UConn Depth Chart Comment Count

Brian

The first and most interesting of the year.

[Walk-ons denoted with #; players not on the official two-deep in italics.]

MICHIGAN UNOFFICIAL TWO DEEP 8/30/2010
OFFENSE
Pos First Second Third
QB

Denard Robinson OR
Tate Forcier OR
Devin Gardner

--

--

RB
Vincent Smith OR
Michael Shaw
Mike Cox 4:Fitzgerald Toussaint
5:Stephen Hopkins
6:Teric Jones
WR1 Darryl Stonum OR
Junior Hemingway
Je'Ron Stokes Ricardo Miller
WR2 Martavious Odoms Jeremy Jackson Jerald Robinson
Slot

Roy Roundtree OR
Kelvin Grady

Terrance Robinson Jeremy Gallon
TE Kevin Koger Martell Webb Brandon Moore
LT Mark Huyge Taylor Lewan Erik Gunderson#
LG Steve Schilling Quinton Washington Elliot Mealer
C David Molk Rocko Khoury Christian Pace
RG Patrick Omameh Ricky Barnum John Ferrara
RT Perry Dorrestein Michael Schofield Zac Ciullo#
DEFENSE
Pos First Second Third
DE Ryan Van Bergen Jibreel Black Steve Watson
NT Mike Martin Adam Patterson William Campbell
DE/DT Greg Banks Renaldo Sagesse Terry Talbott
LB/DE Craig Roh Brandon Herron OR
JB Fitzgerald
--
MLB Obi Ezeh OR
Mark Moundros#
Kenny Demens

--

WLB Jonas Mouton Mike Jones Kevin Leach#
Spur Carvin Johnson Thomas Gordon

Floyd Simmons#

Bandit Jordan Kovacs# Marvin Robinson --
FS Cam Gordon Jared Van Slyke# Vlad Emilien
CB1 James Rogers Terrence Talbott OR
Cullen Christian
--
CB2 JT Floyd Courtney Avery --
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos First Second Third
P Will Hagerup Seth Broekhuizen# ---
K Brendan Gibbons OR
Seth Broekhuizen#
Justin Meram# --
PR Jeremy Gallon OR
Martavious Odoms OR
Terrance Robinson
Drew Dileo --
KR Darryl Stonum

Martavious Odoms OR
Jeremy Gallon OR
Terrance Robinson

Drew Dileo

Items

Gardner. You've probably already been bombarded by this fact on twitter, but Rodriguez specifically stated that freshmen on the two-deep are not going to redshirt this season, which includes Devin Gardner. Grumble.

Other freshmen slotted to play in groups:

  • Obvious: all three cornerbacks, Stephen Hopkins
  • Encouraging sign: Jibreel Black, Carvin Johnson, Marvin Robinson.
  • Surprising: Jeremy Jackson

Carvin Johnson's audition at spur in the Beanie Bowl went well enough that he is the starter, no OR, there. This site's prediction that he'd outperform his recruiting rankings more than anyone else is moving along smoothly, but the secondary just got a tiny bit less experienced… or did it? More in the secondary preview dropping later today.

James Rogers is, at least temporarily, a starting corner.

Kelvin Grady's frequent appearances on fall highlight film have evidently paid off, as with Martavious Odoms' seeming permanent move outside he moves up to co-starter with Roundtree.

Teric Jones is back at running back, his defensive experiment over. Probably for the best given his performance against DSU last year and his obvious speed.

Veterans win at tackle… so far.

Bizarre switch: 289 pound Sagesse is the primary backup at DE/DT and 276 pound Adam Patterson is the primary backup at nose. Theory: Mike Martin isn't coming off the field much and M plans to platoon Sagesse and Banks extensively.

Should we start getting worried about:

  • Vlad Emilien: behind a walk-on after a year and a half (he enrolled early).
  • Anthony LaLota: behind Steve Watson, also after a year and a half.
  • Will Campbell: behind perpetual non-entity Adam Patterson, a guy who moved positions this spring.

Comments

Wolvmarine

August 30th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^

Will Campbell at the #3 spot?  Not really where I expected him to be.  How has his camp been?  I expect Marvin the Marvelous Marvel to win the starting job by mid season. 

OysterMonkey

August 30th, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^

to call "bust" on a guy before the start of his second year. If he's buried on the depth chart after this year, and the guys in front of him have meh years, then maybe. But he's used up 25% of his eligibility, which means he's got three years to improve and make an impact. The fact that Michigan needs him to develop on an accelerated timetable doesn't mean that he will. And that doesn't make him a bust.

DGDestroys

August 30th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^

Your concern: Getting five stars playing time.

The Coaches' concern: Winning. 

If Patterson is the better NT right now, then he should be higher on the depth chart. You could look at this half empty, and panic that a second year man is approaching bust status because he might not play much in the opener, or you could see it half full. A veteran is getting playing time, and in any case I don't expect Mike Martin to come off the field that often. Rest assured, Big Will will one day reach your lofty expectations, just give him some time. 

DGDestroys

August 30th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^

IMO, this is the ideal progression of a blue chip recruit. Two years of spot duty behind a stud like Mike Martin, until he blows up as an upperclassman. This is how Florida/Bama/Texas defenses are built yearly. 

briangoblue

August 30th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^

I'd like to see a significant contribution out of him this year rather than him wait his turn. I think it's mostly motivational. We've seen how Rich Rod uses tough love before. Unfortunately, I'm afraid Big Will may be afflicted with Gabe Watson's Disease. I hope Rich Rod can deal with it and squeeze more out of him than Lloyd did big Gabe. Great player, but one of those "coulda been better" guys. Maybe they should just make him bunk over at Mike Barwis's compound for a few weeks.

maizenbluenc

August 30th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^

Everybody is rooting for the big five star guy from Michigan, I get it. But as a big five star guy with one and a half years in the system and our defense as thin as it has been, should he not be futher along than he is? I mean, Big Will, there's a huge opportunity, grab it by the horns.

Hey, if it is just that Adam Patterson busted his ass, and (along with more time in system) has arrived post camp the better option - well good for Patterson.

That said, by Rich's account, Big Will arrived a  bit out of shape ...

Maybe, he had a busy summer school schedule, and had to focus on academics like Tate did. But dude, we need yah, and we're pulling for you to step up!

Hopefully he really comes along by the time we hid core Big Ten schedule (particularly Wisconsin).

Jon Benke

August 30th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^

"But as a big five star guy with one and a half years in the system and our defense as thin as it has been, should he not be futher along than he is?"

Our defense is thin, yes, but our D-LINE is not.  Yea, if he could play CB, I am sure he'd be starting, but he can't.  Where he's playing - clearly, is the strength of our defense, so he'll sit and wait.  That's not a bad thing, same with LaLota.  I am not worried about our d-line, it's everywhere else on defense that concerns me on who and who isn't playing.

DGDestroys

August 30th, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^

FormerWolv kept talking him up as the number one guy, yet he's fourth on the depth chart? I was hoping he'd be the breakout star here.  

I'm also a little surprised by the Teric Jones switcheroo. I'd assumed he'd have been in line for some playing time with our current depth..

DGDestroys

August 30th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^

I guess I didn't think about that, but it seems unlikely they'd list him low on the depth chart just because he's gonna be out for a game or two. I just assume they'd place him where they want him to be on the depth chart and put an injured asterisk next to his name or something. 

Zone Left

August 30th, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^

Is this based on the two-deep released earlier this morning?  I can't access it here.

Are we at the point where we can make some educated guesses on the depth chart, such as:

1.  Robinson is going to start, and Gardner is probably number 2 if he's not going to redshirt.

2.  Cox/Toussaint at number 1 running back.

Just thoughts, let me know if I'm wildly off base.

spacemanspiff231

August 30th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^

Yes, Cox/Toussaint at number 1 RB seems pretty wildly off base considering the coaches have Shaw/Smith at number 1.  Toussaint is injured, but I don't see him overcoming either of those players this year.  Everyone and their mother seems to be pretty down on Shaw, but I think he's going to surprise a lot of people this year.  That's if he qualifies, anyway.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

August 30th, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^

Best sign: people passing Ferrara on the depth chart.  I can't think of a way to say that without sounding like a jackass about Ferrara, but basically it's nice to see that some depth is developing on the OL that no longer requires marginal DL's to become even more marginal OL's.

Downside: NO game experience outside of the starters and Ferrara.  Let's hope for health and a workable rotation.

His Dudeness

August 30th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^

  • Vlad Emilien: behind a walk-on after a year and a half (he enrolled early).
  • Anthony LaLota: behind Steve Watson, also after a year and a half.
  • Will Campbell: behind perpetual non-entity Adam Patterson, a guy who moved positions this spring.

Yes

Yes

Dear Lord, why!??

 

Bodogblog

August 30th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^

so I'll join in.  Teric Jones - do we really need a 6th string RB more than we need a 6th corner?  However he played, he actually did play at CB last year.  He was running second team with Christian at the 8/21 scrimmage.

We've 5 guys, 3 of them true freshmen? 

STW P. Brabbs

August 30th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^

Jones looked completely lost in minimal time at CB last year.  The coaches gave him a shot to improve, and didn't like what they saw.  I'll agree it would have been nice for him to transition to DB, but that's different from questioning the coaches' reasoning.

Kid's got some real speed at RB - probably more than anyone we have at that position outside of Shaw.  Could be a sleeper star there in a year or two.

Don

August 30th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^

in less-than-optimum physical condition. I wonder if his spot on the chart is a direct reflection of that. I hope it is, because if it's a reflection of his actual talent, it's not very encouraging.

stmccoy

August 30th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^

The biggest disappointment has to be Will Campbell.  I was really hoping he would have a breakout year.  I know it is early but this isn't a good sign.  Maybe RR is using it as a motivational tool, who knows.  I am trying to stay positive for game week. 

wolverine1987

August 30th, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^

It most definitely is a concern. And being in shape is not the only explanation. Will has not played well enough to be with the twos, flat out. If he was in poor shape but still showed strong skills we would have heard. No practice observer has said anything positive about him, not Brian's trusted observers, nor the guys who attended the scrimmages, nor Former Wolv. Its way too early to label him a bust, that's for sure. But it is definitely not too early to be concerned with his development.

RRRULZ

September 2nd, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^

I don't buy this "he's right where he should be" garbage either.  He's a 5 star anchor recruit and should be AT LEAST 2nd at his position right now.  Not starting wouldn't bother me so much, but 3rd on the depth chart?  That's cause for concern...and anyone who says differently has their head in the sand.  We need him to get his ass in gear and hit the weight room more than BK. 

jmscher

August 30th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^

If i'm remembering correctly he was a surprise starter in last year's opener against Western.  I can't find last year's equivalent to this depth chart.  Was Roh listed as an OR at Deathbacker or was he second and jumped during the week of practice?  Mostly just curious what kind of precedent there might be for a MRob or Cullen to jump to starter after the chart's release.  Obvs either way these things arent set it stone.

Beavis

August 30th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^

I believe this was in the countdown to kickoff special, but Roh was told Friday night that he would be starting the next day. 

I don't know if he showed up as an "OR" on the depth chart initially (also, not sure on when the depth chart was released last year). 

Michigan4Life

August 30th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^

without a position.  Not fast enough nor a good cover DB to play deep S.  He is too small or doesn't make the right reads to play Spur or Bandit.  He whiffed on tackles last season to warrant that he is not to be trusted to make a stop by himself.

 

He is vastly overrated as a recruit coming out of hs.  I think Brian said this(or was it someone else) that English recruited him to play Harrison spot which is nickel CB that fits Williams skillset.

SysMark

August 30th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^

Campbell obviously a huge disappointment, but not a surprise.  Longest shot of him I saw was on the BTN preview - frankly he looked out of shape and winded, especially in comparison to the others.  Hoping he can work into shape as the season progresses - we need him.