SIAP - Highlights for returning Defensive players
Found a highlight video of Michigan's defensive players that are returning. It's pretty good to watch, and I'm excited about how little drop off there will be.
August 17th, 2017 at 2:17 PM ^
That's a nice collection of clips. Thanks. (Now, just waiting to see how the secondary steps up.)
August 17th, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^
That was a fun watch. Somewhat surprisingly that video got me most pumped to watch Josh Matellus. Really excited to see what can do in full time action.
August 17th, 2017 at 2:33 PM ^
Check it out at 1:50, a clip from the Maryland game. The clip shows MD putting up a 40+ yd rush on Michigan, with a TD saving tackle at the 3 or so.
That left me ... unhyped.
Overall, though, I'm feeling really good about the defense being in a "reload" mode rather than "rebuild" mode. (Less confident on the DB side, but the DBs will benefit from lots of pressure up front.)
August 17th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
over Gedeon is a net positive. Also assume that waht you lose in coverage ability from Sttriblings position, you gain in tackling ability. Hudson might be a better Viper than Peppers as well, not because he's a better athlete, but more talented athletes are able to hide their mistakes with sheer athleticism...and those who are slightly less talented may be a little mroe technically sound.
August 17th, 2017 at 3:29 PM ^
"I prefer technically sound players with limited upside over 5 star athletes who skate by on pure talent. Its far more difficult to put chips on 5 star shoulders."
-Mack Dalientoni
August 17th, 2017 at 3:47 PM ^
you could do is spell his name right.
It's Mirk Dantorio.
August 17th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
Peppers is also one of the most astonishing combinations of aggressive athleticism and game-smarts I've ever seen. He was a great decision-maker and worked hard at it, part of what made him so useful. He wasn't just skating on athleticism.
August 17th, 2017 at 5:29 PM ^
DL will have any drop off. I expect all of them to be improved from last year and that is just scary how good our starting 4 can be. Winovich may have the biggest leap and will be a bookend for Gary this year. If Mone stays healthy and Hurst improves just a little no one will run on us.
Our LB's should be very good. I too am a little worried about the secondary, but our safeties both have played and have shown some good things. The CB's are young but they have talent and hopefully with the other 9 players wrecking havoc they will be fine. I expect Brown and company will have this team clicking when they take the field and we will see no drop off from last years D.
August 17th, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^
This isn't exactly a fresh insight, but watching the video made me really stoked for the pass rush combo of Hurst + Winovich + Gary. Gonna be some antsy opposing quarterbacks this year.
August 17th, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^
I don't think it's unreasonable to say the pass rush may be better this year than last. The DL will be faster, and the LBs will too. They may not be as dominant against the run due to lower experience, but the athleticism will be improved.
August 17th, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^
A couple of notes of caution. First, the D-line doesn't have as much experienced depth this year, as you noted. Last year's experience level in the 2-deep was amazing (with the exceptional exception of Gary, of course), so it generated good pass rush even with some nominal backups in the game (especially Hurst and Gary). Second, if Winovich has learned to stay in a disciplined rush lane, this year's first-string D-line should be very good. Last year, the D-line gave up some big QB runs until Charlton returned to the lineup. Hoping the younger guys can develop quickly; if they do, then the D-line will be a terror again.
August 17th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
I think people are forgetting the negatives from Winovich from last year. hopefully he won't be a liability against the run this year. otherwise we might see him platooning with Kemp a lot.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:42 PM ^
That's a great point. I see some Brennen Beyer in Winovich; he'll do great against some of the lesser competition, but I'm fearful power run teams are going to just bowl him over.
Unless Kemp has bulked up (thanks for the updated roster, Harbaugh!) from what we see on the roster on the team's website, Kemp has 10 pounds on Winovich. I can't speak to Kemp's style of play though and whether he's measurably better against the run compared to a hopefully improved Winovich.
It's tough to really speculate about the freshmen and if a guy like Jeter or Hudson can get some plays at DE. I know Marshall was moved inside to play some 3-technique. I wonder if against Wisconsin or OSU we might see him spelling Winovich more to try to stop the power run game.
Or maybe Winovich shocks some people.
August 18th, 2017 at 12:11 PM ^
Was never a freakish athlete or much of a plus in pass rush the way Winovich is. Beyer was a poor man's Ryan Van Bergen or Craig Roh.
Winovich has the potential to be LaMarr Woodley good. A dominant pass rushing college DE who will be forced to play OLB in a 3-4 system at the next level because of his size.
August 17th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^
The refs should make more holding calls this year, there were none after week 5 or so
August 17th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^
Less experienced, yet more talented = more mistakes early on, yet more big plays (hopefully more of the latter).
Bummer we don't have great coaching... /s.
Had to bust out a calculator to figure all the time McCray and Winovich spent in the backfield.
August 17th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
was a good collection of clips, but I would have preferred if there was an interception or two mixed it, or perhaps even a batted down ball. Or really just any kind of non-special teams play that features a defensive back that remains on the team this year.
Anything? No?
K
August 17th, 2017 at 3:53 PM ^
Pretty sure I saw Vert bat one out of bounds.
Mettelus had a couple sacks during the season?
Kinnel was solid.
Limited reps equal limited results, but the talent is there.
August 17th, 2017 at 4:30 PM ^
That's what happens when you have an all new secondary. I think we'll be ok, but it is a bit scary trying to replac e Jourdan Lewis. Stribling wasn't bad either, nor the safeties.
August 17th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
I'm loving the gang tackling, we swarm to the ball now.
August 17th, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^
Just needed Mo Rubs...
August 17th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^
Bueno.
My favorite is Gary destroying Saquaon Barkley in the backfield.
August 17th, 2017 at 10:49 PM ^
Wow. So many "cackle with glee" highlights. And these were just the highlights of the guys coming back. What a defense we had last year.
Hopefully, what a defense this year. I don't think it will be as comprehensively great (hard to believe that every single new guy in the secondary is going to leap up to very good or better status at the same time with how young they are) but it will be exciting. And the DL starters might be good enough to hide a lot of shortcomings in back.