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 11:38 AM ^
"The only true freshmen on the two-deep are Mason Cole, Canteen, Mone, and Peppers. This is major progress from the last few seasons."
That's the best bullet point in the whole post. With the exception to Cole (who may be good enough to play as a freshman. But freshman OL are meh), The only freshman looking to get playing time look to be the ones who are good enough to play and not just playing because they don't have anybody else to put there. Redshirt the rest and let's keep this thing going.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
Hear Hear. Every time I have to have a conversation that includes me going "no seriously, the OL troubles do go back to RR. Stop laughing, it's true. Ok look <longwinded discussion of recruiting, redshirting and underclassmen OL> ... and that's why this one is actually RR's fault" an increasingly large part of me dies
August 25th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
Bama also has a true freshman starting at LT. I guess if you're good enough to play then you will play. https://alabama.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp
August 25th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
It's nice to see the only freshmen on there are the elite players. It shows there's finally depth at most positions.
August 25th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
In that Targets Aquired thread I disputed the unanimous opinion that Darboh was the guy for a number of reasons, but mostly the fact that there are better complements to Funchess on the roster. I was negged and critiqued of course. "shallow and pedantic" was a response. That comment wasn't. This comment is, because I am tooting my own horn, even though there is a lot (all) of the season left and the depth chart probably doesn't mean a whole lot.
I've also been disputing the "Canteen is a slot" argument. A good offense is constantly moving their top target around. Funchess should be moving around just as Hemingway and Gallon did - lining up outside one play and inside the next.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
...but then again, do you REALLY want to declare victory based on a pre-opener depth chart, when (a) Hoke already undermined several aspects of the depth chart in thye press conference that took place 30 minutes after the depth chart was released, and (b) there are still 13 games to go and we have seen 0 games?
(Also, I would assume that the "shallow and pedantic" line is a Family Guy reference).
August 25th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
...from the same post, when asked who would start over Darboh:
Canteen, since I have to pick. But really I don't know, my main point was to dispute the unanimous opinion.
Predictions are hard.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
Canteen, like other freshman before him, has to a steeper learning curve. There's a good chance he's being held back by things like "knowing what I'm supposed to do on this play" and "how to block". But I think he'll be more productive as a receiver than the others.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
You can't say "see, I was right, Darboh is #2 on the depth chart" but then say you think Canteen will be more productive at the end of the day in spite of the depth chart.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
My original comment was "man you all agree on Darboh - and I don't think you're right". I thought Darboh was overhyped and listed the many reasons why. I found it interesting that not one of your panel cared to bother seriously arguing Darboh's spot. So, I gave my opinion.
You responded to me questiong the consensus by saying "make a prediction tough guy", which wasn't really my point, but OK, I played along.
But yeah I agree nothing is set yet, as I said in my first post in this thread. All we can say is that it is valid to question putting Darboh as unanimous #2 WR.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^
If the accusation is "groupthink," we all came to the conclusion independently, I disagree. Brian answered first, I named Darboh my breakout player candidate in HTTV, and I've had conversation with both Ace and Seth at separate times in which they expressed similar thoughts before the topic was even floated to the group. That is also combined with a healthy dose of insider-y information (for the others, not so much me).
I guess I'm confused if we're conflating a "unanimous" vote and a vote that isn't subject to criticism. Of course Darboh isn't a lock to be #2 the way Funchess is a lock to be #1. But there is a reason we all came to the same conclusion.
August 25th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
It's not really as complicated as you're making it. I'm tooting my own horn because I was proven (very tentatively) right in questioning an opinion you ALL held. No one else seemed to even think it was seriously worth debating, and neither did people in the comments section. I was on an island, so to speak.
Like Ace said "predictions are hard", so I don't think it was a stupid prediction or that you guys will look stupid (as Ace said), even if you do end up being wrong. However, I would have expected at least one of you guys to question the insidery bits a bit more. Mostly because there were a whole bunch of tangible reasons to do so in this case. Darboh is inexperienced, coming off an injury, and his recruiting profile indicated he had less upside than many of the other WRs on the roster. Especially when they hype train for Jerald Robinson wasn't that long ago, there should be (IMO) a little more skepticism towards the insidery bits.
August 25th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
Darboh is inexperienced
He has as many games played as any other outside receiver other than Funchess
his recruiting profile something something upside
He had the highest 247 composite ranking of any outside receiver on the roster other than Drake Harris. That includes Funchess, Chesson, and Canteen.
If Chesson finishes with more receiving yards than Darboh, I will come back and declare you "right" (even though, again, we didn't have the luxury of choosing "the field" when ranking guys, and the guy you picked when pressed is ALSO a second-teamer). But I would make the same prediction today as I made when I wrote my prediction, iron-clad depth chart notwithstanding.
And, again, you're basing your being "proven right" on a thing that can't possibly prove you right.
August 25th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
"He has as many games played as any other outside receiver other than Funchess"
Amarah Darboh - "has appeared in ... four (games) as a reserve wide receiver"
Dennis Norfleet - "including six as a reserve wide receiver"
Jehu Chesson - "appeared in 13 games at wide receiver"
August 25th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
1. You keep repeating the same thing I am saying back to me which makes me wonder who you're arguing with. My "win" is only irt questioning the undisputed unanimity of your collective opinion. The season hasn't been played. Nothing is iron-clad. No one is saying otherwise.
2. Everyone is inexperienced and unproven. That's the whole point. A debatable topic was a non-debate. In a world where minutia is dissected, that is notable.
3. The irony is that I may be putting too much stock in Mgoblog's opinion relative to the recruiting sites. When I wrote about Darboh's upside it was based in part on the mgoprofile of incoming freshman, specifically the ceiling category.
- Harris: "Ceiling: Very high. Guy was on the verge of five star status after unstoppable junior year. Could be elite."
- Canteen: "Ceiling: High. "Oh, wide open."
- Chesson: "Ceiling: High. Probably lacks the elite speed or change of direction to be the third pick in the NFL draft. Can easily become a 70-80 catch intermediate to long security blanket."
- Darboh: "Ceiling: Moderate-plus. "Not a burner," but looks like a high quality #2 in an ideal situation."
The point here is not to diss anyone for innacurate predictions. If there is one, other than just tooting my own horn for fun, it is to be critical of preseason hype when objective evidence (played behind Joe Reynolds and Jeremy Jackson, has zero career receptions, was hurt, is basically a RS freshman) warrants a healthy does of skepticism.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
I adressed that when I said "even though there is a lot (all) of the season left and the depth chart probably doesn't mean a whole lot."
August 25th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
Your post brings to mind an old saying my father used to use: "Even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while".
My point is, if you argue with people enough, you're bound to be right once in a while and you certainly argue a lot. Of course that's just my opinion so you can take it for what it's worth, but sometimes it's ok to just let people disagree with your opinion without fighting about it.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^
I just give my opinion man. I don't go around insinuating people are "blind squirrels".
August 25th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
But also, we have eyes and brains. We know what we saw last year and we remember that a lot of the hype from seasons past was total BS.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
but, I have to admit that's funny
August 25th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
I am so thrilled to see and read actual real-life football content again. This long off-season from Hell is almost over.
August 25th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
Anyone else want to chime it? I think he gets it....
August 25th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
odd to me based on everything said in spring/fall practice:
Chesson > Darboh (but I will wager this is becuase of Darboh's game rust. Bet Darboh gets more snaps at ND than Chesson)
Canteen not listed in Slot
August 25th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
In all caps. Dying.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
Was just getting ready to post the same thing
August 25th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 25th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Speaking of depth charts...
So, I finally got NCAA '14 a couple of weeks ago. I just completed my first season. Gardner is leaving due to lack of eligibility (the roster I downloaded is updated for this upcoming season). So in the offseason, I have to deal with players who are leaving and convincing the ones who want to transfer to stay. Well, BOTH Speight and Morris want to leave early for...wait for it...playing time. WTF?!?! One of them would start, so I don't get it. Obviously I want Shane to start, but I'm going to lose both QBs. I tried several times to get them to stay by not saving the file after they said they are leaving for sure. It's so annoying. I think I will just have to deal with and just use my run game to win.
August 25th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
Maybe it is just by chance that we are not seeing any of his good reps, but Glasgow has never stood out in any practice footage, michigan drills, games, etc....
I think we have great depth at the position, and it will be rotated heavily, but I just haven't seen anything that indicates he is an impact player. Maybe he can get a good push to free up our LBs, but I dont see him beating double teams or one on ones for that matter. Doesnt seem like a quick twitch guy like Pipkins/Hurst.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
Maybe with a guy like Jake Ryan behind him, the coaches value a dependable space eater at NT than a higher variance guy that slices into the backfield one play and gets shoved 3 yards downfield the next.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
but the most significant recruiting win over OSU in the last few years might be Graham Glasgow's late flip.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:12 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
Why the 2nd string D beat up the 1st string O in the open scrimmage isn't much of a mystery. The 1st string OL still looks as raw as hell, and if we dump those "OR" LBs to the 2nd string where they belong, as a group I'll take 'em over pretty much any B1G team's starters except maybe Michigan State. Not as many playmakers and the safeties are iffy but it's shocking how few glaring weaknesses the D would have if the entire 1st string got lost on their way to Big House.
The offense is a huge question mark and the defense may not be great, but one big change between last season and this season -- this year's defense is deep. We might win some games 14-9 and such.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
Good to see our scholarship Long Snapper is starting.
Maybe wasn't a "wasted pick" after all.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
I guess I'm less surprised than others. The defensive line was going to have rotation, and I still think guys like Canteen and Darboh will be seeing playing time early and often at WR. The RB is going to be by committee, and while Green is the nominal starter I could see Smith and Johnson getting good run. The offensive line is always going to be fluid, so I'm not too worked up.
The LBs are a bit surprising, but its early and the coaches might want to see how everyone looks in game speed before settling into a more consistent lineup.
Should be fun this Saturday.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
"OR" at all 3 linebacker spots. Depth... we haz it.
August 25th, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^
I really wonder if that's some motivational thingy Hoke's got going with the linebackers (or maybe the non-linebackers?) or a situational package thing. At first glance it sort of defeats the purpose of a depth chart, especially on D where heavy rotation is the expectation anyway.
This is a useless obsession of course because I think it has absolutely zero relevance to even the first game snap, but it does make me wonder. I guess maybe that's the point?
August 25th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
I mean, a depth chart is inherently useless though. It's a rigid way of trying to describe a fluid situation. My point is we have 6 good options for 3 spots and the coaches can rotate people to stay fresh with no drop off and/or use the right guy for the right situation.
August 25th, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
August 25th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
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