Michigan Reveals Current Depth Chart Comment Count

Ace


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 Smith Derrick 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.

Comments

JFW

August 25th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^

I believe an o line is grown, not thrown together. I wish they'd stopped the competition a couple of Weeks ago and just repped these guys endlessly Instead of trying to constantly plug in guys. That never seems to work well with o lines

tvaduva

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:

Head Explode GIF

gte896u

August 25th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^

I never really understood the idea behind that, and ive also never really believed that the coaches are committed to him on the inside. Im probably wrong, but I can see them sometimes lifting an end for Ryan, sliding Morgan over, and putting Bolden at WLB. LB and CB are easily the strongest groups on the whole team IMO, and Mattison needs to get creative to get as many of them on the field as they can.

reshp1

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.

gte896u

August 25th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^

Its just harder to make his brand of big plays in more constrained space. seems like if they were going to base their entire defense around him, he would fit better in a Shawn Crable kind of way to get him behind the LOS. I have no doubt he will excel in the middle, but 25+ TFL from the outside actually seems reasonable. in the middle, the guys up front will need to keep him (or anyone else) moderately clean to maximize his havoc level.

gte896u

August 25th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^

11 guys had more than 20 TFL last year. you really think teams didnt base their whole offense around avoiding Kyle Van Noy when they played BYU? Every guy thats capable of doing that in the backfield gets planned around. "Running directly at Brandon Graham" wasnt exactly a common strategy vs Michigan, but he still made plays. All the great edge guys do. Ryan seems like one of them to me *shrug*

reshp1

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.

ifis

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.

defcow

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!

Ali G Bomaye

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.