DB Optimism??

Submitted by Ziff72 on

I was doing some scouring for the 2010 NFL draft and while everyone thinks D. Warren is gone, based on what I saw and the general consensus that he doesn't have the raw speed to wow the scouts, I would have to say it is very likely he won't go in the 1st rd. With the NFL in flux and a flood of Juniors expected to come out does anyone know what people are saying about 2nd and 3rd round picks and if it is still worthwhile for them to come out?? If he stayed with many of the top Juniors leaving he could position himself for a monster 2010. If he came back I think our DB position goes from dicey to solid with room for upside. At CB Warren and Turner this allows Woolfolk to move back to safety with Williams. You have Floyd/Witty/Emilien/Kovacks for depth. You have another year in the system. If Turner lives up to the hype, I think you have a backfield that could be good enough to give this team a chance at a very good 2010 season.

B

November 4th, 2009 at 10:54 AM ^

You have to wonder if Woolfolk will stay at CB and Turner will move to safety. GBMW predicted that would happen. It seems to make sense, especially if Warren stays.

wishitwas97

November 4th, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^

will start at CB unless he sucked in spring practice/fall practice even if Warren decides to stay next season. It would allow GERG to move Woolfolk to move to Safety where it's worse than #2 CB(with Turner starting). The defense would be better with this way IMO.

A lot of defensive players see PT to be had and that is a good thing since Michigan need defensive players.

Blue in Yarmouth

November 4th, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^

I agree that Warren leaving shouldn't be a foregone conclusion. First, the CBA isn't even complete so there it isn't even certain that there will be a cap on rookie salary.

Second, because there is uncertainty surrounding this many of the juniors, some better CB than he, will make the jump as well, further pushing his stock down. If he were to go in the 3rd round of a normal draft year (without a rookie salary cap) or in the high first round with a rookie salary cap, I would think the pay day he gets would be close (perhaps better with the first round cap salary).

All that being said, you never know what an young man his age will do when it comes to money. I am holding out hope that he stays.

Blue in Yarmouth

November 4th, 2009 at 12:51 PM ^

I would guess that the CBA doesn't effect it, but the fall out will. In other words, if you cap a first rounders salary at $2 million per year (not a real number, purely hypothetical) and they used to get roughly $5 mill. Lets say second and third rounders used to get around $2 and $1 mill. respectively on average. That is a significant gap, no?

When you lower the first rounders potential salary, you automatically lower those who come after because you can't justify paying the number 3 pick in the draft the same salary as a guy selected in the second round.

Once you lower the first rounders pay, all the players in subsequent rounders salaries will drop as well.

blueloosh

November 4th, 2009 at 11:17 AM ^

Glad to hear someone shares the opinion. I think there is a small chance Warren is back, and even Cissoko is not out of the question (though unlikely). In either scenario we could have a high talent backfield with Woolfolk and two out of Turner-Emilien-Williams. I also think the year of maturation will do us a lot of good. Positioning has been at least as big a problem as talent. An offseason in the same defensive system could (fingers crossed) work wonders.

jg2112

November 4th, 2009 at 11:18 AM ^

There is a lot of reason for optimism.

The biggest reason is that the team will be in its second year under GERG. A little bit of continuity will help immeasurably.

But, if Warren returns, that would mean EVERYONE from the defensive backfield returns, and we add the following players:

JT Turner (after the redshirt)
Witty (probably)
C. Johnson
C. Avery
T. Talbott
Co(r)nelius Jones (mentioned as a DB in an article posted here yesterday).
One of the WR commits?
Hopefully Cullen Christian
Hopefully Tony Grimes
Hopefully one other safety (Rashad Knight?)

Look at all those players. Depth issues will be sorted out.

DesHow21

November 4th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^

conversation for a future safety position. He is way worse at safety than booboo ever was at corner. If Vlad doesnt win the job at safety over effing Williams we are screwed anyways.

KennyGfanLMAO

November 4th, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^

If you look at most of the big plays we hav given up this year, you will notice that williams either had a chance to make a play and didnt, or wasnt where he was supposed to. Usualy young players that get better as time goes on show signs that they are decent at football. I havnt seen anything at all from williams. NOTHING

Smitty D

November 4th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^

a feeling warren stays. I don't think he is a 1st rd pick from the boards I looked at. There are 2 to 3 corners ahead of him. You also have the 2 safties berry and mayes. So here is hoping he doesn't leave cause if he stays our D will be improved

bigmc6000

November 4th, 2009 at 2:30 PM ^

I guess I'm RichRod when it comes to NCAA '10 because I can throw up points in bunches but I never seem to get the kind of sack numbers you guys are throwing up there - if you don't mind me asking what D are you generally running that allows you to fly in on the QB like that?

The Nicker

November 4th, 2009 at 11:49 AM ^

Although we are looking first and foremost at Christian, Grimes, and and Knight, does anybody have any status update as to the Travis Williams back-burner commitment?

Does he have plans to follow through on that?

I'm willing to take another 3 star CB from FL right now, but I guess we're holding out. Has he cooled on us?

Magnus

November 4th, 2009 at 11:50 AM ^

When you consider the fact that Williams played slot corner last year and started this year at free safety (i.e. a glorified OLB), then you realize that his first game at deep safety was the Iowa game.

Since he's played about three weeks at the position, let's cut him some slack.

MinorforPresident

November 4th, 2009 at 1:05 PM ^

You always have pretty good level-headed insight. Who still on our radar do you think we have the best chance of landing here in the secondary? We hear Christian & Grimes alot but are there any others that we may be moving up the ladder with? Thanks for any info you have.

Magnus

November 4th, 2009 at 5:36 PM ^

We probably have a decent shot with Rashad Knight. Just hope that FSU doesn't offer. Sean Parker and Bobby Swigert are a couple more safeties we could get, but I'm not a big fan of Swigert (not that it matters). Tony Jefferson is a long shot.

At cornerback, it's pretty much Christian and Grimes. If either one turns us down, perhaps we can get back in on Dior Mathis. But if either one of those guys turns us down, I think Michigan will have to send out some new offers.

los barcos

November 4th, 2009 at 12:03 PM ^

i dont know if its injuries, safeties, or what, but it seems to the naked eye that warren has played a few bad games recently. im not hoping he continues the trend, as it is bad for the team, but he might be thinking another year would exponentially help his draft stock.

Arizona Blue

November 4th, 2009 at 1:45 PM ^

I pray each night before I go to bed that Rich Rod gets down on one knee at the end of the season and begs D. Warren to stay for another year. He really needs to do whatever it takes to make Warren stick around.

jg2112

November 4th, 2009 at 1:49 PM ^

If God could talk back to you, at the completion of your prayer, he'd say:

"Seriously? Wars, hunger, disease, inequity, and you're asking me to suppress a 5 star's free will?"

Further, upon first glance of your post I thought you were suggesting Rich Rod should propose to Warren as a way of keeping him in AA for one more year. Not sure what Rita would think of that.