Big Will
I keep seeing indications on this blog about Big Will needing to be in better shape and working on technique. There are approximately 14 weeks before our first game. Isn't 14 weeks enough time to get in "game shape" especially with Barwis method conditioning?
It depends on the individual player. Ideally, Will wouldn't even see the field this year as most, if not ALL, defensive linemen should be redshirted, especially DTs. Players that are as gifted as Big Will were able to physically dominate their opponents at the high school level without using proper technique. That isn't the case anymore. It would be unfair to Will for fans to expect him to do much this year. He has alot to learn. If we weren't so thin along the D line, he would probably be redshirted.
Ya, depends on the player. Mike Martin looked promising this past year and had only 2-3 months before first game. Campbell had 9 months(now over 3 months) before his first game.
Big Will will def help stop the runs through the middle for 60 yard tds vs OSU though.
I am going to take a wild guess that Martin was in MUCH better shape than Will coming in. Will Came into school bloated. I am also going to guess Will isn't going to like his summer under Barwis. But let's hope he braves through it and gets into shape and learns the techniques to help the team this fall.
and spoke to his Dad, who said that Will was way overweight for where the coaches wanted him when he got to school, had already (at that time) lost a good amount, but said it was going to take awhile before he got into the shape the coaches wanted, FWIW
I don't remember where I heard it, but Big Will already lost alot of weight. I believe he came in at 340 and is down to 315. Numbers may be wrong, but he lost that kind of weight already.
I heard Bill Will is weak too. Coming in he could only bench 315 pounds 18 times... WEAK.
Benching 315 18 times isn't weak for an incoming freshman. The median for defensive linemen benching 225 at the combine was 25 or so. Michael Oher was drafted as a left tackle in the first round and he only hit 21 reps.
Not sure but I think the "weak" comment was meant to be sarcasm.
Conditioning wise Will has made huge strides since he reported to campus. I'm more concerned with technique that will be needed as he will no longer be that much bigger and stronger than everyone else. He had a habit of standing up in HS, but was able to compensate with his size and strength and that won't work at this level. Once he gets accustomed to playing with low pads he'll be fine.
That's why star rankings can be deceptive especially in a recruit's true freshmen year. While there are plenty of 4 and 5* linemen how many actually have the size, strength, and technique to make an impact that first year?
Mike Martin looked great a freshman so I think Big Will with his extra semester of offseason workouts should be able to contribute more than most freshman DT's.
Big Will may very well be farther behind technique wise as a true freshman than Martin was. Also, while Martin looked good in limited playing time last year, saying that he looked "great" may be a bit of a stretch, don't you think? My fear is that some of you have built up some extremely unrealistic expectations in regards to what kind of contribution that Campbell can make to the team this season, which could (and probably will) lead to unfair criticism of him when he doesn't live up to the hype that has been created. He is a true freshman that has alot to learn and needs a ton of work and practice time. Ideally, he would be redshirted this season and not even play, but, because we are so thin at the DT position, we will not have that luxury.
Mike Martin was a freshman All-American last year. Yes, he looked great.
It's worth remembering that Martin was only asked to spell Johnson and Taylor in the d-line rotation, though. We're expecting Campbell to handle a majority of the snaps.
*EXACTLY*
I know that the Sporting News named him to the All Freshman second team. We probably have different views as to what constitutes a "great" player. I think he played well (at times, VERY well) last year for a freshman, but, I can't honestly sit here and use the word "great" to describe Mike Martin's performance last season. It's all a matter of opinion.
I think when most people are judging a person's season, they look at their contribution according to their role on the team. Martin, in a second team role, stood out and made plays on a fairly consistent basis. Sure, compared to first-team all-americans, his stats may look bleak, but as a true freshman playing in a backup role, he had a great season.
In the context of him being a true freshman DT he was great. I'm not comparing him to Alan Branch as a junior or something.
I don't know where you set the bar for true freshman greatness but if Big Will has a 2009 that comes anywhere near the 2008 that MM had, I'll be thrilled. Name the last DT at Michigan to have a better true freshman season than Mike Martin.
Also, MM had more sacks and TFLs than TT and Will Johnson, fwiw.
I believe that Martin was a four time state champion in wrestling. He knew how to use leverage and had excellent quickness. Plus, wrestling helps with balance.
I not saying Will won't contribute, but let him grow into the situation. If we play a lot of 3-4 there won't be the necessity for him to have a monster year.
Martin only wrestled one or two years (I was to say one year), but yes, he was a state champ -- he pretty much just dominated opponents because he was way better conditioned than they were, though. Everything I've read suggests he didn't really have much in the way of wrestling technique.
Why would playing a lot of 3-4 mean he won't have to have a monster year? In the 3-4, a defensive tackle has much greater responsibility on the line. Surely you're not suggesting that the linebackers are going handle the bulk of the work.
I think he means to say that you don't need two tackles in a 3-4, therefore, Martin will see the bulk of the snaps and Campbell can get his reps in without needing to be an anchor for the defense.
was very powerful. His technique left a lot to be desired. However, he was a heavyweight and it's much easier to dominate with pure athletic ability at that weight. There was a 215 pound wrestler named Marcel Dubose that same year who was a 3x champ and senior national champ. He likely would have destroyed Martin in a wrestling match.
I keep thinking back from last year when I thought the small amount of time with Barwis last year would be the difference maker. Most of the team still had a long way to go to reach their strength potential even after last year. Several articles have discussed how this offseason has made a impact on the teams overall conditioning. We may still be looking at a year before we see the real force that is the otter.
Kevin Grady is a similar case. A specimen grown to physical maturity long before most of the competition tends to dominate without resorting to skill.
I really think that between Mike Martin, Renaldo Sagesse, Big Will, and Vince Helmuth (299lbs now) this defensive line will be fine. All the beef in the middle will create a wall, Mike Martin will flash in the backfield like he did consistently as a true frosh, and Brandon Graham will be a monster. Teams will double him as the game goes on, and this will open the door for whoever wins the weakside DE spot (Van Bergen or Roh??).
The secondary was the weak link of the Defense last year, and this is my area of most concern. I have tried to trust Mr. Brown at the back end for a few years now, and I have been burned right along with him. I hope Justin Turner and one of the four other studs we just got at safety can crack the starting lineup ahead of Steve. No offense, but he has cost us tons of big plays with bad angles, poor tackling, and bad ball skills.
Greg Robinson coming in to help gel the D coaches and their schemes should also help. He has a plethora (three amigos) of experience in coordinating big staffs at every level successfully. (ahhh...it's a sweater!) Anyhoo, it should be fun to see some of the new defensive strategy this year. My favorite thing about the defense in the spring game was a 4-3 under fire zone blitz on third down. He angled the Sam and Will 'backers to the outside and flared the DE's at the snap. This created a crease for both OLB's to shoot up and create some havok. The QB at the time had no place to go and just threw it away. If this defense can make plays like that this year on third and long, it will go a long way to helping UM win games. Go Blue!!!!
...at safety ahead of Stevie Brown, seeing how Brown is no longer playing safety.
The "rover" or "bandit" or whatever you wanna call it is still a safety. The job is slightly different, but it's not a corner, linebacker, or lineman. He still cannot tackle, rush the passer, or cover TE's and RB's out of the backfield. I hope he proves me wrong, but I just don't want to see the guy get "posterized" any more. So my point remains - I hope someone starts ahead of him at whatever postition he is fighting for.
....every offseason award they have. He is a physical specimen. The coaches obviously think enough of him to put him on the field. Unfortunately, he takes bad angles and has problems tackling.
If you're a Michigan fan, you should hope that in his third year of significant playing time, Brown makes the improvements he needs to make in order to hold down the OLB / SS spot that Robinson moved him to. If he does, that will be one huge benefit for our defense this year. If he doesn't, that only adds to the lack of experience our defense will display this year.
I would not be surprised if Campbell was struggling with technique but conditioning-wise I expect he's just fine. A great hullabaloo was made during the Army AA game of the fact that he returned kicks in high school.
of Will Campbell as beast his sophomore/junior seasons is killing me. I can't wait to see an interior linemen in a Michigan jersey blow up the middle of the field! God, be two years from now...Wolverines and Lions!
benching 315 15 times is great strength...geeze....
btw...Mike Martin was pretty good for a freshman last year, he made lots of plays... one that comes to mind was the final 2 pt conversion vs. Wisconsin, where he forced a bad throw from the QB after beating a double team. kid has a great future on the DL
OK I am going to make my signs now, Mike Martin for President and Will Campbell for Vice President.
Who's "we're?" You may be, but I seriously doubt the coaching staff is. They may not even want him to do that... a pure freshman doing that is just as likely an indication there's no talent in front of him. It's also pretty unrealistic to expect him to be in D1A physical condition coming out of high school. Very few DLs are. Getting in shape doesn't happen in a month.