The following depth chart has removed a variety of players due to graduation, departures for the NFL, and transfers.
It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2022, which is obviously not true. I listed wide receiver Ronnie Bell on the below roster since he plans to return in 2022 after suffering an ACL tear in 2021.
Hit the jump for the depth chart.
QB: Cade McNamara (RS Jr.), J.J. McCarthy (So.), Alan Bowman (RS Sr.), Jayden Denegal (Fr.), Alex Orji (Fr.)
RB: Blake Corum (Jr.), Donovan Edwards (So.), Tavierre Dunlap (RS Fr.), C.J. Stokes (Fr.)
WR1: Cornelius Johnson (Sr.), Darrius Clemons (Fr.), Cristian Dixon (RS Fr.)
WR2: Ronnie Bell (RS Sr.), Andrel Anthony (So.), Amorion Walker (Fr.)
WR3: Roman Wilson (Jr.), A.J. Henning (Jr.), Eamonn Dennis (RS So.), Tyler Morris (Fr.)
TE: Erick All (Sr.), Luke Schoonmaker (RS Sr.), TE Joel Honigford (6th), Matt Hibner (RS So.), Louis Hansen (RS Fr.), Marlin Klein (Fr.), Colston Loveland (Fr.)
LT: Ryan Hayes (RS Sr.), Jeffrey Persi (RS So.), Tristan Bounds (RS Fr.)
LG: Trevor Keegan (RS Jr.), Giovanni El-Hadi (RS Fr.), Alessandro Lorenzetti (Fr.)
C: Olu Oluwatimi (6th), Greg Crippen (So.), Raheem Anderson II (RS Fr.)
RG: Zak Zinter (RS So.), Reece Atteberry (RS So.), Connor Jones (Fr.)
RT: Trente Jones (RS Jr.), Karsen Barnhart (RS Jr.), Andrew Gentry (Fr.)
SDE: Taylor Upshaw (RS Sr.), Braiden McGregor (RS So.), Michael Morris (RS Jr.), Gabe Newburg (RS Jr.), T.J. Guy (RS Fr.), Dominick Giudice (RS Fr.), Derrick Moore (Fr.)
DT: Kris Jenkins Jr. (RS So.), Julius Welschof (RS Sr.), Rayshaun Benny (RS Fr.), George Rooks III (RS Fr.), Mason Graham (Fr.)
NT: Mazi Smith (RS Jr.), Jack Stewart (RS Jr.), Ike Iwunnah (RS Fr.), Kenneth Grant (Fr.)
Rush LB: Jaylen Harrell (RS So.), Kechaun Bennett (RS Fr.)
OLB: Quinten Johnson (RS Jr.), Micah Pollard (Fr.)
MIKE: Junior Colson (So.), Kalel Mullings (Jr.), Joey Velazquez (RS Jr.), Tyler McLaurin (RS Fr.), Jimmy Rolder (Fr.)
WILL: Michael Barrett (RS Sr.), Nikhai Hill-Green (RS So.), Jaydon Hood (RS Fr.), Deuce Spurlock (Fr.)
CB: D.J. Turner II (RS Jr.), Will Johnson (Fr.), Jalen Perry (RS Jr.)
CB: Gemon Green (RS Sr.), Mike Sainristil (Sr.), Ja'Den McBurrows (So.), Myles Pollard (Fr.)
FS: Rod Moore (So.), Zeke Berry (Fr.), German Green (RS Sr.), Kody Jones (Fr.)
SS: R.J. Moten (RS So.), Makari Paige (RS So.), Jordan Morant (RS So.), Keon Sabb (Fr.), Damani Dent (Fr.)
K: Jake Moody (5th)
P: Brad Robbins (6th), Tommy Doman (RS Fr.)
LS: Will Wagner (RS Jr.), Evan Boutorwick (Fr.)
What? Mike Sainristil as a CB? That's crazy talk! :-)
ReplyDeleteIs it that unusual to have a true sophomore at the MIKE position? I understand that role carries some responsibility as the on-field "coordinator" of sorts.
It's unusual, yes, but not unheard of. Devin Bush did it. I think Obi Ezeh did it. I think it kind of depends on how much responsibility is put on the middle linebacker. Most teams have the MIKE linebacker do a lot of talking, but some teams put it more on the safeties.
DeleteI found the placement of Quinten Johnson in the #1 OLB spot to be easily the most interesting item here. TTB, do you have intel suggesting he's moved up? It would be a nice development for sure, as he seemed like an interesting prospect.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any special info, but I think he's a guy that sort of makes sense there at the position that Mike Barrett played in 2021. It's not a full-time position. I could easily be swayed to think someone else fits there. In fact, I think it makes some sense to play Moten there and insert another safety, or to put someone like Keon Sabb there. So we'll see.
DeleteI think Barrett could play the position Barrett played in 2021. Even if Barrett slides inside to replace Ross they will still want to get more snaps out of Colson and so either NHG is phased out or they move Barrett around. Considering how much he moved around already I'm sure he's capable of it.
DeleteI also think McNamara will be the starting QB. He takes the check downs. He'll take the short passes that get yardage, and leads to first downs. Space Coyote did a little thing on JJ McCarthy, and how he doesn't throw to the wide open, literally uncovered,check downs, and looks for the more exciting play. McNamara is the safer player to start. McCarthy needs to take the short passes when they are open. A team punts a lot when the QB is always looking for the home run throw.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to judge too much based on a freshman season, because it's tough to be great as a true freshman. The game is moving faster, you're learning the offense, you're learning your teammates, etc. But it's tough to go from making the playoffs to benching your starter. Harbaugh has made tough choices before, but that one is rough.
DeleteIf I found myself in that position in high school, I don't know if I could pull the trigger on inserting another QB.
I think that's the big issue. JJ has loads of talent, and has the superior arm, but Cade was simply "enough" for this team to exceed expectations. Based off what we've seen of JJ, we probably don't win 12 games with him behind Center last year
DeleteHow much can he improve in one off-season? With my expectation that the Defense regresses, I am hoping JJ makes a huge leap (and an extra bound) in improvement. We will need points in bunches in 2-3 games
Agree with the points made above but it may hinge on the running game and defense. If Michigan's D and OL can repeat last year's performance then you can just mash most teams by running 40 times a game and turnover avoidance becomes a critical differentiator. Advantage Cade.
DeleteIf you need to make plays and take chances then the equation changes and some of Cade's limitation may become a bigger deal. Thunder is absolutely right that we can expect JJ to take a leap from his freshman year. But Cade also improve a ton last year and likely will get better too.
For all the talk about who is the QB, I actually think the decision is really easy to start the year. You play both guys. If they make it hard on you later in the year you figure it out then. Decent chance it sorts itself out and it's obvious who plays, either by performance or by injury.
It ain't broke so don't fix it. Start Cade at least through the first few games in Caketember but play both with an eye on flexibility for the Iowa game. You'll know a lot more by then but I'd guess the first road game of the year at Kinnick will favor the veteran 22 year old over the hot shot teenager.
NT seems up in the air behind Smith. Various places are saying Whitley, Jeter, and Speight are all done but I have not seen confirmation one way or the other. I would think Benny would be next up otherwise. Hopefully Iwunnah is making strides.
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised if McGregor passes Morris but not Upshaw.
Still waiting to see a notable increase in DL size on the field, relative to the Don Brown defense. Right now it looks to be getting smaller if Hinton is replaced by Jenkins.
Not surprising that it would take time but for all the talk here it's all still just speculation. Grant is the only very large recruit (pure NT) they've landed and he may still be a few years away.
Whittley, Jeter, and Speight are not on the spring football roster.
DeleteI'll note the challenge of the depth chart with how multiple and flexible teams are now. Especially on D.
ReplyDeleteIt's striking that there are 9 guys at SDE listed above, but only 4 guys between 2 OLB positions. It's all semantics I guess but Michigan is currently using the NFL nomenclature of OLB for the rush/edge guys. Seems like an odd fit given that. And then there's only 4 positions for DB but Michigan almost always has 5 on the field.
I get the intent with SDE though. Michigan is still recruiting a bunch of guys that are somewhere between a DT and a DE. Guys that are somewhere between a DE and LB too of course, though the fit there is more obvious. Point is - there's a lot of ways to structure a depth chart and a lot of different flavors of player. All of that is good but underscores the challenge of accuracy in a depth chart format.
True on offense too. Last year we could have had a rush QB, a return to fullback (though manned entirely by TEs), and hybrid/flex back (Henning and Edwards were about as likely to run as catch a pass and vice versa). And I can't recall Andrel Anthony ever lining up inside, so maybe we need to break out outside WRs too.
Here is how I would approach it currently:
8 "positions" on each side of the ball
QB / RB / Flex / WR / TE / OT / OG / C on offense.
NT / DT / SDE / Edge / ILB / Flex DB / CB / S on defense.
I'm not sure this roster really needs a offensive flex because Henning fits fine at WR and Edwards fits fine at RB. But, if you have guys who are truly both (e.g., Giles Jackson) then why not show that. I'd include any 'pure' slots - guys who never play outside WR, though that is kind of rare. Maybe Eamon Dennis fits. Wilson and Bell are plenty adept inside or out so I'd lump them with the general outside WRs. Another place, like DL, where you could get into many flavors.
NT/DT still seems interchangeable to me for depth purposes (like LG and RG) but with Whitley and Grant around it's probably worth distinguishing. I'd put Ojabo and Hutchinson in the same position (edge/RLB/OLB/standup End whatever). Once you start getting above 280 then you're a SDE not an edge.
I would lump the viper types in with the flex DB spot. Trying to parse what flavor of player Peppers, Hudson, Hill, and Barrett are is probably a fool's errand. I see a parallel to the TE spot (which plays FB, TE, slot WR, outside WR in this offense). The flex DB can be a corner, a safety, a linebacker and ideally someone who can play all 3 effectively.
If I was going for a starting lineup of sorts I'd bold 11 or 12 guys rather than breakout positions. Michigan's as likely to play 12 personnel as 11 on offense so I don't know how you define starters clearly with that. And on D, without even getting into the unknown of what Minter is going to run, it's very hard to guess with DL/LB flavors are going to end up starting in the front 7, errr 6, since we can be pretty sure there will be 5 DBs on the field most of the time.