Talking DL

No way Taco doesn't start.

This is his year.  He was on the verge of a major breakout all last year.

Will not start next year, at least not for awhile into the season.  Yet he will still see plenty of time within the rotation.  DL starters rarely matter anymore.

Shocked if Gary starts.

Rolling that kind of depth through the line is going to be VERY exciting to watch. Hopefully we will be able to stay healthy because we will see some serious dominance in 4th quarters keeping all of them fresh. That's also some serious size for a starting D line.

NT: Glasgow, Mone

3T: Hurst, Gary

SDE: Wormley, Johnson or Godin

WDE: Charlton, Marshall or Kemp

I think Dwumfour redshirts for sure, and probably Kemp.

word is UM has asked Kemp to keep weight at 250 or lower so that he can play MIKE.  He was recruited to play BUCK under Durkin but Brown runs a 4-3, so the thought is Kemp will compete at LB.

to see Mone back on the field in 16; but I think those people automatically penciling him in ahead of Glasgow are nuts.  Ryan proved himself last year.

It will be interesting to see if Mone and Glasgow play side by side as in theory they play the same position.

Putting the "best 4" out there I'd go with a line of

Wormley / Mone / Glasgow / Taco or Gary

I really wish Henry had stayed selfishly but...

Behind them loser of Taco or Gary / Hurst / Godin (if he stays on team) - if not then Gary / Marshall or Shelton Johnson

I assume Carlos Kemp will redshirt but if he flashes in spring and fall camp he will be competing with Marshall and Shelton for their spot.  Dwumfour is redshirting.

I dont think "starting" matters so much at DL unlike say corners or OL where starters play a ton of the time.  If you have an 8 deep DL your starters probably play 60-65% of snaps and backups 35-40%.  Very different than other positions.

I see Gary more outside in 2016 with some time inside and then I see him inside his last 2 years as a McDowell type of defensive tackle.  But hopefully Suh like production in year 2 and 3.  But I am assuming Shelton Johnson / Marshall / Ron Johnson / Carlos Kemp are ready to be big contributors in 2017 - esp the first 2.

I am not worried about Hurst going pro like you as he is a rotation type guy IMO - you saw how we wore down when he got 1st string snaps late in the year.  His best role is to come in and take 35% of the snaps and be very effective on those snaps. He is more your pash rush specialist DT and a part timer.  Mone has played 1 year of college football so I guess anything can happen but it feels a lot like the worry over Walton and Irvin going pro. 

If we are doing a pretty much even rotation, Gary should be labeled as the starter as a selling point to future recruits that there is the opportunity for early playing time.

We haven't had that terror off the edge since B. Graham. If Gary is consistently getting home, and standing up against the run, it will be Gary, Glasgow, Hurst and Wormley.

Gary will start. Some people obviously don't realize how good this young man is, Think Pepper x's 2!

Depends on which style offense we're playing. 

Pro-style run heavy teams.

Wormley-Mone-Glasgow-Taco

Spread---

Wormley-Glasgow-Hurst-Taco

Gary will get reps no matter what. I'd love to see a speed rusher devolop to help create pressure without blitzing everyone.

Here's why.

1) It doesn't really matter who starts. All guys will get some snaps, those that play better in their early snaps will get more later in the game. For the sake of the program, getting "starts" added to the stat line likely helps the older guys for now. 

2) While Gary certainly has high upside, as a young player, he also comes with some downside. Michigan's returning DL can almost always do enough to take momentum to start the game. Michigan doesn't need a spark from someone, because the upside doesn't justify the potential bust that may give the opponent momentum.

3) DL (and really both sides of the LOS) require great technique. Gary has never consistently had to go against college level athletes and consistently utilize his technique. I want players that are more consistent in their technique starting when the opponent is fresh and focused at the start of the game. Let Gary come in when the opponent is more in the redundancy of the game, a little more worn down. At that point he can get by with a little less consistency in technique and utilize his athleticism and size to win match ups (while continually improving technique).

4) Gary can be used in a way like Peppers was used on offense: fit him where you need him. He's a swing guy. Plug him in at any position you want along the DL, depending on match up, scheme, who's playing well, whatever. But get that information first, then put him, as a young player, in a position to have early success.

NT - 1. Glasgow 2. Mone 3. Hurst

3T - 1. Hurst 2. Wormley 3. Gary 4. Godin

SDE - 1. Wormley 2. Taco 3. Gary 4. Godin

WDE - 1. Taco 2. Gary 3. Marshall

Obviously, guys can only play one spot at a time. So that's how you slide Gary in. WDE (I think just called a Backer now) may change depending on specifically what Brown wants to do at the position. May go to more of a LB type, at which point Gary/Taco may plug in there less.

Gary may immediately have a starting role, such as a 3rd down pass rusher either at the 3T or SDE position, but that would leave him on the sideline to start the game technically.