2011 Starting D - Prediction
Now that we have a new D-Coordinator, I was wondering what our starting D will look like. I'm assuming Mattison runs the 4-3.
My prediction:
DE (Strongside) - VanBergen
DT- Campbell/Ash
NT- Martin
DE (Weakside) - Black
MLB - Demens
OLB - Gordon/Ryan
OLB - Roh/Ryan
CB (Strongside) - Woolfolk
CB (Weakside) - Avery
SS - Robinson
FS - Johnson
Thoughts?
January 25th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
I think Mike Jones will start at WLB if he's healthy. I also think that Q. Washingon has more of a chance to play than Campbell.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
True Mike Jones looked OK in the beginning of the year. I haven't given up hope on Campbell!
January 25th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
I rather have Fitzgerald at LB, and Roh at DE.
January 27th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
Craig Roh is a DE, period.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
I was under the impression that they moved Washington back to OL when they moved Campbell back to DL.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
I never heard anyone say it, though. It could be the coaches decided that the team is okay for OL w/out Washington and Campbell and needs all the help it can get on DL.
January 26th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
No.
Mostly because Washington was already a better DT than Campbell at the end of the season.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
I hope Roh plays with his hand down.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
Roh will absolutely not be playing OLB. He will be DE all the way.
Other than that, I think I would prefer to see RVB move inside and have Roh and Black at DE. IMO, Floyd will be starting at CB and Kovacs will be starting at SS, as much as people don't want to hear it.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
when he graduates, but I see him starting again this year. Like him or not, he is one of the more consistent players on the D. If someone truly beats him out, that will mean good things for us at S. That dude plays every down though, and we could do much worse.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
Agreed. He is never going to be great, but he is never going to be terrible either. Just seems like he is usually in position and tackles well.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
Roh and Black at DE, with RVB moved inside sounds like the best way to put the most talent on the Defensive line.
I also agree that Kovacs will start at SS as his intangibles and experience will give him the edge. That said I think Avery will overtake Floyd for a starting slot but Floyd will be featured as a nickel back/spot starter and probable starter as a 5th year senior.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
We saw the Roh at LB experiment last year. I'm hoping our staff wont try it again. He's to stiff in the hips to be a linebacker he needs to have his hand in the ground rushing the passer. I actually see IMO RVB sliding inside and playing DT if Campbell, Ash or Talbott dont cut it.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Didn't this past year show us that Roh fits much better as a DE?
Edit. Eh, beaten to it by several others. Too slow again...
January 25th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
QWash is staying at NT, could have a shot. Campbell and Ash are more likely to be NTs than MArtin. Roh's a weakside 4-3 DE, so he won't be a LB, and I'd be surprised if Ryan beats out the likes of Furman, Fitz, Herron, Mike Jones for the starting WLB. I'd like to see Kovacs here somewhere. I think Woolfolk will move back to FS, but that's more opinionated.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Wow, you think Jake Ryan will be playing already?
January 25th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
Word on the street was he had the best bowl practices on the whole team.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
I did not know that, did he get a redshirt too? If he did then I might start to tear up knowing we have a good LB for four years a head of us.
January 27th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^
This would be interesting.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Echoing what others have said about Roh, he is definitely a DE. Think maybe he and RVB as starters, with Black getting more reps on sure passing downs? Be interested to see how much progress Jibreel makes physically in the off-season.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Roh at DE. Think a freshman starts at LB. Go with Floyd over Avery at opposite CB from Wolfolk.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Bold statement. Who, which spot, over whom?
January 25th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
No freshmen starting, please.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
I hope Roh plays our weakside DE spot. He hated LB and I dont see that working well for us.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
He's the player that I'm looking forward to the most. I'm hoping he can make a jump going into his 2nd year, and play a position that he's comfortable with. Everytime I see him I feel like he's just going to start laying the wood.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
DL: RVB - QW - MM - Roh
LB: WLB - Jones or Cam, MLB - Demens, SLB - JBFitz
DB: Woolfolk, Floyd, Robinson, Carvin/Vinopal
January 25th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
IMO, I think Vinopal may be struggling to find playing time.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
You might be right, but what are you basing that on? No one on our current roster could oust him from the starting spot last year. I'm not saying someone can't jump him, but I'm curious what you're basing that projection on.
January 27th, 2011 at 1:38 PM ^
I don't think he'll play much from here on out.
January 25th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
I agree with OP, I wouldn't be surprised to see Avery start over Floyd.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^
January 25th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
what about any true freshmen? surely by the end of season there will be one.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
of who the freshmen are that you think will start. And you get -1 for your signature!
January 25th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
You're the second person to say "a freshman will start at..." and then not say who you think it is. Considering there are only a couple positions where a true freshman wouldn't have to oust a returning starter and even those spots have upperclassmen filling them, I'm not sure I understand why you think this. Which frosh do you think could start, and at what spot?
January 25th, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
sorry fellas.
ok. i think willingham will start at MLB by midseason. and i think heitzman will be playing by season's end vs osu at the suggs DE/OLB position in the 3-4, which mattison runs. its called a 4-3 but its more of a 3-4. i didn't name them because they haven't signed yet.
January 25th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
Willingham isn't even a MLB.
Are you just typing the first moronic idea that pops into your head?
January 25th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
Heitzman is going to redshirt, you can tell he is a project just by looking at his film. I'm not saying he is bad, but I'm hard pressed to believe he sees the field as a true freshman DL unless there are injury problems (knock on wood).
January 25th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
Anyone else think that a guy like Isiah Bell may start to live up the early hype of when he was recruit and see some playing time?
January 25th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
Isn't he up to 245lbs?
January 25th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
last year when his numbers were released he had added quite a bit of size.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
I was at fall camp for the BTN and he looked out of shape or heavy. I hope he steps up. I think he was one of the guys that RR was talking about that was out of shape. I hope the best for him. Go Blue!
January 25th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
NT: Campbell or Washington
DT: Martin
SDE: Van Bergen
WDE: Roh
MLB: Demens
WLB: Cam or M. Jones
SLB: Herron or Fitz
CB: Woolfolk
CB: Avery
FS: Christian
SS: M. Robinson
January 25th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
Christian at FS. Like it.
January 25th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
This is exactly what I would say, except Kovacs at SS. GRIT.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
Despite the uncertainty, it's great to see all the competition for positions on defense. I love to see depth instead of "omg who the hell do we have left that could play?"
I already can't wait for Spring pratice to start so we can get some insider info. I'd also like to hear some of the regular posters' predictions.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
M may not exactly be ready to match the '06 team, but at least there are options at various positions.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
I know we have started a number of them the last couple of years, but we should almost be at the point where we are not counting on any to start. Maybe 1 comes through and surprises, but we should not count on any to be starters.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
regardless of who starts, isnt it more important to be able to have this debate which means the the defense actually has some depth to it. As for my prdeiction based on nothing:
D-Line: Roh, Martin, Washington, Van Bergen (Black in on spot duty at DE)
LB: Demens, C. Gordon, Herron
CB: Woolfolk, Floyd (Avery as a nickle)
S: Johnson, Furman
January 25th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
As others have said, Roh is a DE, plain and simple. He doesn't have the hips, change of direction, or athleticism (at his current weight) to play OLB in a 4-3. He struggles in space. He's absolutely going to be playing with is hand down. For an extremely early guess, I'd say something like
SDE-Van Bergen (Black as a situational pass rusher)
UT-Mike Martin
NT-Washington OR Campbell OR Ash
WDE-Roh
MLB-Demens
SLB-Herron OR Fitzgerald
WLB-Mike Jones OR Cam Gordon OR Furman OR one of the freshmen
CB-Avery
CB-Woolfolk OR Floyd
FS-Woolfolk OR Carvin Johnson OR Floyd OR Vinopal
SS-Kovacs OR Robinson
Alternate DL, and the one I've heard will at least be what we start with in spring ball:
DE-Black
UT-Van Bergen
NT-Martin
DE-Roh
However, I'm sure that Washington/Campbell/Ash will be given plenty of opportunity to show that they should be on the field, allowing RVB to move back outside, giving Black another year to learn how to play the run while exclusively rushing the passer, and allowing Martin to move to his more natural, and best position as a 3 technique penetrator.
I'd say Demens is the only guy that has a spot locked up at LB. Herron played well at the beginning of the season, and it should come down to a battle between him and Fitz for the early starting gig. I think Herron wins it at first. Mike Jones was looking good before breaking his leg, but well see if he's big enough. I think he and Cam Gordon will battle for the starting spot, with a freshman or two sticking their noses in (Kellen Jones comes to mind here). I think Mike Jones will get the early starts at least.
The secondary is still a mess as far as knowing who's playing where. Avery was impressive in coverage at times last year and showed good coverage skills. The other CB and FS spot kind of depend on Woolfolk. If Troy is playing CB, he's the other corner, if he's playing FS, he's the FS. Simple enough. Kovacs will likely be the starting SS based on experience, at least early in the season. I could see Robinson (this is also me kind of hoping he'll get moved back to safety) taking over at some point. Floyd should really be a safety. I hope he gets moved. If Woolfolk plays FS this year, Floyd is the likely starter at CB opposite Avery.
This is all extremely early of course. We don't really even know what positions some of these guys are playing. We'll get a better idea of who's playing what after spring ball, which is way to damn long from now, by the way.
January 25th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
the rest is a shot in the dark. Barring injuries, I believe there will be a big shake up with the LBs and DBs. Mattison and Co. will get the underachievers to date back up to speed and get the best out of some more athletes. Pencil Demens and Woolfolk as starters somewhere and don't even bother worrying about the other LBs and DBs, because I doubt anyone will get it right. There are definitely going to be surprises.