tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post3429811248462851007..comments2024-03-27T14:21:36.537-04:00Comments on Touch the Banner: 2015 Season Countdown: #65 Shelton JohnsonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-77987132855109715432015-06-26T15:43:51.722-04:002015-06-26T15:43:51.722-04:00@Anon - I assume your question is to me since Thun...@Anon - I assume your question is to me since Thunder hasn't ranked Marshall yet and presumably will later... <br /><br />I didn't actually say I thought Marshall would be better, nor was that my point - since presumably Michigan will play more than 2 or 3 DE -- but I do think Johnson is more likely to be an impact player in 2015 than Marshall.<br /><br />While I see your point regarding favoring a RS Freshman over a true freshman and (in general) I tend to agree, in this case I don't. The fact is that the shine is always off (at least a little bit) for a kid who doesn't play, unless he is blocked by great veterans ahead of him. That wasn't the case -- Michigan badly needed pass rushers last year (Beyer and Ojemudia were unexceptional) and Marshall didn't play. Sure, Marshall will get better, and I had and have high hopes for him eventually. However, the very best players typically play right away at least some, especially when the position is not an area of team strength.<br /><br />Johnson and Marshall are similar prospects -- their size and recruiting rankings and offers are so similar it's hardly worth differentiating -- both Marshall and Johnson are impressive prospects. Nobody has any clue who the better player will be 4 years from now. But we are talking about 2015.<br /><br />The difference, as I see it, is that Johnson has more potential due to the unknown. There is a non-zero chance Johnson is an instant impact terror. That's not true for Marshall, who has been on a college team already and that team elected not to play him. Johnson is still unknown, so he might be too good to keep off the field.<br /><br />You also have to consider that this is a kid that Durkin/Harbaugh recruited, not a Hoke holdover.<br /><br />Last but not least, there have been some rumblings of concerns related to Marshall translating his talent into on-field production.<br /><br />So yeah, there's a very good chance Marshall is a better player than Johnson but there's very little chance that Marshall is better than Ojemudia, Charlton, etc. Johnson might be.Lanknowsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-34448968656600617622015-06-26T13:52:16.852-04:002015-06-26T13:52:16.852-04:00You'd be pretty surprised if Marshall proves t...You'd be pretty surprised if Marshall proves to be better?<br /><br />Marshall was ranked arguably (almost definitely) higher coming out of high school, had a year in a college strength and conditioning program, and looked like an absolute hoss in the spring game.<br /><br />Marshall is getting significant minutes this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-63963814405092167552015-06-26T11:46:05.473-04:002015-06-26T11:46:05.473-04:00I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't play...I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't play a role - at least I'd expect him to get some chances early in the year to prove himself. Good chance of being used in pass-rush situations at least. Outside chance of starting over Ojemudia if he shows promise. The only way I don't think he'll play is if Jones or Marshall prove to be better. <br /><br />I'm excited about Johnson and expect him to help immediately.Lanknowsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-44420915050753287772015-06-26T09:20:32.265-04:002015-06-26T09:20:32.265-04:00I hope he can become something serviceable this ye...I hope he can become something serviceable this year. A good DL needs rotation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com