Defensive Outlook 2010

I think I pretty much agree with all of these points. It really just boils to our recruited talent panning out the way it's supposed to. No more busts for now please. Here's to Will Campbell becoming the beast we think he is.

Put Vlad at safety.

2) The problem with that is some analysts are reporting that Marvin is slower than they thought. I know Rivals came away unimpressed with Marvin at a camp earlier this year and knocked down his rankings accordingly. If he doesn't have the speed, the only position I can see him at is Stevie B's position.

3) D Warren is going to bolt, but I don't think he's ready. It's more that no one knows what is going to go down in the NFL after next year with the CBA, and rookie pay scale could be severely affected. Expect to see alot of juniors jump to the NFL even though they prolly need another year. Hopefully the coaches can sell him on staying another year and proving his stock, like Graham has done this year.

5) Agree. Hopson has doing nothing that warrants keeping him. Poor ILB play and zero recruiting catches in the South.

8) Boy, there is going to be a big dropoff at the SLB position. Landing a stud OLB prospect to compete at this position is a must. With GRob coaching this position and Stevie B's good play this year, hopefully we'll be okay.

We knew about the holes in the defense. We knew about the Freshmen QB's. We knew that the OL wasn't experienced. Early on, Brian opined that the defense was a disaster waiting for an injury or two to happen. With Cissoko kicked off, plus Molk's injury and Minor's lingering high sprain, we simply didn't have the depth and the experience to weather a game like this.

However, I'm still not discouraged. I'm still drinking the RR Koolaid. I'm still waiting for a couple more recruiting classes. I'm still ok with Gerg. I'm especially glad that Michigan is a strong enough school and program to take the long perspective. Were we to panic and start firing people, it would be much, much, much worse.

Even if your scenario comes true Michigan will still be relying on MULTIPLE players seeing their first collegiate football action, inexperienced talent is still scary. I can't see the D being THAT much better next year. I hope that I am wrong.

In a normal year there would be a good chance of Warren staying - I don't think he is ready for the NFL - but with the NFL rookie salary cap looming it almost a certainty he goes.

there is much doubt our 2010 defense will blow even worse than this one.

We switch to a more conventional 4-3 look because Will Campbell becomes a stud and we'd have to have Martin, Campbell, VB, and Roh on the field. Strong against the run, but we'd have to sub on passing downs.Mouton improves, Ezeh or Fitz take command of the middle, and one of the current freshmen takes the Will spot. Warren stays, Woolfork moves back to safety, a freshman starts at corner, and Williams, Kovaks, and Vlad battle for the other safety spot. Even if all that happens, that would still be just an average Big 10 defense.

i doubt a change in rookie pay would affect warren, who looks like a 3rd round pick to me.

RR might beable to sell warren on having his draft stock jump by staying one more year. but the shitstorm that is our d has to be a scary prospect for him.

either way, i dont see any reason to be optimistic about this defense going forward. we've got exactly one thing going for us and he's graduating this year.

i know people hope that having consistency from the dc will help, but thats overblown. its not like theres going to be some sudden sea change between coordinators.

i doubt a change in rookie pay would affect warren, who looks like a 3rd round pick to me.

RR might beable to sell warren on having his draft stock jump by staying one more year. but the shitstorm that is our d has to be a scary prospect for him.

either way, i dont see any reason to be optimistic about this defense going forward. we've got exactly one thing going for us and he's graduating this year.

i know people hope that having consistency from the dc will help, but thats overblown. its not like theres going to be some sudden sea change between coordinators.

Robinson or Vlad at safety with Woofolk.

Warren, Turner and the incoming top two freshman at corner.

Campbell and Lalota added up front.

Roh plus 20 solid pounds at Graham's position.

Linebacker, oh linebacker, I wish I could see a clear plan there.

On offense, I sure hope Gallon can add something shifty to the slot mix.

Why would Vance Bedford come back? He's on Florida's staff coaching the DBs. This would be a move down (sorry to say) plus RichRod fired him.
I thought he should have been one of the coaches retained during the transition, even over Fred Jackson (the cynic in me always thought he was only kept on to maintain McGuffie's commitment). In one off season, Bedford was able to make Jamaar Adams and Brandent Englemon serviceable safeties.
As for replacing Hopson w/ a technical genius, are there any legit candidates out there? I don't know enough about college assistant coaches to know who would consider making the jump to Michigan.

need 20 defensive recruits lol every year

Well I know that for Christmas I am asking Santa for Cullen Christian, Tony Grimes, Tony Jefferson, Aramide Olanyian, Josh Furman, and another LB and DT / DE. I think I've been pretty good this year so maybe he'll fill my list. Then again God hates Michigan this year so maybe not.

I think our D will see a huge dropoff next year. I can see a few guys stepping up, but not the 5-6 we need to step up to fill some huuuuuuge voids we will have on D.

How could our defense possibly see a huge dropoff next year?

We'll lose Graham and Brown and possibly Warren. Granted, those are probably our three best defenders, but everybody else SHOULD be one year better and there will be an influx of talented sophomores (Emilien, Turner) and freshmen (Marvin Robinson, perhaps Cullen Christian and Josh Furman).

Also, we're bad right now. So a huge dropoff might not even be possible. If my math is correct, we've given up 258 points to 8 FBS opponents: that's over 32 points per game.