2009 Linebackers
First off, new to the forum. Good times.
Now,
Linebacker play needs to pick up and scares the hell out of me. Against top teams, it kills us.
Just trying to get a gauge on how everybody thinks we'll do and who'll step up.
-Interested to see how much more of an improvement Jonas Mouton will make.
-Will Fitzgerald and Demens make an impact and will it be enough?
-Can Ezeh continue to hold his own?
-Isiah Bell?
Ok, enough questions...
January 25th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
ezeh and mouton are still young. bringing in ezeh and demens will add depth. i think we're better off at the position that last year but we really, really need to focus on LBs next year. count on at least Isaiah Bell and possible Mike Jones to be playing LB.
January 25th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
I thought Mouton has shown a lot of improvement and gives us good speed at the position. Has a nose for the ball and isn't a brick in there against better teams.
January 25th, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
It's going to be interesting to see who steps in the other LB spot.
January 25th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
The biggest concern for whoever ends up there is tackling...
January 25th, 2009 at 5:08 PM ^
Well Obi and Mouton are 2 starters. Who is the 3rd? Thats the question. Obi needs to improve. He hits the wrong hole a lot, and gets caught up in the wash.
We just need more speed here. And better players.
January 25th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
"The biggest concern for whoever ends up there is tackling..."
That's the biggest concern for the entire defense. Hopefully, GR is all about fundamentals.
January 25th, 2009 at 5:23 PM ^
Assignment football is key, last years D wasn't fundamentally sound one bit. We looked like a bunch of chickens with our heads cut off for the most part. Lets hope Robinson can come in and teach some assignment football and create a nasty defense this year.
January 25th, 2009 at 5:55 PM ^
Obi will be even stronger and quicker. Two yrs of barwis too ( alongg with everyone else). I guess players start maxing out crazy numbers in barwis' second year. Could be Obis' national yr to get noticed.
Theres also brandon smith, who people say could be a LB?? Hes a big saftey who everyone on michigan team fears when he plays because hes a hard hitter.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
Ya Smith will more than likely move to LB came in as a S at 6'3 210, he's pry around 215-220 now, solid tackler and FAST! could see some solid playing time this year, might not start but should play often.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:43 PM ^
I'm curious where you head this, or if it is just your personal speculation. Every rumor I've heard about Smith is that he will be contending for the staring Strong Safety spot this year. You're the first person I've seen suggest a move to LB.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:50 PM ^
Just my speculation, but I'm not the only one on here who has thought he would make the move to OLB. I would like to see him win the S spot I would feel much better then having Brown as our last line of defense. But if they want him to play LB he has the size and talent to play to position.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:30 PM ^
I'm more concerned with secondary right now.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:42 PM ^
Agreed! Our most experienced guys in Trent and Harrison are gone which leaves us with Warren and Cissoko more then likely our starters at CB, and more than likely Brown and Williams at S which really concerns me. Williams played a lot last year and got some good playing time, lets just hope Brown has improved from last year.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:00 PM ^
Michigan's defense. Booboo got some playing time this last season and will have a much better understanding of what is expected. I think the LBs are truly the biggest concern b/c they dictate much of what plays the offense runs due to plugging holes and blitzes. Tackling and pursuit angles are key for all 11 this season.
January 25th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
experienced trent or not, he was horrible. It helps our D he is leaving. All he had was speed.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:18 PM ^
I would be very surprised if the linebackers in 2009 aren't Mouton at WILL and some combination of Ezeh and Fitzgerald at MIKE and SAM. I personally think it was a mistake to put Ezeh at MIKE last year and put Thompson at SAM. They should have been flip-flopped. I'd like to see Fitzgerald at MIKE and Ezeh at SAM this year, but if they didn't put Ezeh on the outside last year, I doubt they will this year.
Brandon Smith is a strong safety or potentially a WILL. He will not be a free safety (i.e. the last line of defense like Brown), and he won't be a SAM, either. So even if he moves to LB, he won't play next year unless they flip Mouton to SAM, which I doubt will happen.
The back seven will probably look like this:
WILL - Mouton
MIKE - Ezeh
SAM - Fitzgerald
CB - Warren, Cissoko
FS - Williams
SS - Brown