rmsWolverine91

March 26th, 2013 at 3:06 PM ^

Linebacker is one position of depth for Michigan. Joe Bolden could move over, Cam Gordon could step in, or Mike McCray could earn the spot in fall camp.

I do see the potential log-jam at DE with Strobel, Ojemudia, Godin, Clark, Heitzman, and Black (at times). I guess it is not a bad decision as Jake Ryan played with his hand his on the ground at times - Beyer gives Mattison that option. I do, however, question Brennen's speed as he has been bulking up.

Wolverine Devotee

March 26th, 2013 at 3:06 PM ^

So is most likely what it'll be?-



DE: Clark, Black/Heitzman

DT: Pipkins, Washington

LB: Beyer, Ross/Bolden, Morgan

jtmc33

March 26th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^

I think Cam starts, but Beyer comes in for those packages where the SLB moves to the line with a hand down.  Beyer has more size to shed FBs and pulling guards when he comes in off the edge.... Cam has the athleticism to roam the outside and go sideline to sideline.

65% Cam + 35% Beyer = 100% Ryan    (we all hope)

jg2112

March 26th, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^

Thats an awfully 30,000 foot view. Peel the onion:

NT: Washington / Pipkins / Henry?

3-tech: Black / Wormley / Ash?

5-tech: Heitzman / Strobel / Godin

WDE: Clark / Ojemudia / Charlton

SLB: Cam Gordon / Beyer / Ringer?

MLB: Morgan / Bolden / Jenkins-Stone

WLB: Ross / Jones / Poole?

Wolverine 73

March 26th, 2013 at 3:53 PM ^

I would guess that if Ross were to go down, Morgan moves back outside and Bolden plays in the middle.  Just don't see Jones or Poole being a major contributor.  Also hoping Wormley is good enough that he starts by the middle of the season, since he appears to have a lot of upside.

Mr. Rager

March 26th, 2013 at 4:06 PM ^

Very good list here.

Move Henry to three tech.  Wormley to 5-tech (SDE, right?).  Then you've pretty much got it.  Haven't heard much about Strobel - he's probably still a year away.  Godin most likely ahead of him at that spot for now.  

Ringer is probably a MLB or WLB, too.  

turtleboy

March 26th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^

It's hecka convenient that Clark bulked up past 270 and Beyer slimmed back down to SAM size prior to JMFR getting jumped by the AJMFRHG. I wonder if the switch wasn't a long time in coming, regardless of injuries. If Jake played this year and got drafted plus Cam graduating then next year our SAM depth would've been rsfreshman McCray, and true freshman Ferns. (neither of whom would've had any playing experience)

Tuebor

March 26th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^

I don't mean to thread jack but I was curious if in Mattison's defense the strong-side is to the tight end or is it to the field.  I understand how boundary/field corners operate but do front seven strength calls rely solely on offensive alignment? 

 

Also, I think this is a good move since it appears Frank Clark went beast mode during winter lifting.

Mr. Yost

March 26th, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^

I think we should've left him...

Beyer was potentially the starting WDE.

I thought Beyer would've been a great run stopping WDE with Ojemudia as your pass rushing WDE. Then you also have Taco Charlton to collect some snaps.

I would've moved Clark to SDE and made him the pass rushing SDE while Black and Heitzman could've been the run stopping SDE's.

I see Beyer as lost in space at LB, while SLB and WDE are very similar, you do need to cover ground at SLB...which is why Jake was so effective.

Cam Gordon seemed to be benched cause Jake was so good, not because he was bad. So he's clearly your starting SLB.

Now you're taking your potential starting WDE and making him a backup SLB. How many snaps did Gordon really get last year?

 

If anything, split Beyer's time between WDE and SLB. Because (according to my model) you've still got Ojemudia and Charlton there so he's not going to play every down at WDE even if Ryan was 100%. So in the time he would've been on the bench watching Ojemudia and Charlton, just get him reps with the 2nd team at SLB.

WolvinLA2

March 26th, 2013 at 4:19 PM ^

Don't you think this move suggests that the coaches didn't see Beyer starting at WDE? You don't move your starter to a new spot, usually. And the coaches have already said Clark is not a SDE, which I agree with. There's a lot more to being an SDE than a WDE with more bulk. Clark wasn't a great run defender last year, so it wouldn't be smart to move him to what is essentially a DT. Keep in mind that the 5-tech is much closer to the 3-tech than to the WDE.

The 3/5 tech spots have Black, Heitzman, Wormley, Godin, Strobel and maybe Henry and Pipkins at times, we don't need to move guys there.

Magnus

March 26th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^

No offense, but your idea for WDE, SDE, and SAM is terrible.

First of all, Clark has some of the worst technique/fundamentals on the defensive line.  You don't put a guy like that at SDE where he'll be taking on combo blocks; he'll get turned and crushed and lost.

Secondly, Beyer is NOT a great run-stuffing defensive end; he had something like 19 tackles and 1/2 a tackle for loss last year.  He's too slow to beat tackles, and he's not sudden enough to be effective at fighting off blocks in the run game.  He's just a guy.  He's a SDE in a WDE/SAM's body.  Wherever he plays, he's backup-caliber, not starter material.

I agree that Beyer will be a little lost in space at SAM, which is why Mattison will have to be careful about how he deploys him.  Gordon will be better dropping into pass coverage and as a blitzer, and Beyer will likely be better at standing up against plays run at him.

journeydan

March 26th, 2013 at 11:04 PM ^

Appreciate your posts, but have to disagree on this one.  I will be interested in seeing how things play out.  I think Beyer will be better than expected and has more to offer than you describe.  He continues to get stronger and going into his Junior year is big.  With Jake's injury, he made the most sense to move to the SAM position.  Hopefully Clark and Mario will come on strong at WDE or I think we will definitely miss him there.  At SAM, we will know soon enough but I think that he may surprise some of you.  I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.  You mention tackles but stopping the run is also jamming up the edge.  Teams seemed to like attacking the other side last year a lot more than the WDE side.  I look forward to more from Mattison moving ahead and the Spring game to tell us how things are going.

Magnus

March 27th, 2013 at 6:29 AM ^

I never said it didn't make sense.  In fact, I predicted it would happen because it makes some sense.  That doesn't mean he'll be good at it.  And Mattison even said that the move probably wouldn't be permanent once Ryan returns, so obviously he thinks Beyer fits better at WDE, too.  And of course other teams ran at the other side last year - because the other side was the STRONG side.