2010 Starting Lineup
OFFENSE
QB: Tate Forcier
RB: Fitzgerald Toussaint
WR: Junior Hemingway
WR: Roy Roundtree
SR: Martavious Odoms
TE: Kevin Koger
OL: Patrick Omameh
OL: Steven Schilling
OL: David Molk
OL: Mark Hugye
OL: Ricky Barnum
DEFENSE
DE: Ryan VanBergen
NT: Will Campbell
DT: Mike Martin
DB: Craig Roh
SLB: Jonas Mouton
MLB: Joshua Brandon Fitzgerald
WLB: Brandin Hawthorne
CB: Justin Turner
CB: Cullen Christian
BS: Vladimir Emilien
DS: Troy Woolfolk
GO BLUE!
February 24th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Please make sure that Rich Rod gets a copy of this before September. Thanks!
February 24th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
Glad we've got this outta the way. Now let's focus on which BCS game we're going to.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^
Also, +1 for "Joshua Brandon". That's how I can tell you're serious about this. :)
February 24th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
But he also misspelled Hawthorne's first name, so I'm gonna go ahead and negate that.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
Now that, sir, is some quality Quality Control.
February 25th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
he has Craig Roh at DB. I know we have issues there but I can't see that helping at all. If that is the best we can do at DB then I'm not sure I want to see a single game this year.
February 25th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
Can we stop referring to Roh's position as "DB"? "DB" already has a meaning in football, and it's not that.
Other options:
- Quick (what the coaches/recruits call it)
- OLB (how it's listed on the roster)
February 24th, 2010 at 7:08 PM ^
There is a better chance of Dorsey starting at CB over Cullen, IMO.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
I was under the impression that CC was the more college-ready of the two, but I am admittedly full of fail when attempting to analyze highlight reels for any predictive purpose.*
*For the record, watching highlight reels for the unadulterated enjoyment of watching giant man-beasts and future NFL Pro-Bowlers plow through human sized future accountants is my area of expertise.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
Cullen Christian is more prepared mentally to play corner.
Demar Dorsey is more athletic.
I think it's a toss-up between the two.
February 25th, 2010 at 12:57 AM ^
With my vast knowledge based on highlight clips and recruiting summaries.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
UH of course were going to the ship with that line-up!!!
February 24th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
That being Quinton Washington. I'm not sold on Hugye.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
HC: Rich Rodriguez
GOD: David Brandon
February 24th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
Given this, even God has to answer to the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Wow. What a depressing thought.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
Screw it... If posts like this help change the vibes around here, then i'm all for it. I can't think of a better time for us to put the over/unders OVER for...
a) starting lineups for next year
b) should denard play quarterback, or should we use his dilithium-ness elsewhere?
c) Devin Gardner will/will not redshirt... and this is why!!!
....etc
Commence!
February 25th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^
What do you guys think the over/under will be on people trying to take the over/under for redundant topics?
Lets just leave it at a lot....
February 24th, 2010 at 7:34 PM ^
Why is there never any love around these parts for Mike Shaw?
February 24th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
I think the consensus around here about shaw is great speed, great moves, has the ability to make any defender look like a fool in space, but lacks the between-the-tackles vision and durability to be an every down RB at this level.
Personally, I like shaw quite a bit. Just not when he's taking handoffs. I love watching him catch the ball out of the backfield, away from the big uglies where he has a chance to take it the distance.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^
here for Mike Cox??
February 24th, 2010 at 7:34 PM ^
I have started a regular HGH regiment. By season's start, I will weigh 320 pounds and will be the starting left tackle. you heard it first.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
Is that some kind of designer steroid?
February 24th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^
I think Stonum is going to opposite Hemingway, IMO.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
I think Roundtree is going to continue to do his damage from the slot.
Michigan's going to spend about equal time with 3 wide/1 TE and 4 wide formations, IMO.
Odoms and Roundtree have better hands and are bigger playmaking threats than Koger/Webb/Moore.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
How does 4 wide affect the run? Would it hurt the ground game to have no tight ends on the field? Do spread offenses usually audible to a bubble screen when defenses stack the box with 4 wide, or is there some other counter?
February 24th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
It definitely affects the run, but it doesn't make it impossible to run. By necessity, a defense can't really stack the box if you go 4 wide. They'll still have a deep safety 90% of the time and with four guys removed from the box to cover those receivers, that leaves only 6 guys in the box. Hopefully your offensive line can block 5 of them and the running back can outrun/juke the other.
And if they don't have a deep safety...well...that's when Tate Forcier goes the distance. :o)
If I were an offensive coordinator and the defense tried to stack the box, I would definitely look for a bubble screen or, if I'm expecting a blitz, perhaps try to get someone like Stonum on a fly or Odoms on a skinny post.
Ideally, I think we'd want a tight end in the game to run the ball consistently. But having Odoms AND Roundtree AND Stonum (plus another wide receiver, none of whom really impress me) on the field at the same time opens up all kinds of big play possibilities, in my opinion.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
Cool, thanks for answering my questions. Odoms is a pretty good blocker, so he could probably do some damage down field if our back does make that guy miss. Also, agree about Roundtree, Odoms, and Stonum on the field together. I really hope that Darryl has a great year, he is going to be relied upon to open up the offense
February 24th, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
Yeah, wasn't Odoms' block on Denard's TD run against WMU awesome? That play gives me goosebumps.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:16 AM ^
You are right about the goosebumps. It happened right when he ran in the end zone and you can see everyone in the crowd go nuts.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
During the ND game, Odoms had the key block that sprung Stonum for his kick return touchdown. The guy never gives up on a play.
Also, glad to see you back above 15,000 points.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^
Also, Brown's TD against Indiana.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
....So your saying that Odoms can block.
Id love to see them throw a pump fake bubble screen to the WR, have Odoms pretend to come out to block then just go with a Fade..
February 25th, 2010 at 2:35 PM ^
They've done this sort of thing before, although more with a hook or a square in than a fade.
The thing is, the pump-fake to the bubble screen guy is intended more to draw up the slot corner/outside linebacker who's covering the slot guy. The outside corner won't typically be influenced by that pump fake because he's got to worry about the outside receiver.
So on the pump fake, the underneath defender gets fooled into stepping up. The deep defender holds his deep coverage, and there's a giant window to hit a "hitch" or an "in" pattern.
February 26th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
Well.. its my understanding then that if you send Odoms deep on the pump fake, safety and outside CB roll with coverage to him (if they are playing a cover 2 zone that is, if its man then the out CB jumps the screen, and it depends on whether the inside CB/OLB bites on the block fake). That leaves Stonum or Hemmingway on a OLB or #3 CB, which is a matchup in a footrace or jumpball for an underneath route that I like.
Armchair HC. at your service.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
I feel the same way. The last two years our top receivers have been Odoms and Roundtree respectively, so I don't see a need to change their positions. Also, it makes sense to have your biggest playmakers on the field at the same time. In 2008, Odoms was really our only good slot receiver. With him being hurt in 2009 and Grady frequently dropping the ball, we didn't have much of an opportunity to play two at a time.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^
Whoever starts I am excited. There has been some build up of depth and speed. I think we will see how speed can help make up for mistakes, especially in the secondary.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
Is this the first starting lineup of the offseason?
If emO can get a depth chart in here, maybe we can go back to normal.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
yeah, chalk me up as someone who wants to see a lot of 4 wide sets. Unless Roy or Odoms gets hurt, it's hard to imagine those guys not being on the field. Hopefully, Stonum and Hemmingway can pick it up this off-season and be valuable contributors.
It kinda seems that the tight-end experiment might be over in the pass game, unless those guys suddenly get better at catching the ball. i wonder if we might not see more 3 WR, 2 back sets...
any way you slice it, there's a lot of hope for this offense to break out in a big way this year.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:41 PM ^
I can't wait till after spring. There is so much to watch for this spring that could easily mix up any lineup.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
I have a hard time believing Obi won't be the starting middle linebacker. Yes he had a brutal season last year. But he has so much experience that he'll step it up for his Senior season.
God I hope he steps it up. Obi was a sieve last year.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^
Yeah...and Mouton's not going to play SAM, either. The whole thing is kind of silly.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
AI'm all for this post. Nice distraction from current events. Mine would be this.
QB: Tate Forcier
RB: Vincent Smith (if he's ready to go)
WR: Darryl Stonum
WR: Junior Hemingway
WR: Martavious Odoms
WR: Roy Roundtree
OT: Patrick Omameh
OG Ricky Barnum
C: David Molk
OG: Stephen Schilling
OT: Taylor Lewan/ Mark Huyge
DE: Ryan Van Bergen
NT: Will Campbell
DT: Mike Martin
Quick: Craig Roh
LB: Jonas Mouton
LB: Obi Ezeh/ J.B Fitzgerald
Spinner: Brandin Hawthorne
CB: Justin Turner
CB: Demar Dorsey
Box Safety: Marvin Robinson
Deep Safety: Troy Woolfolk
February 24th, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^
This looks good, for the most part.
However, I think Dorrestein will start at right tackle. Omameh took Huyge's spot, not Dorrestein's, so I think Perry will continue to play.
I also don't think Vincent Smith will be the starter. He wasn't explosive enough as a freshman, and that was prior to the ACL injury. It will probably be either Shaw or Toussaint, IMO.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
if not for the ACL injury. it's only a debate because he got hurt
February 25th, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^
I didn't find Smith that explosive either and hope that Shaw lives up to everyones expectations. If he does, it will be no contest as to who the starter is, injuries or not.
February 25th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
See, I don't know about that. He played over Fizt last year because FT was hurt and redshirted, plus VS was an early enrollee. Now that FT is healthy and all caught up, I think he might still get the nod over VS even if it weren't for his knee injury.
Hopefully this just means that we have a number of backs who can all get the job done.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
I think the starting lineup looks solid. The most intriguing part of this lineup is the very obvious lack of seniors.....not many of them in that starting lineup.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:13 AM ^
Bodes well for the future, eh? I mean, assuming we hit the proverbial 7-8 win plateau everyone's crazy about.
February 25th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
No doubt about it, if RR makes it to year 4 (which I think he should if only for this reason) then we will only lose 4 starters between offense, defense and specialists. It could be lower than that if guys like Obi or Mouton lose their jobs.
The best part about it is that the guys we are losing aren't major BG-type playmakers (not that anyone is). We'll be losing one OL who has been solid but not great throughout his career, two linebackers who have struggled to keep those starting spots and a DB who again has been solid but not outstanding. This should make for an exciting 2011 season (but a pretty boring 2011 NFL draft) for Michigan.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:18 PM ^
I think you're right on the money with that prediction. Only thin that worries me is 3 freshman true & RS are starting the secondary. I really hope that Dorsey and Robinson grow up quick, Robinson I think is ready to play the Box Safety already, Dorsey is definitely athletically gifted enough to start as a True Freshman, and Justin Turner I think he'll be solid. Let's hope I'm right. For our sakes as fans, and RichRod's sake, I want him to continue to be our HC for years to come.