 |
| Brennen Beyer is headed to new position, along with a few other Wolverines (image via AnnArbor.com) |
Here are my summative thoughts on these things:
Beyer has always looked to me more like a defensive end than an outside linebacker. When I found out last fall that he and Frank Clark (who had flipped from outside linebacker to defensive end) had exchanged positions, it seemed strange to me that Beyer would move away from the defensive line. Although the SAM linebacker in this defense is mostly a pass rusher, he still has some coverage responsibilities. Beyer has always reminded me of Craig Roh, and while Roh was fairly lithe as a 235-240 lb. freshman, he's lost some of that agility with added weight. I'm not suggesting that Beyer will eventually be a strongside end, too, but he seemed out of place at linebacker. And despite the fact that he ascended to Jake Ryan's primary backup at SAM, that was at least partly because Cam Gordon suffered through a back injury for much of the season.
Beyer will be fighting with sophomore Frank Clark for the starting weakside end position. Clark ended the 2011 season on a high note with some stellar play in the Sugar Bowl. That end position has, of course, been vacated by Roh. When he was younger, I assumed that Roh would settle in around 255 lbs. or so and remain at weakside end. However, the coaches wanted him up around 270 lbs. this past season, and he just can't maintain his old speed at that weight. With the graduation of Ryan Van Bergen, the strongside end position needed an influx of talent (and I have yet to join the Nathan Brink bandwagon). Roh will be the likely starter at SDE with guys like redshirt freshman Keith Heitzman and redshirt sophomore Brink battling there, too.
As for the move of Black to 3-tech defensive tackle, I will say that I've been slightly underwhelmed by his play so far. He should have been redshirted as a freshman in 2010 so he could add bulk, but unfortunately he was needed immediately. Now he's entering his junior year when he should be just a redshirt sophomore. Black made a couple solid plays (most notably against Ohio State) from the weakside end position, but he's a liability in open space. The SDE and 3-tech positions are somewhat interchangeable, and since Roh will presumably be starting at SDE, then it makes sense that the shorter, more powerfully built Black will likely be settling in at 3-tech. Not only does this make room for Clark, Beyer, and freshmen to contribute at weakside end, but it also provides competition at defensive tackle, where Michigan is somewhat undermanned.
The move of Paskorz to tight end is probably the least controversial of the changes. Paskorz played tight end in high school, and he was buried on the depth chart at outside linebacker. Steve Watson proved to us that mediocre athletes can get on the field as a second or third tight end and make an impact, so there's a very good chance that he'll see the field in the fall. Will he ever be a starter quality tight end? My guess is no, but at least he provides depth.
Overall, I think these moves will serve the team well. And with Michigan's lack of depth and experience along the defensive line, several of these moves are almost out of necessity. This is simply the natural evolution of a college football team.
Thank you for this report. What is your opinion on Kenny Wilkins as a DT?
ReplyDeleteI thought Wilkins would be a SDE coming out of high school. He's only going to be a redshirt sophomore in the fall, so there's still time. But from what I've heard, he's buried on the depth chart and not really making a push to play. I wasn't impressed with him last spring when I saw him play DE, either, so I guess I'm not expecting much.
DeleteNice work here. I'm excited to see what Black can do at DT.
ReplyDeleteAll these moves make sense. The downside is that it indicates the coaches aren't too confident in their existing TEs and DTs. At least they'll have numbers. Once the freshman arrive, there are going to be a lot of candidates for playing time at the SDE and DT positions.
Again, Lankwonia, I think it's important to remember that the coaches are preparing for spring ball. Devin Funchess and AJ Williams are not on campus. That leaves them with Brandon Moore at Y-back, Ricardo Miller at U-back, and then walk-ons. The same goes for defensive tackles. There are two defensive tackles on the field at all times, but there are only five on the roster (Campbell, Ash, Washington, Wilkins, Black). I'm not suggesting that the moves will only last through spring ball and then the kids will be restored to their original positions, but I also don't think it's a "lack of confidence" in their other players. It's largely a function of depth.
DeleteGood point. I don't think that's their primary motive for the moves though. Coaches don't seem to want to count on Freshman contributions (they know they'll have freshman help, but can't count on any specific individuals yet). Coaches clearly prefer having veterans in place. Most times when guys change position in the off-season the change sticks. Since the positions the moves are too are also where Seniors have departed, it also makes logical sense. At the very least, the coaches are giving themselves insurance for the Fall.
DeleteThe only position change I remember that didn't actually stick (for at least one season) was Carlos Brown to cornerback.
DeleteMagnus your mentioning Cam Gordon prompts much the same question for him as with the rest of these defensive players: What's up? Where might he play in 2012? For pretty much all of 2011, Hoke kept saying that Gordon was likely to play, but we hardly ever saw him. What was wrong, and is he healed?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've heard, he's still at SAM linebacker. I think he kind of met the same fate as Brandon Herron. He got injured early, the other guy got a stranglehold on the job, and the coaches just didn't build back up the trust with him. He's supposedly healthy and ready to compete for the SAM job in the spring, although I doubt he passes up Jake Ryan. I definitely think Gordon is a better backup at SAM than Brennen Beyer. Beyer was a fill-in, basically, but Gordon should be able to make things happen if he stays healthy.
DeleteCam could also play a bigger role in passing situations, with Ryan being used as a situational DE. With fewer proven DL this year and a better all-around LB corps, LB duties may be expanded somewhat.
DeleteWhat a makeshift, piecemeal raggedy bunch this is going to be. My crystal ball tells me that M will have to stack the box in order to stop the run against the better running units in the B1G this coming year. I hope Countess is ready for life on The Island.
ReplyDeletePlease, tell me more. I'm really interested in hearing what else your crystal ball has to say.
DeleteEh, I wouldn't be too pessimistic. There'll be a lot of talent and a lot of options on the DL by Fall. It may take a while to figure it all out, so the early season could be bumpy, but we should be alright. When Michigan faces a run-heavy team they can put out pretty beefy line when they want to. I'm more worried about them producing a consistent pass-rush against a balanced offense, though perhaps Roh will prove better at it from the strong-side.
DeleteI think there's a good chance we can put a decent crew together that can stop the run (e.g., Washington, Campbell, Brink, Roh) and a decent crew that can pass-rush (e.g., Clark, Pipkins, Black, Roh)...the question is, can they find guys who are effective at both like Martin and Van Bergen? Who plays when it's 2nd and 5?
I do think that Michigan will have to stack the box a little more this year because Van Bergen/Martin won't be there. But I also have full confidence that the coaching staff will get all they can out of the DL guys. I don't think there will be much of a dropoff from Van Bergen to Roh, but whoever starts at NT will be a dropoff from Martin, obviously.
DeleteI doubt Roh can be as good as RVB. He might have more natural ability but RVB had the advantage of a red-shirt year and wasn't dealing with learning a new position.
DeleteI don't think a redshirt year really makes a difference between a fifth year senior and a true senior. A redshirt freshman is probably more prepared to play than a true freshman, but that ship sailed three years ago.
DeleteVan Bergen bounced back and forth between strongside end and defensive tackle throughout his career. I think you're overestimating the difficulty of such a position change. Roh's a smart kid and should pick up the nuances of the position pretty quickly.
He might not be as good as Van Bergen, true. But I don't think the redshirt year and/or the position change will have anything to do with it. If he's not as good, it's probably more due to his lack of size or just overall ability.
To the most recent anon. Countess had to be on an island a fair bit at the end of last season (can't recall off hand but I seem to remember a fair bit of Cover 0). Also Campbell played better than many had seen him play last year and Rig has usually played well against the run so the d-line might not be the disaster some foresee against the run.
ReplyDeleteI mean, yeah I agree and I hope they can pull together to form a solid unit, and I have faith in the coaches that they'll get the best out of em. Still, it's the biggest question mark heading into the season.
DeleteI think there is a great chance for some of the incoming freshmen this year to earn a little playing time. If they prove to the coaches they are all in and working their rear ends off there is definitely time available. There have been a few upperclassmen who have been buried in the depth chart and if they don't get into game shape they will quickly get passed by a guy trying to make something. This should be fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. The coaches will probably like to play the guys they recruited, there's a lot of them, and they come with impressive scouting reports. That said, part of the reason some of the vets were buried on the depth chart was the presence of Martin, Van Bergen, and Heininger. Even Campbell, a guy who has unquestionable talent, was someone you couldn't just bench forever.
DeleteWith those guys out of the way, people like Rock, Washington, Brink could see vastly expanded roles and feasibly become high-quality players this season.
I think a couple of the guys might be serviceable, but perhaps my definition of "high-quality" is different than yours. They have a chance to be Will Heininger; Heininger was not a high-quality player, though. He was just a guy.
DeleteYeah, 'serviceable' is a better choice here.
DeleteMy opinion on the DL Rotation--
Locks: Roh, Campbell
Near-Locks: Black, Clark
Probable: Brink, Washington
Total guess for the other 1-3 rotation players (probably more when you factor in health), but I think Pipkins and Wormley have a great shot to contribute early and Beyer will probably be in there as well. Also like Rock and Strobel, but kind of doubt they'll be ready in '12.