Official Michigan Depth Chart for Saturday
Key notes-
- Brandon Moore is out this week, Kwiatkowski will start in front of him
- Dennis Norfleet has been named officially the starting kickoff returner. Vincent Smith will be the second man back.
- Russell Bellomy is the 2nd string QB
Starting Lineup, 9/8 vs air force-
Offense
QB Denard Robinson Sr.
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint RS Jr.
FB Stephen Hopkins Jr.
WR Jeremy Gallon RS Jr.
WR Roy Roundtree 5th
TE Mike Kwiatkowski 5th
LT Taylor Lewan RS Jr.
LG Ricky Barnum 5th
C Elliott Mealer 5th
RG Patrick Omameh 5th
RT Michael Schofield RS Jr.
Defense
DE Jibreel Black Jr.
DT Will Campbell Sr.
NT Quinton Washington RS Jr.
DE Craig Roh Sr.
SAM Jake Ryan RS So.
MIKE Kenny Demens 5th
WILL Desmond Morgan So.
LCB Courtney Avery Jr.
SS Jordan Kovacs 5th
FS Thomas Gordon RS Jr.
RCB J.T. Floyd 5th
Special Teams
K Brendan Gibbons RS Jr.
P Will Hagerup Jr.
H Drew Dileo Jr.
KO Matt Wile So.
LS Jareth Glanda RS Jr.
PR Jeremy Gallon RS Jr.
KR Dennis Norfleet Fr.
KR Vincent Smith Sr.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:26 PM ^
Or is he punished beyond not making the trip last week?
September 5th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
norfleet probably earned it, he was super fast on saturday
September 5th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
But it's V. Smith that's replaced Furman on the depth chart.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
I like that actually, considering the way we line up in kick returns. Iirc Norfleet was lined up at the endzone line (where most kicks go these days), while Vince was lined up a few yards further up and off to the side. This means Smith was the lead blocker most of the time, which fits his skillset well (and not Furman's). It's possible that Furman is still 2nd string at Norfleets position, and that that position is seperate from Smith's.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^
While most of us agreed with (or at least supported) Hoke pulling Fitz Toussaint from the debacle in the Bubbadome, I think it's good to see him back in the starting lineup. I hope/suspect that he's learned his lesson, and will be rarin' to go on Saturday.
It's also great to see Lewan listed as a starter (I know Hoke said he was fine and would play, but it was really depressing seeing him leave the field hurt on Saturday). While I was numb after the game, I'm really looking forward to Saturday's tilt.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
Watch his presser here. To own up to his mistakes like he did (especially in an interview) shows a lot imo.
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/video-offense-vs-alabama-every-snap-and-toussaint-interview
September 5th, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^
I'd prefer Hoke rest Lewan a couple weeks so he's 100% ready for the upcoming grind.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^
1 So, 1 RS So... and everyone else is an upperclassman. This is what depth looks like!!!
September 5th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
Having lots of upper classman in the starting lineup does not mean we have depth. It just means we have experience, and even some of our upperclassman are first year starters.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
That's the word I was looking for. It's been so long since we've had it I couldn't even remember what to call it.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
It seems like his natural quickness is even better for PR than it is for KR.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
There is nothing more terrifying than having a true freshman catch punts. See: Rich Rod special teams.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
on to the kid 4 years later because I really appreciate how hard he tried, but...walk-on QB's are more terrifying. See: Nick Sheridan
September 5th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^
Counterpoint: see Matt McGloin.
September 6th, 2012 at 7:33 AM ^
that penn state offense was firing on all cylinders against the mighty ohio bobcats...
September 5th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
I think there's a bit more decision making for a punt returner. Probably the coaches prefer a steady proven guy in gallon vs a guy with a lot of upside but that may make an inopportune game changing mistake
September 5th, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
It is more important to have a veteran at PR because you want him to make the right decisions on whether to catch or let it go. Although Gallon messed up once in the Bama game he usually makes the right decision on fair catches.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
Sure handed, experienced Gallon?
September 5th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
Brandon Moore is actually listed as #1 TE. Is this a mistake, or am I missing something?
September 5th, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^
Moore is out with a strained MCL this week.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
I wonder if this was Mike Kwiatkowski's reaction when he learned he was starting?
September 5th, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
I'm thinking we may see a lot of THE FUNCHESS on passing downs Saturday
September 5th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^
I had the same reaction, but a bad, looking-ahead sort of thing. My gawd, we have lots of "Sr." and "5th" on that list. Take them out, next year, we have a TON of rebuilding to do. Of course, lots of PT can make up for that... but the truth is, we are led by lots of experienced players.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
Really, the OL is the only position group that will be hit hard (unless you count QB as a position group, in which case, yeah). Losing our TE starter won't be as big once AJ and The Funchess aren't frosh and we get Butt and Hill on campus. Losing Roundtree won't be a big deal (because it's not 2010 anymore) and because Gardner, Darboh, and hopefully Treadwell.
On D, we lose 2 DL, 1 LB and 2 DBs. Outside of Kovacs, none of those are Mike Martin or Brandon Graham type losses, and the guys coming in for them are pretty good, in most instances. OL will be the DL of next off-season, but outside of that we'll look strong.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:58 PM ^
wouldn't be the worst thing to happen................
September 5th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
Our replacements on Oline should be solid by then, though. Kalis, Miller, and Bryant look to step in, all at over 300 lbs by then. Miller and Bryant will have had 2 years in this system by then, too, and Kalis is a beast. If Lewan leaves then we still aren't really in trouble because our schedule looks really light that year and his replacements are Schofield (likely,) with Braden, Magnuson, (possibly Kalis,) (possibly AJ Williams,) and walkons Gunderson, Mateus, Glasgow, and Gibbs as the depth chart at Tackle. By Sparty and Nebraska we'll have played 7 games and had 2 bye weeks for them to settle in.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^
Although I mostly agree with you, saying anything positive about Bryant is a little premature at this point, and we're still super thin if any of the guys you mention go down. Bringing back Lewan would be a really big deal.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:51 PM ^
I am still wondering about Bryant, but Miller I'm a little high on. I loved his senior stats,
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/miller_jack00.html
and I like that he went the opposite way Bryant did getting in OLine shape. Starting small and athletic at TE, dropping basketball to focus on football, played both ways, then beefed up from 240 to 270 in high school, to almost 290 now. He's supposedly got great hands and technique from playing so much End. Depth sucks, though. Hope the 2013 class can all redshirt.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:13 PM ^
I had the same reaction. Realistically, though, we'll probably see a couple of young guys pass veterans and get into the starting line-up before the year is over. This depth chart probably overstates the number of starters we'll have to replace in 2013.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:36 PM ^
Agreed. And even many of the ones that are "replaced" next year won't exactly be Mealer replacing Molk type situations.
Examples:
Demens being replaced by Bolden or Ross. Whoever it is, this will likely not be a drop-off.
Roundtree being replaced by Darboh, Robinson, Chesson or whoever else. He's a nominal starter anyway, this won't be a drop-off.
Starting TE replaced by AJ or Funchess.
BWC replaced by Pipkins (ish). This might not be an exact replacement, but it sort of will be.
One of the OGs being replaced by Kalis. This will mitigate things.
Even our secondary replacements won't be so bad since guys like Raymon Taylor and Avery are getting a lot of snaps, same with Jarrod Wilson at S.
Basically, there's a lot of proven talent who will come in for most of the departing seniors. OL - fuck.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^
I am happy that Norfleet is officially listed as the starting KR, but I want to see him get some offensive snaps in the coming weeks. The kid is too talented to only have him returning kicks. I can imagine him just being deadly on any sort of screen where he has the ball and some room to do his thing.
September 6th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
I'm thinking he has a real shot at the starting job next year if Fitz goes pro. It's not like Borges and Hoke haven't used tiny backs to good effect before(see: Hillman, Ronnie) I know the competition is a step up, but I think he's got a chance to make some noise.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 5:34 PM ^
If it makes you more crazy, Wile is also the FG kicker on "long" attempts whatever classifies as long to Hoke.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^
Third on depth at FS, and the third-listed KR. I wonder what happened to the "Josh Furman, Starting Kick Returner" experiment?
September 5th, 2012 at 6:45 PM ^
Perhaps it's because he has been struggling to follow the rules...
September 5th, 2012 at 6:53 PM ^
He's the psudo-starting gunner again, I heard...
September 5th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^
I think the one guy in that role, about whom you could say he was the best guy on the field on those special-team downs. Shades of Darnell Hood.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^
Very eager to see Funchess. Hope he plays this week.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^
Damn that depth chart looks good...
Air Force better be ready, because we're gonna be bringing the heat.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:34 PM ^
I thought someone further up on the comments went over this.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^
Everyone is saying Fitz is starting...how do we know?
Mealer wasn't the C last week even though he'd been practicing there for a week and a half. Moore is still listed as the starter even though he's out 3 weeks.
We really have to stop taking these things as "Bible."