Isiah Bell's growth
Rivals did an interview with Bell's high school. The coach said that Bell has really filled out to linebacker size. Not terrible revealing but since some people were wondering about him, here's a first-hand account.
http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1052794
February 16th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
Good read! We have a lot of incoming depth at safety now, so if we can get him to where he can play a solid middle linebacker, I'd be thrilled.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:04 AM ^
assertion that we may be moving to the 4-2-2-3 or 4-2-5 or what-have-you, but if it means having our best 11 defensive players on the field I don't give a f***
February 16th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^
always good to get updates on the young guys at this time of the year. espn was really high on bell whereas rivals and scout not so much. excited to see some of the redshirted 2009 recuits in the spring game
February 17th, 2010 at 12:18 AM ^
Rivals wasn't exactly low on him. He was a very high 3 star, almost a 4 star. Right about where they have Furman, Ricardo and Jibreel Black, to put it into perspective a little.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:24 PM ^
Does anyone know of any other major program that routinely takes high school safeties and turns them into linebackers like we are? And if so, how successful are those defenses? I can't think of any off the top of my head.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:35 PM ^
Many teams do this. High schools often put their best defensive athlete at safety.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
First name to think of, and admittedly a freak of nature, Brian Urlacher. He played safety in college and then bulked up to 255 and can still drop back with a TE.
Also remember Cato June and Tommy Hendricks. And Earnest Shazor, a first team AA safety was pegged to be a LB in the pros but was uh, mentally challenged? and couldn't make the transition.
The position change also happens from LB to DE, which we're all familiar with (Woodley, Graham).
It seems like the basic premise that speed at one position at level A is inadequate at the same position at level B, therefore, you move closer to the LOS when you get to level B.
February 17th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Keith Bulluck from Syracuse playing for the Titans as well (pro bowler)
February 17th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
Bulluck only played safety as a freshman in college. He was a linebacker for the remainder of his career.
Brandon Graham played DT as a freshman. If he plays OLB in the NFL, I don't think it would be accurate to say he changed positions from DT to OLB in the pros.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:35 PM ^
In their championship years in the 90's, they were routinely doing this, but they didn't always bulk their LBs up. The Huskers were throwing linebackers out there who were in the 200-220 range. They used the Miami model, ding this after getting their lunch handed to them by the Hurricanes and Seminoles in bowl games in previous years.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:09 AM ^
Nebraska had a great run in the 1990's by winning the National Championship in 1994 and 1995.
But let the record show that Michigan won the National Championship in 1997.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:38 AM ^
Agreed, but can we really even say that Nebraska safely won the NC in '94? Penn State didn't even get a damn shot.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:12 AM ^
I like the quick lbs scenario, but we need beef on the field somewhere
February 17th, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
That is why we have The Otter
February 16th, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
They usually have tremendous speed at linebacker and I can't believe they were all LB recruits initially.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
It's just what we need.
Spring practice can't get here soon enough.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:52 PM ^
I'm very excited about Bell. Assuming he can successfully transition from safety to LB, it will be awesome to have linebackers who can run sideline to sideline and have natural coverage abilities.
Give this defense some time to grow/mature. In a couple years, we should have a hard-hitting defense full of fierce, fast athletes at every position. In Barwis we trust.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:05 AM ^
In Barwis and Rod
We Trust.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:00 AM ^
we know Bell will be in great shape, its on GERG to teach him how to read the play as a LB.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
You bring up a good point and I agree with you that GERG will be most critical in Bell's development as a LB.
But don't underestimate Barwis' impact given Prescott Burgess' development under Gittelson. Burgess was a 5-star Parade AA safety who lost a ton of speed and never really lived up to his billing/athletic potential in college.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^
Got a lot of praise from analyst for his ball-skills coming out of high school. IIRC he was ranked low because there were questions of him qualifying
February 17th, 2010 at 12:21 AM ^
I said I don't like to make predictions, but I just did. I will continue predicting this until our bowl game. We will be the breakthrough sleeper team in the Big Ten this year (Iowa in 09.) Why, do you ask? Because of guys like Isaiah Bell.
We all talk about the usual suspects when evaluating our chances next year - Forcier & Robinson's Progression, V. Smith, Roundtree, Losing Graham and Warren. Additionally, we love to obsess about what the new recruiting class will bring - Dorsey, Gardner, Ricardo - but we really don't put too much emphasis on the guys that will make this team what it is NOW - guys like Bell, Emilien, Stokes, Turner - it was only yesterday that they were the 4 and 5 star recruits we were salivating over.
I feel very strongly that we will be MUCH better on defense next year. People like to point out that Warren and Graham are gone - but they fail to point out the fact that, as a whole, our defense will be stronger.
Our weakest links will be stronger, and you're only as strong as your weakest link - epecially on D.
I predict that guys like Bell, Emilien, Turner, Hawthorne and Jones will add moxy and depth to our defense and make us a VERY strong team. And that's just the beginning.....
Go Blue
February 17th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
Raback's prediction skillz FTW
February 17th, 2010 at 1:33 AM ^
Getting kind of self indulgent, no?
February 17th, 2010 at 1:12 AM ^
I agree. People focus on losing Graham, Warran and Brown (the latter 2 were solid players but neither were stars for us), but very rarely does a defense return 8 of 11 starters from the end of the season and not improve. Throw in the fact that all three were from different position groups and that our defenseive depth is far greater than last year, and I can't see how our D isn't noticeably better than last year.
Our D won't be tops in the country or even the conference, but it will be enough to win most of our games.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
The fact that they will have the same defensive coordinator for two years in a row for the first time in ages will help them immensely as well.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:40 AM ^
I'll add to that.
We'll have the best offense in the Big Ten.
February 17th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
+1 for using "moxy"
February 17th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
Quit playing games with my heart...
February 17th, 2010 at 1:32 AM ^
Bell will definitely get PT but im not sure he makes a huge impact until 2011 season.
on the D - if Michigan can generate even a good pass rush this defense will definitely be better.
i think Roh and Cambell blow up. Ezeh and Mouton compete for all big 10. Woofolk will do just fine at SS. competition at FS will make for a competent starter at FS. CB's are a question mark but there is great talent there. im hoping Dorsey steps up and does some great things as the nickle back, then takes over for Woofolk at SS in 2011.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:38 AM ^
No matter if it's wins to save your coaches job, or players that are supposed to step up and become major contributors, in the aftermath of losing great players around them. But the thing is, with this team, we're not holding out hopes for just one or two guys to fill these voids... I have said this before, we are holding our hopes around a collective unit. Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, Craig Roh, Will Campbell, Renaldo Sagesse, and Jibreel Black; can they pick up the slack of losing Brandon Graham? Not by themselves, but together, I think they can. The same can be said for the secondary, and even the LBs. We have a bunch of guys on defense with some major upside, just as much upside as the departed. It's time to show it.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:43 AM ^
Last year's defense was bad. To be any good this year, these units don't just have to make up for those who left, they have to do that and more.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:50 AM ^
A player makes his biggest jump from year one to year two of playing time, if I am not mistaken. And if that's true, we seem to have a bunch of players that can do just that. Yeah, our defense was bad last year, but that's not to say that enough players can't make it better. Making up the slack isn't enough, you're right, though I think some are trying to say that they'll do more than just pick up the slack. I agree.
February 17th, 2010 at 7:18 AM ^
Both were DBs in college who were moved to LB and thrived. Speed and sure tackling trump slow and beefy.
February 17th, 2010 at 7:21 AM ^
is getting better if players like Bell can compete for starting jobs. I worry about Obi and his foot speed, along with Jonas and his disciplined play, but the younger, quicker players are definitely reason to look up.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:57 AM ^
Is a great guy...one of the funniest guys to ever drink with. He has some crazy stories.
Good to hear about I. Bell. His athleticism would be great at the WILL if he has the instincts.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^
It will be great to have outside linebackers like Isiah Bell, Brandin Hawthorne, and Mike Jones because they can hit like linebackers but run like safeties. I'll say it again that in a couple years we are going to have a nasty defense full of scary athletes.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:13 AM ^
Isiah Bell's dermatological issues are none of our goddamn business.
I hope Bell's skin stays smooth, he's a monster on the field and he gets his degree.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:15 AM ^
I thought Jones added weight as well and has moved inside.
It's wishful thinking maybe but I'd love to see Bell, Jones, Demens and JB improve enough to move Obi to DE.
Maybe on obvious passing downs they can get Obi on the edge and get Bell in the middle since he should be able to cover more ground across the middle.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:25 AM ^
Obi's not going to move to DE. They're not going to take two starters (Roh and Obi) and turn them into a rotation - especially since Roh was very good - plus weaken an already underperforming position by leaving Fitzgerald, Demens, Leach, and redshirt/true freshmen to man the inside linebacker positions. Demens couldn't beat out Leach for playing time, so he's clearly not who you should be resting your hopes on.
Obi's not going anywhere as a fifth year senior. Get that idea out of your heads.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^
but FB is not a position of opportunity like MLB. I don't think Obi is moving, but I do think they are going to move a lot of people around this spring, regardless of class.
Steve Brown was moved late in his tenure after under performing at safety right?
EDIT: Moundros for Mouton - my bad
February 17th, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
Do they have some kind of weigh in and how much they can lift or some stats like that? I feel like there have been 100 threads about the weight of our players and i think something like that would settle it once and for all or at least till next offseason.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^
They do weigh in for the spring, and there's a Night of Champions where groups of team members compete in strength/endurance exercises. That coincides with another Junior Day. They also max out, but that info won't be released to the public.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
is released or just the maxing out? + 1 to you anyways.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
I believe you mean "Moundros" is going to play some linebacker, not Mouton.
Anyway, Steve Brown did move to SAM as a senior, but that was for a position that really didn't exist in the previous scheme. So there was no established starter. There will be people moving around, but Ezeh wouldn't be able to start at DE. They'd basically be moving him to be a backup while elevating at least one guy who couldn't beat out Kevin Leach (or Leach himself) to play MIKE.
The Moundros thing is to create depth at linebacker, and the fullback position hasn't been utilized much since Rodriguez came to Michigan, anyway.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
Thankfully you can't reply directly at work. I'll fix it - to make myself look and feel better, but you got me.
It wouldn't be a horrible move to try Obi somewhere else as MLB is up for grabs at this point, but I'm not saying they will. Ultimately if Obi doesn't start, what difference does it make who he backs up. He's big enough to play DE and the read might be easier for him to make. He didn't seem to be able to make the reads this last year.
I have to say, I was thinking Ezeh would be a lock at this point given his early playing time and performance.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
The player's new heights and weights will be posted on the spring football roster.
The Night of Champions results will likely be posted on MGoBlue.
The weightlifting results, however, will not be released. At least they haven't been in the past.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^
Bell was one of my favorite recruits from last years class. I have high hopes for him and hope he pushes to get some playing time this season. I really look forward to seeing him on the field.