Interesting Defensive Line Preview Piece on Rivals
can be found here:
http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=954047
A couple points:
(1) I would say it's good news for Michigan that across the D-Line, Will Campbell is not mentioned in the 2-deep. Now, that may be just because Campbell enrolled early and was intentionally not considered. And, I recognize that there may be conditioning issues holding Big Will back. But, there is a glimmer of optimism that Sagesse and Banks are ahead of Big Will right now because they are playing really well. That is alluded to in the article, and if so, that will help Campbell have time to slowly get used to college football game speed in the non-conference season.
(2) If Michigan can avoid injury, this looks like an above average D-line. Obviously the "quick" position has younger / unproven players, but I've read Herron had a very good spring and Evans played well too.
(3) 7 of the 8 on the two-deep have eligibility in 2010. I recognize the only one lost is the best one (Graham), but we can plug in Roh, LaLota and Campbell and have 10 players across these front four positions. Heck, Roh may play this year. Depth may not be so bad if Banks, Sagesse and Patterson can play competently.
(4) How does the rest of the D line up? Is it:
Mouton Ezeh S. Brown (Fitzgerald, B. Smith backups)
Cissoko Woolfolk Emilien Warren (Turner as nickel)
That could be a decent defense. If the offense gives them a breather I think we'll be alright.
Good article.
I don't think Herron or Evans will be the solution at Quick, at least not this year. They might play, but I doubt they'll be good.
will play quick?
Ultimately, I think it will be Evans and I think Roh will get some playing time, too. I just don't think Evans or Herron will be very good, and I imagine they'll eventually get passed on the depth chart by Roh or Lalota.
seems like the next pat massey to me. barwis and the new attitude of the program give me a glimmer of hope tho.
Impossible to quantify, but easy to assume. The strides the o-line has made, i would imagine, has forced this group to step it up during practice.
As talked about often, depth (more so in the secondary i think) is the biggest concern. van bergen, martin and graham...thats a solid 1st unit.
I realize this is all based on projection, but that's not what I would call a solid unit.
Graham is awesome.
Van Bergen has zero sacks and zero TFLs and is only a RS sophomore. Nobody knows how he'll fare.
Martin is a true sophomore who had 20 tackles and 2 sacks last year.
Awesome + Unknown + Average = Average
saying that the 1st string will be great (obvs a questionable assumption) does not mitigate the depth situation.
Jeremy Van Alstyne? Dutch people want to know.
If I remember correctly, Van Alstyne was an OLB/DE and suffered through many injuries.
So no.
and was a DE for his final four years, according to the UM database. Let's hope Van Bergen can stay healthy. We need all the bodies we can get.
I think Martin is going to be an impact DL for us. Starting as a true freshman is a pretty good sign.
Thank god Rivals finally put their finger on the problem holding Greg Banks back: "he's yet to see the field for meaningful minutes because of a gluttony of talented performers ahead of him on the depth chart – LaMarr Woodley, Rondell Biggs, Jamison and Graham."
I could never figure out why Jamison and Biggs weren't difference makers, but the gluttony explains everything. I wonder if sloth was an issue too.