Most important player to stay healthy

Submitted by Nick on

Hey guys,

We saw how injuries impacted the team last year.  The offense really wasn't the same after Tate and Molk got hurt.  

So who do you think must stay healthy for us to be successful this year?  

Kind of a combination of who are our best players, which positions have the least depth and which positions are most important.

I still think Forcier's health is vital to the team.  I'm not exactly buying Robinson becoming a good passer this year especially against elite defenses.  Also Molk is obvious.

So in no particualar order

Forcier - obvious

Molk - best lineman.  Don't want to see Khoury starting.

Woolfolk - brings s/cb versatility and I think could be all big-ten this year 

DRobinson - brings big play ability and coaches will have to gameplan for two qb's

Cam Gordon - we saw what happened to the D last year when we had to change up at deep safety.

cadmus2166

July 31st, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^

T-Wolf is my pick as the most important person to stay healthy.  Our depth at CB is getting better, but there just isn't much experience behind him. 

Honorable mentions:  Molk, Roh, and Roundtree.

In reply to by Section 1

Nick

July 31st, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^

I thought about putting him on there and think he'll pick up some of the BG slack, but just felt we had enough DL depth that it wouldn't kill us if he got hurt.  Assuming he starts at 3tech, Banks and maybe?? even Saggesse could back him up.  And if he starts at Nose, then definitely Campbell and Saggesse could take over

BrewCityBlue

July 31st, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^

Molk, Forcier and Woolfolk, and the entire rest of the secondary, if i can do that.

Honorable Mention = Martin, Hagerup, and whichever fine young man is CATCHING THE DAMN BALL on punt returns

 

Crap, i don't like talking about this, let's just stay healthy please

 

jtmc33

July 31st, 2010 at 11:44 PM ^

My opinion:

1st - Molk   (as evidenced by 2009)

2nd - Woolfolk  (Only starting upper classman in the entire defensive backfield)

3rd - Martin  (who you didn't mention)

yanks27ngoin

July 31st, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^

David Molk(I cant stand any more terrible snaps and terrible OL play!)

Tate Forcier

Denard Robinson

Mike Martin

Troy Woolfolk(Way too important to the defense to get injured, if he does, the whole defensive unit, not just the secondary will suffer)

Tha Stunna

August 1st, 2010 at 1:33 AM ^

Woolfolk first.  We desperately need at least one proven member of the secondary.

 

Honorable mentiions to Molk and Hagerup.  Molk is very important, but we still sorta had an OL last year without him (albeit a much worse one).  Hagerup is very vital but as yet unproven, and with a more reliable offense the punter becomes less important (but still quite needed).  We would be much worse off without Molk/Hagerup, but we basically wouldn't have a secondary without Woolfolk.

I really hope this is a completely irrelevant thread.

NO SPARTY

August 1st, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^

If he goes down then Gardner will most likely play and burn his redshirt. I am not sold on Robinson being anymore then a change of pace type QB. A lot of people are writing Forcier off and it kind of pisses me off. He played very well for a true freshie. 

Nick

August 1st, 2010 at 5:27 AM ^

Honestly,  I dont see anyway Gardner starts or even gets PT.  If Drob and Forcier stay healthy there is no way that Devin sees the field.  Maybe I am underestimating DRob's progression, but doesn't it seem weird for him to go from one of the worst throwing qb's in recent memory to (in our mind's) better than say juice williams.  I don't think he has the natural insticts to read coverages and lead us farther than tate will.  This is not to say that he won't be useful because I think he will be in terms of reading the zone-read (which apprently he can do now) and making the opposition stack the box and going play-action (rollout w/ Denard could be lethal b/c of the run/pass threat)

Zone Left

August 1st, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^

If there is an injury to Robinson or Forcier, Gardner will be one bad step from burning his redshirt.  A significant injury is going to make it difficult to keep him off the field.

I'd bet he'll travel to every game this year, regardless of whether or not he plays--which is rare for a redshirt.

BradyBeatsBama

August 1st, 2010 at 6:33 AM ^

Anyone who doesn't pick Woolfolk does not understand how poorly our secondary played last year when we had some injuries in the secondary last year. If he gets hurt, then our corners will be Floyd covering the #1 receiver and James Rogers/JT Turner covering the #2 receiver. 

PinballPete

August 1st, 2010 at 7:44 AM ^

Mike Martin and I'll explain why. First off I think that the offense has garnered just enough depth so that any single player can be replaced without too much of a drop-off, including Molk.

I'm also under the belief that Martin is the only player on the DL that can consistently hold his own against most, if not any, O-lineman in the league. I think a line without MM gets consistently pushed off the line by the teams focused on running.

No.9 Hamburgers

August 1st, 2010 at 8:08 AM ^

I think of our team as a machine...one unit. Each part of that machine is an important as the other and all must perform to specs..special team pieces, starting pieces, depth pieces. All parts are critical to our success as a team.

 

GO BLUE

U Fer M

August 1st, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^

Just because of last year, I would say Molk first, hopefully with Denard improving his passing game, he will either be a starter or we won't miss a beat if Tate gets injured. I agree with some of the previous comments though, if the team as a whole stays healthy, it will be in good shape. Speaking of good shape, should all the conditioning with Barwis be keeping the injury bug away? Granted things happen on the field, but after 3 years under his program, that should eliminate a lot of injury problems.

Nothsa

August 1st, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^

I don't know... a guy's cleats get a bit stuck on a cut right when the LB hits him low... goodbye knee. Conditioning surely helps some injury issues, but a lot of injuries look inescapable to me. We can be sure on one thing this fall, and that is that Michigan, and every other team, will get dinged up, including some season-ending injuries, as the fall wears on.

Don

August 1st, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^

1. Molk

2. Whoever is behind him at center on the depth charts.

On defense, Mike Martin. If we get pushed around at the line of scrimmage, our LBs and DBs are going to be making plays 10-20 yards downfield all game long.

Magnus

August 1st, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^

We have capable replacements all along the offensive line.  I'm not worried a bit about the OL except for Molk, who's coming off a couple injuries and doesn't have an experienced backup.

Between Dorrestein, Schilling, Omameh, Huyge, Lewan, Barnum, Ferrara, and Schofield, there's no need to worry about tackles or guards.

funkywolve

August 1st, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^

like most of the other players listed here, I'd like to see what Hemmingway can do for a full season.  IMO, when he's been healthy he's shown flashes of being a solid wr. 

snowcrash

August 1st, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^

It's Woolfolk unless one of the freshman CBs turns out to be a prodigy. Molk is likely to have better backups than he had last year, if only because they have more time in the program. We have reasonable depth everywhere else. (We have no established backups at safety, but we have no established starters there to begin with.)