August 23rd, 2019 at 8:30 AM ^
Obviously he's going to play, given our DL situation. Even if he's not a "starter" (which I think he will be), he will play a significant amount of snaps because the DL will be heavily rotated, as is normal.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:33 AM ^
Thank you for ignoring my typo. No way to edit my damn post.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
Hopefully he will pay dividends....
Bahahahaha!!!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
Although his team was terrible (1-11 0-8 in the MAC), Mike Danna was Central Michigan’s Most Valuable Player last season, and he was named to the 2018 Pro Football Focus All-American First Team and the All-Mid-American Conference First Team, after finishing with 66 tackles, 37 of them solos, 15 tackles-for-loss, totaling 90 yards, nine-and-a-half sacks and two fumbles recovered for touchdowns.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:33 AM ^
I hope he doesn't have to pay..
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^
No worries, D-line already has a Paye.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:34 AM ^
Everything I have heard about Danna in fall camp has been positive. Expect him to play a good amount, they'll probably rotate a number of guys in on the D-Line.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:43 AM ^
From everything I've heard, it sounds like Hutchinson and Paye will start at the two defensive end spots, and Danna will be the next guy in.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:44 AM ^
Magnus, as always, dropping that truth. Thanks!
Since we've got you on the line (sort of) any bold/interesting takes with the season right around the corner?
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:53 AM ^
Interesting to hear Paye's interview yesterday, and a good question by someone in the press corps: the guy asked if Danna can play either strong or weak side, and Paye said yes. Went on to say that if they're lined up and the offense switches (motions), he has to be ready to be the strong side end and Hutchison the weak side.
I honestly don't remember, but did they do that a lot last year? Not flip ends to the strong side? That seems new. Or maybe they've always done that, or maybe just for hurry-up teams.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:16 AM ^
They have flipped ends in the past, but they didn't do it much last year. In fact, I think they stopped doing that a lot after the 2016 season if I remember correctly. Winovich played the strongside end at times.
A lot of times the "strongside" end is a gameplan thing. Sometimes you send the SDE and SAM to the same side. Sometimes you want the SDE and the SAM on opposite sides. Sometimes you want one guy to the run strength and one guy to the pass strength.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:19 AM ^
Appreciate the answer, thanks
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:38 AM ^
I believe we flipped, I seem to remember Chase and Rashan moving a lot, but that might've been based on initial alignment and not motion.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
Yeah, I don't think they flipped very often if at all after the initial alignment last year. I remember - I wanna say it was Mattison's D pre-Harbaugh - when simple TE motion would cause the entire defensive line to stand up and start running around. Always seemed like a terrible idea and I don't recall that recently.
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
This is what OSU was doing in their spring game and I was happy to see it
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:56 AM ^
Magnus, is it ridiculous to think that Paye and Hutchinson will be better than Gary and Winovich were last year?
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
I will answer! Overall through the season, yes that is ridiculous.
In the big games when they are needed most critically? Not at all. Gary was out for Florida, didn't do much against OSU, and was OK/good vs. ND. Winovich was good vs. ND and Florida, didn't do much against OSU.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
I don't know if I would say ridiculous...but chances are slim. Winovich was better by this point in his career than Paye is. I think expecting Paye to be better is a stretch. I do think Hutchinson could end up being more productive than Gary, partly because teams may not focus as much attention on him as they did Gary.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:42 AM ^
Yet isn't Paye ahead of Winovich at this stage in his time here ? I recall Winovich playing O around this point that Paye is in...
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
Paye is entering his third year. Winovich redshirted but in his second year (RS freshman) he basically played special teams only and in his third year (2016) as RS Soph. he had 8.5 TFLs of which 5 were sacks and played in every game. So Paye is ahead production wise so far.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:19 AM ^
I'm decidedly not Magnus so I'd be interested in his take as well. That said, Better? Probably not in the sense of their individual talents or abilities. Better output? Possibly.
Stat Lines from 2018: Chase - 69 tackles, 17.0 TFL, 5 sacks. Gary - 44 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks.
Gary was seemingly never at 100% with that shoulder injury and Chase was Chase but may have been somewhat keyed upon given that Rashan was slowed a bit and the DTs were less impactful than they could have been.
Hutchinson and Paye would need to take a fairly big step forward, which they're certainly capable of, but it might ultimately come down to (a) scheme changes if we're rolling out different looks as it sounds we may be - stack, etc.. and (b) the impact of the DTs. The big fellas inside having a more disruptive presence and different looks from the LB/Viper corps may give Paye/Hutchinson different opportunities than were available last year.
Chances are it won't be an apples to apples comparison but I can see them matching the output of the guys from last year or maybe having a few better stats without those two individuals matching the upside/overall talent of the Chase/Gary. Coming up with 9 sacks and 25 TFLs between them isn't impossible. Depends on the percentages of snaps they are in there as well.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
I never said more talented. Wouldn't better production mean, "better"? I have no doubt that if Hutchinson stays healthy he will have a more productive season that Gary last year, who barely played and when he did, wasn't very productive. Chase on the other hand had a very productive year, but I believe Paye, according to Don Brown, is primed for a breakout year.
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
Building off your "it won't be apples to apples" comment, wouldn't it be more appropriate to ask whether Paye/Hutchinson/Danna can be more productive than Winovich/Gary/Paye? Winovich and Gary played a ridiculous percentage of the snaps and the defense is likely to adopt more of a platoon approach this season.
So can Paye/Hutchinson match 113 tackles/24.5 TFL/8.5 sacks? Probably not. But can Paye/Hutchinson/Danna match 142 tackes/30 TFL/10.5 sacks (adding in Paye's numbers)? 45 tackles/10 TFL, and 3 sacks per person with that crew seems more attainable than asking two of them to get 57 tackles, 12 TFL, and 4 sacks per person.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:11 AM ^
Magnus nailed it. He will play plenty.
Oh, Michigan will announce some cool pregame stuff today. Especially for the Army game. Anybody that has been to the Army/Navy game will appreciate what UM has planned for us.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
Awesome.... going to be in the Big House for the Army game.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:23 AM ^
I hope to be there! GO BLUE, Beat Army!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:13 AM ^
i have a slight feeling that the coaches might be underselling Danna for whatever reason. I feel like they mention that he is good and in the rotation but they havent raved about him (since harbaughs original rave prior to fall practice starting). Nua barely even mentions him in his pressers.
The reason i think they are underselling is because Uche called Danna a pass rushing monster and basically implied that him and Danna are the key guys that can get to the QB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXIqcG9VVIA
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:24 AM ^
BEAST MODE!! flying under the radar as along as possibly is not a bad thing! then BOOM!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
i have a slight feeling that the coaches might be underselling Danna for whatever reason.
Probably to be fair to Danna. The guy came in with a lot of sabermetric hype but against the B1G's best he's unproven. It would be unfair to set expectations he may not be able to meet, so they've been very good about avoiding any talk about, say, how many sacks he's going to get. On the flip side, if he winds up being a monster, no one is going to complain about how the staff conspired to make him a sleeper.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
From what play I’m able to find he was well above the competition he played against in the Mac. Unfortunately this isn’t the Mac but he looks the part to this untrained eye.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Was he a free agent, or did we get him as a "player to be named later" from the Morris or Rawls trade?
Its about time CMU reciprocated. :-)
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
That was a great interview, thanks for posting.
Interesting that Glasgow was one of the first names he mentioned. Can't wait to see what the D looks like.
He says he's playing two positions - is that SAM and WDE?
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^
Yes, SAM and WDE.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:20 AM ^
I agree with this and then it comes down to how many snaps does Uche play at WDE. It sounds like Uche will play passing downs only at WDE and SLB his other snaps.
Seems like if Hutchinson and Paye both play 2/3 of the snaps and Uche plays 1/3 to 1/4 snaps on passing downs that leave a little over 1/3 of snaps for Danna. If he's nearly as good as Hutchinson and Paye, they could all play 50-60% of the snaps.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:47 AM ^
No/Yes
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:49 AM ^
How’s his pass blocking?
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:56 AM ^
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:31 AM ^
How are his hips ? Can he cover ?
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
Lol. Does he sound like football.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:34 AM ^
Exactly what I was thinking.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:42 AM ^
His ankle flexion is more important.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:08 AM ^
Yes he is part of the two deep rotation which I believe is in Don Browns eyes a starter, but has not been called a dude yet by brown
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:15 AM ^
Rush end-
1. Paye 30%
2. Danna 50%
3. Uche 20%
DT-
1. Jeter 50%
2. Dwumfour 30%
3. Paye 20%
NT-
1. Kemp 70%
2. Hinton 30%
3. Smith
Anchor-
1. Hutchinson 70%
2. Paye 30%
Overall
1. Paye 80%
2. Kemp 70%
3. Hutchinson 70%
4. Danna 50%
5. Jeter 50%
6. Dwumfour 30% ( lower snap count bc of injury)
7. Hinton 30%
8. Uche 20%
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:45 PM ^
You left off Ben Mason ... he is going to be in the rotation, especially filling in for Dwumfour until he is ready. Also, there could be some packages where Mason lines up in the SAM/DE position and provides "defensive FB" work busting run gaps so LBs can blitz.
Word is there are some creative schemes Dr. Brown has cooked up in his off-season lab ... all designed to fit his 2019 personnel. Feels like there will be more front 7 havoc this year closer to the traditional Don Brown defense.
Also, Uche is going to see the field way more than 20% ... you need to count in his SAM snaps which are going to be plentiful. He and Hudson are going to be a big-time blitz tandem, as they have been developing Uche's TE coverage skills.
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^
And Luigi Villain, who will be in the rotation this year.
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:22 AM ^
Can he play Left Tackle?
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:32 AM ^
August 23rd, 2019 at 9:33 AM ^
Counterpoint: it's too late.
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
Hutch might be able to.
