Mark Moundros as MLB: Brian Vs Brian
As I attempted to block out the injury news of last night, I decided to take a look at my copy of Hail to the Victors to see if there was a silver lining about our partial move to the 3-3-5. Sadly, I didn’t find the silver lining there for cornerbacks. However, I did find an interesting piece from Brian regarding the role of MLB in the new system that gave me a bit of hope.
Regarding the role of the MLB, “ the main attribute they need is a willingness to stick their nose in places it is likely to get bashed back at him…this requires an ability to take on and defeat blocks and good tackling skills.”
While I have been in Brian’s DOOM camp if Moundros is the starting MLB, after reading Brian’s own words, Brian has convinced me that Moundros could be a suitable option if Ezeh or Demens can’t rise to the occasion. Thanks Brian!! As a former Fullback, I have more confidence in Moundros being able to transition from a run producing masher to a run-stopping masher.
Will he be all-big Ten? no.
Can he be serviceable? I think yes and would be an improvement over last year
Will he be doing deep cover 2 drops? I’m assuming Greg isn’t that dumb
Can he knock a pulling guard out for a game with a devastating hit? Possibly
Will I stop asking questions and then answering them myself? I hope so
A MLB who isn’t afraid of dirty work, will definitely give Michigan a chance to be a decent run-stopping team. That doesn’t solve our secondary issues but perhaps it is one less thing to worry about.
It was the best of times it was the blurst of times.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
It was the best of times it was the blurst of times.
I like this. It describes my emotion perfectly.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
-Montgomery Burns
August 18th, 2010 at 4:31 PM ^
August 18th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
Mark is a defensive captain and I think that says something about his ability and character. I have a hard time believing the team would vote a poor football player as a defensive captain. Is he all world? No. But I imagine he looks pretty good at this point and is an ALL IN! team leader.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^
a former walkon FB, moves to MLB in the spring, now after 4 months at the position is apparently the starting MLB
August 18th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
Well, like, technically, yeah... but when you put it that way...
August 18th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
he is not the starting MLB, but he is in competition for the position. the likelihood that he wins is rather low.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^
Reports have been coming out of camp that he looks the best and would probably be the starter if they played this weekend.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^
I haven't seen one that says that. Of course I only read mgoblog, but lately everything in the world has made it on here, so I am skeptical that I missed something.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:12 PM ^
A few people mentioned Rivals and Scout stuff behind paywalls. Brian even mentioned something about it in one of the UV posts (yesterday maybe?).
When I asked this guy about it, he sounded pretty confident that Moudros will be the starter.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
and supposedly he told him he is in line to start ...
i dont believe it but take it fwiw
August 18th, 2010 at 6:03 PM ^
you know, that might be true. but i just doubt it will continue throughout the season. i just don't see moundros as having the capacity for being as instinctual as ezeh or demens. hey, i hope all are good enough to start.
August 18th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
Ezeh has "good intentions". I think Moundros can match that.
August 18th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
How is it going to feel when Moundros knocks out your QB's teeth and then goes for a helmet bump with Mike Martin....except they are both not wearing helmets.Yeah, those are two crazy mofos you talking about. I am 100% behind Moundros starting for us.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:04 PM ^
are you really that sensitive that I can't ask a simple question?
August 18th, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
Come on, you've been here long enough, you should know the answer to that. This board is extremely sensitive to any perceived slight.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^
I actually think he might be joking/talking smack.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
I take back my question of dismay then. Really starting to worry about the stress levels in some of you guys, though. I know its a pretty sucky situation, but do your best to laugh when you can, it definitely helps in the long run.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^
Do you have a problem with that?
August 18th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
He's also not your typical walkon. Over his career he has played in 37 games and has 14 career starts (including 7 starts for the 2007 team that beat Florida in the Capital One Bowl. . Yeah he's switching positions, but the guys a solid football player.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^
Do you know when he become a scholarship player?
August 18th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
IIRC he got a scholarship before the 2007 season. He redshirted in 2006.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
I didn't realize he had been on the team this long, thats why I was wondering, thanks
August 18th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^
Would you be interested in betting on the game between Michigan and ND? If Michigan wins you delete your MGoBlog account and never come back. If ND wins I'll do the same.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
nah, If I walk away from the mgoblog I think I will do it on my own terms. You can do as you wish
August 18th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
telling
August 18th, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
Irish is a level headed guy, not a troll. and respects the board. There is no need to challenge him to an internet death match.
August 18th, 2010 at 5:29 PM ^
I'm at work and not a good MGoSearcher, but I recollect at least one UFR waxing rather glowingly of Moundros' tenacity in taking on blocks as a FB. Seeking and destroying, instinctively. Which instincts, if coupled with Gerg's "simplified" defense, could be put to good use for a number of plays a game that would be a number of plays more than witnessed last season.
But I'm no coach and pretty much still on a Kool-Aid high that stretches back before last evening...
August 18th, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
I'm kinda excited to see him play some. Always been a big fan. I thought he played pretty well in '08 for Rich, but kinda got lost in the shufffle again a year ago.....or maybe he was injured, I cant recall.....regardless, good to see him find a spot.
Coaches said they want to play more people this year. If his position relies on instinct as much as its made out to be, he's going to be fine.
I dont expect all-conference honor mention or anything, but why do people cringe and doubt that football players can play football? He would not be progressing up the depth chart if he was not showcasing the goods. 9/4 is a different stage, so we'll see
August 18th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
i'm going to quote someone who was talking about moundros playing LB, "He blows RBs and FBs up."
he's a downhill player, who will definitely help us against the run.
August 18th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^
August 18th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
Is there a way I can have all your posts delivered directly to me instantly? I hate having to wait around for you to pop up and provide insight.
August 18th, 2010 at 6:39 PM ^
...of the "(former) walk on becomes starter equals doom" meme, even when clarified as "(former) walk on becomes starter equals doom because highly regarded recruits can't beat out the (former) walkon".
Whoever plays the best and fits the scheme best should play. When you consider all of the players from non-BCS schools, FCS, Div II, III and even NAIA teams that end up in the League, it stands to reason that the recruiting process misses major talent all of the time. Yes, I know about the 5-star to the NFL analyses, but there's still room for players to come out of nowhere to become solid contributors at this level.
I'm rooting for Ezeh to make his senior season into his season of redemption, but if 2010 Moundros > 2010 Ezeh, then 2010 Moundros is who we want on the field. Think about it this way: If 2010 Moundros > 2010 Ezeh and 2010 Ezeh is >/= 2009 Ezeh, 2010 Moundros >/= 2009 Ezeh. How can Moundros beating Ezeh out be anything but a net positive?
August 18th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
Of course the best guy should play and if that's Mark then so be it. And maybe he'll be good. But the disappointment lies in that a guy with literally one month of work at LB is beating out guys that have done nothing but play LB in their careers, and a couple of them were regarded highly at that position. So they are not panning out--and our team and fan base cannot take many more guys that don't pan out and/or transfer. I think you're looking at this as a potential nice surprise and more power to you--I have trouble seeing it as anything other than that our talent level is low, and at LB, doesn't seem to be getting better.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
I think Moundros has been working on LB since the spring which is at least a bit longer then a month...though not ideal. In my opinion, the normal thought of switching positions is DOOM is worse when the player moves during fall camp less when they move in the spring.
One cannot argue with that MGoShoe's logic. If Moundros 2010> Ezeh 2009 then at least we have one area of improvement on the D. Plus if Moundros is better I'm guessing that Mouton puts it together this season. I think the changes in linebacker coaching (less read react/taking two steps to the side and then attacking) and the presence of seniors will give us a chance to be solid between the tackles in run defense. I'm more nervous about defending runs outside the tackles due to our inexperience at Spur/Safety/Cornerback. Still I would venture to say that better lb play plus addition of some heft in the front 7 can significantly decrease our rushing yards allowed per game from 172 yards to say 120 yards per game. Despite the obvious secondary issues, if we can be a better than average run defense team, while we will get carved up through the air, we have a chance at some defensive stops or turnovers as the dline should get moderate pressure on the qb. As long as teams can't march down the field with 7 yard runs, we can be better defensively this year.
A slight improvement in defensive performance +Dilithium = 8 wins
August 19th, 2010 at 8:22 AM ^
we can assume Moundros means that Mouton will "put it all together"-how does that happen? And I respect mgoshoe but do disagree with his logic. There is no reason to assume that Moundros supplanting Ezeh means that he is anything more than a slight improvement until we see the games. Lastly, I don't really count summer workouts as time spent at LB, his actual time was spring practice--where he did not challenge much for reps-and a week of fall.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
...is that Ezeh and some younger guys aren't better than Moundros. It says nothing about whether Demens (a RS So) and other younger Mikes won't eventually become great at the position. I think we may be prematurely giving up on some of these guys.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:27 PM ^
I don't think anyone is knocking Moundros because it seems he's all about doing whatever he can to help the team win and from the reports doing a good job at LB. However, for a player who has spent his entire career at fullback to switch positions to LB in the spring and be challenging for minutes, let alone a starting job, speaks volumes to me about the state of the LB's. At most of the top programs in the country it would probably be virtually impossible for this occur. At the top programs in the country if a fullback changed to LB early in his career he might be challenging for time later in his career, but probably not after one spring and a few fall practices.
August 18th, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^
Regarding the role of the MLB, “ the main attribute they need is a willingness to stick their nose in places it is likely to get bashed back at him…this requires an ability to take on and defeat blocks and good tackling skills.”
This is what worries me about him. Those aren't skills that you can just pick up overnight.
August 19th, 2010 at 2:19 AM ^
Reminds me of a throwback. He may not have pretty numbers, but he is just a football player. Maybe he won't be an All American, but he doesn't have to be. He just needs to step up into the hole, and stop the iso. It might not be a thing of beauty, but he'll be scrapping and filling like a SOB.
Maybe I am wrong, but I think Moundros as a starting MLB, would be the least of our worries. Come what may, I think the kid is going to be alright.