BostonWolverine

February 17th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^

How many CB are we looking for in this class? I feel like 2 isn't out of the question, what with only 5 non-freshmen scholarship CBs: Avery, Taylor, Countess, Richardson, and Hollowell.
 

Joined: 11/13/2008

MGoPoints: 13365

BlockM

February 17th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^

Yeah, from my completely uninformed perspective a commitment seems unlikely. Then again, I didn't expect six commits in one day before, so maybe they can pull it off again!

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 40711

cigol

February 17th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^

This is another big, rangy looking CB, which is great.  I don't mean for this to be incitement of an argument, and it might not even be true, but why did RR bring in so many small DBs? I understand the small / shifty WRs / RBs for his version of the spread, but was there some reason for liking small DBs and safeties?  Or was it just random attrition / signings that led to our mini secondary?

Joined: 11/21/2010

MGoPoints: 1374

WolvinLA2

February 17th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^

Well, Cullen Christian, Justin Turner and Demar Dorsey were all tall corners, so it's not like he didn't recruit them, it's just that they didn't work out for one reason or another. Now, whether or not that's on RR is another debate, but he had signed LOIs for tall CBs every year.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

Danwillhor

February 17th, 2013 at 1:01 PM ^

2 birds with one reply: 1. Where is Marvin? You probably recall this kid essentially verballed as a 14 year old when he was already about 6' 180 and very fast. Marvin just kept growing and potentially out of any particular position. Add a couple years of atrocious coaching and we have a kid who doesn't really fit in anywhere at an All-B10 caliber and maybe never will. Seems to lack the instinct/speed for DB and the instinct/size for LB. 2. As for RR recruiting, I won't criticize too much on the DB front. CC and JT were major recruits who merely busted out for whatever reason but JTF was solid and Rogers wasn't the slow nightmare another poster said he was despite being a CB convert more than recruit. My main gripe would be Dorsey. Why send the farm to recruit and land him next to NSD when we had to know the kid couldn't qualify at WVU, let alone Michigan!?! RR had to know he'd never see a single day as a player here, Juco/Academy years or not. Overall, I don't blame our lack of talent, depth and experience during and post RR on the man as much as on circumstance. Offensively, he recruited what he knew could score points. Defensively, his mistake was recruiting on that side a lot like he did offense. Defense is very hard to turn a 2-3 star into a legit player through system when ran by guys who can't coach defense and a DC who doesn't know the 3-3-5. For every Roh he brought in add two MAC level kids, etc. Finally, on both sides there was just too much attrition through transfer and injury so it just compounded the problem. If given time he would have always scored points, largely regardless of recruits. Defensively, overall talent lacked but busts were just as common as he landed some high ranked kids. IMO, even with Casteel, there wouldn't have been enough defensive coaching to matter anyway. I just don't check "recruiting" as a negative when I evaluate RR's tenure here. Bad luck, busts and coaching were more to blame for our roster. Oh, and I'd love Parker to come here! haha

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Magnus

February 17th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^

He didn't bring in small defensive backs at a significantly higher rate than Hoke is doing.  I mean, Rodriguez successfully recruited Cullen Christian, JT Floyd, Demar Dorsey, Justin Turner, Josh Furman, Vlad Emilien, Carvin Johnson, Marvin Robinson, etc.  For whatever reason, most of those guys just didn't or haven't panned out.  If you look at that list, the only guy who turned into a consistent starter was Floyd, and . . . well . . . Floyd was just okay.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 165915

EGD

February 17th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^

Not all of the DBs that Rich Rod signed were small.  Cullen Christian wasn't small.  Demar Dorsey wasn't small.  Justin Turner wasn't small.  Carvin Johnson wasn't small.  Thomas Gordon isn't small.  

In fact, of all the problems we have had in our secondary, I really don't think a lack of size has been one.  Floyd was a decent-sized corner, and so is Countess.  Even a guy like James Rogers, who was not nearly fast enough or athletic enough to play the CB position effectively and was inserted basically out of desperation, was actually pretty tall for the position. 

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

Magnus

February 17th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^

James Rogers ran a 4.46 forty.  He was plenty fast.  In one year as a starter at cornerback, he had 40 tackles and 3 interceptions.  Compare that to JT Floyd, who had 3 interceptions in three seasons as a starter.  If Rogers had had decent coaching at all (someone other than Tony Gibson), I think a lot of people would have a higher opinion of him.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 165915

cigol

February 17th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^

Sounds like it was more of an attrition / pan out / NCAA clearinghouse issue then.  Either way, our DBs / WRs have been manhandled on the line of scrimmage over the last few years, not to mention the lack of interceptions.  It'll be nice to see some 6'2 / 190 guys line up and block / get off blocks and go up and pic off a ball.  

Joined: 11/21/2010

MGoPoints: 1374

EGD

February 17th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^

Well, I didn't realize Rogers had a 4.46 forty time.  I still don't think he had the kind of athleticism and change-of-direction ability that you need to play CB. . I always viewed Rogers, though, as a WR who got pressed into service due to necessity--not as a player whose natural abilities made him a good fit for the position.  For that reason I've always respected Rogers for being a team player.  As you say, Rogers could probably have done a lot better with superior coaching; I still find it hard to believe he would have been an effective corner no matter who his coach was, but who knows?

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

February 17th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^

write small OR thin. Stribling and Dawson strike me as thin and rangy cover guys and it wouldn't surprise me to see Stribling play FS. Still think Hill will play safety - he seems to lack the agility and fluidity to play CB. To your point, though, he might morph Into a physical CB but I just haven't seen the combative nature like Parrker. Hopefully they all prove me wrong. I still like Parrker's combativeness even if he lacks elite athleticism like Adoree.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18046

The Truth Hurts

February 17th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^

That doesnt mean anything in this day and time. Recruits follow the money and women. We have at least 16 spots so lets not take too many verbals so early. I am greedy, i want 4 five stars and 12 four stars this year. Lets do it Hoke.

Joined: 03/30/2011

MGoPoints: 3598