Spring Roster Is Up.
Not sure if they weighed in today or if these are the same heights and weights as
Fall '14. Cue the WD signal and let the pre-over-somanyprefixes- analysis begin
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mich-m-footbl-mtt.html
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:26 PM ^
Recruited out of H.S. as DT now moving to FB under JH (6'0; 276).
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:33 PM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:20 PM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:54 PM ^
Harbaugh used a DT on the 49ers several times on top of his pro bowl caliber FB.
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:21 PM ^
I'm sure Pallante will bring the intensity the position needs, but one of his major strengths was his understanding of how to utilize his hands and gain leverage. I thought he was a natural run stopping DT, and kind of liked his upside as such. To me, his strengths don't really transfer over to the many things Harbaugh wants out of a FB, and most likely he could only be a between the tackles thumper from that position. That's not all bad, but it really tips your hand, and when you tip your hand, LBs start shooting down. Now you have a lower-level athlete trying to get on the other side of the LOS before the LB shoots, and to me that doesn't seem like a good deal for Pallante.
On top of that, it really hurts with the DT depth chart, which is now basically two classes and then nothing for two classes. I don't know if that's really a good recipe.
Overall, however, my guess is that Pallante was struggling to put on the weight and maintain his athleticism (which was already limited) at the additional weight. If that's the case, then this move makes more sense, and the fact that he had a long ways to go to make weight makes me believe it's a likely thing that happened.
February 24th, 2015 at 12:57 AM ^
February 24th, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
Outside of the guys that were already essentially interior players last year (and many people listed as DE or DL were interior players). The current depth chart is fine at DT, so there is no immediate need to move people inside, it's when the wave of current interior players graduate that you see a lack of numbers. It can be made up through recruiting, but I'm not a fan typically of giving young guys much more than a role on the interior. There is so much to learn as an interior player, where to take your eyes if the guy in front goes this direction, how to handle a double, how and when to disengage to fight back to the ball vs maintaining your gap, etc. And that's not including all the fundamental techniques and strength that needs to be consistent down-to-down for guys that aren't used to having to give that kind of effort because they kill high school kids.
I like Pallante. I thought he was a smart Greyshirt offer and eventual full-scholarship offer. I thought he was an underrated kid that had some skills that fit at DT if he could gain the weight and maintain his athletic ability. But that's always a risk when you recruit guys that aren't already at weight. Most teams deal with that regularly, MSU deals with that all the time. You try to project forward, but sometimes it doesn't work out the way you initially plan.
I'm not sure why people are so against not thinking this is a "great fit". Probably because it doesn't fit the "Harbaugh-narrative". There is a good chance it didn't work out at DT because he was struggling to gain the mass he needed and maintain his athletic ability, moving him to FB is a way for him to have a role on the team, but it just isn't an optimal fit. Maybe it's a lack of understanding of the needs of a FB in the offense, or all the things a FB has to do, but Pallante is going to struggle as a guy slipping out into the flat, he'll struggle getting to the edge on zone stretch, he'll struggle getting through the LOS and finding the MIKE on Iso or Lead Zone.
He can be an Iso blocker in goalline and "-and short" situations, similar to Hurst last year (Hurst is a bit more explosive, FWIW, but that's beside the point), but that's a role. That's where Pallente fits, in a role. But this probably isn't an every down solution for the depth chart. This likely isn't a "this is awesome". This is likely a "it didn't work out here, let's find a fit for him where he has a role and can help the team and work to get playing time". That's fine. That's him being willing to switch positions to play a role on the team, and that's Harbaugh finding that role, but that's likely what it is.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:55 PM ^
We need depth at the DT too. With Mone playing as a freshman and Pallante being the 2014 RS, and no DT in 2015 you have 2 years with no DTs. That's going to be a big donut hole - in 2 years your only rosteted DTs are Mone and Hurst Jr if Mone doesnt go to the NFL a year early and Pallante stays at FB. Even if Mone is not early entry its sort of dificult to make a 2 deep depth chart with 2 players.
Once again we are going to be forced to play very young guys at a position you dont want very young guys.
February 24th, 2015 at 4:11 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:34 PM ^
Pallante: 276 LB fb? May be targeting him for 2016.
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:37 PM ^
He needs to beef up or he will get passed by cole and perry
February 24th, 2015 at 1:02 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:22 PM ^
Wow. Would run away
February 24th, 2015 at 12:51 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:26 PM ^
looks like drake harris is still a twig. also, geen weighing in heavy...hope these aren't updated
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:27 PM ^
These can't be updated. I saw a pic of Green from a meet-n-greet last month and he looked down right skinny. No worries.
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:30 PM ^
According to Tony Perkis, muscle weighs more than fat. Clearly the deli meat stash has been cleared out of his dorm (or maybe Isaac stole it).
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:35 PM ^
Or his lunch was cancelled due to lack of hustle.
February 24th, 2015 at 4:13 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:30 PM ^
good info, thanks!
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:30 PM ^
Still at 174 as a RS Jr.
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:33 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:47 PM ^
Still pretty light after a few years at a big time college program.
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:50 PM ^
Jourdan Lewis is 176.
Richardson isn't going to get any bigger than 180. He's a 5'9" DB.
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^
February 24th, 2015 at 4:17 AM ^
February 24th, 2015 at 7:20 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^
At some point that might just be the ceiling for his weight gain. That's the trouble when recruiting these little guys; you don't know if they are going to be able to really bulk up.
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^
6-4, 174lbs is crazy skinny. Like youve got to work at it to be that skinny. Wonder whats up with him. Would seem to be a good 20lbs away from seeing the field.
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^
Not really, I'm pretty much exactly that size and eat plenty of food. I have never weight-lifted though. But I don't think Harris has been able too much either due to his injuries.
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:07 PM ^
6'6" 150 here. Putting on weight can be HARD.
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:15 PM ^
6'6 150? How is that possible?
February 23rd, 2015 at 8:17 PM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:07 PM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:21 PM ^
6'5" - 250 here. We've got the makings of decent line right here if things dont work out with that Harbaugh feller's boys.
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:36 PM ^
But how much college eligibility do you have left?
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
February 24th, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^
Didn't Northwestern have a 30 something Navy Seal on their team last year?
February 24th, 2015 at 6:40 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:42 PM ^
February 24th, 2015 at 12:58 AM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^
Haha, thank you all for your concern... it's true, I am very tall and skinny. I'm working on putting on weight (my max was ~170 before I came down with a nasty case of type 1 diabetes... haha).
That said, the worst part about being this tall and slim is trying to find 30x36 pants, so it's really not all that bad.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:15 PM ^
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
Hahaha, with a nurse for a mother, and several aunts and uncles on either side of my family that also have type 1, that would have been pretty remarkable. I was diagnosed at 23, which is late for type 1 but not unheard of. That's when a couple of my uncles developed it as well. In hindsight, based on the symptoms it probably developed a few months prior to that, but not much more.
Based on this, I hope you'll forgive me for not taking your advice on the SERIOUS MASS w/ 252g of carbs. Insulin isn't cheap, even with insurance, lol.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:42 AM ^