TomVH: Just an FYI
but i'd like to give you a friendly counterpoint. Bryant might need to play right away, otherwise we'll have walkons in the 2 deep. Pace and Miller aren't really interchangable to Guard, though Guards can be interchangable to Center in a pinch. My other concern (just because it happens so often) is that one of our young Guard prospects moves to the even thinner DT rotation. If that happens, like it often can, then for the 2 Guard spots we could be looking at Omameh, Barnum, Mealer, and Bryant. Still enough for Kalis to redshirt comfortably, though he's already better than Boren was at 17 IMO. 2013 is the real problem, which is probably why I think they got so many Guards this year. It could be Bryant and Kalis, with maybe Bars and Stacey, then walkons. Still an injury away from walkons in the 2 deep.
I doubt Bryant will have to play right away, and we won't really have walk-ons in the 2-deep. Our starters will be Omameh and Barnum, Molk at center. Khoury will likely back-up all three of them, with Mealer backing him up, essentially. If Khoury goes in for Omameh or Barnum, Pace becomes the back-up center and Mealer is the next Guard in. We have 6 non-true freshmen, non-walkon interior linemen.
OL is not a group that rotates much, except for injuries. A lot of injuries would have to happen for us to play a walk-on at OG.
Also, I don't see why we would move a guard to DT. We don't have a shortage of DTs in 2011, and we're only losing one before 2012. Assuming we pick up a DT or two in this recruiting class, that won't be a problem, and it would then make the guard group tight, so there'd be no reason to do that. Washington, Campbell, Ash, Wilkins/Talbott, and freshmen will be better DTs than just about any non-starter we would move over from the OL.
2013: Center will be Pace backed up by Miller. Guards (wild guess) could be Bryant and Kalis as starters, Posada, Bars, and Stacey backing them up. That's two injuries away from a walk-on in the 2 deep. And I'm not sure why the 2-deep is that big of a concern on the OL, since that means we're 4 injuries away from a walk-on seeing the field, unless Miller can play Guard (very possible) in which case we're 5 injuries away from playing a walk-on. Not gonna lose sleep over that. And what team doesn't have problems with 5 injuries on the interior OL?
any of the current commits could slide inside without a problem. the issue is who can play tackle. i think magnuson and braden are tackles. kalis would be very good but i think he'll be a hutchinson-like guard. bars can slide either way i think and stacey is an interior lineman. in short, i think there is room in this class for a premier guard or tackle. the versatility of the current commits is a huge bonus.
As a few of you have already pointed out, too many good linemen is a problem most schools wish they had. I sure would love to see Diamond go blue, but on the other hand we added a few good ones last year and already have a few more in our sights for 2013. So instead, it might be a better use of scholarships to get a high quality fullback, dt or receiver instead? Just a thought.
And I have another question that I've not heard addressed. Are any of these 5 o-line commits possibilities to play center? Or am I just to assume guards and centers are interchangable?
Stacey's been taking some reps as a centre this offseason but is still projected to be a guard. He's the probably the most likely candidate. In any case, a centre isn't necessarily a requirement with this class. Khoury, Pace and Miller will all be on the roster in 2012 and Barnum, Mealer could also take snaps if necessary. Guard and tackle are where we're thin.
Is Stacey getting ready for the CFL?
Sersiously though, I agree that we don't really need more centers on the roster at this point. But development of a viable backup is very important, as we all saw what happened when Molk was injured.
Jack Miller from the 2011 class will be groomed at center, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll win the position.
I think it might work out best for everyone if Diamond takes his time and all three of Diamond, Banner and Garnett have a chance to make official visits. All three are studs and having them visit might help the coaches determine who is the best fit.
about Garnett and Banner. Even though OLine has the least use of a rotation of all the positions (except maybe qb) it'd be nice if we could have more than a 2 deep there for a change. Garnett would compete with Bryant maybe, but Bryant might skip a redshirt this year and Garnett could take one to put 2 years between them, while Banner would compete with noone for the LT spot. The other prospects who've committed can redshirt and take time to develop into the positions, while Banner, Garnett, Kalis, and Magnuson could make an immediate impact in the rotation.
If he is good enough to get drafted he'll find plenty of playing time in A2.
Exactly. The competition helps all players since it makes them work harder and earn a spot. This instills in them a great work ethic and their skills will be improved. In addition, if the NFL doesn't pan out for him, at least he will have a good degree from a great school.
Obviously coaches can't talk about these guys until after they have signed, but it would be interesting to know what the coaches think about each of these kids right now. Do they think one of the tackles is likely, pending how training and practices go, to move to a certain position? They can't tell the media that but they can tell the player. And we, the fans, don't really get that info unless the player or his family shares it with someone. It sucks a bit for fans, from that perspective. All would be much easier it seems if Kalis, for example, said "I enjoy playing LT but the staff has talked to me about playing (position X) and I'm excited about that, too. I just want to play at whichever spot on the line best matches my skills and can best help the school." Until someone came out and said something like that, you can't really blame someone like Diamond. I look and see 3 guys that played LT in high school and say I would rather go someplace that wants me as the LT and has other studs to play next to me and down the line rather than whoever proves to be the best LT will get it and others will either back him up or learn a different position. It makes sense. Just because a kid wants a good idea where he will play doesn't mean he's afraid of competition. I'll compete with people all the time but I would rather play next to Kalis and know that, across from Magnuson for a great line than think 2 of the 3 of us aren't going to play where we would most like to play.
but given what we already have on the OL, I am much more interested in reading that Pipkins or O'Brien has signed up.
I know people talk about the Washington guys when discussing non-Diamond options, but I still really like Bisnowaity. He's a monster and would be virtually a Diamond-equivalent at tackle. In other words, he's no CZ.
How many OL are we taking?
Could UM take two more OL?
Bisnowaty would be a nice addition to this class. Scout said he has flexibility issues and only gave him 3*, but in his video it looked like he had fairly good mobility.
Bisnowaty is also a wrestler, and that has benefits of its own. I like linemen who are wrestlers (I think we all like Mike Martin, after all), and I think that skill set gives them a huge advantage in a trench fight. Also, I think Bisnowaty might project better at guard (Diamond might actually, also) which maybe is why they want him. If he knows that, it might hurt our chances though.
Right our wrong, it seens to me that tackle has become so much more glamorous that a lot of kids would rather choose to be a tackle on a middling team or a middling tackle than an elite guard. That might enter into Diamond's or Bisnowaty's thinking.
If Diamond fills out this class great-if not im sure the coaches will be filling the OL spot with an elite player, or will be able to use it on another position. With Kalis on board I'm not stressing about Diamond.
Braden is a 6'6" borderline 3-4 star Tackle with solid fundamentals and potential to start at RT someday, Magnuson is a 6'6" borderline 4-5 star prospect who's a great run blocking Tackle with great athletecism and overpowers matchups and doubleteams but has a lot of improving to do in his pass blocking game so until he develops his talent more he's also an ideal RT, and then there's Diamond who is a 6'6" borderline 4-5 star prospect who's a good run blocking Tackle with good athletecism and can overpower matchups but has even more improving to do in his pass blocking than Magnuson so basically he's in the exact same boat as Magnuson only Magnuson is better across the board. We could use a taller pass blocking Tackle prospect instead of another tackle who'll just compete with Braden for a starting spot at this point. I was all for Diamond in the beginning but with these other prospects committed now, he's kind of redundant to this class. I think the class has filled up for Diamond just like it did for Odenigbo and Pittman.
Remember, these are the comments of Jordan Diamond's mother. If anything, she's more than likely worried cause she sees top tier guys going to Michigan, and her son, is still wanting to go there. She's more than likely just being a concerned mother, while Jordan - I am sure, was hoping that Michigan would land both Magnuson AND Kalis, among others.
He can't do it all on his own. He'll need help.
have said that it is okay for a 4/5 star recruit to look elsewhere because there is no more room for him in the class? I cannot remember one. Things have certainly turned around for UM without even one game being played.
This proves that Michigan has more to offer than any other college or university. A great football tradition, excellent academic programs, a great reputation throughout the US and the world with super networking opportunities, an excellent college atmosphere and town and the best and biggest stadium in the US. Add a coach and staff that really believes in the University and its tradition and appeal and here we are. And yes, there is always room for that 4/5 star player.
Go Blue
If he wants to compete with the guys we have, is the question. That said, I think Jordan won't be rattled by who'd be going to Michigan with him. Like I said, he can't do this alone, and having Kalis and Magnuson, among all the others, will only help make Michigan's offensive line dominant.
Hopefully this is only a concern of his mom's and not his. I know there's interest from the Big Boys out in the state of Washington but neither of them have been on campus yet. Does Jordan have a time frame on his decision? I wouldn't be surprised if he decides in the next month. With the addition of Kalis it's going to be interesting to see what kind of domino effect takes place with other recruits making their decisions sooner than they may have originally planned.
about the nature of the education he's going to be getting.