Kovacs fit as SS vs. Bandit?
I think Kovacs was one of our better players on defense last year at bandit. Obviously, his strength was in run support, and he was less good at pass defense. I'm trying to get a handle on how he is affected by the switch to the 4-3.
Does a SS in a 4-3 have more pass defense responsibilities than a bandit?
February 5th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
Kovacs can play, but he's a serious liability in coverage--which could probably be said of the whole secondary. I don't care if he starts, but I hope it's because he managed to beat out some real competition. I get the feeling there wasn't much competition on defense the last couple of seasons.
February 5th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
but the SS will not have many man coverage assignments, rather, he will have more zone coverages and blitzes.
February 5th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^
It all depends on what Mattison tries to do with the defense, which, given the personnel, is a big question mark. It's difficult to hide guys in zones when no one on the team has shown the ability to actually play zone defense (or man defense).
February 5th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
February 5th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^
February 5th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
I think he's got the inside track on SS for this next year. He's good at run support which is a hallmark of the traditional SS. He gives a ton of effort and seems like a smart guy. But, honestly, I have no idea where anybody is gonna be except Mike Martin. I really feel that after the atrocity of a defense we ran the past few years, I have no idea who is really good at what. Rushing three and playing an umbrella is just not good for trying to diagnose talent. Mattinson has some work to do, but I think he can get it done.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
I think we know Craig Roh is at your weak DE, when he wasnt trying to worry about pass coverage he was a monster off the edge( watched every single game on defense a couple times.. the only knock I had was losing contain on Pryor a few times, which I think was more coaching thananything as it looked like he was expecting help back inside.) MM is at your DT hopefully the 3 tech with RVB either at the sDE or the 1tech DT... obviously thats dependent on Jibreel Black and/or Washington/Campbell/Ash/Talbot... If two of those guys can make a leap, our D line oculd be a real strength next year.
Demens will start at the Mike.
Outside of that, I know T Woolf will start somewhere, Carvin Johnson SHOULD play more minutes (hes an absolute stud.. trust me. If I ahd to pick a starting SS today it would be Johnson) and Kovacs is the one player I want on the field, but cant justify athletically.
Dont get me wrong, kid can play ball... its just that he doesnt truly fit anywhere in the D if they run a 4-3 over or under.. unless he bulks up to say.. 215 and plays the Will.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
Kovacs is the beastmaster and I'm naming my kid Jordan Kovacs after I knock up Blake Lively.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
February 5th, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
What was the point of your post. It also contributed nothing.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
Kovacs is obviously not the most gifted athlete ever to play for Michigan, but he is smart, gives everything he has, and is as sure of a tackler as our secondary has. He is going to be tough to keep off the field despite his obvious deficiencies in natural talent. If someone steps up and replaces him, then that person has obviously worked real hard over the spring and summer, and has earned that position. It will mean an improvement for our D.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
I guess we will soon see if Rich Rod had a soft spot for walk-ons as some suggested or if Kovacs really was our best player there, won't we?
I don't view the SS position as being much different from the bandit, especially on passing downs. Spur is another story.
Just a strong hunch, but I think Carvin Johnson is going to start over Kovacs at this position.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
Kovacs has been a solid contributor, and I think we can all agree that he has a low ceiling talent wise. Sooner or later he will get passed on the depth chart, at least I believe, but that won't be because RR preferred him b\c he was a walk-on. It will be because the talent RR brought in will no longer be 18 years old.
February 5th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
It's tough to know exactly right now since we don't know exactly who will win what positions. If Michigan is generating a lot of pressure with 4 or 5 man rushes it allows them to play a bit more conservative in the back 7 and the SS may be playing a lot of zones or over-the-top.
A lot of it also depends on defense is being run. In a pure Cover 2 from the 4-3 the SS is going to have 1/2 deep along with the FS, which is not playing to Kovacs strength at all. If you're in the traditional Cover 3 than Kovacs will be playing one of the under zones (generally) which is a hook zone (something he is more used to playing from the 3-3-5).
Kovacs is a good downhill tackler, but he's not great when it comes to coverage, especially playing a deep zone, and often a SS will be called upon to do some form of that. In the most basic idea of the 4-3, the coverage responsibilities will tax him.
Perhaps Michigan can scheme around this, it's not as if you can't use the SS in zone blitzes, etc., and bring him up to the line of scrimmage some - there are plays in type of defense where you can do this. But some of that depends on what Mattison feels this team is best to run.
February 6th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
a zone blitz scheme since he can play in a 3 deep, but he'd also be fine as a hook/seam guy w/ 3 deep support. he also blitzes off the edge okay. he's not a great matchup on a back though.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:20 AM ^
I love kovacs grit and effort, but lets hope his position next year is either right or left bench. I hope he becomes a good special teams player for us. I'm hoping we can get some of our better althetes to play safety next year.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
see's the field next season is on special teams. Let's be honest...his cover skills are non-existent and over the past couple of years he didn't start playing well until RR and GR moved him up to the line. I like the kid, but his best chance to play going forward is on special teams. I can't find a realistic fit for him as a defensive starter in a 4-3.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
who else would take the guys place? the coaching staff can work on his cover skills, the guy is a great tackler and honestly when there is a pass rush the DBs wont looks as bad and wont get burned everytime they make a mistake...i think he has a legit spot at starter who else would start there?