Way too early look at next years defense
Assuming the worst. A lot of inexperience. Well Mr Brown, time to work your magic.
NT: Jeter-So/ Smith-Fr/Paea?
DT-Kemp-Jr or Dwumfour-Jr/Hinton-Fr
WDE-Hutchinson-So/Uche-Jr/Villain-So/
SDE-Paye-Jr/Welschoff-Rfr/Upshaw-Rfr
LB-Gill-Sr/Anthony-So/Thomas-Fr
LB- Ross-Jr/McGrone-Rfr/Velazquez or Barrett? Walk on?
Viper-Hudson-Sr/Glasgow-Sr/Solomon-Fr
CB-Sims-Rfr/Green-Rfr/Turner-Fr
CB-Thomas-Jr/St Juste-Jr/Gray-Rfr
FS-Hawkins-Jr/Kelly-Powell-Jr/Faustin-Rfr
SS-Metellus-Sr/Woods-Jr/Johnson-Fr
December 18th, 2018 at 6:36 PM ^
Didn't Hutchinson & Paye both play SDE last season? Unless Villain is able to get healthy and jump into the rotation I'd assume Hutchinson & Paye both start together, but with Hutchinson being the larger and younger (more likely to put on more weight weight by next season) player, I'd guess he's be the SDE and Paye is the WDE, unless they both rotate at SDE with Uche and Villain at WDE.
December 18th, 2018 at 6:53 PM ^
If they end up a good, top 25 defense then I’d take that right now.
I’d expect it to be the worst Michigan D since 2013. The D line can’t cover up weaknesses anymore and I’d be worried about the corners as well. The offense will have to carry them.
December 18th, 2018 at 6:54 PM ^
Way too Early....
December 18th, 2018 at 7:34 PM ^
The way the OP wrote a 3 deep makes it look a little depressing and isn't realistic. Here's a realistic 2 deep-
WDE- Hutchinson / Uche
DT- Kemp / Dwumfour
NT- Dwumfour / Jeter / Smith
SDE- Paye / Hinton
Grades- DE- A- , DT- B
Needs- Dwumfour to add 10 lbs, and continue to develop under Matty and become a better run defender. A healthy Villain would be a game changer
WLB- Ross / Gill
MLB- McGrone OR Anthony
Viper- Hudson / Glasgow
Grade- B+. McGrone is getting a ton of hype and was a borderline 5*. The next D. Bush? Yep
Needs- Ross and McGrone to pass Gill.
CB1- Thomas / Gray
CB2- Sims VS St. Juste
FS- Metellus / Woods OR D. Hill
SS- Hawkins / JKP
Nickel- JKP OR D. Hill
Grade- B+ ( not enough speed at safety, unless...)
Needs- Dax Hill, haha. Similar situation as 2017, all new guys but they are all good to great recruits.
This is a 10-2 defense but I think the 2019 offense has a chance to put this team over the top! Time to unleash the chains and let Patterson / DPJ / Black / Collins / Gentry and Evans go!
I think we could see a Stanford with Luck type of year or a better version of 2015 Michigan type of year offensively.
December 18th, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
December 18th, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^
The corners and the interior d-line don't seem great, so those are my big concerns.
December 18th, 2018 at 8:15 PM ^
Sam Webb says we are nuts to worry about the DL next year, he has some compelling development stories under Mattison to support his views. Plus I watched film on Hinton and Smith ... each are going to contribute next year. Smith is an early enrollee and under Herbert could be a force by fall camp at NT. Hinton is quick and will give depth by mid season.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
What, no Dax? WTF, he's 65% flipping to Michigan. Better than a coin toss.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:49 PM ^
8 wins......meh
December 19th, 2018 at 7:49 AM ^
I see a boat load talent but as I noted in my predictions thread I think we will see some inconsistency, but that should be expected. The first "big game" will be against UW which is nice because they are such a straight forward offense.
I believe this will be a top 12ish defense with the potential to be really dynamic.
It's all about the offense. This defense will be good enough to go 12-0 overall but it's time to see what Harbaugh can do with a ferrari on offense. If this isn't a highly dynamic and dangerous, top tier offense next year we should all be highly disappointed.