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| Matt Godin |
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 287 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Godin #48 and said he would be a backup 3-tech tackle. He made 9 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception.
Godin struggled with some fairly minor injury issues last year, and that kept him off the field for a small portion of the year. He also had some pretty solid players ahead of him on the depth chart, and he was not greatly missed for a defense that did pretty well despite a struggling offense. When Godin did get on the field, he was not a liability. He lacks great explosiveness, but he does well with leverage despite being 6'6". He had a decent two-game stretch late in the season against Northwestern and Maryland when he made 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and that interception on a tipped ball against the Wildcats. But during the rest of the year, he made just 6 total tackles.
Godin should be healthy this year, but the depth chart has not cleared up ahead of him. He and Chris Wormley play roughly the same position, and Wormley got a lot of buzz this spring as a 3-4 end/4-3 tackle tweener. Meanwhile, Michigan has Willie Henry as a 3-tech tackle. Godin is looking at a backup role again, but he is a serviceable player who has done a good job of working his body into shape since high school. I think he is a player who can help get a push against smaller, more finesse-oriented offensive lines because of his length, but there are other guys who might fit into game plans against Michigan State, Ohio State, and Minnesota, teams that are looking to pound it up the middle. Unfortunately for Godin, Wormley and Henry are his classmates, so unless something happens to one of those guys, he may not be able to punch through into the starting lineup before his career is finished.
Prediction: Backup defensive tackle
I'm curious ... how do you organize and compose this list? Is it mostly an intuitive ordering of the roster? Or do you try to make it more numerically organized with a spreadsheet and columns for attributes that you total to form a sort column? Again, just curious about your approach.
ReplyDeleteI go through the roster player by player and insert him in a list where I see him fitting. The basic question I ask myself with each player is, "How worried would I be if this player were not available to the team?"
DeleteGreat job, I check this blog 4 times a day for updates... How suprised were u when Xavier chose Clemson yesterday?
ReplyDeleteGood. I'm glad you enjoy the blog.
DeleteI was not at all surprised when Xavier Kelly picked Clemson yesterday. I think Michigan had been trending downward for the past month or so, and the timing of his announcement was a very good clue that he was picking Clemson. Michigan was probably fourth or fifth on his list by the time he made his choice.
Godin fills an important role so much so that i bet he is welcomed back for his 5th year
ReplyDeleteGodin will have to up his game to be considered for a fifth year. If guys like Hurst, mone, taco, bring it this year, Godin loses value. He seems like a pretty good hustle-guy. Ithasjust taken him a bit too long to fill out.
DeleteGodin won't have to do anything more to be 'considered'. But apparently he will have to 'audition' in the offseason, along with everyone else with his eligibility status.
DeleteIt would be a bit of a surprise if he isn't back for 2016.
@ Painter Smurf 10:09 p.m.
DeleteThe problem with giving Godin the boot after this year is that there isn't a ton of depth with the underclassmen. Michigan is going to have a ton of juniors and seniors on the interior next year (Wormley, Hurst, Godin, Glasgow, Mone, Henry), but not much below them. Especially if someone like Willie Henry decides to enter the draft after this year or if someone gets injured, you're going out on a limb by playing a true freshman or someone who's totally untested.
Do you remember if he had any OL experience in HS? At that height he looks like he could have been a decent tackle if he had any experience there and with the roadblock on defense. Too late now but just curious.
ReplyDeleteAs you stated he is not someone you really remember but not someone who gets exploited so thats fine for a backup.
I do not remember seeing him play offensive line in high school.
DeleteI like that you put Godin over the more hyped Hurst, as he's a more proven player and will likely get snaps in the rotation.
ReplyDeleteI expect him to stick at DT while Wormley slides to SDE. This lets Michigan play it's best DLmen (most of which are interior guys).
I'd add that it wouldn't shock me if Godin switched to SDE, instead of Wormley. If they see Wormley as a better fit at DT he may stay there to fight/rotate with Henry. SDE is just far more open, with no proven players unless you count Charlton.
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