Michigan Reveals Current Depth Chart
Dance if you're the starting slot receiver.
Michigan released their game notes for Appalachian State, and they contain the depth chart as it stands right now. Keep in mind that OL Graham Glasgow (suspension), TE Jake Butt (knee), and S Delano Hill (jaw) are omitted—Hill is the only one of the three who could potentially be cleared for action by Saturday.
MICHIGAN OFFICIAL DEPTH CHART (as of 8/25) | |||||
OFFENSE | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | First | Second | Third | ||
QB | D. Gardner | S. Morris | |||
RB | D. Green | D. Smith |
D. Johnson OR J. Hayes |
||
FB | J. Kerridge | S. Houma | |||
WR | D. Funchess | A. Darboh | |||
WR | J. Chesson | F. Canteen | |||
Slot | D. Norfleet | B. Dever | |||
TE | A.J. Williams | K. Hill | |||
LT | M. Cole | E. Magnuson | |||
LG | E. Magnuson | K. Bosch | |||
C | J. Miller | P. Kugler | |||
RG |
J. Burzynski OR K. Bosch |
K. Kalis | |||
RT | B. Braden | L. Tuley-Tillman | |||
DEFENSE | |||||
Pos | First | Second | Third | ||
SDE | B. Beyer | T. Charlton | |||
NT | R. Glasgow |
B. Mone OR O. Pipkins |
|||
DT | W. Henry | M. Godin | |||
WDE | F. Clark | M. Ojemudia | |||
MLB |
J. Ryan OR D. Morgan |
M. McCray | |||
WLB |
J. Bolden OR D. Morgan |
B. Gedeon | |||
SLB |
R. Jenkins-Stone OR J. Ross |
A. Gant | |||
FS | J. Wilson | A. J. Pearson | |||
SS | J. Clark | D. Thomas | |||
CB | B. Countess |
T. Richardson OR C. Stribling |
|||
CB |
R. Taylor OR J. Lewis |
D. HOLLOWELL | |||
Nickel | J. Peppers | D. HOLLOWELL | |||
SPECIAL TEAMS | |||||
Pos | First | Second | Third | ||
P | W. Hagerup | M. Wile | |||
K | M. Wile | K. Allen | |||
PR | J. Peppers | D. Norfleet | |||
KR | D. Norfleet | J. Hayes | |||
LS | S. Sypniewski | A. Robinson | |||
H | K. Allen | S. Morris |
[Overanalysis section, after the jump]
Before delving into analysis of the enormous ramifications of this depth chart, a reminder: Michigan listed Devin Funchess as the #4 TE on the depth chart for much of his freshman year, and heading into the 2012 opener Ricky Barnum and Elliott Mealer swapped spots on the starting O-line seemingly hours before kickoff. These things tend to be fluid.
That said, let the breathless overanalysis begin:
-
DeVeon SmithDerrick Green (I can totally read, guys) has emerged from the pile of running back to stand atop the depth chart. - Jehu Chesson currently holds a starting spot over Amara Darboh across from Devin Funchess. All of us may look pretty stupid.
- Dennis Norfleet is your starting slot, while the coaches are listing Freddy Canteen as a backup outside receiver for the moment.
- The O-line is as expected except for right guard, where Joey Burzynski and Kyle Bosch are competing for Graham Glasgow's spot in the opening day lineup. Guessing Kyle Kalis' back is still bothering him, but not enough to keep him from donning a uniform.
- Ryan Glasgow ahead of Bryan Mone and Ondre Pipkins at the nose may have been foretold in the open scrimmage, but it's still one of the more surprising selections on the two-deep. Regardless, that spot gets a lot of rotation.
- Another D-line surprise: Matt Godin ahead of Chris Wormley to back up Willie Henry at 3-tech, and no Maurice Hurst Jr. on the list at all.
- Every single linebacker spot has an 'OR' at starter. I'd take that more seriously at the two outside spots—and note that RJS is listed above Ross at SLB—and safely assume that Desmond Morgan is going to get his fair share of playing time. Brian might still eat a lemon, though, as a loss by technicality is still a loss.
- The returning starters at corner hold onto their spots for now, though Jourdan Lewis has already moved into co-starter territory.
- Jabrill Peppers is not just the starting nickel, but also the #1 punt returner.
- The only true freshmen on the two-deep are Mason Cole, Canteen, Mone, and Peppers. This is major progress from the last few seasons.
Discuss.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
If Kalis is healthy enough to go 100%, he'd have been a starter most likely, but he wasn't totally there yet so it was down Burz and Bosch.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
It's hard to believe that Jake Ryan is listed as an OR starter. I know Ace pointed out that all LB's have an OR. If there is exactly 0% that he doesn't starts, what's the point of the OR? If there isn't:
August 25th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
"ive also never really believed that the coaches are committed to him on the inside."
Not a chance, they changed from 4-3 under to 4-3 over to facilitate moving Jake Ryan to the middle, not the other way around. He's the centerpiece to this defense and the coaches are 100% all in on the move.
August 25th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 25th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
With the spread teams on the schedule, he was asked to do ridiculous things when they went to nickel, which was often. Yeah, he has more upside as a SAM against downhill running teams, but more often than not he was playing defactor DE or nickelback. At MIKE, he'll be in on just about every play. He may not be as productive by the numbers, but he should make the defense better as a whole from there. At least that's the theory.
August 25th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
That's been my impression as well. Any indication that he's 100% to start just boggles my mind.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
I am really stoked about our defensive depth. My biggest worry is that our defense will be really good and the offense will suck, resulting in low time of possession. The more depth we have on defense, the better prepared we are to mitigate a low time of possession and stay fresh.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
It's the little things about this blog. Like capitalizing Delonte Hollowell's name on the depth chart.
August 25th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
Drummer Norfleet, give that man a beat!
August 25th, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^
I am hoping for big things from Fleet this year. Nussmeier is known for throwing out wide and with Chesson and Funch blocking like they can, there could be some big alleys for #26. Go Blue!
August 25th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
I'm really happy to see Jehu Chesson atop the depth chart (whatever that means at this stage). Ever since reading his recruiting profile on this here site, I've felt like he has tons of potential. He's very mature, is a hard worker, has blazing speed (Missouri state champion in 100M dash, runner-up in 110M hurdles), and has a big frame. The fact that we now have legitimate alternatives at receiver, and that he's developed enough to beat them out, is a great sign.
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