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| Ryan Glasgow (#96) |
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 297 lbs.
High school: Aurora (IL) Marmion Academy
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #96
Last year: I did not rank Glasgow. He played in eleven games and made 2 tackles.
Kudos to reader and frequent commenter Roanman, who said in last year's 2013 Countdown wrap-up that he would put Ryan Glasgow somewhere between #54 and #68. On the other hand, I didn't think he was worth ranking because I didn't think he would play much. I was wrong, but I remain befuddled as to why I was wrong. The obvious answer is, of course, that Michigan's coaching staff thought Glasgow was the second-best nose tackle on the roster once Ondre Pipkins got injured. But I'm not sure how a guy plays in eleven (11!) games at nose tackle and doesn't make more than 2 tackles as a defensive lineman. Players who equaled or surpassed his production include Tom Strobel (1 game, 2 tackles), Richard Ash (8 games, 3 tackles), Matt Godin (7 games, 3 tackles), and Anthony Capatina (5 games, 2 tackles). Whenever I noticed Glasgow on the field, it seemed to be that he was getting pushed downfield or getting turned; at best he would earn a stalemate.
Ah well. What does 2013 matter? We're talking about 2014 now! Brady Hoke is no longer the nose tackles coach, and maybe a change of scenery will do the position some good. He will still help out, of course, but Mark Smith has taken over defensive line coaching duties. Pipkins is scheduled to return from his ACL injury suffered mid-season, and he would be counted on to start if healthy. Redshirt freshman Maurice Hurst, Jr. made a splash in the spring, redshirt sophomore Willie Henry can play either defensive tackle position, and freshman Bryan Mone will probably also play a role. My head is telling me that Glasgow should be relegated to garbage time duty, but evidence suggests that the coaches will still try to shoehorn him in there somewhere. Whoever ends up playing nose tackle can hopefully produce more than the 28 tackles and .5 tackles for loss that Quinton Washington, Pipkins, and Glasgow produced last year.
Prediction: Backup nose tackle
"But I'm not sure how a guy plays in eleven (11!) games at nose tackle and doesn't make more than 2 tackles as a defensive lineman."
ReplyDeleteNeither am I.
Does anyone else feel that the coaching staff values sometimes "process" a little too much and "outcome" a little too ... little? It's reminiscent of the Schembechler era (which IMO extended to 2007), where practice effort sometimes seemed to be more important than potential game-time contributions. It would explain why (for example) Pat Massey started at DT.
Don't get me wrong -- practice effort IS important. I just wonder sometimes ...
My memory could be wrong, but I thought Glasgow played a lot more at 3-tech than NT last year. That always befuddled me because he'd be paired up at times with Black or Henry and those guys would be playing nose. Seemed it would be better to have your quicker guys at the 3-tech.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, I agree that Glasgow got a bit of the AJ Williams treatment last year - more snaps then he deserved. He's definitely playing nose now because UM has a boatload of guys who can play the 3-tech. Will be interesting to see if Glasgow can take the next step in terms of strength and explosiveness. If Pipkins is struggling with his weight or knee, Glasgow could carve out a nice role for himself again.
What a depressing countdown this year.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that depressing. Was anyone expecting players 54-90 to be exciting?
DeleteAgreed. Right now is the build up. Top 40 or so is when we should see the players we depend on for a successful season.
DeleteI think it is actually encouraging. We are at #54, and you've already hit a guy who was a major contributor in '13. UM has lot of young players returning who have real experience, and that should make for an interesting and perhaps underrated team.
DeleteWe're not even into the two deep yet. We don't need a significant contribution this year from anyone who's been listed yet.
Deletehuge difference bw just logging minutes and being major contributor...2 tackles and no push in all those snaps does not scream "major contributor." totally agree with OP, not sure why he played so much, just seems to be one of those effort dudes hoke seems to love so much without ever really seeing production. good news for glasgow...hoke still likes him enough despite evidence to keep him in rotation with hurst, mone, pipkins etc
ReplyDeleteYep, because all those guys have a load of TFL's to their credit in the college game.
DeleteI was wrong, but I shouldn't have been wrong. Yep just keep thinking you are a D1 caliber coach.
ReplyDeleteYours is such a stupid viewpoint. I never said I was a D1 caliber coach. Not everyone who questions the President thinks of himself as presidential material, does he?
DeleteIsn't the role for a DT in the 4-3 under mostly to eat blocks without getting pushed back? I remember guy like Renes/Carr/Taylor not putting up eye-popping stats but still being highly thought of. Of course, you want to see at least a few TFL, but for a rotational backup it's probably OK that he doesn't produce numbers. I could be wrong, but it seems this is the type of guy the coaches actually want, going so far as to recruit Pallante.
ReplyDeleteI'd expect Glasgow's role to reduce this year, but, like Thunder said, the coaches seem to value this type of player. Not convinced it's a bad thing.
That's the role for a nose tackle, but he should still be able to make an occasional play. I mean, TWO tackles when he played as much as he did? That's kind of absurd. I'm not saying he should be Mike Martin with double-digit tackles for loss. This has always been an issue for me when it comes to some coaches (Rodriguez and Hoke alike) who value "consistency" - whatever that means - over production. It's been the case with Beyer, Glasgow, Vincent Smith, etc.
DeleteI think consistency matters a lot. I think we expect these kids to make the right play, but in reality they screw up pretty regularly. Not just execution/technique, but knowing the right play/assignment. These kind of bone-head plays can mean TDs given up. Hard for us, as fans, to not take it for granted, but I imagine it's very important for coaches. Goes back to the Smith/Shaw stuff we argued about a couple seasons ago. Production in a team game is a lot more than the individual stats. Jordan Morgan's flawless defensive rotations, screen-setting, etc. are going to be badly missed this year, but if you look at his stats these things don't show up at all. Guy's shot-blocking was non-existent, but he was a defensive force.
DeleteI'm not saying Glasgow should play more. I think you have a point about the lack of production and maybe the coaches, tending towards conservative views, do overemphasize reliability at the expense of making impact plays. I'm just saying that the coaches might know something we don't and that this is something we as fans might as well get used to. I'd bet 2 years from now we're wondering why a guy like Pallante is playing over somebody more impressive-seeming like Hurst, Mone, or Wormley. It's been happening, off and on, for a long time.
Glasgow started the spring game. I think he may be prined to contribute much more this year than last. Keep in mind he was a RS Freshman
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