What we now know, effect of practice on recruiting,
As with anything comes the good with the bad. I am excited about our reported progress, but am left with a few questions:
1) Emergence of Kelvin Grady- Absolutely awesome, so glad for the kid and the team. Now we are really back to the "what do we do with all these slots?" question when looking at the current group and incoming class. I would gladly trade an incoming slot for another CB to move Teric back over.
2) Troy Woolfork- It took this long to try him at safety? He played some in HS and he is looking good as well. Maybe he needed that extra year to grow into his body, but damn, would have been nice to try him out last year in the position. I feel that is a miss by the Defensive coaches.
3) Brandon Herron- Honestly, he probably needed the GERG to unleash him since I was not sure he was ever going to find a place. However, this is interesting (assuming he works out) since Wilkins would be close in measured ability and Paskorz much slower (at least in reported time) to be able to play that position. Assuming Herron is the right fit, it seems like the kid from Houston (with the long name) would have been the right guy assuming we would have moved from LB. Wilkins might grown out of the Quick, not sure.
Interesting stuff, just can't wait to see it come together.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:05 PM ^
There is no such person as Troy Woolfork.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:20 PM ^
I knew I wouldn't be the only one to notice that.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
and the other not?
09 Pittsburgh Scout Combine:
Jordan Paskorz
6-4/223
4.74-40
34" VJ
Kenny Wilkins
6-3/222
4.74-40
32" VJ
August 21st, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
One is white, i.e. gritty. The other is black, i.e. athletic. No sugarcoat.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
While I realize these times come from a combine and are more likely far more accurate, alot of people probably also have the perception that Wilkins is faster because Rivals has him listed as a 4.61 and Paskorz as a 4.9, and while many people may realize the times are likely fake, the initial impression they generate might stay.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
What do we do with all these slots? Pretty simple. We sign the ones that actually end up committing like they say they will, and watch one or two transfer when they realize they're not going to see much, if any playing time.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:33 PM ^
excessive transferring isn't a great recipe for long term success.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:44 PM ^
Who said anything about "excessive". One or two guys. You make it sound like we've got 35 scholarships invested in slots.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
We talk a lot about the Pahokee pipeline, but we could potentially have 3 starters from Dulles HS in Sugar land, Tx
August 21st, 2009 at 6:14 PM ^
I really like the guys we have at slot this year. I do agree though it's going to be interesting to see how much playing time can be shared between all the guys we got there.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:24 PM ^
is becoming an afterthought at the slot. Odoms, Grady, Gallon...lots of potential there. But Robinson is a freshman still. Heck, all 4 of those slots are underclass. This is exciting!
August 21st, 2009 at 6:56 PM ^
Initially, I had no problem with Rodriguez recruiting so many slot receivers for next year; now, with lots of talent at the position (albeit largely unproven talent), I wonder if RR is second guessing the need at the position. Odoms and Grady both have 3 years of eligibility left, I believe. Roundtree, Gallon, and Robinson each have 4.
And I think RR moved Teric Jones to DB partly out of need and also partly because he realized there is a bevy of talent at slot, especially with the surprising practice play of Grady.
The slot should be a position of great strength over the next few years. RR and the staff have done a great job recruiting and building depth for an essential role in the offense.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^
has anyone heard anything at all about how Jeremy Gallon is doing in practice?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:54 PM ^
In one of the player interviews (Matthews?), when asked if anyone was standing out in practice he said; the freshman #6 was doing "real good".
August 21st, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
Gallon is #3.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a couple more slot recievers move to the other side of the ball. It seems like quite a few recruits played on both sides of the ball in HS, so it isn't much of a stretch to envision a few going back to defense after a year or so in the program.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:00 PM ^
The problem is that several of these slot guys wouldn't have a defensive position. You can only have so many 5'8" corners before the lack of size starts to kill you.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:04 PM ^
Platform cleats.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 AM ^
The ideal situation is that Michigan is loaded at the slot position so that incoming freshman can all redshirt. Unfortunately Michigan is in a situation where those freshman are needed to step right in and play. A top program (which Richrod is building) shouldn't have to depend so heavily on freshman.
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:52 AM ^
I'd agree, but with the skill position guys, freshmen seem to be able to come in and succeed. As for slot--Catch Ball. Run. Fast. Their biggest weakness would obviously be blocking or breaking off routes, but I still don't worry about freshmen at those positions.
I really feel Odoms had a solid year and wonder why people might criticize him. Even in punt returning, he seemed to improve, and scored a TD on one against Purdue. I believe Odoms is going to benefit greatly by having QB's who can hit him with catchable passes in stride.
Unless he has had a poor showing so far in practice, he'll be The Slot guy and I think he will have a much better season and a big impact this year.