Avery, Demens and Vinopal

Submitted by artds on

One thing that gives me hope about next year was the play of these three this afternoon.

While they didn't play like veterans, they did better than you would expect youngters to do in conference play, and they're only going to get better.

Hopefully with a new coordinator (that's right, I said it) and more experience in our starting lineup, we will be able to field a serviceable defense next year that can take some pressure off of our high-powered offense.

lakerblue

November 6th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^

I honestly don't think that I am being off base when I say that Courtney Avery's takle in open space against Scheelhaase, on 3rd down right in front of the sticks, was probably the most important play of the day. The only exception obviously is the jailhouse blitz on the last play.

artds

November 6th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^

There were a couple of plays where a IL receiver would be running with momentum about 3 yards from the 1st down marker, and my mind sees the play as "oh, there's another IL 1st down", when, out of nowhere, something shocking would happen: a young Michigan defender would tackle him short! Like, wtf, you know? It caused me to get all nostalgic and reminisce about a time when Michigan played defense too. 

enlightenedbum

November 6th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^

They can't cover, but they can tackle sort of.

I'll say this about the defense: they made positive plays when put in position to do so.  With a vaguely competent coordinator putting them in position to make plays and another year in the weight room, they might be... poor.  Or competent.  Or Auburn-ish.  Which is really the goal right?  Get to as good as Auburn is.

enlightenedbum

November 6th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^

Not saying I didn't enjoy it, but I'm trying to avoid fights of unrealistic fancy. The defensive coaching still stinks, but now we can see that the kids, given the chance, can make plays. Now we need a (defensive) coaching staff that will put them in position to make plays. Then we need another year of experience and they could be good.

mtxgoblue

November 6th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^

Not sure that Vinopal is the long term answer - he's just too small. But he gave one hell of an effort today as did the whole defense.

I do think Avery showed a lot and Demens especially. Kenny made some awesome plays out there today. Could we have a solid MLB for the next couple of years?

ebv

November 6th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^

All three played hard.  That stop by Vinopal at the line of scrimmage against Leshoure was amazing.  Leshoure has him by 40 pounds, and he doesn't get an inch after the hit.

Dreisbach1817

November 6th, 2010 at 4:19 PM ^

I'm glad that some of these players played decent.  But we still gave up 65 points (even with OT point inflation).

I'm going to chalk this up as a team win.  Hard to single out players on D.  Plays on D... maybe.

 

PurpleStuff

November 6th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^

Not sure how consistent he was, but he had a few sideline-to-sideline plays that were really impressive (getting off the block on the option and another one where he came all the way from the inside to hold the QB to a very short game). 

Could be a real good one as an upperclassman.

Slippery Rock …

November 6th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^

I agree.  Demens had some big time tackles, he played good containment on the outside runs, and he was also the man with the big time deflection on 3rd down to force one of the few punts we've had all year. I'm not going to let myself get too excited about a defense that gives up 65, but Demens seemed to be in the middle of the big stops that we did make.   

mejunglechop

November 6th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^

Demens was no less than a hero. Avery was a relative upgrade (still not great, a both those wide open throws were half on him, I think). Both have very bright futures.

UMICH1606

November 6th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^

I think that was Mouton that was supposed to follow the back there, but I am too amped to check the DVR until later. I think the WR and the slot ran deep posts, and Mouton had the RB responsibility. My memory could be failing me though.

mejunglechop

November 6th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^

Yeah, I think it was half on Avery half on the LB. The pattern was designed to put pressure on one of the deep 3 (in that case Avery) and it's on the LB to help out there. Not anything terrible, but you have to assign blame somewhere.

colin

November 6th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^

but that's a well designed play.  If he bites and then heads to the flat, he ends up on the RB who took the fake rather than the RB who was faking the lead block.  Not to mention you get a vertical overload to that side even though they show 3 wide on Cover 3.  It wouldn't work nearly so well if we could threaten some Cover 2.

Also, Chris at smart football twatted, half joking, that Rich ran it himself just to show they'd seen it in practice the week before.  It made me wonder if they had.