely that he's able to go by the bowl game.Might as well just take the medical redshirt by that point...
August 23rd, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^
Unlikely he gets a medical redshirt so use him if you need him.
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:23 PM ^
Unlikely he gets a medical redshirt so use him if you need him.Personally, I would think this would be a legit reason... Although it is true that the NCAA has a labyrinth of rules to follow that may not allow it. Someone (Im not sure if it was you WolvinLA2) mentioned that they tend to not give a medical redshirt right after a normal redshirt, but is that an official rule?
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
I'm not super familiar with the rules themselves, but pretty familiar with how they've been applied in practice.
The two ways a medical redshirt is most often granted are when players haven't yet redshirted, and have a season ending injury in the first few games (like Junior Hemingway's sophomore year). This is usually fine since they player is still using 4 years of eligibility over 5 years, which is what they want. The other way is when a player who has redshirted before loses their last eligible season to injury, or loses two consecutive seasons to the same injury.
Let's say Barnum or Omameh or Demens had a season ending injury right now (knock on wood). Those guys would have a good case because they missed their last year to injury, and the NCAA will often give that back to them. What they don't want is for young guys who may need more time to develop to be given 6 years on the team. They look at Bryant and say he still has 3 good years, that's fine. They don't want teams to get in the habit of double redshirting guys because of an "injury."
Again, this has a lot more to do with the application of the rules, rather than my knowledge of the rules themselves. The same reason Mealer won't get a 6th year even though he was hurt his first couple years on campus.
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
Might as well try. Typically 320+ guys don't stay in football shape when they have broken legs...
August 23rd, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
Best of luck and a speedy recovery to both gentlemen.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:02 PM ^
I guess Hoke wasn't lying when he said 4 true freshman could be on the oline 2 deep in a recent press conference.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
Hopefully Bryant will be a monster as a 6yr-RS Senior.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
That usually isn't how medical redshirts work. If it was the same injury that cost him last year AND this year, then maybe. But you don't typically get to use both a standard redshirt and a medical redshirt back-to-back
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^
My reading of NCAA bylaws 14.2.4 et seq. doesn't make that distinction. It may be the case that, in practice, the NCAA tends to scrutinize applications for a medical hardship waiver submitted immediately following a redshirt year, but that would seem to be to guard against situations where a coach is looking for an extra year to bulk up his underclassmen, rather than having a bona fide member of the two-deep fracture his tibia.
August 23rd, 2012 at 5:19 PM ^
I don't think it matters. Case Kenum redhsirted his first year at Houston just because they had Kevin Kolb, and then got a 6th year after injuring himself during his 5th year. I don't see why Bryant wouldn't be eligible for a 6th year if he applied for it.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
bring out the trash can to put on the o-line
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
Well, at least we know they aren't acting like a bunch wussies during practice.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
Not good for Bryant. I think he was still hovering around 330 - 340 lbs. Having a broken leg is not going to help him keep bad weight off.