Could Josh Uche go back to DE full time?
Uche played a great game yesterday in relief of the starters racking up 2 sacks. He's been praised for his pass rushing abilities. I recall that he was rated as WDE in the recruiting services but he's been mostly playing SAM at Michigan. Could/should he go a similar route as Winovich and bulk up a bit more to be a full time WDE? It could help with depth of WDE for next year and I don't think it should cause any issues with lack of LBs with Gil, Ross, Singleton, Anthony, McGrone, and Thomas as traditional LBs and Hudson, Barrett, Velazquez, Glasgow as Viper
September 30th, 2018 at 5:22 PM ^
How big is Uche ? How big is Chase young ? I'm curious because Uche looked legit. Would be nice if he has abilitiy to hold out on run. Would be a terror
September 30th, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
He's on the small side to be a full-time DE. Possible he puts on another 15-20 and could be like Winovich but I think they like him where he's at.
Winovich is almost 260, and Chase Young is 6'5" 265. Uche is 6'3" 240ish. According to the interwebs anyway, so grain of salt and all.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
Appreciate the info. Man if he can pack on 15 or so pounds ... Would be amazing and think heir to winovich. Uche was explosive.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:32 PM ^
He probably should put on more weight, but he beat a double team to get his first sack.
He showed me something yesterday.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^
6JOSH UCHE
-
- CLASS
- Junior
-
- POSITION
- LB
-
- HEIGHT
- 6-3
-
- WEIGHT
- 238
https://mgoblue.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=17063
15 CHASE WINOVICH
-
- CLASS
- Fifth Year
-
- POSITION
- DL
-
- HEIGHT
- 6-3
-
- WEIGHT
- 255
https://mgoblue.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=17074
Chase Young -
- HEIGHT 6-5
- WEIGHT 265
September 30th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
Kwity Paye (6'4 260) or Luigi Vilain (6'4 255) is a better comparison to Chase Young (6'5 240)
September 30th, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
Chase Young is up to 265 now. He has a larger frame than the rest of the group, but all of them are larger than Uche.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:46 PM ^
I have a sneaking suspicion Vilain is transferring in the offseason :(
September 30th, 2018 at 6:54 PM ^
Maybe, but if you're always injured, you're not going to get on the field anywhere.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^
Not a huge fan of future transfer fan fiction either way, but Vilain probably doesn't have enough healthy practice time/tape to establish he's definitively behind anybody for the duration.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
Uche was amazing--that was the preseason hype, fully justified.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:01 AM ^
He wraps up the QB and takes him DOWN. Not hard hits, just takes a mofo to the ground.
Really liked his game Saturday. Didn't seem to over pursue or anything like that.
He's impressive.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^
He should be getting Furbush's snaps at SAM and they can put his hand in the dirt on passing downs when they so choose. Not sure he has the size to be an every down DL. Also not sure what the Viper depth chart (which contrary to your opinion is scarily thin), has anything to do with where Uche plays. Also also this really didn't need it's own thread.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^
"Also also this really didn't need it's own thread."
I don't notice you complaining every time there's another repetitive "what are you drinking" thread.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
Diagonal Blue enters thread, provides decent analysis and insight, then shits all over thread with last remark.
I don't understand people sometimes.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:08 PM ^
If I could only recall which troll(s) was/were banned on 9/2/18 I could then figure out diagonally his former MGoUsername
October 1st, 2018 at 12:07 AM ^
Please don't stress over 'not understanding people sometimes'.
I take comfort in not knowing WTF some points people are trying to make.
Take my post, for instance. :)
October 1st, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
Not stressing, just honestly perplexed at the bi-polar nature of Diagional's post.
I guess I'll just go the Seinfeld route and think to myself "What's the deal with people?".
September 30th, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^
As of noon, the Snowflakes were allowed to begin sliding down the list, and at that point, the rule relaxes somewhat. After all, the way the board is displayed on the side of the page - assuming a fair number of people don't click on the "Go To MGoBoard" link - isn't conducive to finding those threads once they slide down the list. Once the brakes come off the threads which have been stickied to the top, most threads like this can stay.
October 1st, 2018 at 4:24 AM ^
Besides, this is a good question posed by the OP that's totally fine as its own thread. It's not someone complaining about how something is UNACCEPTABLE or how everyone needs to relax. Those are the OPs that necessitate snowflake threads.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
Uche's listed as 6-3/238.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:32 PM ^
What would the SAM depth chart look like next season if Uche was moved?
September 30th, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^
I'm not exactly sure what SAM is in this defense. Viper is basically that position most of the time but sometimes the personnel at that position is bigger (Furbush/Uche) and essentially acts as another pass rusher. So to answer your question, there would be nobody because Michigan essentially doesn't recruit players like that anymore (instead opting for smaller LBs or hard hitting safeties)
September 30th, 2018 at 6:55 PM ^
It's used in the 3-3-5 and the Viper is still on the field. Maybe we won't see much 3-3-5 going forward, but Brown liked using it last season.
It's hard for me to say exactly what we're recruiting for sometimes. Winovich was a LB. Uche was listed as a DE. Most of the LB recruits are looked at for more than one LB spot. Players get moved around a lot on the front 7. Harbaugh has talked about switching VanSumeren to defense. He looks like a SAM to me. Singleton was listed as bigger than Uche in HS.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
In his hello post, Ace mentioned Paye as a potential SAM. Who would have guessed he'd playing snaps at DT as a true Soph?
September 30th, 2018 at 5:41 PM ^
I know this is very unpopular, but IF this single data point is indicative of his overall production then I wouldn't mind seeing Uche come in for Gary on obvious passing downs.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
You don’t need to take him out, as I feel you could slide Gary inside - which may be a better long term fit for him.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:42 PM ^
exactly what i was thinking.... if uche can be an every down force at DE... we could move Gary in.... that push up the middle has been absent at times this season, and it doesn't match the outside pressure.
Think about the difference if we have a beast like gary at the 3 tech
October 1st, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
Winovich-Gary-Paye-Uche could get after the QB well on obvious passing plays.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
To me, it is very clear at this point that Gary is playing with an injury that can’t be made worse, but is limiting his effectiveness. I think they would slide him over but he is just powering through something tough. He is in pain every game but is still going. He is awesome, one of my favorite Michigan players in a while.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
My thoughts exactly. Once he moves on, we may get the full story.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:52 PM ^
He has probably the best pure speed rush on the team, but the more he plays the more oline will know that’s his move. The question remains...will that matter or will he be quick enough?
September 30th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
I though Uche jumped out as much as Winovich, and was the MVP of the second half. He has to play every down .
September 30th, 2018 at 6:15 PM ^
I'll be the negative nancy (let me - I'm never negative) that says I was frustrated with Uche's insistence on bull rushing on a few downs yesterday.
He had a great game, 2 sacks, sealed the win. I'm just nitpicking. A couple rushes he went to bull rush an OT that probably had 70 pounds on him and did a very poor job of getting off the block. I'm not sure if he was trying to go speed to power, but that doesn't often work at 235 lbs. He needs to stick with his speed rush and his counters for when guys overset him, which they will naturally start to do. Develop a spin move, Uche, don't bull rush.
Edit: 0:49 mark of this video if anyone cares https://twitter.com/UMichFootball/status/1046510800888836096 ...I'll say it again, he played really well, it's just one negative I noticed.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
Another year in the strength program and he will be 265lbs - the bull rush is just practice for when he is fully bull.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:17 PM ^
What exactly are you trying to accomplish by putting him at DE full time? Put an undersized pass rusher out there on running downs? We saw him get two sacks yesterday while NOT playing DE full time. Why mess with a good thing? And I don't believe SAM is a traditional LB role in our defense, so having a bunch of traditional LBs doesn't really help us there.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Exactly. What the OP wants accomplished can be done out of a two point stance.
Now should Uche play more on passing downs and against quick passing teams? Last night says yes.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:41 PM ^
Winovich looks to have a bit of a larger frame. I'm sure Uche could put on some weight, but I doubt he'd get over 250. Currently he's listed as 238 lbs on the roster and Winovich is 265 lbs.
I'd think that our likely starters at DE will be Paye and Hutchinson with Vilain & Hinton providing depth. I think Uche will probably replace the roll of Furbush. He's pretty tall for a LB, but a little undersized for a DE. He seems likely to remain a pass rush specialist.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:58 PM ^
I'm not sure if he's a guy who can be an every-down weakside end, but I like him as a pass rusher. He's a Furbush-type player at this point, IMO, but a better pass rusher. Michigan really has a lot of options on passing downs with the likes of Winovich, Gary, Paye, Furbush, Uche, Dwumfour, and Hutchinson, among others.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:35 PM ^
I like Uche and Paye at WDE. Another year in the strength program and both will be same size as Winovich and just as fast. Plug and play! Michigan's DL dynasty is going strong.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
With Vilain's injury issues Uche almost needs to slide down to play WDE. He needs to put on another 10-15 pounds which is very doable. 2019 depth
WDE- Paye / Uche
SDE- Hutchinson / Hinton
Viper/SLB- Hudson/ Glasgow/ Singleton
Singleton needs a home and would make a great SLB
September 30th, 2018 at 8:33 PM ^
So you move our likely starter at SAM to WDE to be a backup? That doesn't make a lot of sense. Sure it's nice to have depth. But you know what's even better? Starters.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^
September 30th, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^
Yes, that could happen.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
From what I saw yesterday, he is at his perfect weight right now. Same with Paye.
September 30th, 2018 at 10:39 PM ^
Reminded me a bit of Shawn Crable sans the late hitting bit. #still too soon
September 30th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
Unlikely, but what an ingenious move by Don Brown to put Uche in as a pass rusher. I think that we will see it again in passing downs
September 30th, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^
That pass rush on the last play was brilliant! He faked a bull rush, then dipped his shoulder going under and around the offensive tackle. That is skillful! Uche, Paye, and Dwumfour all looked good yesterday. That bodes well for the present and the future.
October 1st, 2018 at 8:52 AM ^
Josh is my hero after that sack, he can play anywhere he wants this week :)
October 1st, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
probably