ReggieNoble04

June 23rd, 2011 at 2:46 PM ^

great to hear TWolf is feeling 100% healthy, hopefully the angry hating secondary gods hover over south bend or columbus this year... 

Six Zero

June 23rd, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^

Not looking back, and not looking for pity...

"This injury was a blessing in disguise because I've got one more year, everybody's gotten that much better and I think we're going to have a more productive year," he said. "I can't wait. I remember telling myself if I get a chance to come back, I've got to give it my all."


Almost a sin to read this so far away from opening day... gettin' too amped up ovah here!

 

jg2112

June 23rd, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^

Hey - get this for a concept in 2011:

Every player on the defense, other than Big Will, will either be a returning starter, or will be a player who ascended to the top of the depth chart by outplaying a returning starter (I'm looking at you, Marvin Robinson). What a fabulous concept.

jmdblue

June 23rd, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^

Dude was a baller from day 1.  Prime example of rivals, scout et al just plain missing on their rankings.  Glad to have him back at 100%

jg2112

June 23rd, 2011 at 3:36 PM ^

He didn't see the field because Donovan Warren and Morgan Trent were in front of him. That's not unreasonable. At most major college programs, highly talented upperclassmen do play in front of highly talented underclassmen.

You can't overrate Woolfolk. The 2009 defense absolutely fell apart once Woolfolk was moved to cornerback to cover for Cissoko's implosion.

A 2011 rotation at CB of Woolfolk, Avery, Talbott, Countess and Brown (maybe Floyd too) will do a very good job, IME.

jmblue

June 23rd, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^

In his first two years, Woolfolk wasn't even seeing the field in nickel/dime situations, so I'm not sure how he was a "baller from day 1".  There was no buzz around him.  Besides, Trent had an awful season in 2008 - he didn't exactly nail that position down.  

I'm not sure how much Woolfolk's move actually weakened the defense in 2009.  He didn't make many plays as a free safety.  He was basically AWOL in the ND game when Jimmy Clausen picked apart our corners.  Everyone ripped on Cissoko for his performance, but he needed safety help on some of those deep balls, and it never came.  The "collapse" of the D following Woolfolk's position switch neatly corresponded with an upgrade in the quality of the rest of the schedule.  He played safety against WMU, ND, EMU, Indiana and MSU.  He played corner against Iowa, Delaware St, PSU, Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue and OSU.

Having said all that, I agree that he's a decent player and can add some veteran leadership to the secondary.  He's not just the superstar that he suddenly became in fans' eyes after he got injured.   

 

 

Bodogblog

June 23rd, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^

He's an above-average B1G corner who upgrades the position substantially from last year.  It gives Countess (and others) a year to mature, and the whole leadership thing.  And he has potential to be better than above-average.

Though I do think you're right, we've hyped his ability over the last year. 

Blue in Yarmouth

June 24th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^

I have said this is a few threads as well and agree totally. Ever since he got injured people make out like he was this lockdown corner before he got hurt. He is certainly an upgrade from what we had last year but he isn't (and wasn't) a superstar corner (or safety). He will be our best option, but let's not forget who the competition is.

I think on the whole, the unit will be much better than last year. Let's stick to reality and not thrust unreasonable (or fantasized) expectation on Woolfolk or we will be pretty disppointed when he hits the field this year.

ken725

June 23rd, 2011 at 3:52 PM ^

This just shows how hard of a worker he truly is.  From all accounts the injury was pretty horrific and I'm really glad that he is back to full health.  We need his senior leadership on this pretty young defense. 

yoopergoblue

June 23rd, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^

He posted on his twitter feed last week that he hasn't been this excited about his team's potential since he was a freshman.  I think the team is really putting in the work this offseason and there is alot of enthusiasm in the air in Ann Arbor this summer!

markusr2007

June 23rd, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^

Here's to the Angry Michigan Secondary-Hating God taking a long, well-deserved vacation to the planet Hoth or Tattooine...anywhere but Ann Arbor, Michigan, planet Earth! Thank you.

BTW Columbus is a fantastic vacation spot, Mr. AMSHG.