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| Richard Ash (#54) |
Ash committed to Michigan in December 2009 after flipping his commitment from West Virginia. He was a 263 lb. player coming out of high school, and I assumed that he would chisel his body into becoming a 5-tech defensive end or perhaps a 3-tech tackle. However, he was 300 lbs. when he arrived on campus, which is obviously a ways away from his high school weight. Recruiting analysts mentioned that he was a better player when he was 240 or so as a junior, so his weight when he arrived in Ann Arbor was an immediate red flag to me. Ash settled in at nose tackle for the duration of his career, but he never made an impact on the field. After redshirting as a freshman, he appeared in 14 games from 2011-2013 and finally made his first (and only) career tackle in the regular season finale against Ohio State.
This departure leaves Michigan somewhat thin at nose tackle with last year's starter Quinton Washington graduating and presumed new starter Ondre Pipkins coming off a torn ACL. Other options include redshirt sophomore Willie Henry, redshirt freshman Maurice Hurst, redshirt sophomore Ryan Glasgow, redshirt freshman Henry Poggi, and incoming freshmen Brady Pallante and Bryan Mone. Henry has shown the most promise, but he played 3-tech defensive tackle last season. Regardless of which players are on the two-deep at nose tackle, there will likely be some reshuffling on the defensive line. Ash may not have seen significant playing time in 2014, but he was an insurance policy in case of injury.
Along with safety Josh Furman (I'll have a separate post for Furman), this is the nineteenth (19th!) player to depart from the 27-man class before exhausting his eligibility. Courtney Avery, Jibreel Black, Drew Dileo, and Jeremy Jackson played all four years, so the only remaining members are QB Devin Gardner, P Will Hagerup, TE Jordan Paskorz, and LB Jake Ryan.
I just can't get too worried about the loss of a guy who's never done a thing. If we can't field a decent D-line finally, after all of the quality recruits we've brought in over the last three years, then we probably never will. Henry is perfectly capable of sliding over to NT, with Pipkins backing him up, and Glasgow as #3. Poggi and Hurst will be in the mix at DT, and Heitzman may slide in there as well. Ash will not be missed.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. UM really struggled down the stretch at NT. They tried Ash a little but it was obvious that he was more of a last ditch option and not an answer. A 5th-yr senior who cannot provide quality snaps is just not that useful, no matter what the depth situation. They are better off putting their resources into a guy they trust more like Ryan Glasgow or into the 1st or 2nd year guys. It's not uncommon for freshmen DL to play and with Mone coming in early, he'll get his shot. But I would not sleep on Pallante either. Being a top wrestler, he could potentially get away with playing a little on the light side.
DeleteWhat about Bryan Mone as potential depth at nose tackle? Or do you see him primarily as a 3 tech?
ReplyDeleteSee below. Thanks.
DeleteMone is an EE, so he could definitely be in the mix there too, at least for depth. He has the size to play NT, though he could probably fit in as either.
DeleteMagnus-
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned Pallante anf the RS-Fr as candidates but not Mone. Was this intentional? If so, could you elaborate?
AC1997
It was simply an oversight on my part. That's what I get for listing those guys off the top of my head. It's fixed now. Thanks.
DeleteMone coming in early helps here. As previously disclosed, I am not a fan of freshman linemen on either side of the ball, but a winter of college level conditioning followed by a spring of. "KEEP THOSE PADS DOWN, LOW MAN WINS!!!!!" gives him a chance.
ReplyDeleteThis might also be a good time to go relentless attacking those inside gaps. Small but quick can thrive within that system, both Henry and Hurst look like they have better than average burst. We finally have lots of experienced Linebacking depth well able to make the reads.
It could be good.
As an aside, check out Izzo's post game pressie last night for a good look at the cost of hate in big time sports. It looks to me like this Sparty team is built like no other since "The Flintstones" for making a March run, but Tommy boy is hollowing out inside. Dantonio won't be far behind.
Do you think this was Ash's decision, or was it forced on by the coaching staff?
ReplyDeletewe'll never know the dynamic inside of S hall. Prob a little bit of both -- Ash wasn't going to get a lot of snaps and Ash prob realized that other guys pushing forward. Ash prob didn't see the point of playing another year of back-up role, especially if he got the degree worked out.
DeleteA couple of points about Ash's decision. Of the three who left, Ash is the only one that the coaches might have wanted to keep, since Michigan is a bit thin at NT. However, there is no evidence that he would be very effective if they ever had to actually use him.
DeleteEven without Ash, Michigan is at 83 schollies, and we know they'd like to add a DE and possibly a RB before signing day, if they can get the guys they want.
That would get them to 85, and if there is no further attrition, walk-on Graham Glasgow would lose his scholarship in 2014, even though he had one in 2013, started the whole year, and is likely to start again next season.
So yeah, I'd say they probably nudged Ash out the door. I don't know whether this staff ever flat-out tells guys that their fifth years aren't being renewed, or if they just drop the right hints and wait for the obvious to happen.
I think Ash probably chose to leave after barely playing over the last three seasons.
DeleteBy the way, thunder, your commitment post has a picture of Kim Jong Il (of North Korea) there -- something happened to your old posts?
ReplyDeleteIt is well known that Magnus is a supporter of the DPRK.
DeleteI planned it that way. Kim Jong Il popped up when I searched for images of Richard Ash when he committed.
DeleteYou can't coach up depth and we just lost it at a spot we are very thin at.
ReplyDeleteNot good news. Please not another 2013 season. Please!!