position switches

Submitted by Magnus on

Two position switches have been brought to light over the past few days:

1. Carson Butler has apparently moved to DE.  This is probably because he can't block worth crap.

2. Vince Helmuth has been playing DT in practice.  He came out of high school as a fullback who also played some DE.  Then Mark Moundros came out of nowhere and beat Helmuth out for the FB job.  I thought it was strange when I saw Helmuth listed at 262 pounds earlier this year, so he either ate his way out of the FB position or he bulked up for the possible position switch.

Helmuth's switch is supposedly not permanent, but when a guy starts seeing practice snaps on the other side of the ball, that's got to be a sign of something.

MGoBoard
Carson Butler
Vince Helmuth

Sommy

October 20th, 2008 at 2:14 PM ^

I guess at this point, it doesn't really matter, but I can't help but feel apprehensive about it regardless, since I'd like to at least see one more win from this team.

On a side note, my posts are probably going to become infinitely less insightful from now on since my brain is finally starting to enter "beaten down apathy" mode. 

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 1806

tigersjunkie

October 20th, 2008 at 2:19 PM ^

I sounds like Helmuth asked to be moved to the DL.  The kid wants to get on the field no matter where he plays.  Love it!  Whatever it takes to make the team better.

Joined: 08/15/2008

MGoPoints: 33

mjv

October 20th, 2008 at 2:22 PM ^

Helmuth was huge in high school.  I believe that we was weighing in at approx. 270 his senior year.  Not to say he was fat (I don't know), but my neighbor's kid who went to Saline High and was/is friends with him said his nickname was "Chiseled Vince" and was a weight room freak.  So I'm not sure if it is as simple as eating himself out of a spot.  Also, Moundros has been in the program a year longer than Helmuth, but both appear to have sophomore eligibility.

His half brother, Chris Baker, played in the NFL for the Jets and went to MSU.  If I remember correctly, Baker at one point was flipping off the UofM student section during a game in Ann Arbor.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

joeyb

October 20th, 2008 at 3:56 PM ^

I went to high school with Sheridan and Helmuth but I was one and two years ahead of them respectively. Helmuth is not a fat guy and I would not be surprised if he was nearly all muscle. And based on the attitude of Helmuth, I would not be surprised if Baker did that. Helmuth used to be the big guy on campus and it was probably a shock when he became second string.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 16845

WolvinLA

October 20th, 2008 at 2:25 PM ^

I like both of those moves.  Those are guys who are greath athletes, but were playing at positions on our offense that don't get a lot of use, and they had talented young guys playing ahead of them.  This might be out opportunity to see Carson Butler really redeem himself, and for us to see what Vince Helmuth is made of.  This will be a bigger deal if they stay there for next season, as we will have a lot less depth on the D-line, and it was looking like freshman would need to play.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 875

Hannibal.

October 20th, 2008 at 2:43 PM ^

Real shame about Butler not working out.  We desperately needed some upperclassmen to come through and I was hoping that the guy's silly mistakes would go away with some maturity.

Joined: 09/09/2008

MGoPoints: 9051