Volverine

May 8th, 2012 at 11:05 PM ^

I feel bad for him, but I can't say I'm surprised. Durability is a concern, and he's just not the same player he was since he came back from his ankle surgery. Best of luck to T-Wolf! 

MgoSuh

May 8th, 2012 at 11:10 PM ^

I've never really understood the post-draft scramble to sign a ton of players that really weren't considered draft worthy (as we saw with Shaw, Woolfolk, etc). Can anyone explain why teams sign so many of these players right after the draft then release a majority of them about a week later?

Smitdog6767

May 9th, 2012 at 1:21 AM ^

Mosly because he is 3 inches undersized. Plus he struggles with bigger DT's and isn't the best 1on1 blocker and just simply is not a good drive blocker. He will make a good backup for somebody in the right system but I don't see him rising above that, as much as it pains me to say it.

TheOnlyOne

May 9th, 2012 at 1:29 AM ^

I tend to disagree here. In a pass-happy NFL where more and more wild blitz schemes are being designed the need for an intelligent center is increasing. Molk isn't ever going to dominate the Suhs of the world, but he's going to make damn sure everyone knows who to pick up. He's an amazing leader, and that's a great attribute to have as the brain of the offensive line. He could be a 7th round steal who goes on to be a multi-year starter.

Maize and Blue…

May 9th, 2012 at 9:27 AM ^

Molk shredded his ankle before the game.  If Rocko could have snapped the ball Molk would have not even played.  The fact that Molk and RVB both played on one leg is a tribute to their toughness, determination, and heart.  Give me a little less talented player with a big heart and work ethic over a lazy more talented player any day.

TheOnlyOne

May 9th, 2012 at 6:24 PM ^

He can block in pass pro just fine, even by NFL standards. Sure, he's undersized, but he wouldn't be the first offensive lineman an NFL scout called to small or too short that ended up being a long-term starter. He's never going to pile drive NFL NTs into the ground but he'll consistently help keep his QB clean in more than one way.

burtcomma

May 9th, 2012 at 9:25 AM ^

Why was a 3 time Superbowl winning QB taken in the 6th round?

Because, just like recruiting rankings coming into college, even after 3-4 years of growth and experience and film, it is not always so easy to spot talent even for those who do it for a living!

GoBlueInNYC

May 8th, 2012 at 11:14 PM ^

What do they (teams) have to lose?

Pick up a whole mess of guys that went undrafted. Put them through camp to see if any of them look like contributors. If they (the UFAs) look good, they get a good player on the cheap. If they don't look good, the team isn't really out anything.

MgoSuh

May 8th, 2012 at 11:25 PM ^

This. Thanks for the response. I always understood the aspect of having a guy that you thought you might want to draft, but just not getting around to it, so you pick him up. But picking up several extra guys definitely makes sense, as you pointed out, since the teams really have nothing to lose. I forgot about the whole rookie camp thing, so I guess it gives the coaches an opportunity to look for diamonds in the rough.

Tater

May 8th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^

They are allowed 90 players on their roster counting unsigned, drafted rookies.  They sign a bunch of guys to have enough bodies for rookie camp and see how their draftees look, then they trim down to 90.  Some teams sign a few UFA's, but most don't sign very many.  

A team like Tampa Bay, which needs a lot of help, is signing a few.  A team like the Cowboys, who are fairly well-stocked, probably won't sign too many.  

 

Edit: this was a reply to mgosuh, and I got beaten to the punch by three posters in one minute.  Tough crowd.

WolverineJet

May 8th, 2012 at 11:15 PM ^

Because there are plenty of kids that are NFL worthy that are not drafted that you may have had a draftable grade on.  YOu try and get them into your camp so just incase you find a diamond.  There are many cases a team has thought about drafting a player on the late rounds but didnt but ended up getting the player undrafted and he makes the team.  With some players like troy they are just camp bodies to add compition during the rookie camps.

SysMark

May 9th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^

They run a brief rookie camp after the draft and need the bodies - if one of them surprises they can keep him - if not they move on.  It really doesn't hurt anyone.  The player gets a short look at what he's up against and maybe gets a chance someplace else.

ChuckWood

May 9th, 2012 at 12:50 AM ^

I'm actually surprised that they gave him a shot.  Best of luck to him and whatever he ends up doing.  When it's all said and done, this is what makes Michigan better than other schools when it comes to recruits and players.  He still has a Michigan education.  

graybeaver

May 9th, 2012 at 7:34 AM ^

He's a great kid and will have a productive life off the field.  Troy just isn't good enough to play in the NFL.  He was a solid college football player for Michigan and he should be proud of that.

justingoblue

May 9th, 2012 at 7:48 AM ^

Don't take this as a knock, OP, because I'm just in a wondering mood this morning, but when does a player go from on topic (a Michigan player) to off topic, an (NFL'er)? Is it the start of next season? Training camp? M fall camp? Never, meaning wearing that winged helmet keeps them on topic for life?

For some reason I find this question interesting at the moment.

Mgodiscgolfer

May 9th, 2012 at 7:48 AM ^

if this means his dream is over? Will he get picked up by another team hurting for safeties? Or is it over for him? I know very little about how the NFL works. I also agree ever since that damn ankle he just was not the same. It sounds like that saying is true N-F-L stands for Not- For- Long.