UM Defense next year
January 19th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
That they may substitute more frequently in the SLB/spinner spot. Stevie was a unique fit for that position, and while they seem to be recruiting guys like Robinson and Furman that could eventually be three-down players at SLB, in the meantime you might see them do something like using Kovacs for running downs and bringing in a third safety for passing downs.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
I think it's odd that many on here are expecting Ezeh and Mouton to start and giving them the benefit of the doubt about their performance in 2009, while at the same time have a freshman starting over Mike Williams at safety. Williams was a first year starter in a new system; do we not think he will improve? Everyone's overhyping true freshmen, or RS freshmen while not considering that Williams was a 4-star Army All-American his senior year in HS. Perhaps, some experience in the system and an offseason to work on technique is all Mike needs.
January 19th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
While your statement is true, I think it's more about position, options, and the fact that people have sort of resigned themselves to the fact that Obi and Mouton will start because Obi and has started the previous 3 years and Mouton the previous two.
Although every position is difficult to learn, the safety has fewer reads than a linebacker and it tends to be a position where there is a higher probability a freshmen can step in and not be a complete disaster.
I also think that seeing as guys like JB Fitzgerald and Kenny Demens have been unable to supplant Ezeh, that people are less likely to think that they will now that Ezeh is a senior playing for the same DC two years in a row for the first time. Others, such as, Mike Jones and Brandon Herron, have seen walk-ons Kevin Leach and Floyd Simmons pass them on the depth chart, and that does inspire a great deal of hope for the future.
Mike Williams on the other hand, has been tried as a starter the past two years and the results have been disastrous to the point where players such as Stevie B (the safety version) Charles Stewart, and Jordan Kovacs quickly supplanted him on the depth chart. As for the 4 star All America thing, you could say the exact same of Mouton. We have other viable non-freshman options such as Vlad, and some highly regarded freshmen coming in, and I think it's time to see what they can do. Mike will get his chance, but I've pretty much given up on him being anything but bad.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
First of all, calling any of our players "a joke" is a dick move.
Secondly, Herron did get beaten out by a true freshman, but both he and Roh were rookies at the Quick position. Roh fits the position better physically. If we were still playing Shafer's defense, who knows? Maybe Herron's the starter at LB and Roh plays DE.
It's too soon to write off Herron, but yeah, he can't be considered a playmaker yet, either.
January 19th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
I like all the analysis and all the different proposed line ups. Honestly, I am just not sure how things will play out. Hopefully some guys that have redshirted will be able to contribute and the unit will be better overall. At this point, I just hope they aren't any worse then last year. It would be nice to see us get come actual linebackers in here. I think RR is trying to address some of the defensive issues in this year's recruiting class.
However, some of the guys coming in need to redshirt before they will be ready to contribute. Relying on too many true freshman on D will not help. Hopefully RR will still be around to see this recruiting class develop and contribute significantly on Defense.
January 19th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
If you have a reasonable expectation and are looking for improvement considering the consistency of the scheme for the first time in three years, young players that return, improvement in the secondary personell barring extreme attrition/injury this defense should rise from the B10 dwellar to as high as 6 or 7th with an expectation to be in the top 4 of the B10 by 2011. If this is a top 4 B10 defense in 2011 as young as it will still be with an offense that should be one of the best in the B10 you will be in the hunt for the B10 Championship, likely to beat the Bucs at home, BCS contenders and in the least a Jan.1 Bowl with a very bright future.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
Is there any way we can sneak the 280 lb DT Michael Thornton in with this class to add to the depth on the D-line?? ESPN has him listed as one of the players considering us.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
Georgia vs Penn State for Thornton unless Thornton makes a last minute visit this weekend or next weekend.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
Probably not.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
I don't know if they'll be better in '10 then in '09, but I'm not expecting much.
The dline I think could be solid. They seem to have a decent group of returning players here. The big question will be the loss of BGraham. I gotta believe that BG was the focal point of the opponents offensive planning - especially the double teams on the line...and he still had a huge year. At this point, I would think martin would probably be the one getting most of the double teams. It will be interesting to see how the dline does when the opponent doesn't have BG to focus on.
LB's - really scare me. At the end of 2008 Mouton looked like he had a bright future at UM. After 2009, who knows - his performance in 2009 didn't come close to matching what he did the second half of 2008. I hate to say it, but I've pretty much given up on Obi. The guy just doesn't seem to have the instincts to be a solid LB.
DB's - really scare me too. Woolfolk looks to be a good option at safety but then what? Floyd at one db. More then likely the other two starters are going to have a combination of being really young and lacking game time experience. There's a good chance that heading into the UConn two starters will have never played a down of college football and will not have been in the UM football program very long.
Hopefully having the same Dcoordinator will help some, and hopefully RR can get a real good LB coach. However, at this point I just see a real lack of talent and experience at the LB's and DB's and that probably won't be good.
January 19th, 2010 at 6:29 PM ^
I am tired of watching naked bootlegs turn into automatic first downs. (see: Purdue, Wisconsin games) They have got to take better angles and pursuits.
January 20th, 2016 at 2:57 PM ^
i like looking at old posts