Mlive Position Preview - DB's
Yesterday's position preview thread was entertaining, so let's try it again.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/07/michigan_position_preview_jabr.html#incart_river
One injury to the top four in this unit could create a problem, especially at corner. With Countess still in the fold, Michigan had three corners it could count on as Peppers adjusted to his new position. Now, the team's down to two.
This is a big fall camp for players like Stribling, Thomas, Watson, Hill and Clark.
The group as a whole has to develop a more aggressive mentality. We know Peppers and Lewis play that way. We're pretty sure Lyons does, too.
This is the year Strib and the safeties should come around and this is the year I think they will.
Don't get me wrong, I still want Countess, I liked him as a starter opposite Lewis and then in the slot in nickel situations where Lyons could come on as a boundary CB.
However, I think Strib turns the corner for us this year and the safeties get Peppers, so the rest are all fighting for 1 spot and the top backup spot.
You're talking about needed to identify 3 players, and 2 of them are backups...I like those odds. Especially when you have guys with starting experience (Wilson, Hill, Thomas) in the mix.
I think Stribling will answer the call and add some good depth. I liked what little I saw from him.
I agree with the article for the most part. I feel like we're going to finally see the defensive backfield as a strength. As much as I wish we still had Countess for some depth and a third good corner, we're going to be good.
A healthy Jabrill is going to be huge for this defense
Peppers stays healthy. This is going to be his break-out year.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
CB: Jourdan Lewis
---Channing Stribling
---Terry Richardson
CB: Wayne Lyons
---Brandon Watson
---AJ Pearson/Reon Dawson
S: Jabrill Peppers
---Dymonte Thomas
---Jeremy Clark
S: Jarrod Wilson
---Delano Hill
---Tyree Kinnel
He's still likely a backup...I suppose if you think he's the 3rd best safety and he and Peppers and Wilson are head and shoulders above EVERY other option...then maybe it makes sense.
Then you have Peppers and Thomas next year.
But there's really no point to it. Both he and Delano Hill will be back next year to start opposite Peppers along with Kinnel.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
he admitted it. In fact, his grudge against me dates back to his ankle pick account. I'm sure he'll be back soon.
Jourdan Lewis might be the best corner in the B1G. No clue how he was passed over for all B1G last year.
I do wonder who gets the most run next to Wilson if Peppers does indeed play that Hybrid role. Hill and Clark were kinda hit or miss last season, would like to see Dymonte put it all together and get some run.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
First off, thanks for posting this - I think that I can speak for the majority of the readers of this fine blog in saying that this is the point in the offseason where we are starved for anything approaching actual football content.
As to the preview, I am actually not a worried about the depth at corner and safety behind the starters. Every team in college football has a two-deep that includes players who have either never started or never proven themselves. When you look at our depth chart, we actually have very few relative question marks.
With respect to the starters, I doubt that there is a team in the conference that has a better starting four - taking into account athleticism, speed, experience, etc. - than us. Lyons is a senior who was a highly-touted recruit and who played three years for a top program. He also excels in press coverage and at 6'1, he should also match up well against taller receivers. Lewis, while still young, has already shown that he has the potential to be a good to great corner. His speed and hip fluidity is excellent and the guy just loves to press. He did well last year - imagine him with good coaching playing in a scheme that best suits his skillset? As for our safeties, Wilson has been solid, even in our passive defenses under Hoke, and has a lot of experience. If he improves at all, he will be very good. Peppers is Peppers.
As for the backups, Stribling played well at times last year. While he made a number of mistakes, he was a freshman, and should only improve. If a corner goes down, we would be fine with Strib. Same goes for the safety back-ups. Hill has shown that he can be a solid safety. With proper (any) coaching, I expect that he would be more than serviceable at corner if he ahd to step in. And then there is Thomas - a recruit with a ton of hype and a fantastic athlete - who just need to put it together finally. With a new staff that seems to excel in motivating kids to perform to the top of their abilities, I haven't given up on him yet. If he somehow pulls it together and lives up to his hype, he would be a huge boon to our defense.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
since I found mgoblog in '07! I think we have a lot of talented kids at DB and FS just waiting to prove themselves. The defensive backfield maybe one of the most improved positions on the team t his season from last season
It's very hard for me to judge safety play when watching tv. The only game I saw at the stadium last year Wilson and Clark played and I was very unimpressed. This position must make huge strides for us this year.
Thanks Nick.