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| Kyle Fuller (#17) was a Second Team All-ACC pick despite starting at three different positions, including weakside linebacker (image via Collegiate Times) |
MICHIGAN
Starters: Redshirt freshman Jake Ryan (6'3", 230 lbs.) started 10 games at strongside linebacker; he ended the season with 30 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries. Redshirt junior middle linebacker Kenny Demens (6'1", 248 lbs.) started every game and led the team in tackles; he finished with 86 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. True freshman weakside linebacker Desmond Morgan (6'1", 220 lbs.) took over the starting job midway through the year and started 6 games altogether; he ended the regular season with 53 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery.
Backups: True freshman Brennen Beyer (6'3", 225 lbs.) is the backup SAM and made 11 total tackles. Junior Brandin Hawthorne (6'0", 214 lbs.) is the backup WILL (and started 5 games before losing his spot), finishing with 43 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Demens rarely leaves the field.
VIRGINIA TECH
Starters: Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Jack Tyler (6'0", 229 lbs.) made 3 starts on the season; he ended the year with 35 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. Redshirt sophomore inside linebacker Tariq Edwards (6'2", 231 lbs.) started every game; he has 63 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. Sophomore cornerback Kyle Fuller (6'0", 187 lbs.) has started the last 2 games at weakside linebacker due to injuries, but started the other 11 games in the defensive backfield and was a Second Team All-ACC selection; he has 64 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. Tyler and Fuller are replacing injured starters Bruce Taylor and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, respectively, who will also miss the Sugar Bowl.
Backups: Fifth year senior middle linebacker Barquell Rivers (6'0", 250 lbs.) has 16 tackles, 1/2 a sack, and 1 interception. Redshirt junior outside linebacker Alonzo Tweedy (6'2", 189 lbs.) has 20 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.
THE TAKEAWAY
It's tempting to say that Michigan has the advantage here, since all three starters have superior size and actually earned their positions rather than stepping in due to injury. Two of Virginia Tech's starters are replacements, although Fuller has started every game this season at various positions. But what Michigan has in game experience might be trumped by the playmaking ability of Edwards and Fuller, who have combined for 24 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 3 interceptions. And despite the relative health of Michigan's unit, two of those three starters are still just freshmen.
The Hokies are #37 in the country in tackles for loss, while Michigan ranks at #72. Additionally, Virginia Tech has the #17 rushing defense, compared to Michigan's #34 rushing D. The Hokies might be small, but they're quick and they get to the ball. They have made their name on special teams and defense over the years, and defensive coordinator Bud Foster is a pretty good coordinator. They won't be able to keep up with Denard Robinson in a foot race, but they should create a nice challenge.
Advantage: Virginia Tech
Everytime I see these stats ranking for VT against UM on any level my mind just jumps to the opponents those numbers were put up against for VT and I feel very unimpressed. I hope there is some merit to thinking the B10 is the toughter conference, and we should be prepared for a nice win.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the game in the picture you show is being played in a high school football "stadium". There is some guy with a yellow security jacket on standing there in the background. Hilarious! GO BLUE!
ReplyDeleteI like how diplomatic and even generous you're being to Virginia Tech in these write-ups. I'll put in my agreement with Anon about VT's opponents factoring into their rush D. Last years ACC was the year of the passer. VT's conference opponents averaged somewhere around 2800 yards passing for the season. The handful of ACC teams with a solid ground attack put up over 100 against VT each time. Clemson tagged them for 217 on the ground in the ACC Championship, and Georgia Tech put up 243 split between 6 different backs. They still have pretty good linebackers, though.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to run power at that weakside "linebacker" all day. It might even work this time.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 9:35 a.m.
ReplyDeleteI think the Big Ten is a tougher conference overall, but the ACC has 3 teams in the AP top 25, and the Big Ten has 4. And if you count the "Other Teams Receiving Votes" category, the ACC has a total of 6 teams...and the Big Ten still has 4.
Ohio State would probably beat a team like Virginia, but unfortunately (for the Big Ten), they had a miserable season due to some star players being morons.
@ Anonymous 12:24 p.m.
ReplyDeleteThe attendance for the Virginia Tech @ Duke game was a whopping 27,392 people. In fairness, though, Duke is a small-ish private school and they have a pretty good basketball team despite having a tiny Cameron Indoor Stadium to play in.
Either way, the Big Ten has a pretty equivalent football team in the form of Indiana. Your point still stands, though - it looks like a high school football crowd.
@ Michael 3:58 p.m.
ReplyDeleteI'm basically just going by the numbers when it comes to these write-ups. As much as I would like to, I'm not going to go back and watch VT's games from this year. I've watched the highlights, and that's about it. It just seems counter-intuitive to say "Well, VT has a higher national ranking and got better numbers out of their linebackers than Michigan...but Michigan has the advantage!"
I'll sort that out in my game prediction.