Mike Taylor update...of the Aww, Hamburgers Variety
I didn't see anybody pick this story up so I figured I would share. Mike Taylor was on First Take this morning talking about his decommitment from Tenn. He said he took a visit to Florida earlier in the week that made him decide to decommit and open up(go to Florida) his commitment. He said he tried to decommit even before it was announced that Kiffin was leaving for USC, but he couldn't get ahold of any of the coaches for a couple days.
So...yeah. We never really had a chance, and apparently neither did anybody else not named the Florida Gators. I know he hasn't officially committed yet to Florida, but I've got a strong gut feeling!!! he will.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
Does this mean that is he commits to UM, RR will be called the Hamburglar?
January 14th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
that comment made me Grimace.
January 15th, 2010 at 7:48 AM ^
Buh-dum-dum PSH!
January 14th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
Moreover, he got bumped up to a 4 star and in to the Rivals250, as someone pointed out earlier. This is especially disappointing for the star followers.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:11 PM ^
I think that's because he was named MVP of his all star game. If you'll notice Dominique easley was given a fifth star and moved into the top ten.
It's rediculous how florida is getting the MVPs for both of the major all American bowls and they weren't even sec champions
January 14th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
Recruiting classes generally seem to be affected most in the cycle AFTER a completed season. I don't think Florida will be negatively affected too much by going 13-1, but if there's any effect, you'll likely see it in the 2011 class, not here in 2010.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:25 AM ^
+1,000,000 if I could
January 15th, 2010 at 9:14 AM ^
what a surprise a 3* commits to Florida and moves to a 4* and top 250 player. Devin Gardner ignores all the runmors about visiting Florida and drops 70 spots!!!! after dominating elite 11, and a good showing in the Under Armor game.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
Our MLB depth chart as follows:
Kevin Leach or
Obi Ezeh or
JB Fitzgerald
Kenny Demens
January 14th, 2010 at 11:11 PM ^
=Awesome?
January 14th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
Eh...Leach isn't going to play MIKE next year. That was a wake-up call to Ezeh, and I think Ezeh will...well...wake up. Even if he doesn't, Fitzgerald is there.
Leach is a walk-on and a valuable part of the team, but the more time Greg Robinson has with this defense, the more the players will continue to gel. And when it comes down to it, we'll have two fifth-year inside linebackers - Ezeh and Mouton.
When Ezeh had two years in English's system, he played well as a redshirt freshman. Then they got a new DC and he fell off, and then they got another new DC, and he fell even further. But with two springs and a full season under Robinson, I think Ezeh will be pretty good again.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^
Ezeh played well for a redshirt freshman...and has not improved since
Kevin Leach started the last game and could easily be the starter going into the season
The bigger issue here is Michigan has not landed ANY MLB prospects in 2 straight years with dire need at the position
January 15th, 2010 at 9:01 AM ^
I've followed recruiting for a while and I can tell you who it is.
BRANDON GRAHAM (and Fitzgerald but he's too young and the jury is still out)
If you've followed Michigan recruiting for a while you'd know that we haven't recruited Safety and LB particularly well since rivals and scout has started up and recruiting became a big business.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:15 AM ^
cornerback
January 15th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
We always get one super stud every year or every other year.
Charles Woodson
Marlin Jackson
Leon Hall
Donovan Warren
----
Justin Turner
Cullen Christian
Let's hope the last two pan out as the previous super studs have.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
...Ezeh's improvement under English and his fall off since? Jay Hopson. Ezeh showed himself as one of the most promising defensive players on the team in just his redshirt freshman season. Even Jonas Mouton showed a lot of promise in his first year as a linebacker. Problem is, neither of them have developed AT ALL. I blame this on Jay Hopson. I'm glad he's gone and just hope that RR's next hire for linebackers coach can handle the job, but I have faith that RR will choose wisely.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^
I think the second year in the system for all the returning D players will be huge. Ezeh and Mouton have talent, but they looked unsure of themselves. He who hesitates is lost...or so they say. If they don't bring it, we'll at least have other players going on their second years in the system to help out as well.
I know a lot of people are not too sure on this defense, but I might be drinking too much Kool Aid. The D line should be better than average (even with the loss of The Destroyer of Planets), the LB's can't be any worse (right, right?), and we'll have depth and experience (not as much as if we still had DW) in the secondary. With the offense getting better, even an average defense should lead to more W's.
Is it football season yet?
January 14th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
im definitely rooting for the kid, how can you not? he effectively became mgoblog's goat (along with mike williams) for alot of the team's struggles, id love to see him comeback with a vengeance. plus, i dont think its too far of stretch to say as he goes, so goes the defense. and as the defense goes, so goes the season. we (and more importantly, Richrod) Need him to have a big year.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:36 PM ^
I nominate Ezeh to the watchlist for the Stevie Brown Award Presented by MGoBlog given to the player who exhibits the most competence after being a scapegoat the year before. Early favorites are hopefully Ezeh and Williams obviously.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
Who do you nominate for the Obi Ezeh Award (Presented by MGoBlog), which is given to the player with the most soul-crushing failure to live up to expectations as a returning starter?
January 15th, 2010 at 12:20 AM ^
Personally, I would be happy if Williams didn't see the field much or at all next year.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:26 AM ^
Williams is still young, like most of the defense. Give the guy a chance!
January 14th, 2010 at 11:42 PM ^
I agree. If you believe that scenario to be a real possibility, where Mouton and Ezeh both improve significantly this year, and I do, you can extrapolate further to where the defense in 2010 could be far better than expected, even with the loss of Warren. Good inside linebackers can offset inexperience elsewhere, especially when that inexperience has talent.
Okay I am an optimist...but so far we are undefeated in 2010 and I will go with that.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:07 AM ^
There's at least a chance that two consecutive years under one Defensive Coordinator can make a difference.
Both Ezeh and Mouton are solid linebackers when they know where the hell they're supposed to be, so maybe some year-to-year consistency in scheme will allow them to flow to the ball better.
Oh please, Angry Michigan Linebacker Hating God, let it be so...
January 15th, 2010 at 3:09 AM ^
I thought Hopson left, meaning the Angry Michigan Linebacker Hating God has moved on.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^
Yeah, quality ILB play is crucial to the defense this upcoming season. We gave up too many big plays because of players from the secondary being needed in run support.
January 15th, 2010 at 7:30 AM ^
to do well...Ezeh, Williams, etc.. because we need the depth and experience... Go Blue!
January 15th, 2010 at 12:24 AM ^
isn't linebackers, it's the Db's. Our secondary has given up huge plays in space for years now, and they are the biggest area of need as far as improvement for this team. I agree that the MLB position has been a vacant spot for awhile, but Michigan needs some DB's that can keep everyone in front of them. If I were coaching this team, I would make them wear shirts that say "Deep as the deepest" every day.
I agree that continuity in scheme will help these guys start to play without having to think all the time. I am still a little skeptical about having such a small defense in a smashmouth conference like the Big Ten, though. We basically have a midget at every level now, and I just don't see this as a good scheme for our conference. The Big 12 would be a better fit IMO...
January 15th, 2010 at 12:36 AM ^
The DBs got caught out of position a lot... but often it was because they moved up too quickly in run support, probably because the poor linebacker play in front of them created a perceived need to help out.
You can't have one without the other...
January 15th, 2010 at 2:59 AM ^
Because while they were on the receivers that wasn't the LB's getting torched by the TE of every team we faced.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
We haven't recruited cornerback well? Leon Hall, Donovan Warren, Justin Turner, Cullen Christian... I think we've done just fine at cornerback.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
Since we generally played zone coverage last year, Lbers dropping into zones is a big part of the coverage. When you see Wisconsin throwing 15-20 yard passes to wide open receivers in the middle of the field it usually means the LBs didn't get a deep enough drop making for a much easier throw for a QB.
DBs getting beaten down on third and 20+ is another story....
January 15th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
there is still a good chance Taylor ends up somewhere other than UF