Sam Webb Profiles Joe Bolden
Sam Webb's latest is a profile of Michigan target OH MLB Joe Bolden. It contains some interesting nuggets that confirm what we've expected about Greg Mattison's recruiting approach:
Mattison's ability to reference his time in the pro ranks has definitely been a feather in Michigan's cap with numerous defensive recruits thus far. The same is certainly true with Bolden. "We watched the Ravens film from last year," Joe recalled. "Coach Mattison showed me where I was going to play in that defense. He pointed to Ray Lewis."
Michigan is in contention with 21 other schools but could be separating themselves from the pack.
That list is now 22 schools long and rising. BCS programs like Penn State, Stanford, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Boston College, and West Virginia have thrown their hats in the ring. Michigan made its way into the mix a little over a month ago, and in has become an extremely strong contender thanks to two memorable visits to Ann Arbor.
"They are definitely up there on the list," Bolden said of the Wolverines. "The facilities are impressive. Both indoor fields are as long as the outdoor grass and outdoor turf fields. Then you just walk into the Big House and look from side to side — 115,000 people are screaming for you on a Saturday. There is probably no feeling like it. They told me that they were going to add about 6,000 seats. That's definitely an impressive thing."
The specificity of the 6,000 seats things is interesting.
Noticeably absent from that list are two particular schools who apparently have different LB needs than does Michigan.
Bolden was courted for a time by Ohio State and Notre Dame, but neither chose to step forth with an offer. "It is not going to work out for Notre Dame," said Bolden. "They are looking for outside linebackers who are 6-4 and 250 pounds coming out of high school. I don't have any hard feelings towards them. I'm not the guy they are looking for and it is not going to work out for Notre Dame. God closed that door for a reason and we'll end up finding out that reason some time. Ohio State, they're looking for will linebackers — smaller, faster guys. I'm a bigger guy that doesn't fit that profile. I also don't have any harsh feelings towards them either. Both schools have been pretty much straightforward with me and I really appreciate them doing that. That is pretty much how the cookie crumbles with them."
"To me, if you didn't recruit me — and I don't like to be arrogant and full of myself — I like to prove people wrong," Bolden admitted. "I love doing it. I love talking, but also backing it up. If you've ever been in that situation, it makes it sweeter. It would definitely feel good."
Sam thinks decision time is nigh, but according to Bolden his timeline is based on Another's timeline.
"If I feel comfortable with a school 10 minutes from now and God gives me a sign and answers my prayers and tells me where I'm going to spend the next four or five years of my life, it is going to happen 10 minutes from now. Now if God has got a plan for me to wait all the way up until Feb. 2, it will be made on Feb. 2 at 7 o'clock in the morning and that is me and just how God works his magic."
Get your prayer on, MGoBlogerati.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
we cant 4 LB's in this class.... especially when we're playing a 4-3.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
I don't have any problems with Bolden himself, but I think we're okay at MIKE linebacker. If we're only going to take three LB's, then I'd rather have another WILL, where we're thin and young.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
Is Ross being recruited as a WILL? I know RJS and Ringer were seen as more MIKEs and SAMs.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
Ross and Ringer are WILL's.
Jenkins-Stone is a MIKE.
I thought that the knock on Ringer was that he doesn't have great speed, but has a nose for the ball. What makes him more of a WILL than a MIKE? Is it his size that determines what positions he plays?
I think his speed is less of a question than his change of direction and flexibility in his hips. But yeah, his size is probably the biggest determining factor. The MIKE is typically a bigger player because he's going to deal with a fullback and/or pulling guard more often. The WILL mostly just gets to flow to the ball if he can wade through the trash.
from the article Bolden claimed that Mattison pointed to Ray Lewis when he said, "you will be playing this position".
am I making a bad assumption that Ray Lewis plays the MIKE position?
Yeah, Ray Lewis is the MIKE for the Ravens.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
that good football players find their way onto the football field? I know it sounds cliche, but if all three of these guys are the studs we pray/hope them to be, certainly one of them has to have enough athletic ability to slide out, right?
Or is this just wishful thinking to get that square peg into the circular hole?
April 21st, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
Sure, but recruiting the top 16 defensive tackles in the country won't help us with our needs at TE, CB, DE, MLB, etc.
If Mattison wants smaller, quicker guys for the WILL spot, then I'd prefer to have a smaller, quicker guy for the WILL than a guy who's already 6'2" and 225 lbs.
I'd prefer to have rabid six-legged panthers. With tentacles.
Can he tackle?
3 feet from where you actually are. The runner thinks he's home free, and WHAM, tackle, you've been DISPLACED.
Added bonus? They're really cute as kittens (or freshmen).
You know what a displacer beast is! I was too ashamed to admit it.
To know I have no shame.
but a DT obviously doesn't translate to CB, MLB. An athletic MIKE could slide out to play SAM though. I'm not saying that Bolden is the guy for that, but maybe RJS or Ringer is. I think if we took all three of these guys, we would be in great shape. Of course, Ross is still out there as well so another option is on the table.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
I seemed to missed the updated defensive lingo. Does MIKE basically mean middle, SAM strongside, and WILL weakside? What exactly are these abbreviations/acronyms for?
Don't want to clog up the board, if there's a post I missed, I'd appreciate just a link.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:54 PM ^
All of your assumptions are correct.
The "acronyms" don't really mean anything. They're just one-syllable abbreviations, rather than having to spit out "middle linebacker" every time you want to tell the MIKE to do something.
For a brief explanation, you can go here if you want.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:58 PM ^
Cool, thanks. That makes a lot of sense.
Those three terms are pretty much standard for any defense. Occasionally MACK is used in place of MIKE.
Also, WHIP or WILLIE = weakside linebacker.
the first letter is the important one, and none of the rest.
Yep.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
Thanks, Sam. Mr. Bolden sounds like a stand up guy - a value to both the field and the locker room.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
Do the impending transfers open the door for both Ross and Bolden if they both wanted to commit, or would we use those extra schollies at positions of greater need?
April 21st, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
I think we have room for 4 LBs (Ross and Bolden -- no other recruits need apply). Unlike years past we no longer have 3 distinctly different body-types at "Spinner" "MLB" "WLB" "spur" when considering LB recruiting - much more flexibility now to move guys around. Ryan is a good example - MLB or nothing under GERG, but he's playing SLB under Mattison and could always move back to MLB after Demens departs.
I think RJS can bulk up to play MLB, grow into an SLB, and may also be a WLB. Bolden seems like a future SLB but could also play MLB, Ross MLB or WLB, Ringer appears to have the playing style of an MLB.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:52 PM ^
The coaches have told recruits that they want 3 linebackers. Not 4.
"Spinner" and "Spur" were the same thing.
RJS is a MIKE. Bolden is a MIKE. Ross is a WILL. Ringer is a WILL. All of those positions have come straight from those players' mouths. There's no need to believe that Ringer's going to be a MIKE when he's said otherwise, etc., etc.
Then our "Hello" posts are filled with lies. And Scout (which doesn't necessarily lie, they are just wrong a lot) has Ross as a MLB (although he looks like a WILL to me at this point)
IIRC, "Hello" suggested that Ringer will be run-stopping sideline-to-sideline MLB who will most likely leave the field on 3rd down passing plays.
And whichever position a to-be-senior in high school expect to play at a BCS school and what position he's actually playing as a Sophomore are two very different things. Especially on defense
I think we can afford to use an extra schollarship on a 4th LB (in either Bolden or Ross) and see where they fit in 2-4 years. But that's a move that Coach Jtmc33 would take. I'm not going to be blowing up the message board complaining if we max out at 3 LBs
And Magnus, I'm not telling you which direction and how fast the wind is blowing, I'm just saying that it's windy outside.
EDIT - And I did not neg you
I don't write the "Hello" posts, so I can't tell you why they have misinformation. Keep in mind that Tim is a collector of data, not necessarily an "analyst" or "reporter." I'm not knocking what Tim does, but the guys at the actual recruiting sites - and TomVH - have more direct contact with recruits.
Sam Webb has interpreted the coaches saying that they'll take three linebackers to mean that they'll take at least that many. He's said a couple of times that he's not sure what they'd do if, for example, Bolden were to commit tomorrow and then Ross wanted to commit six months from now.
Non-rhetorical question: Is there something about Bolden that says that he couldn't become a SAM?
I think Bolden might be able to play SAM, but he might be a little short. The prototypical SAM for us is almost a defensive end, so I think he'll more frequently be 6'3" to 6'5". Bolden is listed at 6'2", which means he's probably 6'1".
I love how people neg you like you actually give a crap. It's not in any way shape or form going to make you change 1 thing. Props for that...
I can't see where UM says no to James Ross, if Bolden commits here soon. It may not have been the goal going in, to get four LBs, but when you have four LBs that are that highly touted, all wanting to play for your team, you make the room. Attrition throughout the year should help as well, but I expect UM to take 3 or 4 LBs, pending on what Ross and Bolden do. Competition is good, depth is better.
Is UM recruiting anyone that can fill the SAM role in your estimation?
April 21st, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
this will pay off for UM
/s
April 21st, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
April 21st, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
Sounds like he fits perfectly at Michigan. What better way that have those two schools as the top two rivals
April 21st, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
If UM gets Ross and Bolden so be it. With 2011 class of D. Morgan, K. Jones, A. Poole there will be some competition soon. I'd rather have this problem with OL/DT but hell this is a nice problem to have.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:58 PM ^
But what if Ross simply decides to wait until signing day? Then, are we going to pass on a 4* in the hopes he signs with us? How many times has that worked out for us.
I think we take Bolden now if he wants. If Ross wants to come later...fine as long as we have room. Yes, I want Ross more...but no reason to burn ourselves.
I don't think there's any question that the coaches will take Bolden. The question is whether they would take Ross later down the line. He seems to want to let his recruitment play out a lot more than RJS did.
...way. Pick up all the in state 5 star talent in the spring then sit back and watch it all unfold.
Obviously there are systemic reasons why this model won't work for Michigan in the same way, but it's high time highly rated recruits were put on notice that if they want Michigan, they better choose Michigan before some other highly rated recruit takes their slot.
So, to your comment: Yes. Bird in the hand, etc.
I agree, take Bolden if he wants to come to UM. Honestly, I don't think UM will end up with Ross anyway (looks like a PSU or OSU guy to me) and you don't want to slow play Bolden for Ross on the off chance he might decide to sign with UM late in the process.
Every time I read an article about Bolden, I'm more and more impressed with him. He seems incredibly mature for his age and just strikes me as a guy that loves football and is a natural leader. It would be great to see him in Blue!
I don't see us turning Ross down if Bolden commits, then later Ross wants become a Wolverine. Go Blue!
All this is too much like the Herman's Hermits, Henry the Eighth. She wouldn't have Willy or a Sam, I'm her eighth old man I'm Henry, Henry the Eighth I am.
I think the Mike should be changed to a Henry, it all seems pretty inductive to me.