D. Morgan an ideal Fullback?
At 6'1 225 Desmond Morgan has the ideal dimensions for a future at MIKE; however, with the lack of fullbacks on the roster (0 in 2012) and his experience as a thumping running QB in high school I bet 100 MGoDollars he is our starting FB as a redshirt freshman or sophomore in 2012.
McColgan is a 5th year senior. Hopkins is a B.J. Askew 2.0 at Big Back (not a true FB). And at his recruited position, we have a 3-5 deep at MIKE. Kellen Jones is in his class and is a MIKE (possibly a WILL), Ringer and RJS are listed at MIKE (although RJS may be a SAM and Ringer a WILL), and Demens has 2 years locked at starting MIKE.
Traditionally (as in the "old days" of Carr) many LB recruits would switch to FB and vice-versa (Obi was the most recent example). Morgan seems the perfect fit for both positions -- one of which is a major need
Any legs to this assumption? Crazy stupid, or, Crazy brilliant?
April 26th, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
It seems like Kevin Jones would be a better RB. At least he had a few decent seasons for the Lions, but they probably never thought to put him at LB.
April 26th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
Corrected
April 26th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
And now that I want to edit my comment...the edit button disappeared.
It is an interesting idea, and I agree with you, I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen. Does anyone remember someone playing regularly at both FB/LB? I imagine this doesn't happen as much as playing more "skilled" positions such as WR/CB.
April 26th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
Owen Marecic of Stanford started at both positions last season.
April 26th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
I recall watching him intercept a pass last season then turn around and punch it into the endzone on offense a few seconds later. Sign me up for a couple of guys like Marecic, please.
what happened was he punched it in from short distance as a FB and on the next play (after the kickoff) he intercepted a pass and ran it in for a touchdown
Ah, thanks for the refresher. The guy's a game-changer.
April 26th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
after the past 3 years that there is a "Full Back" position that you speak of
April 26th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
but I think the LB corps is in much more critical shape than fullback. And by that I mean while there are may bodies, there are still many question marks.
Also, Michigan is getting a walk-on fullback this year in Joe Kerridge from Traverse City. He blew out his knee at the beginning of his senior year so he went lightly recruited.
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4619585
Here is his junior film. If he can recover from his knee surgery, I think he can find some serious playing time at UM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwee4CI2-cM
April 26th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
Tommy want Fullback...
+1 and thanks for the chuckle. +100 if I could.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
I agree that M has more needs at LB than FB now, but I would go further and argue that LB is a far more critical position than FB in general. I could see moving Morgan if he's buried on the depth chart at the end of spring of his 3rd year in the program (after his redshirt freshman year), but otherwise I don't think it's worth hurting the development of a potential starting LB.
April 26th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
April 26th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
How about Jordan Morgan blowing holes through lines?
April 26th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
That would be a slam dunk!
April 26th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
A foot sounds like a little bit too much to have his spine compacted.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
I'm just so thrilled someone put together a predicition that actually makes sense. He put together all the data and submitted something outside of the mainstream thought that makes you think a little bit. I think you may be right.
Well done.
Now can we please get back to getting Denard his reps at CB or that 2 QB system where we have both qb's on the field at the same time.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
I would think that Denard would get future reps at RB, before he does at CB. With the success NFL RB Chris Johnson has had, doesn't Denard have the similar running skill set and body-type ?
I would not be surprised in the least that we will see in 2012, Gardner at the helm, handing off to Denard.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
But he may have more upside at LB.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
I don't know if it's crazy brilliant, because it's been brought up about a dozen times before...
...but sure, maybe it could happen.
April 26th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
Magnus tells how it is. I love it. Sugarcoatin' nothin!
April 26th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
I think it's too early to call Hopkins B.J. Askew 2.0. I see the "tweener" similarities, but, as much as I like Hopkins as a player (high-character sort and all that), he doesn't look like a future NFLer to me. Not yet, anyway. I don't see enough fast-twitch/explosiveness.
April 26th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
I like Morgan at Mike and think that Kerridge will be a force at FB. That said we could use more depth at the position, and there was a thread some months ago about moving Isaiah Bell there. I thought it was an interesting idea at the time and it's even more intriguing since he did not surface in the Spring Game and has received little if any mention by the coaches. This despite the starting Mike being out and not much other competition. Bell was a very atheletic safety in HS and has both speed and size. The lingering question is whether he has the desire to make it as a division I player - or perhaps he just has not developed.
April 26th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
he could easily be like that dude at stanford. blond mullet guy
April 26th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
Although I would have to say Moundros was the most recent example... not Ezeh
I heard(another WO players father) that Desmond met with Mattison already. He told him he was targeting him at WIL. All I know is that kid knows how to hit and will arrive as one of the smartest & most coachable players on the roster.
I've love to see him play FB, because whatever linebacker was standing in the hole would get everything Des has everytime.
I seriously just proposed this same idea yesterday to a friend, and its not a bad one. As much as I'd love to see him smashing heads from the LB position, after watching him play QB all last season there were plenty of chances to see him running the ball and blocking. More than once he pounded out the yards with two or three defenders on his back, and he can deliver quite the knock out punch block. I believe Andrew Hawken, another west Michigan product (Grandville) played some of both for the Spartans a couple years back.
I dont think you're crazy at all. I commented a similar theory on the 'hello: kaleb ringer' post...Hoke's emphasis on a fullback begs the notion of one of these surplus of linebackers embracing the coaches passion for the resurgence of Michigan smashmouth football. It's refreshing to see we all on this site are on board (despite most of our disdain for the hire) like we were for RR, regardless of those who said the tradition was lost in him. By default, Hoke's vision is our vision.
No.
I've seen Morgan play in high school, and he never was a blocker in any sense as he played quarterback. Maybe as a fullback that carries the ball, but he'd have to see a lot of development as a blocker for him to sniff the field. he's a way better linebacker IMO.
would play the fullback position. In my opinion.