Quick Look @ '12-'13: Depth Chart

He might.  The coaches have said that we've got safeties, but lack CBs, not to mention that it takes a little more to develop a safety because it depends less on athleticism (like a CB) and more on cerebral functioning.  Kovacs and Gordon will be solid, so I guess Wilson's red-shirt will depend on the development of Johnson and Robinson as good back-ups.  The biggest thing Wilson has going for him is that he's pretty damn smart and might be able to pick up the D, especially if he enrolls early.

You're making fun of his depth chart without providing a depth chart of your own? WTF?

If Gallon plays outside that who plays slot then? That's why I have him there. I suppose you could move Roundtree to slot and just flip them if that's your preference.

Jerald has played both. Because we have Dileo and literally NO other WR outside other than Jackson...he has to stay outside. Even if/when we get Payton and Darboh.

Beyer too has played both. Really he's played SAM, but in passing downs when that position is a WDE...like when Jake Ryan plays with a hand in the ground. IMO he moves to WDE, if he doesn't, Paskorz does.

Jerald Robinson will play outside - good size and range.

Is em0 a former user? Or is it a running MGoBlog joke about someone who posts premature thoughts? Or both?

Because I think you are forgetting about the fact that..
1. We have OL starters who are seniors. We have limited depth on the tackles, and that is a big concern, but inside what I can gather is that Bryant is moving along nicely.

2. We are bringing in 5 guys who are legit studs.

Braden might end up being the best of the bunch.

Or maybe its Kalis.

Or maybe its Magnusson.

Or maybe its Bar or Stacey.

All I am saying is, it has been a longgg time since Mich had an OL class like the one we have right now, and thats assuming we dont add Banner or Garnett (both possible).

I think Kalis could start at OG assuming an injury and not be tooo much of a fall off, and if we pull Banner he could easily be a solid backup on the outside for us.

After this, the depth is a bit scary. But then again, we have all of 2012 to pick up 4-5 more stud linemen to protect Shane into the future.

No 5th year? Is that your prediction? 

The biggest impact may be the decision Trent Richardson makes in the winter.

We lose Martin, RVB and Heininger...if they lse Richardson, that would be a huge boost for us even with Eddie Lacy coming back.

Marquis Maze (remember him?) will also be gone...

We certainly have a shot, no doubt. Before we do I'm glad I get to see us go up against MSU, Illinois, Nebraska and OSU this year. And hopefully Wisconsin.

Just Wilson and a couple of the LBs (and Dunn should he come to the good side).

Physical maturity, I think. Unless you wind up with some LeBron James/Greg Oden-like manchild. Also, it's not a coincidence that both of my examples for early physical maturation happen to be basketball and not football players.

That's why I have the * next to his name. I think he'll start at OT...I think he could develop into a RT. But due to the fact we have Braden, Magnuson, Bars and possibly one more at tackle, I think he'll move to guard in his second year. I just have him starting at OT due to depth and the fact we have Bryant inside.

Honestly, it wouldn't shock me to see him play center at Michigan. I could definitely see Magnuson-Bars-Kalis-Stacey-Braden. However I think we'll get one more OL and you know Bryant and Miller will break that group up as will the OLmen in the 2013 class.

Ringer doesn't yet have the size for MLB, but he's enrolling early and likely redshirting so he'll get there. He only needs about 30 lbs to be a good MIKE size.

Because they showed they could play, even if buried on the depth chart.

Now Morgan has gotten a start. But he hasn't played a starter's # of snaps this year. That's why I added him with Clark and Beyer who are clearly down there.

You can add Thomas Rawls to this too. Why play him over Hopkins or Cox late in the game?

I think we get too caught up in the NCAA video game mentality sometimes where you redshirt everyone. Where you play with a 45 man roster and redshirt 25 guys.

That's not realistic.

I think Bolden and Ross will play next year because I think they're the most polished. Both are very "football smart" like Morgan was coming in. I think they'll pick up the defense quicker than the others. (Assuming they (others) don't enroll early, which isn't 100% set yet).

Also, sometimes you burn redshirts to break up the class. So everyone isn't graduating at the same time. RS Seniors can be valuable.

Not only that but when you're recruiting. To have a bunch of LBs on the team as RS Freshman, it doesn't help cause kids don't see PT as easily. Burn a couple and it helps you clear up room down the road.

To answer your question, there are a bunch of reasons. But we've played Morgan, Hawthorne, Herron and Mike Jones all at WLB this season. So using 4 next year isn't too far fetched.

Lastly, special teams help.

I think Countess is the freshman star of this years defense. IMO James Ross will be the freshman star of next year. Countess after Woolfolk, Ross after Demens.