Avery, Demens and Vinopal
One thing that gives me hope about next year was the play of these three this afternoon.
While they didn't play like veterans, they did better than you would expect youngters to do in conference play, and they're only going to get better.
Hopefully with a new coordinator (that's right, I said it) and more experience in our starting lineup, we will be able to field a serviceable defense next year that can take some pressure off of our high-powered offense.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^
safety too. that's why Avery stuck with him.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
Avery cut Scheelhaase not only down, but backwards on the stop that forced 4th and 1. helluva effort from a freshman.
However, my favorite defensive play of the day (except the last one) was Vinopal's tackle on Leshoure. He stood him up right when he made contact. impressive.
In fact, I saw alot of big-time defense when Michigan had their backs against the wall. multiple stops on 2nd and 3rd down with 1-2 yards to go.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
Anybody got a youtube clip of that crack from Vinopal?
That's front page material.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
that stop by Big Play Ray is my favorite play of the year! I want not only a still shot of that, but I want a big ass poster, i want one of those big ass sticky posters you put on your walls... damn that was solid. a small true freshman coming up and sticking their leading rusher which weights 40-50 pounds more. dude, dude, i'm still geekin' out about it....
November 6th, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
The block on the kick off reverse that absolutely flattened the Illini guy. Awesome.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
So we have 15 more practices now, does that mean now that the 120 hours of practice we lose for probation can be applied to that? The more practices we can apply the penalty to, the less it will have an affect on day to day operations.
Also, do we fire GERG after OSU (or now) get a new coordinator in ASAP and try to get them into a new coaches defense during the 15 bowl practices, get a bowl game in for game experience in the defense and spend the spring and fall working on that defense?
Just a thought, I did think the defense did play well considering where they have been the past couple weeks, and I also think GERG played his way today.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
I'm not really sure if you would wait until after the bowl game. Maybe there wont be anyone available(that DB or RR would want that is), until after the bowl season.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
there still freshman they are only gonna improve
November 6th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
Completely agree - those three really looked good - very positive going into next season...and the rest of this season for that matter. We knew Demens could play - the other two were a very pleasant surprise.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
I was really pleased with him today. You could see him come along. He was in good coverage even on the play where he was beat for the touchdown...The kid was mostly playing QB in high school last year.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
November 6th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
Just to echo everyone's sentiments, Avery, Demens, and especially Vinopal were amazing today! It seemed like Vinopal was involved in every other play. That kid knows where to be and when!
November 6th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
No, I don't think they played "amazing". They flashed some promise and made some positive plays. But they also got beat a lot.
And that's OK. I don't mind them getting beat. I just want to see them mix in some good with the bad while they do. And for the most part, they did.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
Don't be a Debbie Downer.
I was going to qualify my "amazing" statement, but you know what? Screw it, I'm sticking with amazing.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:38 PM ^
I was amazed at how many times I heard the names of these three, and for whatever times they didn't make a stop, the defense didn't look lost (like last week), but were out there trying and working and making tackles. Very impressed with the youngsters. Could have gone either way, but at the end, it went their way. Bravo.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
...when we give up 65 points and my old man and I both agree that the Defense showed some promise.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
Defense was better today, despite giving up 20+ more points. I think it has to do with the stop percentage. Last week was 2/9 stops, this week was much better than that. And starting both halves with stops is big.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
I think Cam showed today why they think so highly of him. He played lights out and made some monster plays. With his size and athletic ability he is going to be one helluva player before it is all said and done.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^
Cam made some plays today, I think he lookedmuch more comfortable playing the spur than last week.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
I thought he looked quite athletic myself, and deserves props in this thread. Go back and watch when he forced the option pitch. He took the QB, forced the pitch, and almost deflected that away! That's disciplined football, with a nice twist of athleticism.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
He had a couple plays as a blitzer where he basically took on the tackle one-on-one. The one where he hit the QB's arm right as he threw very easily could have been an INT (if only Cam hadn't hit his arm so damn hard).
November 6th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
needs some reps at Spur, but dang.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:31 PM ^
Go Blue.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
That stop was freakin awesome.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
does anyone else think a kicker and/or coverage team would make a huge difference to this team. we are getting killed on the field position from kicking game. not to say our defense doesn't need work but it has to be tough to play coming out every drive with the opposing offense have less then 60-50 yards to go.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
you found the perfect thread for this post
congrats
November 6th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^
but let us not forget that at least one Beast of a leader promised action. Young Mr. Molk played one hell of a game. We may never know what else he contributed.
Bless 'em, each and every one.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
RAY VINOPAL == GAMER.
(Even though he was a two star, he must be awful!)
/s
Go Blue!
November 6th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
Anyone notice how he played? I saw him in there at least once relatively early in the game.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
It looked like he is now a regular in that jumbo/goalline defensive package in the spot Campbell used to play.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^
The Football Gods showed mercy today, and gave our Boys the will to make a play. shot ourselves in the foot multiple times and overcame it somehow, only to se it was the D that made the play. I feel like they brought more pressure today. not that they sacked anyone but in terms of scheme and not being sissys with the soft zone. Let these kids loose and get confindence after a play in the backfield instead of a soft zone outrout push out of bounds.
we literally have nothing to lose on Defense at this point. might aswell be bringing the house. even if the other team burns us for long tds . we get the ball back and get their D tired. hopefully conditioning will take over later in the game and we control the line.
Demens should have been MLB from the start of the year period. instincts! pure and simple. I still believe they can run a 4-3. let these kids play man. what do we have to lose? Big Ups to Vinopal and Avery for showing why they are on scholorship at UM. GO BLUE!
November 6th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
People can blame Greg Rob all they want but there is not a coach in the world that could improve this defense at this time. The kids are too damn young. Vinopal is a year away from making the travel team and yet he is starting. Cam Gordon is a possession receiver playing safety or whatever it is he plays. Finally, Avery shouldn't be on the two deep. so how is GRob supposed to coach experience?
November 6th, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^
Played well for the most part. If they could learn to eliminate SO MANY FREAKING BIG PLAYS, they would be formidable.
My personal opinion, the only difference b/w this offense and Oregon's is a defense that forces turnovers and 3 and outs. Look at what our offense was able to do today even with 5 turnovers due to the defense actually forcing some 3 and outs/TOs on downs.
Lots of youngsters, but they are starting to grow up.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
... had a lot of problem getting off some WR blocks on those options or sweeps that kept killing us. I think the UFR won't be too kind to him. He did show up big on a couple of plays, but overall he looked like, well, you know, a true freshman starting for the first time.
But a win is a win is a win, and I like our young defense getting experience on the job much more when we win.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^
I agree he had a tough time getting off of blocks. However, he seemed to play a little more aggressively in the 2nd and was often in position to make the play in the edge. IMHO, he grew up some today.
It's exciting watching puppies grow up isn't it?
November 6th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
Speaking of getting off blocks, I thought we did a great job of doing that all game.
How about that Demens play where he took the hit from the blocker, and still managed to string out the play and make the tackle at the sideline?
November 6th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^
...I love that kid, and he was so damn close to getting a hand on that deep ball when he was left one on one.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^
I thought he had pretty good coverage on that play. It was just a good catch, and the ball was placed perfectly. It's not like the receiver had 5 yards of separation on him. Unlike CC against sparty... Future will definitely be bright for the young secondary
November 6th, 2010 at 5:20 PM ^
Given where this defense has been all year, and the heat they're feeling, etc., etc.
That Avery stop and that Vinopal stop loom much larger than anything else that happened on defense the rest of the game (and in addition to all those points, there were some really, really good things on defense today).
But those two stops were just enormous. Both because of what they meant for the game but also the extra meaning they have for the fans.
Just goes to show, an aggressive active defense -- even one that's not very good -- is going to keep the fans with them much more than a defense that seems like it's playing passive, to avoid big plays. I like the former approach, no matter what the result is. (The Avery touchdown was an example -- I can live with that play, the coverage was pretty good, he reached up with the wrong arm, but he was there. I'm not saying I don't want him to make a play on the ball, but it's easier to live with that touchdown than the two (TWO!) blown coverages on the other side of the field...)
But I guess my point is: Loved the Avery stop. Loved the Vinopal stop. And loved that we went after them on the two point conversion.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:34 PM ^
I saw both of them make some nice tackles in the open. It's good to see their potential today.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
Gotta point out -- the defense did hold Illinois scoreless for a whole quarter.
Of course, Illinois did score on the last play of the previous quarter and the first play of the next one, but still, baby steps.
November 6th, 2010 at 9:01 PM ^
was schematic vs. just your typical improvement? With Roh and Demens speaking up, it seems interesting that our D played, overall, better than I've seen them all season long.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^
Avery is an upgrade to this defense at the cornerback position in my opinion, Vinopal has a little more growing up to do, but after the play where he manned up and stuck the back in the hole, he has earned my respect as a football player. Demens played great, I still have no idea how he didn't earn the spot outright from the start, but oh well. Keeping in mind that we need to mature A LOT over the next 10 months, I liked how the defense played. I think every weakness we have (personel or experience) will absolve as time passes. And really, we just need a John L. Smith-esc MSU defense to be incredibly dangerous in the Big Ten. That's not out of reach next year.
November 7th, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
Weren't John L. Smith's defenses horrible (and a big reason why he couldn't win)? The bar may need to be higher than that.
November 7th, 2010 at 1:08 AM ^
From what I remember, they faired better in the Big Ten than this one has. Those defenses did enough things right to get off the field. With an offense like the one we have, we can get away with a subpar defense next year and have a pretty good year. If you want to win the NC next year, then it won't, if you want to see continued progress, then it will.