Depth Chart: Cam Gordon over Jake Ryan?
Per Rivals depth chart for this week Cam Gordon is listed above Jake Ryan. I haven't looked at previous weeks depth charts for a couple weeks so I'm not sure if it has been this way or not. Does anyone have any information as to why Ryan has been moved down or is this perhaps just a situation where an "or" should be there but isn't?
October 10th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
It might be nothing. At the game on Saturday they announced him as the starter for the lineups and he never played
October 10th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^
Cam Gordon was announced as a starter just minutes before the game, on the Northwestern scoreboard. (You'd call it a Minitron.)
And then I never saw him on the field.
Did he get a chance to play on special teams? I did not see him, although I was looking for Woolfolk (they seem to have finally taken Troy off kicking teams) and Josh Furman, who is becoming a special teams stud a la Darnell Hood.
October 10th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
It hasn't been updated since 8/30 (see the upper right corner).
October 10th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
It hasn't been updated since 8/30 (see the upper right corner).
October 10th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
I've noticed that for the last 2 weeks (so I assume since WMU)
October 10th, 2011 at 2:45 PM ^
Ryan has some very big plays both ways in every game. IIRC, he was responsible for several option plays getting outside of him in the first half. I think it's fine if he stays in because of some of the big plays he's had to help us, but if Gordon can come in and make those same plays while minimizing the mistakes, then we will be much better off.
October 10th, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
I watched some of those highlights from the options runs and you can't blame ryan for them. D-line wasnt getting through, demens was getting blocked downfield, and morgan was too slow to get over. That left jake ryan trying to defend two guys by himself.
October 11th, 2011 at 2:18 AM ^
I haven't gone back and watched them, but RVB was pretty consistently forcing the QB to pitch early and then 1 or 2 defenders would miss the RB in the backfield, allowing him to get a big gain. I thought it was Ryan, but maybe it was another defender.
My point is still valid, though, that he has big plays in both directions.
October 10th, 2011 at 2:45 PM ^
October 10th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
Agreed, I really think that Jake Ryan is doing just fine out there. If Cam is clearly better in practice, give him the start, but I really think that Jake should be given the start and Cam gets a few plays and see how he does. I wouldnt want to switch things up for Little Brother Week.
October 10th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
Does Hoke have a 'you can't lose your job to injury rule?'
October 10th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^
Whenever Hoke is asked about players returning from injury, he always says stuff like "he's going to have to earn his spot in the lineup..."
October 10th, 2011 at 3:37 PM ^
He always has said will play more, earn more time etc.
I wonder if that is coach speak
October 10th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
Ryan is a playmaker and has performed well in most games, so Gordon must really bring something to the table if he's still listed as the starter.
This is probably why Ryan plays so aggressively...he wants the starting spot and is attempting to prove he's worthy by making big plays. Once he settles down and gets a bit older, he could be our version of Clay Matthews.
The coaches aren't kidding when they say competition is good for football. Bo's book spends a lot of paper talking about competition at positions and how Bo would instigate arguments between his own coaches about who should be named the starter.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:05 PM ^
Being Clay Matthews entails a lot more than being a rush linebacker with long blond Norseman hair, but NBADraft.net appreciates the comparison.
October 10th, 2011 at 3:13 PM ^
Cam Gordon is listed above Jake Ryan in last week's depth chart.
October 10th, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
Cam Gordon has been listed as the starting SLB on every depth chart released so far this season.
October 10th, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^
I don't think Rivals updates it every week. I think Cam Gordon has been listed the starter since the season began.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
You guys are killing me today
October 10th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
Well he would deserve to start. Theres a reason why he was number one on the depth chart coming out of camp.