Jason Kates Leaves Team Comment Count

Brian

Attrition the second: Rich Rodriguez announced that backup DT Jason Kates has decided to leave the team($, info in header). Kates hadn't seen a single snap this year AFAIK and that was an ominous sign for a redshirt sophomore; he's probably looking for playing time and that Not Throwing Up Every Weekday major mentioned earlier.

Oh, and Steve Schilling might miss the Ohio State game. Not that it's likely to matter.

Back to Kates: he wasn't likely to contribute if he couldn't see the field at all this year. However, defensive tackle is now looking mighty thin: Mike Martin set a high bar for himself this year and will no doubt start; the only other 2009 DT on the roster at the moment is Renaldo Sagesse, who saw spot duty at various points during the season. He had limited impact. If Will Campbell recommits as expected he'll get at least as much playing time as Martin did this year and may leap directly into the starting lineup.

Comments

MI Expat NY

November 19th, 2008 at 5:10 PM ^

I think it's just a reflection of not going to a bowl game. Not having a sunny location to look forward to probably means that players are making their decisions known earlier in the season.

big gay heart

November 19th, 2008 at 5:19 PM ^

Good luck to Jason Kates, Artis Chambers, and all the other kids who have decided to go play elsewhere. Except for Benedict Judas Boren. With that being said, who am I to judge? If Jim Tressel wooed me with a wine cooler-filled weekend at his ski chalet in Mad River Mountain, I wood let him tap my bunda, err I mean transfer, too. If you think he's good looking with the vest, you should see him without it.

Yinka Double Dare

November 19th, 2008 at 5:20 PM ^

You hear that Big Will? You can play right away! Come to Michigan!

Apparently someone forgot to tell Kates to stop eating a pizza every night after Gittleson left. Good luck to him though, may he find what he's looking for wherever he goes. Even if it's just more pizza.

caup

November 19th, 2008 at 5:22 PM ^

Negative distractions during practice week matter. A sense of eroding solidarity matters.
We'll agree to disagree and I'm not going to flame anymore on this issue. That was as harsh as I'm going to get.

Mlaw1984

November 19th, 2008 at 5:26 PM ^

What's with the RR presser notes saying McGuffie being w/ the team by Saturday and will get carries? Is he still gone? Should I just shut down the internet?

turbo cool

November 19th, 2008 at 7:06 PM ^

i was thinking the same exact thing. it's not uncommon for a player or 2 max to be dismissed from the team but not the week before the end of the season. it seems like we're already looking towards the off-season and not as much on tOSU. this has been a terrible week for mich athletics with everything that has gone on.

J. Lichty

November 19th, 2008 at 6:06 PM ^

has been talking about Campbell past couple days and really thinks he projects better as an O-lineman.

Not sure if that is something on the radar, but clearly there is playing time to be had at DT.

Expect that DeQuita and Pearlie will both be on board with this depth chart facing them.

WolvinLA

November 19th, 2008 at 6:37 PM ^

If Will Campbell is really that good of an O-Lineman, than bringing him to O and bringing in both DeQuinta and Pearlie would be pretty awesome. I get a little too excited about dominant linemen, but that's where the game's won and lost.

wolverinekeith

November 19th, 2008 at 7:52 PM ^

Right now, our DL backups are looking really young. Quite possible that Big Will, DeQuinta and Pearlie all see time next year at DT, with Roh & LaLota (ready or not) seeing time as backups at DE.

Yikes.

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 7:56 PM ^

I'm not sure. Martin starts at DT, obviously, and Sagesse will be in the rotation, as he's seen meaningful PT this year as well. Them you have 2 (hopefully 3) true freshmen you can sprinkle in. It's young, but not terrifying.

At DE, RVB has gotten plenty of time, and I think Graham will be back. Adam Patterson is around, but I'm increasingly skeptical as to his likihood to contribute. Butler has played some this year, as had Greg Banks for two years. So we have 4 DE's (if Graham comes back) with meaningful experience.

mjv

November 20th, 2008 at 11:14 AM ^

DL is one of the position groups where there has been a very heavy rotation going on all season. Martin, RVB, Sagesse, and Butler have all seen meaningful snaps, including important third downs. while there is a lot of youth that will be starting next year on the DL, there is more experience than we would typically see with that youth.