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Defensive problems a lack of effort?

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November 11th, 2009 at 3:10 PM

#1

jonny_GoBlue's picture

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 4541

Defensive problems a lack of effort?

http://www.annarbor.com/sports/an-nfl-scout-breaks-down-brandon-grahams-...

The NFL scout sounds a lot like Matt Millen... he keeps referring to Graham as a high motor guy.

What caught my attention in the article was this quote...

“We just kept running the film back and looking at situations and looking at things that he did when it wasn’t even making a play, just seeing how he’s trying to get there when the play’s on the other side and he’s passing up other guys that are jogging and 55’s running past them. If they had (a few more) guys playing like he plays with the effort he plays, they’d be a good football team. They wouldn’t be trying to fight to get bowl eligible, they’d already be that.”

Ouch.

We've all acknowledged that we have talent and depth issues, but have we really seen a lack of effort out there? Apparently an NFL scout who is running our game film back over and over think so.

November 11th, 2009 at 3:21 PM

#2

jcgary's picture

Joined: 07/28/2008

MGoPoints: 768

I have noticed plays every

I have noticed plays every game where there might be a guy or two not hustling and giving full effort but I think it has more to do with talent than effort.

November 11th, 2009 at 3:23 PM

#3

Firstbase's picture

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 6400

That quote by the scout

really jumped out at me, too.

November 11th, 2009 at 3:28 PM

#4

exmtroj re-loaded

exmtroj re-loaded's picture

Joined: 10/29/2009

MGoPoints: 2

Talent

It's Michigan, we have enough talent to protect a 14 point lead against Purdue, end of story. The rest is effort and heart, of which they have none.

November 11th, 2009 at 3:35 PM

(Reply to #4) #5

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 11748

Please name for me all of the

Please name for me all of the really talented defensive players that should protect our 14 point lead.....

November 11th, 2009 at 3:58 PM

(Reply to #5) #6

blueheron's picture

Joined: 03/26/2009

MGoPoints: 2630

2nd that

Good question. Someone please give me a list of all the future pros (or even guys who will get invited to training camps).

November 11th, 2009 at 4:21 PM

(Reply to #8) #7

HartAttack20's picture

Joined: 06/08/2009

MGoPoints: 1964

I agree...

I see two guys right now that might and those two are Warren (although he hasn't looked great as of late) and of course Graham. Other than that, I just don't see it. Craig Roh is a good player and maybe even a guy like Big Will Campbell, but they aren't able to conrtibute enough to stop whole teams by themselves. There isn't much at LB and there sure are holes in the secondary.

November 11th, 2009 at 4:37 PM

(Reply to #9) #8

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 11748

We have 5 walk-ons in our

We have 5 walk-ons in our defensive 2-deep. Enough said.

November 11th, 2009 at 4:53 PM

(Reply to #11) #9

The King of Belch

The King of Belch's picture

Joined: 07/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8

I Think

The guy may have been referring to the fact that it was Purdue and that you shouldn't need a roster stocked with NFL talent to keep them at bay.

November 12th, 2009 at 12:25 AM

(Reply to #15) #10

The King of Belch

The King of Belch's picture

Joined: 07/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8

See Now, Here's the problem

Fucking message board guy and The Anomaly as solid gold point prover.

November 11th, 2009 at 4:57 PM

(Reply to #8) #11

colin's picture

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 1467

IMEFWIW:

Graham, Warren, Roh, Martin, maybe Woolfolk, maybe RVB, probably not Stevie, Williams or Mouton, definitely not Ezeh, Kovacs, Heininger, or Leach.

November 11th, 2009 at 6:21 PM

(Reply to #8) #12

clarkiefromcanada

clarkiefromcanada's picture

Joined: 11/21/2008

MGoPoints: 37504

are you infering that...

...our safeties will not be getting invited to training camps? What about CFL training camps? Oh, scratch that...it's an even bigger field.

Nice work.

November 11th, 2009 at 3:39 PM

brewandbluesaturdays

brewandbluesaturdays's picture

Joined: 01/23/2009

MGoPoints: 7875

I hope

I just hope/have a strong feeling effort isnt the case here while talent is. As a Barwis supporter I am not pleased with these allegations.

November 11th, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Joined: 08/08/2009

MGoPoints: 10543

That quote...

...made me sigh with melancholy.

November 11th, 2009 at 4:32 PM

colin's picture

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 1467

Some skepticism warranted

given the anonymity and all that. Not to mention sports sections eat up effort quotes like candy.

November 11th, 2009 at 5:04 PM

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 59252

To be fair, Graham is a beast

To be fair, Graham is a beast who will probably have a nice pro career - he should look better than some freshmen and walk-ons. That includes looking like he is trying harder, because that level of manic desire is what you need to blow past 300+ lb tackles and drive QBs and big RBs into the turf.

I think that players sometimes look like they are "jogging" around and disinterested because they are caught off guard or confused by what is happening in front of them and how to respond. As noted earlier, when you are in a near-context flux in the backfield and in the LB core, you are going to see guys completely out of position and look like they are just loafing around because they have no idea where to go.

November 11th, 2009 at 6:02 PM

BiSB's picture

Joined: 08/15/2009

MGoPoints: 44839

A agree with the author...

If we had more guys like BG, we'd win more games.

Damn lack of human cloning technology...

November 11th, 2009 at 6:08 PM

Blue boy johnson

Joined: 03/15/2009

MGoPoints: 6350

I have a bigger concern for

I have a bigger concern for the lack of effort exhibited by many journalist

November 11th, 2009 at 6:11 PM

Togaroga's picture

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 483

Effort is not THE issue...

We have several issues plaguing our defense. I'm not convinced that a lack of effort is one of them, and it is certainly not one of the most significant problems. We have two walk-ons starting in our defense. They are starting because we aren't very talented on defense. These guys are walk-ons because they lack great athleticism and size. They fit the system, and they do an OK job. When we have guys who fit the system and have great athleticism and size, we'll be significantly better.

No one matches Graham's intensity, and I'm afraid that is obvious. But, he may very well be a freak. We have massive issues at safety, and correcting that will be a top priority.

When that is settled the only issue will be covering the spread.

November 11th, 2009 at 6:19 PM

Bobby Boucher's picture

Joined: 05/02/2009

MGoPoints: 1263

It could be a lack of effort.

It could be a lack of effort. Maybe that's why we're starting 2 walkons. Every defensive player, except for BG and Warren, needs to step it up the next couple of games. And damn are we going to need them to put up their "A" games against the Suckeyes!!

November 12th, 2009 at 3:18 AM

PurpleStuff's picture

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969

Where is my time machine?

Did everybody forget guys like Gabe Watson, Alan Branch, and Terrance Taylor being criticized for taking plays off when they were evaluated for the draft? If those guys were getting raked over the coals, I'm willing to give a bunch of walk-ons and underclassmen the benefit of the doubt.

For this guy to insinuate that these kids aren't giving their best effort is completely dick-less.

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