Ray Vinopal to start @ PSU?
This has been dropped on the premium boards. Apparently Vinopal to free safety in place of Cam Gordon, and Cam Gordon to replace the Carvin/Thomas Gordon spot at the spinner/safety position.
GO TO 14:07
Vinopal! Hope that the coaches see someting in him and are ready to unleash him on unsuspecting B10 offenses. Let's go Ray!!
October 25th, 2010 at 8:15 AM ^
if Vinopal is the second coming of Kovacs, it will be a huge upgrade for now. Kovacs is one of the few reliable guys we have on D. At only +1, I thought the Iowa UFR was a bit misleading. Always appreciate your insight, and I get that you're not bashing the guy, but I like these moves given the situation. Your above post about Cam's approach to tackling is a big reason.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:35 PM ^
Hopefully this works out if true. Also, coming during the bye week they've got 2 weeks to work him in and get him used to playing with the 1st string.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:44 PM ^
I have re-written this ten times. Why not give him a shot. Going against a weak-ish PSU offense may provide the proper launching point. Ray Ray do well.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:52 PM ^
I wish him all the success that Demens had in his recent action. May the speed of the puma be with you in your quest!
October 25th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
I think its a good move.
October 25th, 2010 at 1:24 AM ^
I feel that this is a step in the right direction defensively. I love that Cam brings the wood when he tackles, but he just gets beat and misses some tackles/assignments. maybe he is better suited for a pos. closer to the the LOI. Vinopal probably is a little more comfortable at safety and will be a little fundamentally better, only because Cam is converted WR to S and Ray has some experience playing the position is HS. my only concern with ray is his lack of size. We will have to wait and see
Hail
October 25th, 2010 at 2:05 AM ^
Agree. How will he do with John Clay bearing down on him. That remains to be seen...
October 25th, 2010 at 8:18 AM ^
before he gets to Ray. Like a pre-Ray Clay play, okay?
October 25th, 2010 at 4:45 AM ^
This is be a great idea, unless the move turns out to be a disaster, in which case it is a terrible idea.
Also, the Penn State game will be awesome, unless they score more points than us, in which case it will suck.
October 25th, 2010 at 5:42 AM ^
that I need to learn Kovacs' number to figure out where he is on the field?
October 25th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
Let's hope that he is as good as <insert name of white overacheiver who played at Wisconsin, Iowa, or Northwestern here>
October 25th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
on the D line, causing all kinds of free picks for the taking. Grasping at straws, but no better week this late in the schedule to give it a shot. Real game speed playing time and he builds some confidence back there with a good performance.
Go Blue - Go Ray -
October 25th, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
I guess this answers part of the question I asked you a couple weeks ago about the young ones developing. I don't see anyone being afraid of Ray Vinopal's bone crushing tackles. However, maybe he just has enough instinct and smarts to break up some plays and not let a TE or WR take it to the house.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^
Fuck you all, I hope he's as good as Erik Berry.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^
Two white guy's in the secondary??? I guess we really are the Harvard of the West LOL, in all seriousness I hope Ray has a great outing against PSU, I would love to see Cam gain 20lbs(along with wrapping his fucking arms when he taclkes) and demolish peeps at the Spur position
October 25th, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^
Harvard is the Michigan of the East.
October 25th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
If this is true, two thoughts come to mind
1.) This would give us 2 starters on D from the state of Ohio (avery, talbot and black come off the bench). Historically, the top shelf MICH teams have had 5-6 starters on D from Ohio. I find it interesting that MSU is making their first run at a Big 10 title in over 20 years, and, guess what? They have 5 starters on D and a handful of other D contributers off the bench from the state of Ohio. We do a few things down here in Ohio, among them are growing Big 10 defensive football players. MICH NEEDS MOAR PLZE!!!!
2.) When Wisconsin shows up at the Big House and sees our two white safeties, they will forfeit on the spot, admitting that we already beat them at their game.
Go Blue, Beat Penn State
October 25th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
Point #2 made me giggle, congrats to you good sir.
October 25th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Most of the players on our defense wouldn't see the field in a normal year, most would redshirt or only see special teams action. I hope Ray Vinopal works, I liked his interception against BGSU.
October 25th, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^
I just want to take a quick look at where this rumor came from.
Correct me if I am wrong, but, this came from a poster at Scout who posted on their premium message board that he heard this was happening but never said from where he heard it was happening. Tom Beaver said that scout would take a look at it to see if it is true.
Then, someone created a thread about this on Rivals after presumably reading it on either Scout or Mgoboard and then that thread was quickly deleted by their mods.
Today's depth chart looks the same per Tim's twitter. C Gordon at FS with Vinopal at 2nd string and then T Gordon or C Johnson at Spur.
Rich Rod said that Will Campbell was the only major position change. However, he also said that our safeties are prepared to play either position and that the Freshman DB's will be taking on an increased role in the secondary.
They could obviously be trying not to show their hand to PSU and Vinopal could still get the start. However, I bet Vinopal just gets some increased playing time.