Question on Vlad
Vlad is one of these guys I instantly fell in love with when I heard his story and his hatred of the Bucks after they dropped him. He comes into camp amid many questions after he didn't participate in the backfield circus last year, but amid all the speculation I'm not sure where he plays, I've seen speculation for both spots.
The Wolverine did a little fluff piece on him and I'd really like to see him blow up this spring and take over the deep safety so we could have some experience at cb and maybe be a real strength of the team with Troy and Turner, but I'm not sure he even plays the position. Anyone got the official word on Vlad??? Box, Deep or TDB this spring??
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
I'm sure Vlad gets lots of box.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
I have seen him reference in interviews before that he practiced at both safety positions at some point throughout last year.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^
i think he'll play whichever safety position is open. ie. if woolfolk is playing deep safety he'll play in the box, if woolfolk is at corner and someone like mrob is in the box he'll play deep.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
Vlad said he plays both safety spots in his Tweet Up last month.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
IM(hopeful)O, he either starts at Box Safety this year (Fall practice battle with M. Robinson, Kovacs, M. Williams), or, sits behind Woolfolk and starts at Deep Safety as a Jr. next year.
Unfortunately for Vlad, I don't think his playing time this year is dependant on just his progression. Too many open spots and unanswered questions with Turner, where Woolfolk is more needed, true freshmens' ability to play right away, and Kovacs as an actual option creates a puzzle that can't be answered with one DB.
Either way, with zero on-field experience at CB and the need for Woolfolk to play Deep Safety, questions about the backfield won't be answered until Sept. 1st. Not having M. Robinson enrol early hurts, and waiting for him, Dorsey, Avery, and Christian to start in the summer is going to delay any decisions.
Why, D. Warren, why?
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
Why, D. Warren, why?Because that was the best decision for him and his family. Let it go.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^
Guys seem to usually return to teams when they think they have a legitimate chance at winning a Championship together.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^
Players return if it is in the best interest of that player to do some. Some guys care about winning a championship, others don't.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
I think the potentially impending draftee salary rules played a big part in the decision as well.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^
Actually, they won't be answered until September 4th.
Justin Turner will make you forget about Donovan Warren.
If Vlad plays well enough to start as deep safety, that is a huge boon to the defense. That would allow Woolfork to play one CB opposite Turner, would permit M-Rob / Kovacs to platoon at Box Safety, and would entrench either Dorsey or Cullen as the nickelback.
Outside of youth, this defensive backfield is stacked and worth getting excited about.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
definitely looks like a defensive backfield stacked with talent and athleticism (except kovacs)...it will definitely be a strength if not the biggest strength of the team in a few years if they all stay....but the fact that at some point this year we will probably have 3 freshmen starting scares me...but can you imagine a DB core with Turner, Christian, MRob, and Dorsey in 2 years? that seems like it could potentially be one of the top defensive backfields in the country
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
Sorry if this has been addressed before, but are there any glaring reasons why Kovaks wouldn't become a linebacker? Seems like he performs well in the box (no 'that's what she said' needed)
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
Ok. Inaccurate, but Ok.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
KovaCs (that's a "c" at the end, not a "k") is too small to play ILB and too slow to play SAM. He's a free safety or a special teamer.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^
kovacs shouldnt play...and this is going to be his last year to play unless thereis an injury in the following years....hes a great kid, hard worker, has a great attitude...but that can only get you so far, just like athleticism can only get you so far...you need the whole package and hes just not athletic enough to be a starter or even a backup for michigan when we have our usual talent level...
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
He was athletic enough to have, what, 17, tackles against MSU. Last time I checked those guys he tackled were all on scholorship. Being a walkon does not preclude you from ever being a valuable player. Being white and running slower than a 4.4 does not preclude you either. The kid played well as a redshirt freshman last year. He has every bit the opportunity to improve with another year under his belt that everyone else does. We won a championship in 97 with a former walkon captain (who was a starting LB on a damn good defense until he blew out his knee) and a former walkon at QB.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^
the kid is athletic...no doubt...you have to be athletic to play college football...but you cant honestly think that he is fast enough to start at safety for a top college football program...of course you dont have to run a 4.4 to be good, but the kid doesnt even run a 4.6...like i said a great attitude, and hard work are great...athleticism is great, but neither of those alone is enough to be a good solid starter for a program like michigan....his lack of speed was on display quite a few times last year giving the opponent a big play or a bigger play than they should have gotten...
and tackles dont necessarily mean someones good...it can, and usually does...but ezeh was the 2nd leading tackler on the team and the coaches thought him bad enough to bench him at the end of the season
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^
Combine results:
Ed Reed 4.57
Brian Dawkins 4.81
Adrian Wilson 4.52
So Kovacs running a 4.6 or 4.7 means exactly what? If the rest of our team blows their assignments and he is left chasing a RB who runs a 4.4 in a straight line, he is not going to catch him. 40 yard times are crutches for people to critique players with. I saw him take a couple of poor angles and get beat at times last year. I also saw him come up and makes some nice plays in space. Sounds a lot like most redshirt freshman. I am not saying that he will beat out the incoming freshman, only that he was our best option last year, and has the ability to improve. I could be wrong, but I think this 40 yard dash crap has gone to our heads and we suddenly can't have a guy on our team who wasn't state champ in the 100 meters (and by we I mean the idiot fans) Jasan Avant and Mario Manningham ran slow 40 times, Jim Harbaugh couldn't throw the ball 60 yards from his knees, and David Bass wasn't exactly carved from marble, but I would love to still have any of them. Put the stopwatches down and watch the games.
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
hey im not the one that brought up 40 times...all i said was that he wasnt fast enough or athletic enough to be a solid starting safety for a top program...and that is what michigan should be shooting for AT LEAST after this year...we are getting a ton of great athletes with great speed and i would expect at least a few of them to be ready to play after this year....i mean there is a reason that the kid wasnt recruited by D-1 schools...if we are still having to start walk ons in RRs 4th year that is a very bad sign, because i would expect to get heady players who are sure tacklers, but with really good athleticism and speed by then
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
I gave myself -1 for that error. Now that's message board integrity!
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:54 PM ^
I don't understand how Kovacs can be fast enough to play safety but too slow to play SAM... That doesn't make sense. To be honest, I think that Kovacs is better suited to play linebacker. His pass coverage is poor but he is a sure tackler. He'd obviously have to put on some weight and learn how to shed blockers, but man can that kid tackle... Perfect form every time.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
Donovan Warren gave it his all and had to suffer through the worst records in fifty seasons of UM football. He has given enough and I refuse to even consider being angry with him for doing what is best for his wallet at this time. Most of us here would do the same thing if we were in the same situation.
Besides, even though they are young, I think we will all really like this secondary by September. There are plenty of good recruits and redshirts to get the team playing to the level to which we are accustomed.
I may be an incurable optimist, but I think the naysayers and haters are going to have a shitty year in 2010, at least when it comes to football.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
The free safety in Robinson's defense doesn't have man coverage as often as the SAM. Steve Brown had to run with slot receivers far more often than Kovacs. Kovacs typically took a short or a deep zone, and positioning/reaction times in zone coverage are more important than flat-out speed. Brandent Englemon was a decent free safety despite being slow, because he was typically in good position and had good field awareness.
Also, Steve Brown was 215 lbs. and could still run with those slot receivers, for the most part. Kovacs was only 194 and still too slow.