If Smith is back at safety, WTF is going on?
If the kid had any potential to play the position, why didn't we pull the effing safety cord (no pun intended) before now??? It is not like this is a new problem and the kid has been buried on the bench doing nothing, nothing. However, now we decide that maybe he can try the position again, no other reason earlier to possibly think that we should give it one more go. In normal situations, I would not care but f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck and yes I would say that in front of my mother (reference to previous post) since she has used the same word watching this team.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
Easy killer.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:56 PM ^
they finally do something that makes sense by moving Smith back to his natural position where he can actually help the team instead of being buried at the depth chart at LB where he was trying to learn a new position...
too bad it is too freaking late...but that's the coaching philosophy in AA currently for you... figure it out on the run and get it wrong most of the time
Smith would be better at strong safety, Williams or Vlad at Free and Kovacs on special teams only
November 9th, 2009 at 2:10 PM ^
I'm sure you gathered this wisdom from all the practices you've attended. It must be really cool to have that privilege!
Were you the one who keyed them in on moving Brown to linebacker? I mean, it must have been an astute observer like you, because the coaches are completely CLUELESS about their players abilities relative to the depth chart.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
your saying that we should move a kid that is slower than Williams, Vlad, and only marginally faster than Kovacs to our deep safety? Do you really think before you post or do you just post stupid things.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
*double post, whoops!*
November 9th, 2009 at 3:42 PM ^
you do realize that boobie was starting at CB with woolfolk at safety early on and we were also grooming floyd as a backup. i'm sure they thought they had less depth at WLB starting out. i hope he can play strong safety, given the current recruiting class prospects.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:56 PM ^
I understand the concern, but my guess is this is just a necessary move to actually conduct practice. We have only two guys at safety on the depth chart that aren't freshmen (and one is a walk-on). To have a second team and a scout team, Rodriguez probably has to pull guys from all over to fill the safety slots. My guess is this is just a practice-based move and that Smith will be running with the LB's again by spring ball.
If he sees the field at safety, then yeah, it is a bit puzzling. Until then, pretty much nothing to see here.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:40 PM ^
Goblue1065....Do you know what a "strong safety" is? apparently not.
Perhaps you should re-read what I wrote above and reassess your comment.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:45 PM ^
tomhagan = internet tough guy
November 9th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
How does it feel to act like an ass when you're wrong?
The deep safety in Greg Robinson's defense is the STRONG SAFETY.
The guy up near the line of scrimmage in Greg Robinson's defense is the FREE SAFETY.
But go ahead and keep talking like you know what's up. It's going so well for you...
November 9th, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
Is this something typical from his previous coaching stints or do you think this alignment is based more on current tactics/personnel?
November 9th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
but of course Tomhagan knows whats best for the program so I should probably just crawl in a corner because I obviously don't know what GR is calling his safety spots.......
November 9th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
Perhaps Smith is going to be used in Stevie Brown's role after Brown graduates. He probably isn't going to be used as a safety because of his speed, yet they don't think that he's a good option at ILB. This points to his becoming an OLB after Brown graduates.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:47 PM ^
Calm down. The coaches moved Smith to linebacker AFTER he played safety in the spring. If he were the answer at safety, they wouldn't have moved him.
Smith obviously isn't ready to play at either position or else he would have found a home at one of them. I don't see you freaking out about Thomas Gordon and Isaiah Bell not seeing the field, so why are you going apeshit over another guy who isn't good enough to play yet?
The kid is a redshirt freshman. It will be okay. I promise.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:48 PM ^
One of the big knocks on Smith coming out of high school was his inability to cover one-on-one. This probably does not indicate potential success at playing that SAM spot.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^
I think, in the long run, Smith will be a LB for us. He is a physical specimen with loads of potential, but the guy is a redshirt frosh. I think he lacks the speed for safety but will make a nice LB for us in the future.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
Anyone know if this means he won't be on special teams coverage units anymore? It seems like he's done a solid job there.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:52 PM ^
I don't see why this would effect (affect? Grammar Nazi's help me out) his role on special teams. I know this doesn't answer your question definitively, but I think I'm right.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^
affect.
There's a more obscure verbal meaning of "effect" that once caused an argument between me and my editor, which is basically a cognate of the French "faire" -- e.g. "I don't see how Rich Rod can effect a change of a player's position at this late hour," wherein "effect" means basically "do."
But you mean "affect."
November 9th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
You and you're fancy knowlege of "words." Y dontcha geaux back too yore home on Whore Island.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
You are a cancer to this board.
God forbid someone disagrees with you.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
Maybe you should try being right sometime.
Also, the above post was a joke. Someone smart like Misopogon will be able to figure that out.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
I am right, you are a cancer to this board.
God forbid that someone disagrees with you or brings in an alternate viewpoint. People read and post to this board to to discuss ideas, to vent, and to talk about Michigan football with others that share the passion for winning. You chime in, all high and mighty, and make others want to leave.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
Opposing viewpoints are fine.
Poorly supported viewpoints of any kind aren't.
I don't know everything. I learn a lot on this board. There are plenty of awesome posters on this board like steve sharik, jamiemac, chitownblue2, gsimmons, Misopogon, FormerlyAnonymous, etc. When they speak, I listen. I may not agree, but they know their shit.
Not everyone knows what the hell they're talking about. And if you don't, I will let you know. It's fine if you don't have a clue, but if that's the case, just sit back and learn.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:07 PM ^
Look Magnus, I posted that two position coaches should be relieved of their duties at seasons' end. Why? Because the LB's and secondary have regressed through the year and are not competitive. This is on the coaches, not the kids playing. Plenty of other schools have done more with less, and you know this.
That's my opinion. I shared it on a Michigan message board full of opinions. But I get ran...
Make's no sense.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
I don't disagree about Hopson and Gibson. I've said in previous posts that Hopson should be canned at season's end, and perhaps Gibson, too.
However, your opinions that we should play Emilien and various other combinations in the defensive backfield have been discussed ad nauseam. Then you used a silly extended metaphor and told me to fuck off.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:00 PM ^
download the PSU game watch one play and you will know why Smith cant play safety. The 2nd half kick off, watch him try to run, its a joke. Right now they are trying ANYTHING bec Williams is so bad. Trust me if the thought BG would be better at S they would put him there.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:42 PM ^
That was a bad play by Smith, but I believe he has been a solid contributor on special teams. He blocked a punt against Del. State, and has come close in several other games.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
Smith has been kind of a beast on special teams. I don't remember the particular play you're talking about, but he's made a number of tackles and blocked a punt.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:32 PM ^
It doesn't bode well but I think RR/GERG are as flabbergasted w/r/t the safety position as we are.
He is looking around and seeing Michael Williams floundering beside a parade of 
and whereas we can sit back and intellectualize this and then be happy- or sad- faced about the answer, these guys are the ones responsible for getting the ship to port.
Considering Brandon Smith at safety is as clear a sign as we're gonna get at this point that RR is eyeing the muck pile while imagining its adhesive properties.
and whereas we can sit back and intellectualize this and then be happy- or sad- faced about the answer, these guys are the ones responsible for getting the ship to port.
Considering Brandon Smith at safety is as clear a sign as we're gonna get at this point that RR is eyeing the muck pile while imagining its adhesive properties.November 9th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
Magnus, your post illustrates you being an ignorant person who tosses insults out vs. anyone that you disagree with.
You may want to read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_(American_football)
Very simple explanation of what a Strong Safety is. Trust me, I know because I played that position Div. I.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:37 PM ^
While Wikipedia is an extremely reputable source, I choose to trust Michigan's defensive backs coach, Tony Gibson, who called Troy Woolfolk his "strong safety" and Michael Williams his "free safety."
Also, official depth charts are helpful for those sorts of things if you look at who's listed under "SS" and "FS."
November 9th, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
in Michigans defense, the strong safety is the deep safety and the free safety is the one near the LoS. Coach Gibson and Kovacs have both said in the media that is the way they have their defense set up.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:40 PM ^
"For whatever reason..."
No offense, GoBlue1065, but there is a clear reason. Typically the strong safety goes to the strong side of the field, while the free safety goes to the weak side. With SAM Steve Brown basically lined up as a strong safety on the TE or slot receiver, the safety on the strong side is the deep safety.
Meanwhile, the free safety (or weak safety) goes to the weak side of the formation and plays almost like an extra OLB.
Our defense is basically a 4-4 with the FS as the weakside OLB.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:49 PM ^
Its usually that people just assume that the deep safety is free and the one lined up near the LoS is the SS.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:49 PM ^
that actually makes sense. It always confused me why the SS was in deep coverage but just accepted it because that's the way it was. But thanks for the explanation.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^
This thread makes me want to claw my eyes out with a blunt stick. Not for the OP, but just the thread as a whole.