Year 2 jump for the back 7?

Submitted by michman79 on

Heading into next year, I am very optisitic about our DL. Everyone rags on the defense this year (and rightfully so). I believe they are significantly worse than last year's defense. Statistically, they may not be as bad as 2008, but I believe 2008's defensive statistics were as much the inept offense's fault as their own.

I do think the DL is a bright spot. I see Roh adding some pounds and becoming a great player. RVB and Hulk are also going to be studs. Hopefully Big Will and Lalota will also develop and become consistent contributors.

I feel very confident that the offense is only going to get better as well.

Obvious statement of the day-So basically, Michigan needs to sure up the back 7 on defense as the major off-season point of focus. With all the young guys getting valuable playing time experience, is it unreasonable to presume they will at least become a serviceable/average group? I would also think a lack of depth may help recruiting (the possibility of early playing time may entice some big recruits?).

I have to believe there will be a significant jump in performance with another off-season, another year in GERG's system, and hopefully so more competition at each position.

Korean Wolverine20

November 14th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^

DL- Will Campbell will have experience and some technique under his belt so we should see him starting or having a significant amount of PT. RVG is solid and I personally think he should move to BG's spot, but the GERG is smarter than me so I won't question him. Roh is monster and will be a pass-rushing terror at Michigan... hopefully... Mike Martin should get faster, stronger, better, and be a bit bigger by next year. Bottomline, the DL will probably, once again, be the strength of this defense. If only BG was a jr or a rjr right now :(

LB- Well... Our best LB is graduating and Obi and Jonas are... questionable... They definitely didn't progress like we thought they would and well... I have doubts... But thinking happy thoughts, Obi and Jonas may progress and be the LB's that we want them to be...

S- Can't get any worse... Hopefully Marvin Robinson/Vlad/Woolfolk/Smith/Kovacs/Someone steps up and does a serviceable job next year...

CB- I can see this group improving. Hopefully Warren comes back and covers everything in sight for his senior season. JT Turner will probably get the other starting job, depending on whether or not Woolfolk goes back to safety. Then (hopefully) Cullen Christian/Grimes/(Insert CB recruit)/JT Floyd fills in nicely at nickelback.

So to answer the original question... Yes. I do think that the back 7 will be better than this year's back seven because we'll have more depth, experience, and another year of Greg Robinson's system so we won't have to play the vanilla scheme that we're playing right now. Also, with better safety play, we'll be able to press with Donovan Warren and the other CB and, hopefully, take away those quick 4-8 yd passes, disrupt the timing between the WR and the QB, cause some hell for offenses next year, and FUCK.SHIT.UP. If only, If only...

SysMark

November 14th, 2009 at 10:19 PM ^

There should be a major improvement in the back 7, with both experience and an infusion of new talent. Sometimes it can all gel at once.

I am an eternal optimist

bronxblue

November 14th, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^

Continuity is sometimes underrated by fans, but having the same defensive system for two years in a row may lead to some distinct improvements. People say that guys looks lost out there, and while I think part of that is talent, part of it is also trying to forget the defenses you learned the last few years while also picking up the nuances of the current one. Another year certainly cannot hurt even with the loss of Graham on the line, and maybe, just maybe, a return to mediocrity on defense will occur.

As Brian mentioned on the podcast this week, even a return to mid-70s ranking on D would be huge for this team. The average team in college football gives up around 22 points a game. Imagine where this team would be with even that type of defense.

BlueintheLou

November 14th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^

What was the initial opinion of Brandon Smith's play today? He didn't seem to be too terrible. Better than Leach. Obviously, that roughing the punter sucked, but overall positive upside?

michman79

November 14th, 2009 at 11:50 PM ^

I thought he did a decent job. He did look a little tentative in run support on a few plays but overall, definitely wasn;t any worse. He seems like one of those guys that has a nose for the football and I am rooting for him.

JC3

November 15th, 2009 at 2:06 PM ^

The coaches have been trying to find a position for him. I know he's bounced between LB and Safety a few times, and add to that fact he's still fairly raw won't help things. Still, I thought he played fairly well, especially when he was brought off the edge on blitzes.

Ben Mathis-Lilley

November 15th, 2009 at 2:24 PM ^

Seems like it has a better chance at improvement than the LBs. Let's say Kovacs moves to SLB (stevie's spot); I'm not an expert but it seems like his tackling ability and relative lack of speed would make him good for that position. And Warren coming back seems more probable at this point. So you could probably have Warren and Turner at CB with Woolfolk at deep safety and Smith at the "eighth man in the box" spot. Then you'd have Floyd, Vlad, Mike Williams, and (hopefully) Christian, Grimes, and one more four-star safety recruit as backups/competition. That, to me, doesn't seem SO horrible.

Obi and Mouton backed up by Fitzgerald, Leach, Demens, and maybe one recruit - much less promising in my mind.

JC3

November 15th, 2009 at 2:45 PM ^

If Kovacs moved to Stevie Brown's position he'd be covering slot receivers. Sad face. And your forgetting Adrian Witty. The coaches were very high on him and I think he'll at least be a solid depth player next year.

Oh, and I suppose Thomas Gordon will factor in at safety depth, which will help. He's just like Smith, a high school athlete who moved to a new position, needs time to grow.

Ben Mathis-Lilley

November 15th, 2009 at 6:49 PM ^

But it would be better than having him trying to stay with outside burner WRs in the deep zone. I imagine that he'd be covering the short zone and that if it was a man scheme he'd be matched up with a TE or RB with one of the safeties taking the slot.

Plus there's a possibility that we'll use a nickel scheme more on third downs after Stevie leaves.

ken725

November 15th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^

I'm not sure if he is still at the WR position, but there were talks of him contributing as a LB.

Also Isaiah Bell and Mike Jones can step in and play Stevie Brown's position. Also have not heard much, but Floyd Simmons is the two deep at the position as well.