Jake Ryan: Big 10 Defensive Player of the Week

Submitted by StephenRKass on

Jake Ryan has been chosen as the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Week, the first of what I expect to be many such honors in his career.

Link:  http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101512aaa.html

Great honor for a sophomore LB. Here are a few quotes:

Ryan tied a career high with 11 tackles, including seven solo, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

Ryan paces the Wolverines in 2012 in total tackles (42), solo stops (26), tackles-for-loss (7.5), sacks (2.5) and pass breakups (3), already setting career marks in tackles, stops for losses and pass breakups.

With 2 1/2 years remaining, Ryan has tremendous potential to end up as one of the best linebackers ever to play at Michigan.  His ability to play on the line, to cover receivers, and to blitz and cover ground sideline to sideline give Michigan a huge advantage. He will only get better with more experience under Mattison.

Darth Wolverine

October 15th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^

Jake is by far my favorite defensive player. I'm really hoping to find a number 47 Jake Ryan jersey for next year.

Needs

October 15th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^

Would love to see Mattison experiment with Ryan using the blitz that Clay Matthews ran last night, where he shuffles from outside the tackle down to the C-G gap just before the snap.

Needs

October 15th, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^

That was more of a post-snap stunt/twist with an interior lineman. In Matthews' blitz, he shuffled down the line pre-snap and hit the C-G gap right at the snap. GB was running a three man line, which we rarely rush from, so it might not translate. 

But you are right that he caused a bunch of chaos coming up the middle, and did last week as well. I think his big 3rd down hit on Mavre came on the same call.

 

FreddieMercuryHayes

October 15th, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^

Too bad we sub so much; he probably isn't going to have the raw numbers of Mauti or Borland, so he probably won't be in consideration for defensive POTY. But who knows, if he keeps up the explosion, he'll be a front runner next year.

FreddieMercuryHayes

October 15th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^

His plays make a huge impact, but he just doesn't have the stats, which is what the press looks at for such awards.  The B1G leader in tackles has 78, and second is 72.  Ryan only has 41 tackles.  I think we sub too much for him to put up monster stats.  Maybe he'll get more time on the field as the year goes on, but as long as there are viable back-ups, Mattison has shown he likes to sub with impunity.

Swazi

October 15th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^

He'd look amazing in Black n Gold :)

Seriously though, hope he does use up all eligibility. I just think after next season he's a first round lock, especially if he improves on what he's done this season.

State Street

October 15th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^

Who has the better story - Jake Ryan or Kovacs?  Most will probably say Kovacs, and it's hard to argue with that, but Jake Ryan was a guy picked up late in the recruiting game when RR missed on some higher targets, who was expected to barely contribute on defense.  He now looks like a first round draft pick and a bonafide NFL starter.  I'm gonna give the nod to him.

StephenRKass

October 15th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^

Two of my nephews played for Cleveland St. Ignatius, Jake Ryan's school. One of them overlapped a bit with Jake. Several years ago when he committed, they talked about what a good one Michigan got. At that time in 2010, there was another LB from Ignatius who got more publicity who went to Ohio. As it turns out, Ryan had been injured while at Ignatius, so he flew below the radar. He also grew more than expected. While RR made many mistakes, I am really glad that Ryan redshirted in 2010. I've been watching and waiting, and this is exactly what I expected. And if I recall correctly, the LB who went to Ohio got injured, never panned out, and is now off their roster.

One side benefit:  Ignatius is another football factory. Having Ryan on Michigan's roster can't hurt as our staff consider recruiting other players from Ignatius.

no joke its hoke

October 15th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^

congrats to Jake and the rest of the defense. funny thing is,i was talking up the defense after the game saturday and my buckeye friends were telling that ohio has the best defense in the big ten. whoops there's Indy hanging 50 on the bucks.

justingoblue

October 15th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^

got a text during the Nebraska game saying something like "OSU is going to lock down Denard this year, you better be ready". This, of course, is a worse version of the defense that allowed him to rush for 170 and pass for 9.8YPA. Even with the evidence right in their faces, a lot of them don't seem to realize that James Laurinaitis and AJ Hawk aren't lining up on their D.

Needs

October 15th, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^

Even if you go to the more relevant yards per play (which removes the tempo issue) OSU is still 9th in the Big 10, ahead of only Illinois, Indian, and Purdue, giving up 5.6 yards per play.

(MSU is 1st in the league, at 4.2 ypp, we're 2nd at 4.3, and are at 3.5 over the last 3 games, which would have us 3rd in the nation behind only Alabama and LSU).

TdK71

October 15th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^

All-American next year... I've been saying it to anyone who would listen since last year the Kid's a baller.

He's always around the football and he finds ways to make plays. Plus he's got a name tailor made for football Jake Ryan!

Skiptoomylou22

October 15th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^

He should cut his hair. He obviously doesn't understand what white linebackers do these days. PLUS, as a hockey player, that flow is wonderful. Salad like that doesn't grow on trees.

AA2Denver

October 15th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^

I remember reading a lot of great things about him when he signed. Strangely the sites loved him in articles, but the love wasn't reflected in rankings and offers. A classic example of a player being overlooked because of his teammates, i.e. Channing Stribling.

LSAClassOf2000

October 15th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^

This is great recognition for Jake, for his production on defense has been prolific and timely this year, complete with two games with 11 total tackles - Air Force and Illinois (seven solo and 4 assisted in both games). Indeed, he alone accounts for about 10% of all of Michigan's tackles (42 out of 400) and a little over a quarter of the total TFL yards (35 out of 132). If he keeps this up, I think he definitely should be in the discussion for defensive POTY.

WMU81

October 15th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^

I thought F Clark was gonna have the break out season for our D...Should have gone with the Golden Flow. Dudes a machine. Never takes a play off

Blue boy johnson

October 15th, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^

Clark is in a 3 man rotation with Ojemudia, and Beyer, whereas Ryan gets the vast majority of snaps at his position.

I like the coaches rotating so much, keep these guys fresh and competitive.

Keep in mind; With M's defense improving and the moderate tempo which M employs, there are less opportunities to accumulate stats. Air Force and their 71 rushing attempts is astounding.

Michigan opponents run and pass attempts 2012:

Team Rush Attempts Pass Attempts Total
Alabama 42 21 63
Air Force 71 19 90
Massachussets 36 30 66
Notre Dame 31 19 50
Pudue 26 35 61
Illinois 37 16 53

 

wolver767

October 15th, 2012 at 3:02 PM ^

With the numbers guys like Borland and Mauti put up, i don`t  know if he can pull off 1st team all big ten although 2nd team seems very likely. 

Mmmm Hmmm

October 15th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^

Jake has come a long way from a player who would would make a boneheaded play at least for every jaw-dropping play.  It shows me that his knowledge and experience have caught up to his instincts, motor, and talent.  And for that, I am very happy.

Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2012 at 8:31 PM ^

IMO he's playing at a 3rd Team/Honorable Menion All-American Level.

CLEAR first team B1G.

If he keeps it up and Lewan takes it to the next level we could have a couple All-Americans on this team. Toss in Denard who I think makes some lists and Kovacs who should be a lock to be First Team All-B1G, we've got some big time players. I even think Gardner is playing at a 2nd-Team All-B1G level right now. Demens has come on to be All-Conference worthy as well. Lastly, Floyd and Thomas Gordon have a shot to earn conference honors.

With all that said, JUST WIN!

Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2012 at 8:34 PM ^

I said this the other day...we have the best LB corps in the conference from a 2-deep perspective. And that's saying something because the guys up the road in green aren't too bad. Nor is Borland and the Badgers.