Where do the incoming freshmen linebackers project?
A little mental distraction from the impending Lions game. UM obviously has 4 stud linebackers in this class. Anyone know where specifically these guys project? I know Ross was told he will play weakside. It looks like Bolden and RJS are more of the MLB type (Or maybe weakside in the 4-3 under). Then what about Ringer? Does anyone project to Sam?
Go Lions.
January 7th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
Will play the sam spot. RJS and Demens at mike. Morgan will play will and don't be surprised if Ryan doesn't move to DE.
January 7th, 2012 at 5:46 PM ^
You mean don't be surprised if he does, yes? Not trying to be the grammar police but the meaning's a bit unclear based on the fact that this has been brought up before.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^
I g ess y u ca. Go a d f ck y ur lf be a se I k ow m re ab. T gr m ar th n y u -y u dickh ad!
January 8th, 2012 at 4:11 AM ^
That was a pretty reasonable question actually.
January 7th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
Ross was told to play WLB? I could have sworn he was going to be an MIKE but okay.
RJS has a huge frame but apparently hasn't been able to pack on the weight, so at 6' 2'' 225 or whatever he is, he'd probably be best at WILL. Bolden I hear is a little bit bigger at 6' 3'' so he would be great for the SAM position when Jake Ryan packs on some weight and moves to either SDE or WDE. Ringer needs to put on a lot of weight, but he's definitely a MIKE type.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^
Dick!!!!
January 7th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
Time to go take your medication
January 7th, 2012 at 9:54 PM ^
Apparently he's not the guru of polite conversation.
January 8th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
Don't question the SPREADGURU! The SPREADGURU will NOT be questioned by a mortal!
Any questioning of the SPREADGURU will resort in brutal verbal beatings with heavy use of senseless, perfunctory infanities. The SPREADGURU doesn't have time to be constructive or witty.
The SPREADGURU will NOT be sent to Bolivia. It can NOT happen.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
In an interview with Rivals a few months ago he mentioned the coaches are looking at him at WILL. It makes sense because the WILL in a 4-3 under is like an ILB in a 3-4, but he has to have more range, which he has. Some are worried he won't be able to add much more muscle to his frame, so his size and abilities project perfectly to the WILL also.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:32 PM ^
Who's at WILL? What's at MIKE?
January 7th, 2012 at 9:26 PM ^
I don't know, Strong Safety?
January 7th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
I remember hearing that he had some off the field issues in HS, were these ever said to be true or just rumors?
January 7th, 2012 at 5:55 PM ^
Whatever his off field issues might have been, they weren't enough to keep him from being an EE at Michigan. Seems he was more injured than engaging in injurious behavior
January 7th, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^
If I remember the story correctly, Ringer hurt his knee during his H.S. season. He and his family/coaches decided to shut him down so that he would still be on track to participate in spring football at Michigan. They kept it fairly quiet and some people read something else into the end of his season.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
That's true, but I also think there was something else before that. Rumor has it that Ohio didn't offer him because of something non-football related, but I don't know what it was.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:35 PM ^
That would be a shock if Ohio was that concerned about off field issues, especially something that must be relatively minor since no one can remember what it was.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:37 PM ^
Ohio didnt want him for non-football related issues. Namely, his perceived lack of interest in their program's boosters and shady hangers-on.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:01 PM ^
Bolden said Ohio didn't offer him because of his size. They told him they were looking for bigger LBs. Hard to see why they would offer Ringer if that were the case.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
Bolden is a MLB and will probably fight for 2nd string to backup Demens.
<br>Ross is a WLB
<br>Both of them could compete for playing time early.
<br>RJS I believe was pegged for MLB or SLB.
<br>Not sure about Ringer. Seems too short for SLB. If he's big enough I would think WLB.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
Yea that seems to be my general way of thinking. Bolden and Ross are set, and the other two will fall into place once they get onto campus.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
In this defense, the skillsets for MLB and WLB are nearly identical. Even moreso for freshmen, who have yet to be coached at either position. We have 4 LB recruits who will be coached as either MLB/WLB depending on their skills and possible contribution to the team. That's why I think Bolden will start at WLB despite being recruited as a MLB.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:18 PM ^
Yea. I think Bolden and RJS can end up either WILL or MIKE, but I think Bolden ends up at MIKE once all is said and done. Ross seems set at WILL. The only question is Ringer.
Whatever happens, there sure seems to be a whole bunch of depth on its way!
January 7th, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^
Ross is a WLB through and through.
RJS, Bolden, and Ringer were all told at one time that they'd be playing MLB. My best guess is that Ringer and Bolden stay inside and RJS is a SAM
January 7th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
Definitely agree with this breakdown, though I could see Bolden competing for early playing time at WLB. He played both outside and inside in the Under Armour game, and I'm not completely sold on Desmond Morgan as a long-term starter. Also, I just think Bolden is very, very good, and he's got the advantage of enrolling early.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^
I think this is pretty accurate regarding Bolden. Just like with Morgan, who projects better at MIKE, he has an opportunity to see the field early at WILL even though his skill set is geared more towards the MIKE.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^
| MLB (4 + 0) |
Jenkins-Stone |
|
I. Bell* |
K. Demens* |
M. Evans* JB.Fitzgerald |
| SLB (4 + 1) | J. Ross |
J. Ryan* |
C. Gordon* |
|
|
| WLB (5 - 0) | K. Ringer |
A. Poole D.Morgan |
M. Jones* | B. Hawthorne |
B. Herron* |
January 7th, 2012 at 6:49 PM ^
http://twitpic.com/84ivxi
posting from phone so its just a link but this is nice to see.
January 7th, 2012 at 8:51 PM ^
Thanks for sharing. Pipkins is a beast. i thought he played great today! I also didn't see Kalis or Magnuson get beat (but I didn't see every play).
January 7th, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^
was Pipkins!
January 8th, 2012 at 8:05 AM ^
Those kids will likely cherish that pic and the memories from the AAA game for the rest of their lives. Let's hope the same goes for their UM careers!
BTW, this pics should serve as a nice salve for anyone who's been alarmed about any lack of size in the UM trenches. Look at the size of OP, KK, and EM! GEEZUZ!!
January 7th, 2012 at 6:53 PM ^
They actually project to be future Big 10 Champions :)
January 7th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
Ugh. No offense, people, but here's the breakdown for the thousandth time:
Ross: WILL
Ringer: WILL
Bolden: MIKE
Jenkins-Stone: MIKE
We have not successfully recruited anyone for SAM in this class, unless a guy like Ojemudia ends up there. That's not to say that somebody like Jenkins-Stone can't play SAM eventually, but the above positions are where they were recruited.
If you need evidence that Ringer is headed for WILL, check out this quote:
"He said they see me moving to the outside and playing WILL, which is what my high school coaches are going to do anyway so I get a little preparation before I leave."
http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1213040
January 7th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
With Jake Ryan, Cam Gordon, and Brennan Beyer, we appear to be pretty deep at the SAM at this point anyway.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
So there's 3 (hopefully) more years of Ryan and then a year potentially with Beyer. Unless Beyer doesn't develop to the point where he can be a servicable starter, which is unlikely given the propensity of this staff to develop players, SAM isn't a pressing need in this class.
It should be a priority to recruit one next year though so they don't necessarily have to play an underclassman once the above players graduate.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
Ryan and Beyer are both freshman, Ryan being of the redshirt variety, so they should graduate together. There is some speculation Ryan could move to the D-line, but we have to wait and see on that one. Originally Beyer was on the D-line but ended up flip-flopping with Frank Clark. It's a fluid situation.
January 7th, 2012 at 8:03 PM ^
Right, for whatever reason I decided at that moment that Beyer redshirted, knowing fully well he played this year. Major brain fart there.
But yes, that's not completely unrealistic to see Ryan play WDE if they don't think Clark or Black can replace Roh, but at this time he's still too small for SDE at 230lbs, so hopefully Black can fill that with Clark at WDE and Ryan staying at SLB.
I'd just like to see Ryan stay at LB just because his speed can be utilized in coverage as well, but your point stands that its not going to be a weak spot any time soon, I don't think that was ever a question after Ryan's emergance as a playmaker.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
January 7th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
January 8th, 2012 at 4:20 PM ^
Things change all the time (i.e. Magnuson at guard? Huh?) That's why I asked.
January 7th, 2012 at 8:09 PM ^
how they could get cam gordon on the feild. I know he was injured and then presumably waqs outplayed for the staerting role. Just curious if any one knew what the deal was because he was apparently looking great in the spring. That being said i have not heard two words about him since spring.
January 8th, 2012 at 6:48 AM ^
He was injured to begin the season and missed a lot of practice time. He came back to play special teams, and I think he could pass up Beyer once again at SAM. I was not impressed with Beyer at all this year. I think he will be good at some point, but he's a freshman...and freshmen aren't typically very good.
January 7th, 2012 at 9:24 PM ^
Pretty sure they are going to play awesome plus a little bit more of awesome with some denarad mixed in.
January 7th, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^
having only seen that one highlight clip, i'd say bolden is more of a Will than a Mike, but who knows, these kids are still growing.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:42 AM ^
January 8th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
Looking forward to the coming years as Linebacker U.