Michigan Depth Chart for Central Michigan released

Submitted by a2_electricboogaloo on

From the Official Umich Twitter:

Michigan Depth Chart vs. Central Michigan: pic.twitter.com/YV5ZBx03Yd

— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) August 26, 2013

 

A few takeaways from this are:

  • Miller will likely start at center
  • Drake Johnson is the #2 back, while Green is #5 and Smith is #6.  However, it does have a big "OR" next to it, which makes me think that it doesn't mean much.
  • Jarrod Wilson is the starting FS
  • Oh, apparently Jeremy Clark weighs 305 pounds. 
  • Shallman is listed as a FB
  • Avery is injured
  • Gardner is not listed as our number one WR, but rather as a QB.  Sorry Space Coyote.

wile_e8

August 26th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^

Ah, just beat my to the post. Here is what I found notable:

  • Graham Glasgow starting at LG over Chris Bryant
  • Both Green and Smith buried at the bottom of the RB depth chart
  • Courtney Avery behind Jarrod Wilson *and* Jeremy Clark at FS
  • Ryan Glasgow #2 DT over both Willie Henry and Tom Strobel
  • Matt Godin #2 DE over Chris Wormley

I'm guessing the DL will have lots of rotation, giving players plenty of opportunity to rise up the depth chart, but those last two were suprisiing to me given camp buzz.

seegoblu

August 26th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^

The LG position. Good for him. Frosh RBs at the bottom of the depth chart..surprising.

Shallman listed solely as FB and not RB as I thought the recruiting pitch went.

alum96

August 26th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^

The RB depth chart should not be surprising - I posted a story last week saying Green was behind all the returnering players.... and Smith was as well.  Let's see how it looks in 4-5 weeks.  I'd expect movement there by the Big 10 season.

GoBlueInNYC

August 26th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^

The RB situation is the most notable one to me. Not only is Green at the bottom, but it's surprising to see Johnson that high up. It's not like he has the experience or seniority that would lead the coaches to list him that high unless he had earned his 2nd string spot.

The defensive backfield is looking more like a mess, especially the safety situation opposite Gordon. But it looks like Hollowell is working his way up and Stribling's scrimmage performance wasn't a fluke.

a2_electricboogaloo

August 26th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^

Now that I reread it, I'm not sure what the order is, because at the end of the list it has the enigmatic "OR".  This could mean that the 5th and 6th spots are interchangeable (Green and Smith), or it could mean that all the spots below fitz (2-6) are interchangeable, which could meat that they were put lower because they are freshmen.

alum96

August 26th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^

I am not going to get into the weeds of where the "OR" is on these charts but it is between Green and Smith, the 5th and 6th.  You can tell this by where the "OR" is placed on the backup cornerbacks verus the LBers.  With the CBs the OR is not just under the starter, it is on the bottom row of the 3 person roster indicating the 2 backups (Hollowell and Lewis) are the equals.  Whereas with Beyer and Cam the OR is next to Beyer indicating the starter is an OR.   But not OR with the starter. Same with the guys behind Heitzman - they are OR as backups. Same with the bottom 2 RBs - the first 4 are their slots and then the last 2 freshman RB are an OR situation.  But anyhow let's relax on clinching our butt cheeks everyone.  Its a first game depth chart.

sundaybluedysunday

August 26th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^

The secondary is the most fascinating to me.

-Terry Richardson seems pretty buried at this point. That's a pretty big bummer for a 4* guy with an offer from Alabama.

-Channing Stribling must be the steal of the century.

GoBlueInNYC

August 26th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^

I didn't even notice that Richardson isn't even on the depth chart. Yikes.

Up until recently, I was not concerned about the DBs at all. I figured Taylor was fine and would likely improve, Countess would be back, Gordon would return, and Wilson would step in. Wasn't expecting it to be the best unit in the conference or anything, but thought it would easily be solid. But as more information trickles out the less confident I am.

GoBlueInNYC

August 26th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^

Probably because I was overconfident in Wilson, I guess. Obviously the guy could turn out to be just fine. It just seems like there was more fall camp shuffling back there than I was expecting.

There are positives, though. Hollowell seems to be exceeding expectations. Stribling looked good on video and has got himself into the 2-deep.

BlueVoix

August 26th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^

Jourdan Lewis could be our backup LCB?  Hmmm.  I know they'll play nickel in coverage more likely than putting him on the field, but yeah, freshman DB do not want. 

No offense to Jourdan of course.

ken725

August 26th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^

If we play nickel there is a chance we see Lewis or someone else on the field. 

Notice how Countess is also listed at nickel. Based on the formation we might see Countess at nickel and someone else fill in at LCB. That someone will most likely be Hollowell or Lewis.

NOLA Wolverine

August 26th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^

Blake Countess starting at nickel? They must want him in for pass coverage and Dymonte in for run support. Unless Avery as been slid down due to the injury designation it doesn't look like we'll see much of him. 

EDIT: Looking at Jake Ryan's slot, I would guess that being designated as injured drops you to the bottom of the chart.

Monocle Smile

August 26th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^

So much for the "muh muh muh" about Jarrod Wilson. I realize Avery's injured, but clearly there's enough confidence in Wilson to start him.

After the starters, the rest of the depth chart might not mean much. They'll have situational stuff and probably rotate people counter to their order in the chart.

Shallman's hurt, but listed at fullback. Somewhere, Magnus is doing D-X crotch chops.

Running back order probably doesn't mean that much outside of Fitz.

Commence meltdown.

GoBlueInNYC

August 26th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^

I'm not sure you can really glean much confidence in starting Wilson, if Avery is injured and the only other option is Clark. He could easily be starting simply because there aren't other options.

And what makes you think that the RB order doesn't mean much?