February 15th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^
I'll say it again...
I just want a player who can make the right zone read on 3rd and 24.
I hope it is you Cameron Gordon.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
In his recruitment it was always thought he had better potential on the defensive side of the ball. Here's hoping he gets to show it.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^
Cam Gordon has a big strong frame,me thinks he might punish some people...6'2 210...
February 15th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
why not linebacker?
February 15th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
That's a very small linebacker.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
He'd have to bulk up significantly to play inside, and personally, I don't think he's fast enough to play SAM.
February 15th, 2010 at 5:45 PM ^
If he's not fast enough to play a prototypical linebacker position then how would he be able to play db when you need to have speed?
February 15th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^
I answered this question a little ways down in the thread, but personally, I don't think he's fast enough to play wide receiver OR play safety. He's got the speed of an inside linebacker, IMO. I hope we put 20 lbs. on him and stick him at WILL.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
I think that's pretty likely. And as silly as this sounds (and I might be wrong about this), I think our SAM needs more speed than our box safety.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:29 PM ^
I agree about the speed thing. Brown was in man coverage more than Kovacs was, from what I recall.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
If he's faster than Jason Kovacs then he's fast enough to play safety on this team, at least until some of the younger talent develops.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:16 AM ^
Jordan* Kovacs. Also, not really. Jordan Kovacs, if we ignore his speed, was pretty damn good. We don't know if Gordon could stick a tackle like Kovacs for example.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:35 PM ^
He probably *is* faster than any "Jason" Kovacs. Agreed that *Jordan* Kovacs was pretty solid excepting his inability not to get burned on the zone read at 3rd and 24...
February 15th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
...for a linebacker. He would need to bulk up to around at least 230 if he were to make the move to linebacker. Unless you're thinking of him for the "spinner" position.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^
He can help immediately on defense. At the least, he will add swagger and depth to the secondary. Along with the recruits and redshirts, I think we will be a lot happier with the D this year.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:51 PM ^
"All of them will get it,” Gordon said. “Tate (Forcier), Gardner, Denard (Robinson), all of them. I’m picking all of them off. They already know. Seven-on-seven, I’m like, ‘Don’t throw it to me.’ I say no over the top balls. Never. They know that.”
You got to love it.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
I doubt he'll be able to help immediately. He didn't play defense in practice as a freshman, and we've got better athletes than him coming in to play the FS position. He might eventually work his way into starting, but that will probably require some sorting out (for example, Marvin Robinson to SAM and/or Emilien to SS).
February 15th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
He seems a little big for safety, but the coaches make the big bucks, so I will defer to their judgement on this one. I like that he is willing to help the team by switching positions.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
Our secondary is going to be deep very soon. Very deep.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^
As long as they don't get beat deep I don't care if it's the equivalent of a kiddie pool.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
Anyone know if he had some safety experience in HS?
February 15th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^
Yes, the article said he started at saftey and wr at Inkster.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
Thanks. I always try to avoid following links while at work...
February 15th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
We recruited a ton of bodies for the secondary in this last recruiting class. Putting Cam Gordon there doesn't really add a whole lot. What really bothers me, though, is that he practiced his entire redshirt year at WR. So he's not going to get that extra year that he would probably need to learn the defense. With other players at the safety position that already have experience there, I don't see Cam becoming a starter any time soon. So why? Honestly, I see getting more out of him at WR. We don't have half as much depth at the outside WR position as a lot of people think that we do. In fact, our depth is so thin there that we'll actually probably be playing either Ricardo or Jerald Robinson in the two-deep. Stonum could be an absolute beast on the outside but he hasn't really lived up to his potential yet (granted, last year was just his sophomore season). And if anyone gets hurt, we're gonna need some players ready to step in on the outside.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
Cameron Gordon is too S-L-O-W to be a wide receiver.
The coaches wanted him more for defense, but told him when he was recruited that they would give him a shot to play WR. They let him play WR his redshirt year. It didn't work out. To defense he goes.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^
If he's too slow for WR then what makes you think he can play safety? If he's fast enough for even the box safety position then he should be serviceable as a WR. And from what I've read about him, he's got good hands, runs routes well, and uses his body well to shield defenders. I actually heard that he was one of our best receivers to run routes across the middle of the field. Plus, even if he isn't exactly a burner, he's definitely faster than Ricardo Miller or Jeremy Jackson.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:58 PM ^
Hell, the kid could PLAY center or defensive tackle. That doesn't mean he'd be good at it.
In case you haven't noticed, the middle of the field is not where Rodriguez and Forcier make their money (er...well...hopefully Forcier isn't getting paid yet, but you get the point). They like to get the ball to the edges. Having a receiver who can go over the middle is almost like having a rifle-armed defensive tackle.
Personally, I've never been high on Cameron Gordon. I've never thought he would be a good wide receiver or a good defensive back - I think he's best suited to bulk up and play inside linebacker. So when you ask me what makes me think he's fast enough to play safety, I say...well...nothing.
However, I take issue with this:
"Plus, even if he isn't exactly a burner, he's definitely faster than Ricardo Miller or Jeremy Jackson."
a) "Definitely" is too strong a word here, unless you've seen them race each other.
b) If we're placing bets on this race, I'll take Ricardo Miller.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
because he wanted to play WR, was given a chance and then moved to D. He'll have the benefit of Spring practice, which none of the 2010 recruits will have. He'll also benefit from the S&C program and really has a chance at playing (it sounds like he's playing Safety in the 7 on 7s now).
February 15th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^
Everyone plays in 7-on-7s. They're player-run, so it's not like there's a depth chart.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
All redshirt players are on the scout team there redshirt year. We have less depth at SS than we do at WR. The reason they are putting Cam Gordon there is that they think he can compete this year to play SS. He would not be able to compete with Hemingway, Stonum, or Stokes this year since he is behind all of them in the mental game. The coaches want to utilize this kid's athleticism now. The quickest way to do it is to put him at a position that has zero depth, SS.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
none of the db recruits enrolled early. So there's only going to be a handful of guys in the secondary at spring ball (Woolfolk, Floyd, Kovacs, Williams, Turner, Vlad - I might be missing one or two). By having Gordon make the move now, he'll probably be able to get a lot of reps in spring ball. Once fall rolls around and the all the recruits show up, the secondary is going to be pretty crowded.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
This does seem weird. His weight was listed at 210 coming out of high school. With his frame I would have figured he could bulk up relatively easy to linebacker weight and play there, since we are so desperate for guys who can contribute at just a basic level. But DB? We are loaded now with talent and inexperience. Adding one more guy with inexperience doesn't seem to do much for us.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:08 PM ^
He was told when he was recruited that he could compete at wide receiver. If the coaches moved him immediately, they would have reneged on their promise.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^
The "no fly zone" is coming together nicely.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
This secondary in a couple years is going to be filled with absolute scary athletes. Marvin Robinson, Cameron Gordon, Demar Dorsey, Justin Turner, and Cullen Christian will make a awesome No Fly Zone!!!
February 15th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
In a few years with that secondary being so fast and(crossing fingers) Josh Furman is still rocking that 4.3, having Big Will and Craig Roh up near the line. We will have the scariest defense in the big ten and one of the best in the country.
Im feeling a contender for the 2011 and 2012 national chmpionship.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:38 PM ^
2011. I legitimately think our offense will be good enough to win the big ten next year, but I don't think anyone thought it would take so long to get the defense going. I think we will be a middling team this year and make a run next year, but fall a little short. Year 5 could be more of the same (If richrod gets that far). Year 6 could be gold.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
than Ricardo? Also, how are good hands and ability to block out for ball position not good qualities on defense? Seems like he will be a great body to have against TEs running seem/crossing routes. WR is not a position I'm worried about losing a body seeing as we have about 10 other bodies to fill voids and a walk-on, now sophomore, at box safety.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
Cam: Coach considering our depth at at wide reciever do you think I might be better off...
RR: At safety you can keep your same number.
Cam: So you think I have a shot to contribute...
RR: The defensive playbook is already in your locker and Coach Robinson is expecting you in the film room.
Cam: Coach I appreciate this opp...
RR: Tell Bell and Woolfolk I will be meeting them next.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
I'm not too worried about Cam Gordon leaving the WR corps. Hemingway, Stokes and Stonum are clearly ahead of him, and with so much talent and experience at the slot and TE, I don't see us getting too much production out of the 4th outside WR, and one of the new guys will be able to step up and fill that spot for now. I think Ricardo Miller would have jumped him after a year anyway.
CG always seemed like a guy destined for defense. I think he can be an exciting defensive player in a year or two. Watch for him on special teams too.
February 16th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
I like the depth at WR and although this is going to be a very young secondary, I have a good feeling about the future of Michigan football. I'm tired of lamenting about how bad the secondary is at Bdubs when I watch games with my fellow Michigan fan. I've good a good feeling about the potential of this young team. Hopefully this can translate to wins.