Spring Break: One Guy's Take on the Depth Chart
Nick Baumgardner over at MLive took in the Spring Game and made some initial passes at the depth chart. Spring Game and injury caveats notwithstanding, I found a couple of his takes to be interesting (concerning?).
Interesting:
Wide receiver 1. Freddy Canteen (freshman) 2. Da'Mario Jones (r-fresh.) Note: Canteen ended spring practice as a legit No. 1 outside wide receiver on the depth chart. No question about it. If he can add some weight to his 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame, he could be a difference maker.
EDIT: forgot to add why this was interesting...I thought of Canteen more in the slot vs. the outside - but clearly he has impressed!
Concerning (of concern, not regarding /s):
Center 1. Jack Miller (junior 2. Ben Pliska (soph.) 3. Patrick Kugler (r-fresh.)
Kugler all the way down at #3 (Really #4 when Glasgow returns) is a concern to me. Guy who lost his job (Miller), and a guy I've never heard of (Pliska) are both above Kugler is a shock. He later highlights that Kugler was the #2 Right Guard, but I expected Kugler to take a big step forward this year.
Thoughts?
I was really confused about Glasgow. He was playing third string RT. Is this just a message or something because of his off the field issues? Cause he's repped his entire career at the inside positions, and I would assume that they would find a spot on the inside if needed. As far as Kugler...eh, it's his first spring and he's still a freshman. We'll see how fall camp shakes out.
Also, I think Funchess is still the clear number 1 WR at this point.
Pretty sure Glasgow was the 2nd RT. And Bars was the 3rd.
For Kugler, I might not be remembering correctly but I thought was the 2nd C and Pliska was the 3rd. Might be wrong but heres how I recall the groups:
1 - Cole, Bosch, Miller, Kalis, Braden
2 - LTT, Dawson, Kugler, Kalis/Bosch, Glasgow
3 - LTT, Froelich, Pliska, Samuelson, Bars
No sign of Fox as far as I remember. I wonder if he will be working at RT or inside. Burzynski would probably be the 3rd LG over Froelich if he was healthy.
Wonder if its a indictment of Braden.
I can't remember exactly when Kugler had shoulder surgery for a torn labrumm but t takes a fair amount of time to recover from that, having had the procedure in the past myself. I'd wait until late August before I make any judgements about how Kugler is doing.
but if he's coming back you might want to get him more reps. With him being #3 behind Ben Pliska, you're not going to rep him as much or get him against the better competition on the team.
I get the injury angle though. Good point.
I'm no trainer, but would he really be on the field if he weren't 100%? I guess the idea is that he's healthy again but his development was set back by the time off--is that right?
but not in full-go playing shape. I know when I dislocated my shoulder, everything was structurally sound, I got the clearance to play, but it took a while to get back into playing in live action vs. drills. (I know CSB).
He could be lower just to get him SOME reps, but lower volume and lower competition just to get him back in the swing of things...maybe?
E.g. McGary...
sometime before fall camp last year. I'd give him another year to continue filling out and gaining strength, but he cetainly hasn't shown a reason to be overly optimistic. He was moved around pretty much at will during the scrimmage.
Two years ago as a freshman it seemed as if he had hands of glue. Now, hard to say, maybe new gloves?
is a good one too...guessing the coaches want more athleticism back there? It's only Spring though - could just be taking a flyer to see if it works out and bump him back where he belongs if it doesn't.
If they wanted athleticism, then I would think Thomas would be the guy. If he's not getting first team reps, then it probably because he's having trouble actually covering people or identifying coverages.
It's pretty clear that everyone was rotating with everyone, at least for the most part. Some units like the D-line ran with similar groups, but unless there are clear penciled-in returning starters, this happens most springs.
not in emo freakout mode - just found some oddities worth discussing. Everyone has their own picture of the depth chart in their heads, and I enjoy the back and forth discussion - especially when it's without ZOMFG! A WALKON IS STARTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Amen. I was going to try to post last year's spring depth chart but your examples listed sum it up.
this is all speculation and fun to think about - not a freak out moment.
And if you re-read what I said, it wasn't just Kugler being supplanted by Jack Miller that concerned me. It was being behind Pliska - a name I've never heard of AND who has also been on campus just as long as Kugler.
It's all good - just calm down and enjoy your day!
This is how they lined up on Saturday, NOT how he predicted them to run out against App State (good lord I'm going to hate saying "App State" for the next four months).
Por ejemplo, RJS is almost certainly not going to supplant James Ross.
Am not so sure about that... Ross isn't getting bigger and seems to get engulfed by blocks... a great player but appears too small.
Ross was the 2nd leading tackler last year, and would have been #1 on the team if not for the OSU injury. He was 1 behind Taylor. He is mid 220s lbs per the spring roster, which is about the same as RJS. For a guy who was a ghost last year (and really both years) to beat out Ross based on 15 practices would be .. pretty darn interesting. If I saw Gedeon ahead of Ross that would be one thing... but RJS has done zilch against actual competition. I know with almost no information except for the emergence of Canteen coming out of AA, we grasp at any clues but if I was coaching RJS after his first 2 years I'd also throw him out there against 1s as much as possible to see what I have as he only has 2 years left and if not now....then most likely never. If we have a true 2 deep and you don't want to count on a Ferns, RJS needs to be something this year.
In the article he mentions something about "sending a message" to certain guys (I see you there, Willie Henry), so I'm taking everything with a grain of salt.
Hey, there are only 144 days left until App State (Appy State? Cr-Appy State?) so I am already ready to obsess - even over Spring Game "depth charts". :)
Why coudn't RJS beat out Ross? They are both playing a new position so he is not supplanting Ross. And RJS is playing well enough to at least be considered ahead of Ross or at very least tied. The "best player plays" is what we hear all the time. So I don't think Ross's past success at Will or constant media hype will keep RJS from nabbing the spot if he outplays him in fall camp. But regardless of who trots out with the 1's I think we will see 6 backers constantly rotating (RJS, Ross, Ryan, Morgan, Bolden and Gedeon).
JRIII was the most productive linebacker Michigan had last year by a lot, and while this might technically be a "new" position, it's rather similar to the 4-3 Under WILL spot from which he played well the last two years. Meanwhile RJS hasn't played any meaningful snaps at linebacker.
If he outplays Ross, sure he can start. It's just that from all external indications it's pretty damned unlikely.
The WILL in the Under is quite a bit different than the SAM in the Over. They are more similar than the SAM in the Under but still different. In the Under the WILL is covered by the 3 tech and is more of an A and B gap player. The Sam in the over is going to be outside the box a lot of the time and will be more of a C gap or contain player depeding on the call.
Anyways I am not arguing how good a player he has been or that on paper he should start. I just think its less unlikely than people think that RJS could start over him.
I'd personally put 50/50 odds on RJS starting over Ross when the season starts. I'm sure they'll both play a lot anyways.
I wouldnt read too much into some of the things such as Henry or Ross. Others like as Kugler - well being behind those 2 is concerning because of the "he was ready last year" hype/coaches son/etc. But I think part of it is, some of these guys they know what they can do. Ross is a known quantity, RJS has been MIA for 2 years. So throw him out with the 1s and see how he reacts. Morgan seems like nice and all but aside from the UConn INT he has been limited in playmaking ability so maybe the coaches see more upside in Bolden and we were all excited with the little we saw out of Gedeon. Godin and Strobel have been bit players - let's see what they do against the 1's, 2's. Sadly Wormley is a "cagey vet" who actually played quality minutes versus front line starters last year at his ripe old age of RS SO...so he is a bit of a known quantity.
Glasgow as tackle however- boggling esp since you dont think he would be out there ever in a real game so why waste someone's reps who would be. Unless they are considering it...sigh.
Dymonte... man I just don't know anymore. Worried there.
This isn't all that surprising. He has repped all over the place the past couple years. Last year he was getting reps at multiple spots until he settled in at C. Hoke said something earlier in the spring about his versitility and repping some at LT as well. So if the true goal is to get the best 5 out there I think Glasgow has a legit shot of taking over RT from Braden. He has the size for RT and he has the most game experience. With Miller, Kugler and possibly the transfer from Bama they have more options at center than at RT.
The Glasgow-at-tackle thing is a real possibility. The coaches are trying to find the best combination of five players. If Lindsay comes in and takes the center job, then Glasgow could possibly play right tackle. Ben Braden hasn't played in a single college game, and Magnuson has been injured. There's not much depth otherwise. I don't necessarily think Glasgow would be the starter at tackle if everyone's healthy, but if we get Lindsay and/or if Magnuson re-injures his shoulder and/or if Braden falters, it's a possibility.
I think people need to remember that Dymonte Thomas was basically an inside linebacker in high school. Expecting him to contribute at a high level cornerback or safety at a young age is folly.
that I know squat on this. It's spring ball - I'm sure they are throwing all options out there to see what they have. Too much crystal balling.
...but THIS is something that COMPLETELY doesn't matter until the fall.
Wait til everyone is healthy and they all go through the summer workouts and fall camp. This will look completely different.
And this is coming from the guy that LOOOOOVES depth charts. And you all know that.
I don't see how someone could tell me Canteen is the #1 outside WR when he lined up in the slot during the spring scrimmage and Devin Funchess was clearly outside and Gardner's #1 target all day.Chesson was the other outside WR and Canteen was entrinched as the #1 slot. All 3 were on the field together a ton.
Anyway, I'm not going to worry about the depth chart until at least halfway through camp. And even then, unfortunately because Hoke doesn't release anything...you still won't know.
Then factor in that early non-conference games are when guys get benched for doing something dumb over the summer, coming to fall camp fat/out of shape or not playing to their abilities...and you STILL don't really get a lineup from a Hoke coached team until like Game 3.
And this is coming from the guy that LOOOOOVES depth charts. And you all know that.
I am more obsessed about "depth charts" than Mr Yost!!! /s
Kugler needs to gain weight. Webb is calling him 275 lbs. I don't know if he can be in range by fall. Mone blew him back 10 yards in one drill. I think he starts next year, but we'll see about this year.
G. Glasgow probably starts somewhere this year. If we get the transfer, then GG bumps Braden or a guard.
I think Fox was held out due to an injury, no?
I'm guessing they didn't run much with slot guys due to Fort Schembechler sensibilities. Maybe Canteen plays out wide; he looks talented.
I think RSJ is just good news. Nice to be 2 deep at all 3 lb positions.
Wow, we're deep at CB.
Optimistic about the interior of the d-line
The depth chart will change.
Like everyone else here, Kugler and Thomas are puzzling to me. Kugler may have been hurt, but Thomas is supposed to be a 5 star and he played last year, I expect him to contribute and push to start as a sophomore.
I don't think this was the author's starting line up based on performance as much as the actual depth chart based on who took what snaps during the Spring Game.
If I were doing starters based on Spring Game performance alone, on offense it would be
QB - Morris
FB - ??? (Did we even use a FB?)
RB - D Smith
TE - Heitzman
WR1 - Funchess
WR2 - Canteen
RT - Braden
RG - Kalis
C - Kugler
LG - Glasgow (I thought Bosch had a pretty rough day out there)
LT - Magnuson