Who is Michigan's most indispensable player?
ESPN just posted an article listing out the five most indispensable players in the Big Ten. For Michigan, they listed Mike McCray:
Michigan LB Mike McCray: The lone returning starter from a loaded defense, McCray is responsible for helping a young and talented pack of players around him get used to college football on the fly. The redshirt senior battled injuries through most of his career before finding his groove with 76 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season. He said after Michigan's spring game that his confidence was at “an all-time high” and that he thinks the whole unit can be faster that it was a year ago. When the Wolverines get up to full speed, it will largely be McCray’s job to keep them all running in the right direction.
While I can see their reasoning, I am not sure I entirely agree; if McCray gets hurt, we have some non-true freshman backups behind him. With the lack of depth on the d-line, I think any one of Hurst, Mone, or Gary are more indispenable to the team.
What do the rest of you think?
I understood the question, but didn't articulate my answer well. It's either Cole because the OL has been the bane of the offense, or its the hypothetical All-B1G QB starter that Rudock and Speight never quite acheived. They were both good, and at times very good. They both very much helped with 10-wins. Neither was enough to lift the team to 11/12 wins -- especially given the issues with OL/Run game. Rudock closed the year on a roll, but Utah was largely on him.
Speight had very bright spots (and a better team), but IA was a problem, and then the injury...So, I'm not hopeful #1 and #2 QBs are so close they're interchangeable. If they are, I think that's more a barrier to winning the B1G and 12ish games. One needs to separate either because Peters and Harbaugh are both special together, or because Speight is a tough RS Jr who can lead and is in year 3 under the greatest QB whisperer in football.
So, it's either Cole or the hypothetical QB who makes an All-B1G type leap and creates separation between #1 and #2. IMHO without an all-B1G caliber QB, this very young offense will be able to win 10 games, but likely not 12, and the B1G title is unlikely.
Probably anybody in the secondary. Everyone there is new or only played a handful of snaps. The depth looks scary.
Hurst.
If only for psychological reasons. He's our only true superstar at this point. He's our rock we can always point to.
While I believe Gary is the best player on the team, Mo Hurst would have to be considered a superstar as well. Dude is projected to be a mid-first round NFL draft pick.
I believe Cole, Gary, and Hurst are all correct answers to the OP's question.
I'd actually say: Devin Bush.
With Peppers gone, Bush is currently the only guy who has shown (not that Metellus and Hudson, etc. can't/won't, but just haven't) that he can make a splash.
Our DL will be solid, but if one goes down there's a lot of serviceable guys in line. However LB is really the position to be an every play play-maker (unless, of course you have the embarassment of riches on our 2016 DL).
And Peppers was that EVERY play play-maker or at least, he commanded edge and seal blocks enough for him to disrupt and push the play back towards the other 10 defenders.
Peppers so unsung in the that regard.
And we're very thin/unproven at LB.
Don't forget how much Peppers and scheming around that crater helped hide that fact.
And Bush had incredible athleticism in 2016 although Brown said, "who's this chubby kid?" who now is chiseled, "and has a D1 body."
Looking for big things from him.
So I'd say Devin Bush.
I was going to say Devin Bush also. I think he is going to be the most impactful, but don't know if he is the most indespensable. I think he will disrupt QB's all year and maybe knock some out of the game. I think he is fearless and will not be laying off like he did in the spring game. F.Franks, Mr. Bush and company are coming for you big man with a nice welcome to the college game. As you run away from his blitz, there is another guy who is going to be highly impactful this year and his name is Mr. Gary and he will be waiting to welcome you properly also. Most indespensable is hard to guess at this juncture but I would say Nordin as I doubt there will be any returns (Fsu game) and he can kick fg's from past the 40 yard line. I do not blame allen on that as kick coverage should have had that guy inside the fifteen and game over. I dont know why but this is the most excited for Michigan football ever. I see our defense dominate as A. Solomon contributes as a true freshman. Dwumfour susprizes as well as our O-line being dominate in the run game. What does all this have to do with most indespensable?. I do not know but just feel pretty good about this year. Maybe more confident then some in our young guys, but I feel if we can get consistent QB play we are going to silence critics. I look for us to crush Florida right out of the gate and then the secret will be out. Sorry went over to eleven warriors this morning and it got me jacked up. Go Blue!!!!!!.
I was going to say Devin Bush also. I think he is going to be the most impactful, but don't know if he is the most indespensable. I think he will disrupt QB's all year and maybe knock some out of the game. I think he is fearless and will not be laying off like he did in the spring game. F.Franks, Mr. Bush and company are coming for you big man with a nice welcome to the college game. As you run away from his blitz, there is another guy who is going to be highly impactful this year and his name is Mr. Gary and he will be waiting to welcome you properly also. Most indespensable is hard to guess at this juncture but I would say Nordin as I doubt there will be any returns (Fsu game) and he can kick fg's from past the 40 yard line. I do not blame allen on that as kick coverage should have had that guy inside the fifteen and game over. I dont know why but this is the most excited for Michigan football ever. I see our defense dominate as A. Solomon contributes as a true freshman. Dwumfour susprizes as well as our O-line being dominate in the run game. What does all this have to do with most indespensable?. I do not know but just feel pretty good about this year. Maybe more confident then some in our young guys, but I feel if we can get consistent QB play we are going to silence critics. I look for us to crush Florida right out of the gate and then the secret will be out. Sorry went over to eleven warriors this morning and it got me jacked up. Go Blue!!!!!!.
Did you just say that Peppers was unsung for his ability to protect the edge?
The easiest response is Mason Cole just because he is our only proven-to-be-at-least-good offensive lineman, plus he can play anywhere on the line.
I think the real answer is a tie between Mone and Hurst. We have absolutely no proven depth there. Solomon and Hudson will be great one day, but ideally you are not playing true freshman interior DL for a majority of your snaps. With Hurst, we could probably move Gary to 3 and play Kemp at anchor, given that we know Gary is a freak and has the size and we have seen some competence from Kemp in his second offseason. For Mone, it's a freshman we haven't seen yet. Gary would need a significant amount of weight to hold up as a nose. We don't know Dwumfour's health or strength status, and he is ideally a 3 anyways. I say that it is a tie between Mone and Mo because, we have less options behind Mone at nose, but Mo is more proven as a great player, so it would theoretically be a greater drop off if we were to lose Hurst.
And none of that is to say that McCray or Winovich or Gary or Kinnel wouldn't be major losses as well.
I'm not sure how we have more proven depth at LT than at DT. If desperate (i.e. if Solomon and Dwumfour both aren't viable), it seems like we could move Gary to DT (and if it's Mone that goes down, Hurst to NT) and Kemp to SDE and survive, even if it'd be a blow to our ability to rotate.
But we're already panicking about whichever guy is going to start at RT. If we had to go further down that list for a LT replacement, I'm not sure the offense could survive.
And you have to think there's a better chance that one of Solomon or Dwumfour or Hudson will be viable than, uh, Ulizio or Filiaga or JBB at LT?
Mason Cole. He's the best guy we have on the OL and he can play multiple positions.
Coach Brown's defenses are built to stop the spread and that is why there is a viper position. These guys are becoming important in the nfl also because there is so much more passing. LB/safety hybrid if you will. Against more run oriented pro style teams ( wisconsin ) and us you will see Furbush more, but you are correct Hudson is very important to this defense and will have a great impact. Here's to him setting the edge and knocking Barrett out of the GAME.
Anyone on the offensive line
Really tough to say, because we are so thin on depth at so many different spots. McCray is a good pick, but I think its a tie between Gary and Hurst.
You've got two potential All-Americans right there, but what's behind them? A lot of talent, but absolutely none of it is proven. Lot of true freshmen and RS freshmen who don't have much in the way of meaningful snaps. You lose either Hurst or Gary and the production on the DL probably takes a nosedive. Hell, the same goes for Mone and Winovich. At that point you're putting a ton of strain on the rest of the defense to assist with the run game.
I think you can "plug and play" linebackers a little bit more easily (relatively speaking) because your DL have to be able to hold up in the trenches. The starters for next year's DL will be top-notch, but the guys behind them need to grow up in a hurry. Solomon needs to be ready to come in and contribute right away.
Is going to be very good. They will keep us in games. The O Line obviously is critical and I expect they will be at least average if not better. But if we want to get over the hump, beat osu, Speight's got to be better this year. Ultimately, he will win or lose games for us.
GO BLUE!!
lawrence marshall
That's mean, Joe.
oh wait... 2017, not 2012.
Um. Maurice Hurst #73.
Mason Cole. Have a great year big guy.
Incidentally, this is a question I'm attempting to answer in my 2017 Season Countdown:
Magnus where do you see Irving and Hudson playing?. I think they will both kick inside to tackle. Am I wrong?.
I think Hudson will be a 3-tech. I tend to think the same of Irving-Bey, but he could be a swing guy like Wormley, where he can play SDE or 3-tech.
Next man up! Be ready when they blow the whistle, never know when your # will be called.
Essentially, the front seven, because of the strength of the starting front four and the raw talent of guys like Bush and Hudson, still appears to be a strength. But Kinnel is the most experienced player in a aback four that's going to be very sort on experience and will get tested a lot (if Antonio Calloway doesn't get about 15 targets in Dallas by whoever is quarterbacking Florida, I don't know what McElwain would be thinking), and I'd imagine Jeff Brohm will really go all in on testing them in the B1G opener.
Kinnel played well last year in relief and in garbage time, but it's about to get very real and what's behind him is a real question
who really doesnt see the full picture. Yes, McCray is solid and lone starter coming back on D, but Mason Cole is the guy. I think the OLine will be good, not very good, but a middle of the pack unit...Mason will get them there too.
Cole #1
Hurst #2
Kinnel #3 (I don't want 2 bright eyed puppies back at safety)
Everyone else we can work around. We are very fortunate those top 2 came back and didn't declare as they are the 2 position spots we could not have lost them. If McCray had left (if he was in a position to leave) early we would have said that sucks but it would be a Long/Hill type of situation - no clear cut guy to take over but a lot of prospects.
There are not prospects to take 100% of LT snaps or 80% of DT snaps. Hell I'd put Mone as #4 at this point based on the "2015 Glasgow effect" when you lose a frontline DT guy and the dropoff to his backup.
He will be a weapon of mass destruction this seaspm
Simply put, he's the returning starting QB who had a good first year starting at Michigan. O'Korn isn't good and Peters is an unknown. I don't trust a RS Freshman to play well right from the start. They're more prone to making bad decisions especially when they're under pressure. No matter how talented a QB is, experience matters more at QB.
O'Korn was bad before the blizzard. Several made excuses for him but he was bad when the weather was fine before the blizzard began.
Spring game isn't a good barometer of how good of a QB he is since it's a glorified scrimmage.
Actually it was very windy from the start before the snow started. He played really well as a freshman and was freshman of the year in his conference. He went downhill his sophmore year when they got a new offensive coordinator.
saying it's windy is a poor excuse since a good QB would overcome it. O'Korn can't function under pressure and he see ghosts (aka perceiving pressure when it's not there). He was really bad.
He had an okay freshman year but his numbers were helped by running Air-Raid offense. He completed under 60% which is bad considering it's a QB friendly system.
"No matter how talented a QB is, experience matters more at QB."
Denard says what's up.
because Tate Forcier lost the starting job by not putting in time at the weight room and practice. It would send a bad message to the team if RR started Tate despite him fucking around in the off-season.
we just don't know how good any of them are :)
Whoever wins the job at center, and then his backup. And then his backup. Without these guys, the qb can't get the ball, and nothing happens on offense. The ball will just sit there between the guards, and we will continually get delay of game penalties, and probably ultimatley have to forfeit.