We're Going to Be Good.

Submitted by Blue_n_Aww on

Don't tell anyone but we're going to have a 3-deep next year. I admit that a lot of this is conjecture, especially on defense, which yeah I have no idea what kind of scheme we'll be running, but no matter how you slice it, we're going to have good options at just about every position. Note: I expect some of the positions (like Nose Tackle and Offensive Guard) will add a bit of depth through recruiting. Notice how there's actual defensive depth now that Rich Rod's recruits are starting to become Sophmores and Juniors? Weird.

Also note: no freshmen, redshirt or otherwise, in this projected starting lineup and only 3 in the two-deep.

 

Position Ones Year Twos Year Threes Year
DE Ryan Van Bergan Sr# Jibreel Black So Jordan Paskorz Fr#
NT Quinton Washington So# Richard Ash Fr#    
DT/DE Mike Martin Sr Terry Talbot Fr# Chris Rock Fr
DE/LB Craig Roh Jr JB Fitzgerald Sr Ken Wilkins Fr#
MLB Kenny Demens JR# Isaiah Bell So# Kellen Jones Fr#
WLB Brandon Herron Sr# Mike Jones So# Jake Ryan Fr#
Spur/LTS* Cam Gordon So# Thomas Gordon So# Antonio Kinard Fr
Bandit/STS** Jordan Kovacs Jr Marvin Robinson So Brandon Hawthorn Jr#
FS Ray Vinopal So Carvin Johnson So Josh Furman Fr#
CB Troy Woolfolk Sr# Courtney Avery So Cullen Christian So
CB JT Floyd Jr# Terrence Talbott So Dallas Crawford Fr
             
QB Denard Robinson Jr Tate Forcier Jr Devin Gardner Fr#
RB Vincent Smith Jr Mike Shaw Sr Dee Hart Fr
WR Darryl Stonum Sr Jeron Stokes Jr Ricardo Miller Fr#
WR Jr. Hemmingway Sr# Jeremy Jackson So Shawn Conway Fr
Slot Roy Roundtree Jr# Martavious Odoms Sr Kelvin Grady Sr#
TE Kevin Koger Sr Brandon Moore Jr#    
LT Taylor Lewan So# Mike Schofield So# Jake Fisher Fr
LG Ricky Barnum Jr# Will Campbell Jr    
C David Molk Sr# Rocky Khoury Jr# Christian Pace So#
RG Patrick Omameh Jr# Elliot Mealer Jr#    
RT Mark Huyge Sr# Tony Posada Fr    

*Linebacker type substance

**Safety type substance

#Redshirt

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Vasav

November 30th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^

But I still think we shouldn't take it to the bank - attrition and injuries killed our decent looking offseason lineup last year.

Also - that D is still ARGH!-inducingly young.

Thanks for this - it does make me feel better about the on-field product. And these young guys are battle tested too - and never quit. I'm really proud of them.

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19219

scottydreisbach

November 30th, 2010 at 7:32 PM ^

Even though the tough defeat to OSU is fresh on my mind, it does give me a lot of hope to think about our healthy roster with a full year more experience.  Particularly on D, which should be much improved.  Whoever coaches this team next year will have 9 wins, hopefully more.  

Joined: 11/20/2010

MGoPoints: 193

Monocle Smile

November 30th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^

-Mike Jones as MLB? Don't think so. Not nearly sizeable enough and his skill set is more along the lines of Mouton. WLB for sure. Switch Jones and Bell.

-Josh Furman at FS? Thought he was more of a hybrid type.

-I really, really hope someone can displace Vincent Smith from the starting spot. He's a likeable player, but we really could use a more dynamic runner.

-Here's hoping neither Kovacs nor Vinopal starts...because other players beat them out, not because they lose the job.

Joined: 09/17/2009

MGoPoints: 23025

Blue_n_Aww

November 30th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^

You're right about Jones.

Not sure what Furman will do when he actually starts playing, but I'm not sure who else would play FS on the third team. Really I just wanted to fill out the 3-deep.

I'd be pretty surprised if anyone displaced Vincent by the begining of next year unless Dee is as awesome as I hope. I kinda agree with you, but this is what I think will be.

Kovacs is starting so don't get your hopes up. Who on the roster is going to displace Vinopal? Maybe Courntey Avery?

Joined: 08/11/2009

MGoPoints: 1949

MH20

November 30th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^

Avery is too small to play FS, then again Vinopal is far from ideal in terms of size.  Either way, though, I think that Avery has shown he has the ability to play CB and wouldn't be surprised to see him in the starting lineup opposite Woolfolk next season.

Joined: 10/30/2008

MGoPoints: 40453

switch26

November 30th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^

Id like to see what a healthy toussaint can do personally..  From what i saw in the OSU game, he didn't go down instantly when he was arm tackled at the line like V smith did over and over again.

 

He had some nice runs, id just like to see healthy toussaint get going to start the season in the non conference.  Either way should be a fun year.

Joined: 02/04/2010

MGoPoints: 8309

WolvinLA2

November 30th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^

I agree with that, a couple of my own critiques:

Kenny Wilkins is huge, he will be a full DE for sure, maybe even a DT/DE in the future.  Craig Roh will also be too big to play a hybrid spot next year, he'll be a full-time DE. 

Jake Ryan is a MLB, or the Craig Roh spot if we still have it.  I see him playing similarly to how JB Fitz did at the end of this year.  Same thing with Kinard, way too big to be a spur.

One of Terrence Talbott and Cullen Christian will move to safety, probably FS.  We will have a lot of corners next fall with Floyd and Woolfolk back and so many in the recruiting class.  I'm thinking CC because he's bigger, but I heard maybe TT instead. 

Furman is for sure not a FS, probably not a safety at all.  Him and Cam are likely linebackers, WILLs, probably.  Marvin might be a linebacker as well, but might stay at SS. 

I'm hoping for a 4-3 next fall, that would be ideal, I think.  Maybe run a 3-4 sometimes with all the WLB types we have.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

WolvinLA2

November 30th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^

Well, if Floyd's coverage skills are a major question mark, then CB's not the place for him either.  And I like Vinopal, I'm not suggesting any of these guys take over for Ray Ray, but we're going to have about a dozen CBs next fall and one or two free safeties.  If we don't move a CB to FS, who backs up Vinopal?  Carvin?  He's more of a SS.  A true freshman?  Maybe if it's Avery Walls, but I don't want to bank on that.  We were banking on Cullen coming in and starting at CB, but it doesn't always work that way. 

Woolfolk, Floyd, Avery, Talbott and CC are not all going to see time at CB next fall, especially if even one of the true frosh CBs end up looking good.  Moving any one of them to FS for the year would be a good idea, IMO.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

DGDestroys

November 30th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^

I should have been clearer. I meant covering in space. It's something that's necessary at corner, sure, but can be really taken advantage of at FS. If he's playing a short underneath zone, or even just one deep third, I think he can be efficient, although nowhere near superb. I do agree that SOMEONE's going to need to go to FS this offseason, even if Carvin stays (maybe, maybe not). Cullen could be a possibility, Troy, Avery Walls, maybe even Crawford. I'm assuming the coaches will surprise us all someone we didn't see coming. 

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 19352

bighouseinmate

November 30th, 2010 at 8:35 PM ^

Assuming a team has an appropriate NT and DT to play this alignment, four LBs' with one rushing the passer as basically a quick, agile DE puts a ton of pressure on the pocket passing QB's. We may be better suited though for an Indy-style 4-3 where our DE's are pass rushing monsters. Either way, there should be no reason for the team to ever employ a 3-3-5 setup.

Joined: 12/19/2008

MGoPoints: 4951

JoeBlue18

November 30th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^

"Craig Roh will also be too big to play a hybrid spot next year, he'll be a full-time DE."

Craig Roh at fulltime DE is gunna be a key to our success next year. That will greatly benefit the D-Line and give the future DC a chance to run an explosive 4-3.

Plus Kenny Demens seems to have plenty of potential to be a future star.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 370

MH20

November 30th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^

I personally would rather see Avery playing opposite Woolfolk.  I think he has more upside and has already made a lot of strides since being forced into the starting lineup.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see Big Will return to the D after the season.

Lastly, I believe that Schofield has always been listed at RT on the depth charts throughout the season.

Joined: 10/30/2008

MGoPoints: 40453

WolvinLA2

November 30th, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^

I'm assuming Huyge will start.  If Lewan and Huyge are the starters, that leaves Schofield as the only other OT on the roster who's not a true frosh.  If either OT goes out, I'm hoping they play Schofield over either true frosh, who would then have to burn a redshirt.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

NathanFromMCounty

November 30th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^

...he showed me nothing good this year and backed up why his only other offers where from MAC schools.  Considering the sheer number of safety's on the roster, surely one of the higher recruited guys distinguishes themselves.

Joined: 10/10/2010

MGoPoints: 97

switch26

November 30th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^

Was vinopal in charge of the coverage of the wide open guys in the middle of the field against Wisc and OSU?  Pryor and Tolzien threw it dead center every time and Vinopal was way late on the spot everytime

Joined: 02/04/2010

MGoPoints: 8309