Don't Worry About Evans and Helmuth
MGoCommunity:
I see Evans and Helmuth are thinking about leaving the team. Yes, this hurts bottom line depth. But, the team will be alright this year.
From what I see, the returning DTs are Martin, Sagesse, Campbell, and Tim North. I'm not sure more than one will be on the field in most situations, but I doubt Helmuth would've ever been on the field even if two were needed. Plus, Van Bergen, Patterson, and Banks could provide depth if it was really needed. In all, Helmuth leaving hurts to the extent it would hurt the roster if Dominique Ware left the team. Exactly.
As for Evans, he was slated for the end slot. Seems to me that he was behind at least Brandon Herron right now, and would be behind Craig Roh by midseason. Also, don't forget Steve Watson is there too. So, there were 4 people for one position, one leaving won't be critical.
The upside here, is obvious. This gives Michigan 2 more scholarships to hand out. Come on down Mr. Talbott. Bring Mr. Fortt with you.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:24 PM ^
I agree. This is a good thing. Don't want unhappy players pulling everyone else down. In years past, guys like these hung on. But now, the program is just too demanding to simply hang on and get an education.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
Good point. Seems a bit odd to go thru all the off season conditioning and quit when practice starts.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
It really looked like Vince Helmuth had decided to skip alot of the offseason conditioning...
August 12th, 2009 at 7:47 PM ^
I'm all for them getting an education in any way possible. Education is what everything is all about. That and the money the school makes from the "student-athlete"'s work.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^
We probably won't get Fortt. I don't know if North really was in front of Helmuth. And Evans may have been the #2 guy all year long. Neither will kill us but these are worse than Feagin and others who had no chance at ever playing. Our APR can't take too many more leaving either. Talbott is good, but he isn't really amazing, and he may never even be a starter. Even though neither would help greatly, I'd like to have these guys for depth. Hopefully we play injury free football this year.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^
barring an absurd amount of injuries, these departures really won't affect us at all. Helmuth has had weight issues since he's gotten in the program, even under Barwis. And who knows about Evans, maybe he just wanted playing time somewhere.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:28 PM ^
i think evans would have seen the field more. he got some PT last year, and there were reports he was progressing. i think losing him hurts. we are so thin on defense it is unreal.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
as a freaky athlete, and Roh is going to play. Evans didn't do the best last year against Utah, and this is a new position for him. The idea of being a junior and stuck at 3rd on the depth chart, behind Herron and Roh, by midseason probably wasn't appealing to him.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
I hate to see players who grew up michigan men leave, but I can not blame them at all. I feel they need to go where they can make an impact and better themselves, it is hard to do that buried in the depth chart.
I feel like we could really use these spots for recruiting. We need to load up on the top tier talent on defense that is interested in us. I felt last years recruiting class was amazing, we got players that we NEEDED! This year is a different story. We need to lock down the difference makers and regain our lost crown atop the Big Ten.
Fortt, Christian, Grimes, Furman are all players that we need and its time to lock these players in and get them a maize and blue jersey.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
Sharrif Floyd
Who happens to be a DT.
And wouldn't mind having Jeff Luc. Not that I think it's going to happen.
But it's quite the selling point.
"We lost all our depth. If you're good, you'll play. Maybe start."
August 12th, 2009 at 7:48 PM ^
They are both gone. Basically official, now.
How many schollies does that give us now?
August 12th, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
Should we worry that there continue to be so many transfer departures? Not that the people who have left this offseason would be impact players or play at all, but I have to worry about the way the transfers reflect on the program.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:25 PM ^
Worry why? Among the upper tier recruits they know that i they have the talent they'll make the field. If you were a 4 or 5* athlete and Michigan was recruiting you would the reason you dont go there be because some players buried at the bottom transfer? Probably not. Most of those players want to go somewhere they can win, contribute, grow, and feel comfortable at.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
but the media will bash us again for this. Which hurts us/makes me grouchy. Getting 4 and 5 star recruits from these two schollies would sweeten this considerably. I am just worried about our defensive depth and all of the departing transfers.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
not worried about the transfers of late. None of these guys who have left were recruited by Rich Rod. They were all at UM before RR got there. If these guys who have left were recruited by RR, then I'd be more worried. These transfers and Feagin are unfortunately ammo for Espn, Little brother, ND, and tuos.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:54 PM ^
The APR number has to be rapidly approaching the danger zone.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
APR?
August 12th, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^
I'm sure Spartan fans will have fun with this one with their "rodriguezed" bullshit. If you can't take Barwis' workouts, then leave. If you don't want to be here then RR doesn't want you to be here.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:59 PM ^
This sucks to lose players, but they open up two more spots on the scholarship...
August 12th, 2009 at 8:23 PM ^
come on down, Shariff Floyd!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
It's never good when anybody leaves but at least it was two we could afford to lose. They both wanted to play and it wasn't gonna happen. Evan's had a shot but still had a long way to go. The up side as said before we got two more spots open now.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
At least we can get more players this year. We will probably sign around 24, so maybe 8 more. Hopefully Brian or someone else can do an updated look at our APR because it is probably not too good right now.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^
I wonder if we will snag one of those "elusive" APR exemptions that USF received for so long. I understand that the APR will get pretty close to the redline, but I hope that the NCAA understands that the vast majority of the drop is due to kids transferring due to lack of PT in a new system, not widespread idiocy through the ranks.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:32 PM ^
End of the world? No.
Annoying and overall negative? Yes.
I am really sick of hearing about all the transfers in the media, whether this attention is unfounded or not (and, obviously, it is). Really, there is only one solution to this problem, and that is to win. Simple as that.
Not to mention, I hate to lose depth on defense. They probably would never have to see the field, but injuries happen and bottom-line depth is not something to dismiss.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:37 PM ^
So you'll excuse me for not being up on all the NCAA changes but didn't the NCAA enact some kind of rule regarding graduation rates based on how many players enter the program as freshmen and how many graduate based on that number. If I've got it right, the massive amount of players transferring is going to hurt like hell won't it. Further, isn't the penalty loss of scholarships.
Bid on Michigan Football memorabilia and help a Michigan undergrad battling cancer at the same time.
The Pat Maloy Cancer Scholarship Online Auction
http://www.umich.cmarket.com
August 12th, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^
While you're spamming for a good cause, it still comes off as spamming. I think you can make a diary without having the 20 points. Make a 200 word post on your scholarship offer and post it there.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
Type "apr" into the search bar at the top of the page. You will find pretty much everything you need to know within articles on the first two pages
August 12th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
These open a few spots up for some new recruits..Before, it was kind of screwed up, because we scholarships are valuable. We didn't have much room left, had a good amount of RB's, but with these extra slots it opens up room for a player like Eduardo Clements...I know we would have taken him anyway if he were to commit, but this makes it better
August 13th, 2009 at 1:35 AM ^
...he came into Carr's offense as the top-rated FB in the nation his senior yr of high school, and showed some flashes as a good blocking FB as a freshman. He gained a good deal of weight when he switched to DT and it is hard to imagine him dropping some of that weight to block as a FB again in a more traditional pro-style offense.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:42 AM ^
Great point. Thanks for the post.