Ben Mason Will Play Both Offense and Defense
So we have bad depth at linebacker?
Actually only mentions DL in the article--both 3-tech (acknowledges he's small for it) and end. (Plus FB, RB, TE).
He will not play LB in a Don Brown scheme. Does not have the lateral quickness to run with receivers.
Yep. The way his body has developed, he's just not a good fit at linebacker. That's not how linebackers are built these days.
I hope he continues to get snaps at running back in short yardage, but the window has closed a little bit for him on offense.
Mike McCray had a pretty fine senior season despite being roughly Mason-shaped. He might not be Devin Bush, but there's always a role for a guy who is willing to run forward and hit things.
Regularly got burned trying to cover backs out of the backfield. See: does not have lateral quickness
March 19th, 2019 at 12:36 AM ^
McCray got wrecked trying to cover RB wheel routes.
Would it be inappropriate to point out that last year's LBs also lacked the ability to run with receivers?
Neither do our safeties.
Neither does Devin Gil.
March 18th, 2019 at 10:06 PM ^
I wouldn't mind him playing LB in short yardage scenarios. Basically the defensive version of how he's used on offense.
There might be depth issues at LB but I doubt Mason factored in there. This feels like a tacit acknowledgement that they don't have a ton of DL depth and might need to spell a couple of guys.
This makes a lot more sense than what Chase said last week.
Yeah. He's the size of an end and while he doesn't seem to have that much explosiveness, as a guy who just needs to hold up at the point of attack he's not a bad option.
He’s going to win the Heisman
This was undoubtedly made in jest but I want to point out an undeniable fact about all of our Heisman winners: each went 3-0 against Ohio State.
sounded like gattis doesn't use a FB very much, so they're trying to find a way to not waste having him on the roster
This is the part that I hate, as I love some FB play.
(I do love the people who both love Ben Mason & want to run a pure spread.)
Link to press conference?
Good.
Let him play offense, defense and special teams too.
Why stop there. Let him fill up the Gatorade cooler, walk the dog, and paint the back porch.
Plus, babysit Harbaugh's children, edit the MGoPodcast, project manage the Michigan Union renovation.
I'd be happy seeing him throwing Frisbees™ to the dog at halftime in The Big House
March 19th, 2019 at 12:39 AM ^
Can he play with the band?
Somebody needs to pump the well - can't have too much water for those coolers...
That's not the kind of speed in space I was hoping for
March 19th, 2019 at 12:15 AM ^
BULK IN SPACE
Is this the official #Mason4Heisman campaign plan? Sure seems like it
More like #Bench4Heisman
March 18th, 2019 at 11:25 PM ^
Cool Ghoul!
So I guess that means Gattis probably told Harbaugh he doesn't want to be an OC that uses a fullback. And Harbaugh replied that Mason is a Football Player then moved him to defense to get him on the field.
Further, they are calling BVS a RB and not a FB.
I am not so sure about that, since Alabama used an H-back and had packages where someone essentially filled the FB role although it wasn't called that per se. I imagine that's where Mason would fit in on offense, in situations where they go to that.
March 19th, 2019 at 12:41 AM ^
Alabama used the FB quite a bit.
A lot around here are quick to kill the FB in Michigan's offense, which is short sighted. Alabama based out of 12 personnel a lot last year, typically using an H-back. Tons of teams use what is called a "sniffer" now, which is effectively a FB. OSU just recruited a 6'2" TE that will effectively be Khalid Hill for them. The FB is being reintroduced into spread formations. It's doing so under the auspices of different names, but there is no reason Mason can't get 10-20 snaps outside the goal line package in the Gattis offense. Then add in some goal line/short yardage package, special teams, maybe sprinkled defense for a particular role, he could get up to 40-50 snaps (I generally think Harbaugh is being generous with the 60-70 snaps, which is a large number for anyone that isn't a QB or OL).
Great info. I also happen to love the word "auspices".
that's what i say when i'm about to eat indian food
"aaawwwwwWWWW SPICES!"
Football content.
Exciting to think about Mason hitting things. Hope his DT technique is getting there.
I don't think the FB has to go just because Michigan is going more spread. Oklahoma has used a FB in their offense, although its more of a glorified H-Back. Carson Meier and Dimitri Flowers really added a lot of the Sooners attack. So Michigan could in theory use a FB type, but Mason is less of an H Back and more of an old school FB.
Get Mason the ball in space - let him truck some people.
March 19th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
Yeah, I like the idea of him catching the ball out in the flat, trucking a corner, then dragging bodies with him for 10 or more yards...
Put him on D Line, E or T, and move on. Got my popcorn ready!