Woolfolk back to corner. Maybe.
Woolfolk practiced at corner on wednesday. I suggested this a week or so ago and someone jumped all over me saying that wouldn't happen. Well it may
www.annarbor.com/sports/wednesday-practice-update-is-troy-woolfolk-the-…
October 7th, 2009 at 8:30 PM ^
I trust the coaches to put the best configuration out there possible.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
but it seems like it would be plugging one hole and opening another. If Williams and Kovacs were the starting safeties, we wouldn't have much speed back there at all.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:33 AM ^
Would it be though? Could it be feasible to slide Williams over to Free and keep Kovacs at Strong?
Is Williams slow?
October 8th, 2009 at 7:09 AM ^
He projects to FS or DB with a 4.5 40
http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=8&c=1&nid=1758520
October 7th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
maybe they'll try one of floyd or cissoko at saftey if woolfolk comes out on top for a corner spot. I don't if it'll really hurt moving these guys around. Its not like the secondary has been great (save Warren). Maybe it'll help, but I really doubt it'll hurt as bad as its been
October 7th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
Looks like Rittenberg noticed the same
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten
October 7th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
Maybe they throw Vlad back there? Seeing is how his redshirt is burned already. Woolfolk and Warren at corner, Williams and Kovacs/Vlad at safety.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
IIRC, he hasnt played any safety this season, even in garbage minutes. all he has played is special teams. so barring some major improvement this week, i dont see him getting the nod against the best team we've seen so far.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
Maybe this ensures that Floyd would move to safety as Magnus has been saying he will be in the future.
So this basically means we will probably see Vlad as a safety this year.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:11 PM ^
if Emilien plays at least 3 quarters against Delaware State to get him prepared to contribute the last few games of the season in certain situations.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
Aren't big enough to play safety, IMO
October 7th, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
Umm, you don't have to be big to play safety. Bob Sanders is probably the best safety in the NFL, and he is 5-8.(when healthy)
October 7th, 2009 at 8:51 PM ^
He shrinks when he gets sick?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:28 PM ^
"I was in the pool, I was in the pool"
October 7th, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
Seinfeld always = +1
October 7th, 2009 at 8:44 PM ^
is actually just as big, if not bigger than Woolfolk. He just happens to be the slowest CB in modern history
October 7th, 2009 at 8:46 PM ^
But at FS is size as important as SS? What is Woolfolk playing at?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:11 PM ^
FS are generally faster deep backup types while SS are generally slightly bigger for run support.
We've been playing Woolfolk in the FS role and Kovacs in the SS role.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:43 PM ^
in Woolfolk's missed tackle at the end of the game, but I think the picture in this article tells the whole tale.
On any given play, Woolfolk makes this tackle. Unfortunately, this was not any given play. This was a desperate play with the offense having come up short in OT, and MSU well within chip-shot-victory range. And desperate plays call for desparate measures.
I think Woolfolk was gambling more than a little bit here, knowing that nothing short of a turnover will give the team a realistic shot at victory. In the picture, it looks to me like tackling is a distant second option on Woolfolk's mind.
On any given play, Woolfolk makes this tackle. Unfortunately, this was not any given play. This was a desperate play with the offense having come up short in OT, and MSU well within chip-shot-victory range. And desperate plays call for desparate measures.
I think Woolfolk was gambling more than a little bit here, knowing that nothing short of a turnover will give the team a realistic shot at victory. In the picture, it looks to me like tackling is a distant second option on Woolfolk's mind.October 7th, 2009 at 8:46 PM ^
This comment should be a board topic I enjoy it so much.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:48 PM ^
While I see what you are saying, the need to make that tackle and force MSU to make the FG (on a wet surface mind you) should have been the play. Swenson is a real good kicker, and probably makes it, but we would have forced them to MAKE PLAYS.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
over a sure tackle. If memory serves, Troy made contact about the 18, which would have resulted in a 35 yard attempt had the tackle been successful. As you can see, he attempted high, rather than going lower and wrapping up.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
on Woolfolk's mind:
Damn my injured shoulder hurts.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
have been a thought in his head. But it was a really bad one. First guy always wraps/holds up and 2nd and so on go for the strip. Trying to force the fumble there doesn't excuse him from missing the tackle. It might be more a matter of having an injured shoulder than going for the strip as well.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:52 AM ^
great observation. My initial thought right before the TD play was we already lost the game. The FG was indeed a chip shot for an All American FG kicker. Woolfolk was likely going for the strip and hoped he had someone to back him up on the play.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:48 PM ^
Tory Woolfork, son of great Michigan RB Bruce Woolfork, may be switching positions ...
Almost threw my shoe at the t.v. when he said it the third time ...
October 7th, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
Did he really say "Bruce" or was that a joke?
October 7th, 2009 at 9:25 PM ^
he seems capable of it, no?
October 7th, 2009 at 9:10 PM ^
What drove me crazy is that BOTH commentators called him "woolfork". Damn BTN.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:55 PM ^
Selective Dyslexia?
October 7th, 2009 at 11:21 PM ^
Maybe the commentators know that "Woolfolk" is usually pronounced "wool-fuck" and made the mistake on purpose so that they wouldn't have to use that ugly last syllable.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
That could be one of the stupidest reasons I have ever heard for a commentator screwing up a name. I'll stick to the "BTN commentators don't put in the time and effort that they should to prepare to call games."
October 7th, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
jackson started at corner, then moved to safety and then back to corner. so it can happen. if any thing troy will bring a little more speed to that spot.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
Except Woolfolk has been our best safety. The only times he has come under the eye have been in man coverage, which I believe is more of a cornerback thing.
I mean, really?
I think Kovacs showed he can play a hell of a game against the run, and that could help against Iowa, but I don't imagine him ever being anything other than a liability in coverage.
I trust Robinson to know what he's doing.
But...really?!?October 7th, 2009 at 9:09 PM ^
It implies someone who hasn't shown anything so far has come on at safety. I have no idea who that would be.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
Whatever happened to Van Slyke, wasn't he the walk on de jour?
Also, it could be Justin Turner. Safety is a easier position to pick up, and speed will compensate for some initial read errors.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:34 PM ^
i think it's harder than corner. and i really doubt van slyke has the wheels to play safety. i don't think we're going to see a sudden influx of talent, but i'm sure GERG and company are going to think of different ways of disguising their coverage. leveraging woolfolk's corner experience may be part of that. opposing coordinators are abusing our flats and middle. devising some counter would be a good thing.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:37 AM ^
based on this possible position change, I think it would take injuries to both Warren and Floyd for Turner to have his redshirt burned this year.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
I'm very concerned about Woolfolk staying healthy, just because he's been the safety net from the big play. BUT I love the idea that Gerg & co. are willing to re-evaluate and consider the tools that they have available, and hopefully find the best way to win every Saturday.
Expect the announcers to have a field day with this if and when it happens.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
Woolfolk hurt his shoulder early in the game and clearly aggravated it after he collided with Warren after the 2nd INT, I'm assuming it played a role in his tackling ability late in the game. Sucks that he missed the tackle but at that point they were close enough for a FG anyway...
October 7th, 2009 at 9:17 PM ^
I like the idea of shaking things up in general - I'm sure woolfolk has the confidence to get the job done at corner.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^
We haven't been getting burnt like last year.
Troy recovers distance impressively (even if he didn't make the tackles.)
I would hate to have that speed locked into the weak side corner. Is Williams that fast? Van Slyke is not.
That said...something has to be done. Floyd is not ready, Cissoko has confidence issues at this point at the least. GERG is nothing if not creative. If this would allow the secondary to play honest and get Ezeh and Mouton to start hawking the ball...I'm for it. I don't think we can blitz Kovacs (as much) in Iowa town. They've seen that by now.
Change is good.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:44 AM ^
I think Iowa is the game with which to try Woolfolk out at that CB position. Had Woolfolk been on the Sparty receivers those bubble screens would not have been available in the first half and "The Drive" may not have occurred.
The possibilities of the switch are intriguing, especially against the power rushing teams Michigan has coming up on the schedule. Iowa's going to run their power running game, and that'll place Kovacs nearer the line in run support, what he's really good at. On the backside, if Warren and Woolfolk can shut down Iowa's two decent WRs, and if Brown can cover the TE, coverage ought to be good because Iowa, frankly, runs a boring offense. And, if Iowa tries to surprise and break out additional wide receivers, Floyd or Cissoko can be used in a nickel formation, as opposed to covering a primary receiver, and can probably be more effective than being out on an island.
I agree with what someone else said here though - if they feel they can move Woolfolk, let's hope this means someone else, namely Emilien, is on the verge of contributing. I think we'll get a better answer of this in the Delaware State game, but let's hope it works Saturday, because the short passes to Floyd's side, and the lack of pressure/QB runs, were really all that bothered me defensively from last Saturday.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
we can start to see more of a nickel package if they move Woolfolk to CB. I think Cissoko would do a fine job being a nickel corner.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:46 AM ^
I think that would be a good way to help repair his confidence. Using him and Floyd in the nickel position would make each of them more effective.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:47 AM ^
guy on the slot receiver much of Saturday, he didn't get torched but he didn't really step up and make plays either. MSU got some yards from his guy.
...Of course he was 15 yards off his guy but thats a different story.
A full season with Kovacs on the field full time makes me nervous, he seems good in run support but in the open field his speed (or lack of) is a major liability.
On the other hand, Floyd isn't exactly a burner. Perhaps the coaches feel more comfortable with some speed at corner vs what appears to be much improved Iowa receivers corp.
This may be a one game thing, maybe not we'll see. But man do we need help at safety.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:01 AM ^
Les Miles would have known to keep him at corner.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:06 AM ^
Just imagine the commentary!
"Woolfolk just forked that guy!"
...or would that be "Wolfork just folked that guy"?
October 8th, 2009 at 6:48 AM ^
Why does UM never hit anyone??? Having rewatched the State game a few times, I've noticed UMs receivers getting popped pretty good a few times. Koger a couple times, Brown got leveled.... Why do we never see hits like this from our secondary? Is it scheme?
October 8th, 2009 at 7:54 AM ^
I dunno, maybe Michigan is taught not to tackle with their helmet.....
