2010 Starting Defense
So, my mind drifted off to next season (hm, I wonder why) and I realized that while the starting offense is relatively easy to predict (with a couple of battles on the o line being the exception), the starting defense only has a few players who are guaranteed starting spots. I'm sure we are all hoping to see a couple of redshirt freshmen step up and claim jobs. With that in mind, who do you think the starting 11 against UConn are? Here's my guess (I am assuming Warren stays):
D-Line: Roh, Van Bergen, Martin, Campbell
Linebackers: B. Smith, Fitzgerald, Ezeh
Secondary: Warren, Woolfolk (safety), Emilien, Turner (corner)
November 13th, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^
I think that maybe Woolfolk could stay at CB and Turner at safety. Also, I think it is possible Gordon gets some PT at safety. The coaches have spoken highly of him. I am also not sure about your D-line. Is that Roh at death backer or DE? Are you saying Campbell in the middle, Martin at RVB's spot, and RVB at Graham's spot?
November 13th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
I think Roh stays at deathbacker and RVB shifts outside to where Graham is. And then Campbell takes Martin's spot and Martin slides over to where RVB currently is. IMO RVB and Martin are both playing out of position this year and hopefully the emergence of Campbell allows everyone to move into their natural fit.
I thought about Turner at safety and Woolfolk at corner but then you're looking at two guys who have basically never played in game action as your starting safeties. It was also maintained throughout the entire recruiting process that Turner is a corner.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
With the Scoutification of the board, you can look forward to A METRIC FUCKTON of this thread between now and next year's 6th game.
I'll put the over/under on "who starts next year at D" threads at a FIRM 264.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
Denard is starting!!! Our cries of under-utilization have been heard. Denard will play both starting corner spots, he is THAT fast. Not to mention he'll start at QB and slot, slinging passes to himself. I kid, I kid . . .
Rumors that Emilien is still recovering from his surgery and that hs is playing tentaively (can't remember where I heard this, WTKA maybe?). I hope he is fully recovered by next year (physically/mentally) to contribute.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:06 PM ^
What do you think about Kovacs? I know he's a redshirt freshman so he probably worked out with the team this past off season, but is it likely he'll get faster after another year of Barwis? He looked good early in the year when not given deep coverage responsibility, and given the extensive game experience he's gotten this year I think there's a good chance it's his job to lose.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
I could definitely see Kovacs starting, especially in the first game of the season, but I guess I'm assuming our coaches will want to get the best 11 players on the field. Assuming Warren is back, clearly him and Woolfolk are two of the starters in the secondary. Beyond that, I'm hoping the buzz about Emilien and Turner is true. Kovacs can be a solid contributor but obviously has a limited upside. Turner and Emilien are potential stars if the recruiting hype is true.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:17 PM ^
Agreed. I really want a head-hunter safety named Vlad. Crack out the Vlad the Impaler t-shirts!
November 13th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
His lack of speed has been obvious on a couple of big plays in the last two games...A run in the Illinois game stands out to me in particular but I'm too tired to remember exactly which one it was.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:25 PM ^
Even if he doesn't get faster he can get bigger and switch spots. He does tackle pretty well and anticipates and flows with the run well, too. Barwis could beef him up a bit and he could play the spot vacated by Stevie Brown. That way he could provide run support and be in pass coverage less. He gives great effort and brings the ball carrier down. Just thinking out loud. It wouldn't hurt, as seen this year with Brown, that having a LB that has had some secondary experience and tackles well is beneficial considering the state of our LB corps right now. I understand we have some recruits for that spot and other spots at LB, but wouldn't it be a nice change of pace to not push inexperienced frosh and redshirt freshmen into playing, and possibly killing their confidence, and use someone who has plenty of playing time along with a possible ability to fill that role well? I'm just thinking about getting back to the natural order of things. Having young guys come in and play back up and be coached up rather than being barbecued and served up like sacrificial lambs so early in their development.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^
I think the spot at LB that you give to Brandon Smith will be a battle between him and Isiah Bell. Also I'd rather see Mouton than Ezeh at this point.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
I agree 100% on Mouton over Ezeh. Hopefully they will push each other in the offseason, but I'd much rather see a guy who can come up and make big plays / tackles for losses than a guy who routinely only makes tackles after 4-5 yards.
They both suck in coverage too, so you can't really argue Ezeh over Mouton for that either.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
Isaiah Bell has the talent to be a huge surprise ... as long as he works hard
November 13th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
About Kovacs: People don't just get faster because of good conditioning, they get better conditioned. Stricter, better Barwisism makes for peoples core strength to increase and their game time endurance to last longer. No way he gets faster.
Every person on a team can surprise a coach with hard work...thats kinda what coaches look for.
Lets just hope that a saftey takes the starting spot next year, impresses coaches, and doesn't get injured.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
Kovacs could get faster, but perhaps not appreciably. Remember, he's coming off of knee surgery, and he's only been in the program for a year.
He will never be "fast" but hopefully this is the slowest he'll be.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:18 PM ^
Right...and being in the program longer will definitely help with decision making and conditioning thus possibly resembling better speed. His overall speed wont change tho.
Lets just hope we don't have to worry about it again next year. Lots of practices between now and then.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:25 PM ^
No...his speed COULD change, in addition to those things.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:42 PM ^
Yes he can get faster.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^
just for funzees, I did a quick check on all the teams M will be playing next year and how many starters will be gone due to graduation. I'm going from memory but Penn State will lose 14 starters (7 on offense and 7 on defense), ND, of course will lose their complete O line, Indiana loses a slew of people on defense. MSU loses some key players on there O line. I know I may be crazy but my take on all of this is that M will go 9-3 or 10-2 next year. I have Iowa as a toss-up game and the other losses coming at he hands of OSU (again) and Wiscy.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:03 PM ^
In comparison to several other Big Ten schools, we'll be in good shape next year. We'll return 7 starters on offense (minus Mathews, Moosman, Ortmann, and the RB) and 9 starters on defense (minus Graham and Brown).
And with Huyge/Dorrestein/Omameh all playing while Molk is injured, we essentially have 8 or 9 offensive starters returning. Both Moosman and Ortmann could be replaced by guys who are starting right now.