Piles Of Position Moves
ROTATE [Bryan Fuller]
Per first spring presser:
James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone to SAM. Probably inevitable once Ryan move was announced. Obviously Michigan thinking more along the lines of the Stevie Brown style LB/S hybrid there, as Allen Gant is your other SAM at the moment.
And with this shift comes another:
Hoke said will run more Over defense as opposed to Under.
— Matt Pargoff (@MaizeBlueNews) February 25, 2014
That means the line shifts towards the tight end and the linebackers away. Instead of this:
Last year 5 was Clark, 3 Black, 1 Washington/Pipkins, 5 Heitzman/Beyer, LB Ryan, W Ross, M Morgan.
Michigan will run more of this:
Upshot is the MLB gets significantly more protection, the WLB has to be able to take on more blocks (everyone has to take on blocks) and the SAM can be a lighter player as long as the three-tech and SDE create trouble when single-teamed.
This is a significant change, as you can see by everyone flopping about on the depth charts. While it's not switching to a 3-3-5 and back six times in three years, it does signal uncertainty.
A move to the over does make the Ryan move make a bit more sense but either DE spot is probably a better location for him unless he's suddenly a savant.
Heitzman to TE. With Henry seemingly locking down three-tech that potentially bounces out one of Strobel/Wormley/Godin to SDE, where Brennen Beyer is probably your starter anyway. Heitzman gives Michigan a shot at blocking someone, anyone, and won't be missed.
This would be a good time to remind you that Hoke told the gathered folks at the Detroit Athletic Club that Jake Butt would be back by game three; even if that's a weirdly specific prediction this far out given Jake Ryan's recovery timeine that would be about right.
Shallman to H-back. He wasn't already at H-back?
Ross Douglas to RB. Supposedly had been running there on the scout team and impressing. Michigan does need another bullet there with the loss of Rawls and Toussaint and no recruits filling in the gaps, and meanwhile Ross was at best sixth on the CB depth chart. Kind of doubt he makes much impact this year with Hayes presumably a lot like him and more experienced.
David Dawson to (left) tackle. I'd been telling people Dawson was likely to be the G/T tweener thrust outside by a lack of depth, but even I thought he'd be assigned right tackle duties since he's 6'4". Nope. According to Hoke, the current and incredibly nominal first team line reads Dawson-Bosch-Glasgow-Kalis-Braden.
Erik Magnuson is all but certain to side into that LT spot when he returns, leaving Bosch and Dawson to duke it out on the right. You can read Dawson on the left as an endorsement since that's the most important spot, or you can read Braden on the right as an endorsement since they may expect him to start and want to get him settled in at the position he'll play.
The other guy to watch out for is Patrick Kugler, who could bounce Glasgow out to one of the guard spots and give Michigan some depth.
Logan Tuley-Tillman is out right now, FWIW.
February 26th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
I like this theory if it ends up being true. They need something to jumpstart this team and by moving guys around to let your best playmaker on defense run around and actually get to make plays, it is all good.
Also, they needed to make changes both on offense and defense. The air and feeling around this team was very stale. Things needed to be done to shake things up and get it jump started.
February 26th, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
I'm excited about the potential Hoke's O-line recruits have. Dawson at LT is a shocker but the kid has a ton of talent. What's the word on Kugler? He has the pedigree and, some have said, a very high football IQ. Is Glasgow just holding the edge on experience, not that I'm ragging on him but he didn't stand out last year.
February 26th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
I thought Glasgow was our best OL not named Lewan or Schofield last year, especially considering he had to move over and play center. Walk-on or not, he's a good football player. He will start somewhere on the line next year and do well, whether it be C, G or RT.
February 26th, 2014 at 5:47 AM ^
I initially read the Pargoff quote as "Hoke said the [offense] will run more over defenses..."
Can that also be true, please?
February 26th, 2014 at 7:51 AM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
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