Players most critical to '11's success
For a little change of topic thought this might be a good one for a little discussion. Inevitability no coach will do well without top talent. What 4-5 players do you think are the most critical to next years success that may hinge on the new coach retaining them. Unfortunately RR's transition would have been a million times smoother with Mallett, Manningham, etc. Who are your picks for being most important to next years team?
I think MIke Martin would have a shot at going pro. I wouldn't say the new coach has to retain Devin and Denard but at least one of those two. Not sure we have too many Juniors that really have the potential to go pro so I might opt for Courtney Avery. He seemed like a young guy with a lot of potential. Thoughts?
January 8th, 2011 at 6:48 PM ^
The ones that stick around.
January 8th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
how depressing is all of this?
January 8th, 2011 at 6:49 PM ^
Offence-Denard, Molk, Roundtree
Defence-Martin, Demens, Anyone capable of playing in the secondary...
January 8th, 2011 at 6:56 PM ^
But are you from England?
January 8th, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
I prefer the 4-5-1 with Shoelace distributing in center midfield to Devin up top. If Denard wants, we can push him up for more attack. Mike Martin in goal, of course.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:08 PM ^
Canadian
January 8th, 2011 at 6:52 PM ^
Offense - The RB core.
Defense - Marvin Robinson, Floyd, Demens, Q Washington
January 8th, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
I'm not saying I don't want him to stick around, don't get me wrong, I do. But I really wouldn't be surprised if Floyd lost his starting spot to a younger, more athletically gifted CB in the offseason.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
Maybe, I was just impressed with his tacking in the few games before he was injured. His cover skills leave something to be desired, but I feel he is still going to be an important part of the secondary and team.
Let's assume Troy comes back and plays DB. You have Troy, J.T. Courtney, Terrence, Cullen, and incomers at the CB position. That is still a young 2 deep, and, aside from Troy, J.T. is the most physical and best tackling of the bunch. I think the new coach will watch the tape, and J.T. will be a starter to begin the season.
January 9th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
I think that JT FLoyd will provide good depth for our secondary either as CB or S. I think he might get passed up by other talented freshman, but he does have some experience which might like you said, allow him to see the field early on.
This opinion is based on nothing, but I think Vinopal will lock down the starting S job and become a 4 year starter for us. I just wished the coaches gave him the start to begin the season since he was much more suited to play safety than Gordon. I think with the offseason conditioning he will add more size which will make him more effective.
January 9th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
Don't forget about Josh Furman.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
Mike Martin says hi.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
We all know what MM can do. I am concentrating on players that must step up in order for the team to improve.
January 8th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
that you are only as strong as your weakest link I would have to go with one of the least athletic on the weakest side of the ball. Any former walk ons come to mind? I know the kid was a good player and was probably one of the most consistent players on D but I saw too many plays that if he were just a little stronger or a little faster he would have made an even more significant impact.
January 8th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
Kinda depends on who the coach will be wouldn't you think? If it's Hoke then you have one style of players important to running his scheme.
And as luck would have it we don't have many of those players right now.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:32 PM ^
I was actually surprised by the size of some of the backs that we have. Could these guys be more serviceable in a power running scheme...who knows. Here is a list I pulled from the roster.
Josh Furman 6’2 208--Was an absolute stud at RB in HS
Teric Jones 5’9 198--Hart sized
Mike Cox 6’ 211
Fitz 5’10 200
Stephen Hopkins 230
Mike Shaw 6’ 186--A bit lean for 6' but I'm sure he could bulk up
January 9th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
After Mike Cox's comments, I'm not sure how he feels playing for Michigan. He might just have had an issue with RR, but that comment was unnecessary.
January 8th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
If he can be an above average space eater that would free up Roh and Martin and just that alone would greatly improve our D from what it is
January 8th, 2011 at 6:55 PM ^
Why do people worry about DG? He potentially has the most to gain of all the QBs from this Coaching change. The kid has all the tools to be a fantastic QB, he's just young. If he gets the red-shirt, he'll have 4 years of eligibility, why would he leave?
January 8th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
And he came out after the Bowl game and said "I play for Michigan". I wouldn't worry about him.
January 8th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
Depends on the scheme at this point but O-line and D-line will be important no matter what. It will be interesting to see how younger D-lineman progress and step into the two deep. There maturation will be the key to winning and losing in '11. Also Goudis will be very important if he can make a FG in a game.
January 8th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
everyone
January 8th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
If one or more of those guys can contribute the defense can do a lot more things. Just about everywhere else I expect to improve as young guys continue the natural maturation process and compete for playing time.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^
Having Woolfolk back will be huge for us. Molk is huge fore the offense. Obviously we have to retain one of our three capable QB's. It's difficult to speculate on offense because we won't know what our offensive philosophy will be. Basically our whole defense is (besides Martin) is a lot more potential than results so it's hard to say but my guess is Demens, Roh and Avery. The talk is that Josh Furman and Richard Ash are really improving and Courtney Avery is improving every day so we'll see.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
You speak of. However, that Tolfoy Wolkforn I've been hearing about on the blogz who was injured is supposed to be dynamite!
January 8th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
Wolfolk, Denard, Roh, Martin, Demens.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
The O-Line (Lewan/Barnum/Molk/Omameh/Huyge-Schofield), and the D-Line (RVB/QWash-Ash-Talbott/Martin/Roh/Black). Consider me old-fashioned, but I believe that a team's success is built from the line up
January 8th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
As far as guys currently off of the radar, I can't wait for Furman, Marvin, and Ash to emerge.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^
Critical for 2011 would be this incoming class, we need great players. We get great players by doing what other winning programs are doing, for example.........take Auburn, you pay the players dad cash, now OSU, you get the kids a new car. Then you get some hot co-eds to round up the great players....like the Vols did. The only thing I think that might be bad idea is that mess that went on in corn country, I wouldn't go with that......didn't work out so good. Lest we forget Roll Tide.
s/
January 8th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
Look at the SEC and why they dominate the other conferences on the field. Their d lines are so much faster and more physical than their opponent's. If you do not have to blitz to get pressure, your defense is free to be aggressive in other areas and create big plays and turnovers (what are those?). This is what tosu has done to us recently. Games are won in the trenches, wait till Monday and watch Auburn's d line dominate. I long for the days of Steele, Branch, even Gabe Watson.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:30 PM ^
Im not meaning really most important as far as wins and losses in 2011 but to me it would be huge to see Josh Furman be what i want him to be when he gets on the field next year .. we so badly need a strong and fast playmmaker with dreads on defense
January 8th, 2011 at 7:32 PM ^
If Denard returns, then obviously him. Also, one of the RBs needs to make a legitimate leap and become a Slaton-style threat out of the backfield.
On defense, I think Woolfolk, Avery, Christian, and whoever plays LB. If the offense is retained (at least in part), then even an average defense means 8-9 wins next year.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^
Martin,Troy Woolfolk,one of Denard or Devin,David Molk,and Matt Goudis.GO BLUE!!!
January 8th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
The ones that play for Michigan.
January 8th, 2011 at 8:16 PM ^
as a leader would be huge, he's been through both transitions and could help prevent the epic fail that happened last time.
January 8th, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^
1. J.Black 2. J. Furman 3. K. Demens 4. S. Hopkins 5. C. Roh
Black will create the outside rush, Furman sideline-to-sideline, Demens filling the gaps, Hopkins I believe can be a force with enough carries, and Roh getting back to his basics on the Dline will be a plus!
January 8th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
If it's Hoke then #1 is Tate Forcier (as he is our only option to be a "Pro-Style" QB) and #2 thru #5 are the 4 guys who will play DB for us. If it's a spread guy the #1 is whoever is the top Tailback and then the DBs.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
January 9th, 2011 at 1:55 PM ^
...does Gordon have a good position in next year's D? We won't be running a 3-3-5 defense next year so he won't be playing the hybrid positions. He did not do well as a FS this past season, and he's too small to play 4-3 OLB. So I'm curious as to what the next coach will do with Cam next season, because the changeover from 3-3-5 might not be so beneficial for him.
January 9th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
The RB core, they've all been pretty ineffective the past couple years -- we need to get a ground game going by people not named Denard and we'll be in a much better position. Hopefully Hopkins and Toussaint do well.
January 9th, 2011 at 8:53 PM ^
the second best player from each position group.
need that depth