Brandon Smith?
As we all know, the weaknesses of our defense are primarily blamed on the sub par safety and linebacker play. We also know that if certain bench players were good enough to play, the coaches would play them.
The reason why I started this topic of conversation is to discuss the special team play of Brandon Smith and to ask the question why isn't he getting a shot to play on defense. He came in as a blue chip athlete, Army All-American. High school qb, destined to be a safety. It seems the coaches have moved him to linebacker, but is he really that awful that he cant get playing time over walk on's at both the safety spot and linebacker position? Watching him fly around the field on kick offs and punt returns, while watching slow and shy linebackers and safeties is starting to become disconcerting in reference to player development (mental and physical).
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
I'm guessing that these elite high school athletes have never had too understand the game, but could simply let their athletic abilities take over for their lack of understanding of the game, where as the walk on players have had to overcome their lack of athletic ability through a better understanding of the game. This may be the reason that walk on players have moved ahead of more atheletic players
I also think a position switch such as QB/Safety to LB may be dramatic enough that some of these players have to learn more.
Regardless I think long term players such as Fitzgerald, Smith, Vlad, Big Will and Demens will contribute in a bigger way, it just may take more time.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 AM ^
in the times that i've happened to 'iso-cam' bsmith on kickoffs...he has looked like he's afraid of contact.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:06 PM ^
Not only that, but our best O and D players are named Brandon.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
You answer your own question here
We also know that if certain bench players were good enough to play, the coaches would play them.It may be frustrating, especially given his physical talents, but obviously the coaches don't feel he's ready yet. It obviously doesn't help his prospects for immediate time that he's learning a new position.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
dude is a specimen though. He looks like a man among boys physically.
Ohh and everyone* in the stands thinks he is Minor and get in an uproar about Minor playing special teams.
*Obviously not everyone
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 PM ^
One time at the beginning of last school year I went to our bathroom in West Quad to take a leak. Just as I'm about to start, in walks Brandon Smith. Dude is every bit of 6'3"-210 lbs. Being the 5'10" white boy with a penchant for relaying meaningless stories on internet message boards I am, I was frightened. Instant paruresis. It was funny. Of course after our awkward first meeting, I talked with him several times and he's a nice guy...but damn it if I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:49 AM ^
Why wouldn't you want to meet him in a dark alley?
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:37 PM ^
The guy's athleticism is very impressive and he's been great on special teams. That being said, expecting a RS Freshman to come in, move to linebacker, and contribute is asking a hell of a lot. I imagine he will only improve going forward and if he cracks the depth chart next year (pretty likely with Brown graduating and Ezeh getting benched) he would still have a chance to be a three-year starter.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
First of all, he wasn't destined to be a safety. He was always "destined" (whatever that means) to be a linebacker. The kid was 6'3" and 209 lbs. coming out of high school, and you can count on pretty much every incoming freshman to put on 10-20 pounds of muscle in college. There aren't a ton of 6'3", 230 lb. safeties in college. On top of that, Smith never had the agility and awareness to play safety. You could see it in his film and I said over and over again that we shouldn't expect him to be a safety.
Second, if he was better than other people at linebacker, he would be in there. There are great special teamers who suck at playing traditional positions. Dante Hall, for example, was a great returner and only a mediocre wide receiver. Larry Izzo is a perennial All-Pro special teamer, but he's never been a starting linebacker in the NFL (except for maybe an occasional start due to injury).
Smith is a bit of a physical freak, which works on special teams. But when it comes to reading offenses, filling gaps, etc., that's a whole different story. You can't just throw physical freaks out there who don't know the position, and he's only been playing linebacker since the end of spring ball.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
I am not sure exactly which LB position he projects to. According to the official depth chart on Rivals he is the 3rd string WLB after Mouton and Leach.
Is he versatile enough to play multiple positions? Do we leave him to backup Mouton or have him split reps with whoever takes over Stevie Brown's position? I have not much in terms of depth for the hybrid S/LB position.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 PM ^
I think he's an ILB for the remainder of his career here at Michigan. There are other guys being recruited for the SAM position, current freshmen who play SAM, etc. I think Smith will replace Mouton at WILL once Mouton graduates.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
This guy is Number 4 with the dreads on Special Teams right? I love this guys energy for every single kickoff. He gets down the field quick and seems to get in on plays. He seems pumped every time anybody gets a tackle. Seems like he could add something to the defense, at the least. I'm guessing he's just not quite ready with the mental aspect. It can take a while to get the reads right and figure out opposing offenses. It's good that RR is at least letting him get in the games and give him some experience. I think he'll be playing in the coming years. The smarts will come, but it's great to see his physical abilities. He looks like a big hitter and it looks like he has good size for a safety.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
He has such good size for a safety that he's an inside linebacker.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^
I always enjoy it when announcers confuse him and Brandon Minor on kickoff coverage.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 PM ^
Indeed. Most games start by the announcer saying that Brandon Minor is a key player. This is followed up by a camera shot of smith standing with the kickoff team.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
...against PSU on the 2nd half opening KO should have told you he's not a safety. If that didn't do it, then let me tell you there's way too much thinking involved for most true frosh. to play anything but DL and corner. Of course, Death Roh is a smart-as-heck kid, so....
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 PM ^
Death Roth.