Way too early 2019 Football Depth Chart attempt
Can use some help on the backup OL spots, D-Line and linebacker spots as well
Didn’t designate the walk-ons since some get 1-year scholarships sometimes
2019 Michigan Depth Chart
QB
S. Patterson – Sr.
D. McCaffrey – RS So.
J. Milton – RS Fr.
C. McNamara – Fr (likely RS)
B. Peters – RS Jr. (likely/expected transfer?)
RB
Z. Charbonnet – Fr
C. Turner – So.
T. Wilson – RS Jr.
H. Haskins – RS Fr.
M. Barrett – RS Fr. (is this still his position?)
Scat RB
C. Evans – Sr.
C. Turner – So.
FB
B. Mason – Jr.
B. VanSumeran – RS Fr.
Outside WR
D. Peoples-Jones – Jr.
N. Collins – Jr.
T. Black – RS So.
C. Johnson – Fr. (potential 4 game red-shirt)
Q. Kent – Fr (likely RS)
Slot WR
O. Martin – RS So.
R. Bell – So.
G. Jackson – Fr. (potential 4 game red-shirt)
G. Johnson III – Fr. (likely RS)
TE
N. Eubanks – RS Jr.
S. McKeon – Sr.
M. Muhammed – RS Fr.
E. All – Fr. (with only 4 other TE’s, I think he plays)
L. Schoonmaker – RS Fr.
LT
J. Runyan Jr. – RS Sr.
J. Mayfield – RS Fr.
R. Hayes – RS Fr. (maybe moves to TE/Blocking TE?)
T. Jones – Fr. (likely RS)
LG
B. Bredeson – Sr.
C. Filiaga – RS So.
J. Honigford – RS So.
Z. Carpenter – Fr (likely RS)
C
C. Ruiz – Jr.
A. Vastardis – RS Jr.
N. Rumler – Fr
RG
M. Onwenu – Sr.
S. Spanellis – RS Jr.
N. Rumler – Fr
P. Paea – RS So.
K. Barnhart – Fr (likely RS)
RT
A. Stueber – RS So.
J. Mayfield – RS Fr.
T. Keegan – Fr. (likely RS)
N. Ulizio – RS Sr (possible firm handshake)
J. Stewart – Fr. (likely RS)
NT
D. Jeter – RS So.
M. Smith – Fr
C. Myers – RS Jr.
DT
M. Dwumfour – RS Jr.
C. Kemp – Sr.
C. Hinton – Fr.
SDE
A. Hutchinson – So.
T. Upshaw – RS Fr.
J. Welschof – RS Fr.
D. Ojabo – Fr.
M. Morris – Fr.
WDE
K. Paye – Jr.
J. Uche – Sr.
L. Vilain – RS So.
R. Johnson – RS Jr.
G. Newburg – Fr, (likely RS)
R. Jones – RS Sr (possible firm handshake)
LB – Sam
LB – Mike
LB – Will
J. Ross – Jr.
D. Gil – RS Jr.
J. Anthony – RS So.
C. McGrone – RS Fr.
C. Thomas – Fr.
LB – Viper
K. Hudson – Sr.
J. Glasgow – RS Sr.
An. Solomon – Fr
J. Velasquez – Fr (likely RS)
CB
L. Hill – Sr.
A. Thomas – Jr.
V Gray – RS Fr.
M Sims – RS Fr.
B. St-Juste – RS So.
Gem. Green – RS Fr.
J. Perry – Fr. (likely RS)
M. Sainristil – Fr. (likely RS)
DJ Turner – Fr. (likely RS)
SS
J. Metellus – Sr.
J. Woods – Jr.
Q. Johnson – Fr.
Ger. Green – RS Fr.
FS
D. Hill – Fr
B. Hawkins – Jr.
J. Kelly-Powell – Jr. (move to slot CB?)
S. Faustin – RS Fr.
A. Pesek-Hickson
K
J. Moody – Fr.
Q. Nordin – RS Jr. (maybe transfer?)
P
W. Hart – RS Jr.
B. Robbins – RS So.
LS
C. Cheeseman – RS Jr.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:56 PM ^
That's an experienced team that should be able to hang with everyone on our schedule with the right approach. Even the DL, the weakest position group, has a lot of returning contributors. I hope Brown works on some zone packages for those opponents we can't just overwhelm.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:05 PM ^
Damn that's a talented bunch of receivers. Hopefully the QB is allowed to throw to them more than once per quarter.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:06 PM ^
If they don't throw the ball like crazy, somebody needs to be fired. You have a senior QB and 3 big and fast junior Wide Receivers. It should be Air Raid time. No more fullback and tight end running in the mud offense.
January 4th, 2019 at 12:29 AM ^
don’t sleep on Martin in the slot as well! Let’s fuckin wing that ball around to these monsters.
January 4th, 2019 at 9:40 AM ^
I was just looking that DPJ is a Jr and thought it seems like he just started and I've barely seen him play. We really need to throw the ball more, so much more. If our WRs get maybe 2 catches a game, it is such a waste.
January 4th, 2019 at 10:33 AM ^
I was a frosh during Bo's last year. With Bo/Mo/Llo we still ran the football and did the play action for a lot of touchdown bombs. It's predictable, but it used to work. We keep doing the "body blows," but it's like we're a boxer with one punch and a knockout blow that we don't use.
I've been an anti-spread MANBALL proponent forever, but manball can be unpredictable and can actually pass. Other than Ruddock and peak Speight, we haven't been able to consistently complete a god-damned pass since Henne. (I'm probably forgetting most of Gardner.)
I'm all-in on Harbaugh, and I'm sure there are explanations as to why we didn't throw much this year, but we're not going to get a good QB or WR class in the future unless we use what we got.
Throw the damn ball. (...but I still want to see some hammering-Panda-esque FB play.)
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:02 PM ^
If we don’t spread the field next year and throw the ball, Harbaugh should be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:03 PM ^
January 4th, 2019 at 12:27 AM ^
2016 was an oline that was full of upperclassmen and multi year starters.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:12 PM ^
Yea i just watched a little more of Charbonnet's highlights. Umm that kid will start day 2 if not day 1. He's big, powerful, and fast for his size and his cuts and jukes are insane. I think we'll have a big upgrade at RB with him and Turner. Higdon was fine but not what these 2 guys can be. The offense is stacked.
DE- I think its a push if not a slight upgrade next year. Paye and Uche are better pass rushers than Gary. I maintain that Gary was overrated and we seemed to be just fine when he was out the majority of the season.
DT- I think we'll be fine after a few games. Once Mazi and Hinton get their feet wet, the line will be good. Another year in the training room for Kemp, Dwumfour, and Jeter will do wonders. Just need depth here.
LB- This is where we take a significant step backwards. Quarterback of the defense. Who is he? Bush was a mad man. Ross is fine but it will be a little disappointing if Gil is not supplanted as a starter. Mcgrone has the size and speed to be special. Juts let him loose. Anthony has potential, but is also a little slower. This group is a little concerning.
DB- Not worried at all. Dax will settle in nicely after a few games at safety. We have more than enough corners to fill Long's shoes.
We have a very solid team to look forward too. I think we have to wait and see what Harbaugh does with the staff, but there is no reason why we shouldn't be top two in the conference.
January 4th, 2019 at 8:42 AM ^
Agreed. Losing a "Bush" is a big deal. However, Ross is a talented football player too...a very smart one. And, McGrone is VERY gifted too. Michigan will have outstanding overall speed available at this position group. The improvements made in the course of a year are remarkable for these young talents...don't short-change them.
January 4th, 2019 at 9:41 AM ^
You're fucking nuts if you think the DL will be better next year.
January 4th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
Why? We'll miss winovich for sure. But you don't think uche can step up even more so with a full offseason of 1st team reps? Mone, Marshall, and little played soloman will not be hard to replace. Its not as if the line was that good this year anyways. See my post about Gary. So yes I do think the like can be as "good" or better next year.
January 4th, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Well, you're just as "fucking nuts" if you think they'll be worse. How about we let these kids get an off-season under their belts and "we will see"???
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:41 PM ^
I would be shocked if Jackson redshirts.
(Unless of course there are no changes on the offensive staff, in which case I'd be shocked if Jackson didn't redshirt.)
January 4th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
a lot of talent there...nice to see. Now can we utilize?
Love seeing D Hill in that safety spot, pumped to see that dude ball.
January 4th, 2019 at 12:35 AM ^
If the bowl game is any indication...Woods and Metellus will probably start game 1 next season. Dax will becoming in June and may not be ready to be depended on by opening week. He’s a talented kid but I’m sure he like all Freshmen will have a bit of a learning curve to get adjusted to.
January 4th, 2019 at 8:37 AM ^
The "learning curve" to that speed and athleticism is very short...VERY SHORT!!! Alabama plays freshmen in the secondary. You put those kids on the field and stand back and smile!!!
January 4th, 2019 at 9:43 AM ^
Woods and Metellus are as average as the day is long.
January 4th, 2019 at 8:51 AM ^
That D line does not inspire optimism.
January 4th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
It certainly does not if you are dyed-in-the-wool pessimist. Otherwise, the ceiling is pretty good.
January 4th, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
Depth chart isn't too bad.
Position groups that should improve:
O Line
QB
WR
Position groups that should regress:
TEs
D Line
RBs
LBs
DBs
We went 10-3 this season. I see 3 or 4 losses next.
January 4th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
I don't know why you were negged, this is a reasonable take.
But I'd argue against TE regressing - Gentry didn't seem to have much impact. Also RB - Higdon was tough and very reliable, but he was average+. I'm hoping Charbonnet can be much more than that, but he, Evans, Wilson, and Turner should be able to equal Higdon.
More important: in my view OL and QB are the most critical pieces that need to improve, and have the greatest effect on the weakness of the team, and they should. Making up numbers to illustrate: A 10% improvement in OL play will have 20% improvement in team results, where a 10% decrease in DL play may only equate to a 5% reduction in results.
And I really think Charbonnet will be something, did I mention that. It's about time isn't it.
January 4th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
I'm a realist. Losing the D Line and losing Bush is a massive impact.
And I know I'll get negged for this, but people need to cool their jets with Charbonnet, I love his film too, but freshman RBs have to be special to do much their first year. Charbonnet lacks the top end speed to be our starter IMO. I love his agility, vision, and toughness, but the speed is simply not there yet. For a big back, he has some speed, but if we think we won't miss Higdon (our best RB in 15 years) they must not have watched the Peach Bowl.
And Gentry was a weapon, all TEs have some drops, even Gronkowski drops balls. We do not have a threat at TE close to Gentry in 2019.
January 4th, 2019 at 5:08 PM ^
Bringing in great talent at RB and DB, Hudson is coming back. Biggest area of improvement needed is OL, and second year starter at QB. Predicting 3-4 losses at this point is silly.
January 4th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
Every time JH brought in Milton or McCaffery he seemed to run some variation of RPO, do you think this is indicative of a future style of offense he wants to run or more so inexperienced QB + Average Line + blowout = run the ball???
I am very intrigued by McCaffery ability to run and Milton's ability to keep plays alive, albeit True Frosh so most of those plays needed up going no where.
In the end wouldn't mind seeing more of these two sprinkled in even if Patterson is back. IMO, Patterson is reminiscent of a more athletic Ruddock rather than some world shattering stat breaker. Game manager, but hasn't shown the ability to go out and win a game when Michigan needs someone to step up on Off.