Next Season's Depth Chart...
In general, I see us as a much improved team next season. On both sides of the ball, we aren't losing THAT much, but we are gaining a ton of experience, and a ton of depth. I don't think that we are going to compete with the likes of OSU and PSU for the Big10 title, but I do think that we will be in the mix to head up the pack of second-tier teams - Iowa, Wisconsin, MSU. If we are again losing to big10 bottom feeders - Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, I will be very, very dissapointed. I think that year 4 is the year we really compete for the conference title.
*OFFENSE:
QB: Forcier (So.)/GARDNER (Fr.), Robinson (So.), Sheridian (Sr.), JONES (Fr.)
SB: Shaw (Jr.), Smith (So.), Toussaint (Fr.), WHITE (Fr.)
SR: Odoms (Jr.), Roundtree (So.), Grady (Jr.), Gallon (Fr.), Robinson (So.), DRAKE (Fr.), DILEO (Fr.)
WR: Hemingway (Jr.), Stokes (So.), ROBINSON (Fr.), JACKSON (Fr.)
WR: Stonum (Jr.), Gordon (Fr.), MILLER (Fr.), WILLIAMSON (Fr.)
TE: Koger (Jr.), Webb (Sr.), Moore (So.)
C: Molk (Jr.), Khoury (So.), PACE (Fr.)
LG: Schilling (Sr.), Barnum (So.), Mealer (So.)
RG: Omameh (So.), Ferrara (Sr.), Washington (Fr.)
LT: Dorrestein (Sr.), Lewan (Fr.)
RT: Huyge (Sr.), Schofield (Fr.)
FB: Moundros (Sr.), Cox (So.), HOPKINS (Fr.)
...In general, the strength of this season's team should be much better next season. It isn't losing much (Minor/Brown - most notable, Matthews, Moosman, Ortman), and its getting much more experienced. The most important question obviously is, who starts at QB!? In my opinion, Gardner is the best of both worlds when it comes to dual-threat QBs. He is 'almost' as accurate a passer as Tate, and he is 'almost' as good a runner as Denard. Plus, he's got an awesome long ball (a dimension our offense desperately needs). If he can come in early and learn the playbook, he will most definitely push for that starting position.
...I would look for Denard to get more playing time at superback and in the slot. He could be a dangerous Harvin-like compliment to our offense next season. Cornelius Jones probably redshirts. Michael Shaw is probably first in line to replace Minor/Brown at superback. Vincent Smith will push him. Fitzgerald Toussaint is probably the #3. And Austin White probably redshirts. I have a lot of confidence Mike Shaw to get the job done, and I don't think that there will be MUCH of a drop off here. Minor's power is what will be most missed. I think that Mike Cox could really help us out there in goaline situations - as he has looked pretty good in limited time. Stephen Hopkins probably redshirts, but is groomed for a similar role.
...The recievers should be much improved. Matthews will not be missed all that much. Hemingway, Stonum, Odoms and Koger all return as probable starters. Behind Stokes, the depth at outside is a little thin. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the true freshmen, most likely Jerald Robinson, getting some playing time there. Especially if Cameron Gordon is moved to defense. Inside there is a good amount of depth with both Roundtree and Grady back. Look for Jeremy Gallon to possibly have an impact? Both freshmen probably redshirt. At TE, everyone is back with more experience.
...The oline seems similar to the recievers, not losing much, gaining lots of experience, should be much better. Ortmann is gone, but he really wasn't that good. Huyge and Dorrestein have both started games, and probably go into next season as our tackles. Look for rs freshmen Lewan and Schofield to push them, hard. It's even possible that Omameh, or even Barnum, moves outside as well. Inside we are losing Moosman, but again, he wasn't that good. A healthy Molk returning at center is a huge, huge boost. Schilling is back at left guard. Omameh is probably our starter at right guard (he looks solid against purdue). Ferrara and Barnum will push Omameh at guard, maybe even Washington or Mealer gets in on that action as well. Pace redshirts.
*DEFENSE:
CB: Warren (Sr.), Floyd (So.), Rogers (Sr.), TALBOTT (Fr.)
CB: Woolfolk (Sr.), Jones (So.), AVERY (Fr.)
FS: Turner (Fr.), Kovacs (So.) Emilien (So.), JOHNSON (Fr.)
SS: Williams (Jr.), Van Slyke (Jr.), Gordon (Fr.)
SLB: Jones (So.)/Hawthorne (Fr.)/ROBINSON (Fr.), Simmons (So.)
WLB: Mouton (Sr.)/Leach (Jr.), Smith (So.), Bell (Fr.)
MLB: Ezeh (Sr.)/Fitzgerald (Jr.), Demens (So.), KINNARD (Fr.)
Q: Roh (So.), WILKINS (Fr.), Herron (Jr.), Watson (Jr.)
DE: Van Bergen (Jr.), LaLota (Fr.), Heininger (Jr.), PASKORZ (Fr.)
DT: Martin (Jr.), Banks (Sr.), Patterson (Sr.), TALBOTT (Fr.)
NT: Campbell (So.), Sagesse (Sr.)
...The defense really couldn't get much worse, could it!? Losing Brandon really hurts, but Stevie Brown wasn't THAT good. The increased depth and experience all around here should make for tremendous improvements. The biggest issue is obviously secondary depth. First, hopefully Donovan comes back. He seems angry with his coaches and teammates, but his draft stock would be much higher after another year. Second, enter JT Turner. He will either start at FS, or at CB (with Woolfolk at FS). That should be a huge improvement. Then at the other safety position we're still stuck with Williams or Kovacs, but one is better than two. Hopefully Emilien and/or Gordon step up back there. Hopefully we sign some studs. The secondary's not going to be great, but its going to be better. Avery, Talbott and Johnson probably all redshirt...unless a need arises.
...The LB situation is a mess, but at least we've got a lot of experience back. Replacing Stevie Brown at SLB is issue #1. It's shaping up to be a three man race between Mike Jones, Brandin Hawthorne and Marvin Robinson. May the best man (or unsigned 5-star stud) win. Ezeh/Fitzgerald both return at mike, Mouton/Leach both return at will. None of these guys have been good, but they should be better, right? It'll be interesting to see if Isiah Bell gets into the mix next season (he's gained a lot of weight). But other than that, there are really no new players inside. Kinnard probably redshirts, maybe moves to quick.
...The biggest issue on the dline will be replacing Brandon Graham. There are a lot of ideas. But the best, imo, is the simplest. Start Big Will at nose, move MM to dt, move RVB to DE, keep Roh at quick. It makes us much better against the run - a serious problem on the dline this season. RVB isn't the pass-rusher graham is, obviously, but we could make personnel substitutions on passing downs. Maybe you get LaLota, Wilkins, or even Ezeh involved in the rush there!? Sagesse is your backup at nose (though Martin is always there in case something happens), Heininger, Banks, Patterson, Herron, Watson, etc. provide depth across. Talbott and Paskorz probably redshirt. Wilkins may have an immediate impact!?
*SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Gibbons (Fr.), Wright (Sr.)
P: HAGERUP (Fr.), Wright (Sr.)
KO: Wright (Sr.), Gibbons (Fr.)
LS: Pomarico (Jr.), Glanda (So.), Van Bergen (Jr.)
KR: Stonum (Jr.), Smith (So.), Grady (Jr.)
PR: Hemingway (Jr.), Odoms (Jr.)
...The Gibbons kid was highly recruited, maybe a slight improvement there. Hagerup was highly recruited as well, but probably no Zoltan. Little nervous about having two new young guys there, but we'll see I guess. Returners and everything else still remains the same. Hopefully Odoms steps up as our go to punt-returner.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
Sweet. I can't wait to be in the mix with the 2nd tier Big Ten teams.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:26 PM ^
it's better than being at the bottom, isn't it? I was just trying to emphasize that our expectations shouldn't be a big10 title. But maybe something like third best in the league wouldn't be a bad, realistic goal. Right?
November 8th, 2009 at 2:26 PM ^
better than at the bottom.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^
Oh waaaa. I'm sad about stuff. Waaaa.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:26 PM ^
Well-written. I guess we do have a lot more depth than I thought with all the Freshmen RR redshirted. Next season should be a little bit better.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
Not having any true freshman slated to start looks very nice to me. I dunno if I'd slate Turner at Safety: my best guess is that Turner will slide into CB and Woolfolk will move back to S. I honestly hope that either a. Williams improves a TON or b. Kovacks starts in front of him because Williams has been a huge disaster this year.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
^^ +1
except maybe Emilien as SS, who knows
November 8th, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^
The defensive line has not been the problem against the running game, for the most part. The biggest problems have been the inside linebackers and the safeties. Martin, Van Bergen, and Graham are playing admirably.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:01 PM ^
This is EXACTLY the problem, and the Michigan Daily's favorite line is "For how talented the UM D-line is supposed to be, they sure are under-performing against the run." Boy howdy, that pisses me off, because it's Ezeh and Mouton (and sometimes Williams) that are the problem in our run defense.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
Yeah...basically, Martin's job is to take on double-teams without getting blown off the ball, which he does well. Check.
Graham leads the country in TFLs or something like that. I think he has 18. Check.
Van Bergen has held up fairly well, although he wasn't all that hyped coming out of high school. He's more of a high motor guy than a pure talent guy.
And Roh is a true freshman, but I think he's done pretty well, too.
I wouldn't make a single change to the defensive line rotation. In fact, they might be the best unit on the entire team.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
Made me a little more confident for next year. Our offense should be better with Molk back, a year under Tate's belt, 2 other returners on O line, with the young guys like Omameh, Lewan, Washington, etc ready to push them. I'm excited to see Shaw next year and ready to move past the Brown-Minor era. I have a lot of respect for those 2, but it seemed like they were always hurt or fumbling. Also having DG there to push Tate in practice will only be a good thing, considering Tate says he loves competition.
On the defense I disagree with you a little bit. I think Warren and Turner will be the CBs and you move Woolfolk back to safety with Emilien. I just can't see how GERG can look at the film this year and not replace Williams. Emilien deserves a shot. Losing BG will be tough, but an improved secondary with Turner should make a big difference.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
I assume that Warren goes pro just because I think that almost every junior will go pro because of the CBA situation in the NFL.
As for the defense, I would like to see Ezeh tried at the Brandon Graham defensive end position. I don't know if he would be good at this but I personally think that he may potentially be better suited to be player there instead of in the middle. This also depends on Fitzgerald being ready to start at linebacker. I also think Kovacs might be pretty good taking over for Brown at linebacker. He is not that great in pass coverage but I think he could do pretty well with more run oriented responsibilities. I think we are looking a secondary of Turner and Floyd at CB (hope that some of the incoming freshman or Witty is he comes might be able to step up here) and Woolfolk and Williams (would be nice is Vlad could win this spot) at safety.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
If warren sticks around...I'm not so sure how likely that is, but definitely would help in terms of keeping the corners for next year being the same black hole as the safeties this year.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
Hopefully we can still add Cullen,Dior,either Tony's,and Rashad. Possibly Armadie? And hopefully all our recruits stick to the commitments. I think that Toussaint,Gallon,Big Will,Mike Shaw,and JT are due for breakout seasons next year.. Pray that Warren sticks around for some redemption. All in all, i think were in for a Exciting season next year, and its only going to go uphill from here. Lets start it off next Saturday though, with a win at Wisconsin.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:01 PM ^
I don't feel better about next year, just because we will have deeper depth.
It takes a team to gel together to do better. We can have a team of all 5 star players, but it doesn't mean we will do better. I think we have all the talent in the world on our team, but it seems like we do not have "it" as a team. If you look at RR's West Virginia teams with much less talent, you can tell they had their stuff together as a team both offensively and defensively.
I hope we can come together as a team and win one of the next 2 games.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
for consecutive seasons, would also be a plus; haven't had that the last three seasons.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:04 PM ^
...for RR to throw out the excuse, "We're not good enough to make mistakes and win..."
Can't wait.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:32 PM ^
Please go away troll.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
I really thought we would have burned Turner's redshirt
November 8th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
I think I speak for everyone when I say that the only reason Devin Gardner shouldn't redshirt is if we have any injury related issues at quarterback. Otherwise, I agree with everything you have to say.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^
Redshirting doesn't exclude you from playing. But playing takes away your ability to redshirt that year. Say Devin was in "redshirt mode" going into week 9, and Tate can't play for some reason, Gardner can play that week, he just loses his redshirt.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^
response to some of the responses:
#1) the defensive line has been the strength of our defense, but we're still undersized in the middle with martin and van bergen at dt. let's see how we do against a physical running team like wisconsin. still though, regardless, i like the big will at nose idea because it gets the best 4 players on the field. most other suggestions involve sliding roh to de and replacing him with someone like ezeh or wilkins at the quick position. not a bad idea, but really, we could do both. passing situations, give me ezeh or wilkins there. running situations, give me big will - its not like he's ever going to be in good enough condition to play every down either.
#2) i really don't care whether its turner-cb, woolfolk-fs, or the reverse. it will be an upgrade. the coaches really seem to like woolfolk more at corner, so that's why i suggested it. i mean, seriously, they would rather have williams/kovacs at safety than cissoko/floyd at corner!?
#3) heard someone mention that kovacs would be a better lb than a safety. he would, wouldn't he!? I completely agree. But the same argument was made for Mike Jones, Brandin Hawthorne, Isiah Bell, Marvin Robinson and Stevie Brown already. At some point we just have to leave someone there! I don't really understand why people are still excited about emilien. he's on the team right now, and he's not playing over our two terrible safties. hopefully he's able to improve in the off-season.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:29 PM ^
This depth chart makes me feel happy at times, and infinitely sad at other times. I believe I have turned into Gil.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:54 PM ^
"Ortmann is gone, but he really wasn't that good. Huyge and Dorrestein have both started games, and probably go into next season as our tackles."
Sorry but I don't agree about Ortmann. Ortmann has been serviceable, but as the season goes on I am finding Huyge to be a liability on the o-line. Watching the Purdue game highlights, when we go for 2 at the end of the game it looked to me like Huyge got beat badly which forced TF to step up into the pocket, into the oncoming DT's. He struggled against Illinois too.
I hope he steps it up next season. We need it.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:56 PM ^
the freshmen will both push at tackle.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:19 PM ^
Huyge may have been beaten there but Tate showed his freshman side and hung onto it too long. There were two open receivers on the right side and he had plenty of time to hit either one. He shouldn't make this type of mistake by this time next year - I hope.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
Enjoyed the writeup.
Suggestion: follow up and do it again after signing day.
With another 5 or 6 guys incoming by then, plus clarity on 5th years who aren't renewed, the depth chart may have even more promise for the future.
Keep up the good work
November 8th, 2009 at 6:18 PM ^
Good post. I still think we could use more good DB recruits. If the big-time network analysts are right about our defense not having any talent then we'll need to average 45 PPG to make a bowl next year.
Does anyone know if Devin Gardner will be showing up to Ann Arbor early?
November 8th, 2009 at 7:13 PM ^
Even Devin Gardner doesn't know.
He wants to come early, but he's not sure if it will all work out.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:15 PM ^
that is a scary prospect. i don't think many realize the attention graham attracts from the opposing team and how much opportunity that creates for others to make a play (hypothetically speaking since said others don't make this play on our team). when i look at that defense it's absolutely possible we'll be worse than this yr. hopefully our O can put up 50 a game.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:40 AM ^
It's really crazy, imo, to say that this defense will be worst next year. There will be way more bodies. RichRod redshirted so many freshmen this year. Part of it was because most 18 year olds aren't ready to contribute (especially when you are converting big high school safties to lb). The other part of it was because, feeling that he had 4-5 years guaranteed (as I do), he was thinking more long-term. There are going to be 4-6 more defensive commitments too, imo.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:46 AM ^
Don't get me wrong - Graham is a great player. However, I really don't think the defensive line will see a huge dropoff next year. We return everyone except Graham, and I personally think that Roh or Van Bergen is capable of taking his spot and flourishing.
Craig Roh is going to put up double-digit sacks in a season before he leaves Michigan. That kid will be a beast, whether it's from the Quick position or from a more traditional DE spot.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:39 PM ^
I've edited the defensive depth chart for next season a bit with Brandon Smith back at SS (is this a long-term move!?). For now, I'm saying that it will be a three man race between Williams/Kovacs/Smith at SS with Turner/Woolfolk starting at FS/CB. Others in the race at FS and SS will be Emilien, Gordon, and whatever blue chippers we sign.
*OFFENSE:
QB: Forcier (So.)/GARDNER (Fr.), Robinson (So.), Sheridian (Sr.), JONES (Fr.)
SB: Shaw (Jr.), Smith (So.), Toussaint (Fr.), WHITE (Fr.)
SR: Odoms (Jr.), Roundtree (So.), Grady (Jr.), Gallon (Fr.), Robinson (So.), DRAKE (Fr.), DILEO (Fr.)
WR: Hemingway (Jr.), Stokes (So.), ROBINSON (Fr.), JACKSON (Fr.)
WR: Stonum (Jr.), Gordon (Fr.), MILLER (Fr.), WILLIAMSON (Fr.)
TE: Koger (Jr.), Webb (Sr.), Moore (So.)
C: Molk (Jr.), Khoury (So.), PACE (Fr.)
LG: Schilling (Sr.), Barnum (So.), Mealer (So.)
RG: Omameh (So.), Ferrara (Sr.), Washington (Fr.)
LT: Dorrestein (Sr.), Lewan (Fr.)
RT: Huyge (Sr.), Schofield (Fr.)
FB: Moundros (Sr.), Cox (So.), HOPKINS (Fr.)
*DEFENSE:
CB: Warren (Sr.), Floyd (So.), Rogers (Sr.), TALBOTT (Fr.)
CB: Woolfolk (Sr.), Jones (So.), AVERY (Fr.)
FS: Turner (Fr.), Emilien (So.), Gordon (Fr.), JOHNSON (Fr.)
SS: Williams (Jr.)/Kovacs (So.)/Smith (So.), Van Slyke (Jr.)
SLB: Jones (So.)/Hawthorne (Fr.)/ROBINSON (Fr.), Simmons (So.)
WLB: Mouton (Sr.)/Leach (Jr.), Bell (Fr.)
MLB: Ezeh (Sr.)/Fitzgerald (Jr.), Demens (So.), KINNARD (Fr.)
Q: Roh (So.), WILKINS (Fr.), Herron (Jr.), Watson (Jr.)
DE: Van Bergen (Jr.), LaLota (Fr.), Heininger (Jr.), PASKORZ (Fr.)
DT: Martin (Jr.), Banks (Sr.), Patterson (Sr.), TALBOTT (Fr.)
NT: Campbell (So.), Sagesse (Sr.)
*SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Gibbons (Fr.), Wright (Sr.)
P: HAGERUP (Fr.), Wright (Sr.)
KO: Wright (Sr.), Gibbons (Fr.)
LS: Pomarico (Jr.), Glanda (So.), Van Bergen (Jr.)
KR: Stonum (Jr.), Smith (So.), Grady (Jr.)
PR: Hemingway (Jr.), Odoms (Jr.)