Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wolverine Wednesday: Who Is Going To Step Up?: Defense Edition

I have a 100% confidence in Greg Mattison who I consider one of the top DC's in the country.    I wasn't totally bought in with the defensive assistant moves, as I was concerned that you put a good young coach in Roy Manning (DB's) in a place he has never coached before. 

Greg says it's going well and the players like it:  “It's been tremendous. First of all, every coach accepted it with open arms because it was not anything to do with how anybody was being coached or anything like that. It had nothing to do with that. It was about making your defense better and what was the best way to make our defense better and we thought that's what it was. Mark Smith's done a tremendous job with the defensive line and I've seen tremendous growth in them and obviously I'll always watch the defensive line because I've been with them for a long time. I'm really excited about that. And then to see Roy [Manning] and Curt [Mallory] in the backend, that was really neat. That was something I think we really had to do and they get so much more individual attention. Now let's just hope we don't screw up the linebackers, you know, that's the biggest thing but it's going good. It's going good.

Ok, so what do we have on D this year?

D Line

Michigan hasn't been very strong on either lines since Lloyd left the program which could be the #1 reason the program has taken a dip in the last 6 years.     I think this years Defensive Line could be "sneaky good" as the Wolverines seem to have a ton of depth with talented players. 

I really like Ondre "Pewee" Pipkins to have a break out year, if he is healthy.   Beyer to me is just a "solid" football player.  He is very consistent.  

It's time for Frank Clark to have an NFL type of year.  If wants to be a top draft pick at the next level, he is going to need to have a double digit sack year.  

I'm also a fan of Willie Henry, I think he is good run stopper.  

The player with the most upside is Taco, if he ever "gets it" he could be scary good. 

Others include:  Mone, Ojemudia, and Glasgow.  Wormly isn't even on the depth chart week 1.

This position group is going to see a ton of substitutions during the game.

LB

Mattison has moved Jake Ryan to MLB this year so he can read and react to the play in front of him.   It could be a genius move to move the defense's best player (when healthy) there or he could get caught up in the action and limit his abilities.   I expect App. State will be a "live" experiment on how he does in the middle.   We know the coaches love Desmond Morgan there as well.  

WLB will see Bolden start and Morgan getting plenty of snaps there as well.

SLB seems to be a battle between good friends RJS and James Ross. 

This could be one of the best LB units in the nation if they stay healthy and play to their ability.   This unit is full of speed and talent.    I expect this unit to lead the entire defense in a very strong 2014 campaign.  

DB

The Count is wearing #2 and it's well deserved.  He has earned it. 
Jabrill Peppers is now in town and hasn't earned anything yet, but I can't wait to see him on the field.  

These two guys could lock down WR's this year.   Peppers of course will make a few mistakes but we hope his athleticism makes up for a few mistakes.

Ray Taylor has experience but I expect him and Peppers trade positions pretty early in the season (Taylor to Nickel - Peppers to CB)

The safety position is the biggest question mark on this side of the ball. 

FS: Is the experienced junior Jarrod Wilson
SS: RS sophomore Jeremy Clark 

5 star recruit Dymonte Thomas is behind Clark at Strong Safety.   Depth seems to be an issue as the guy behind Wilson is a walk-on.   If the Dline and LB's are as good as we think, maybe the coaches can keep the safeties protected in coverage.

This defense has the ability to be the best defense Michigan has had in 10+ years.  
This defense has:
  • Top Tier DC
  • Experience
  • Depth
  • Speed
  • Exciting young players 
We know the Michigan offense will struggle at times this year.  It's time we start playing a dominate defense again.   This side of the ball is going to be fun this year!   If your looking for a reason to love the Wolverines again, look at this side of the ball.

 

8 comments:

Scott K said...

Lets just hope that the reason there is a walkon in the depth chart isn't because there wasn't a scholarship player good enough.... but that there is a walkon that IS that good.
This kid didn't make the team via student body tryout, i assume. (Jordan Kovacs did).

Three days and counting down!!!
GO BLUE

Thom said...

Greg Mattison is over rated, His best days are a thing of the past. He couldn't hold Pat Narduzzi head set.

Big35Hurt said...

Thom is obviously a moron.

I could see Taylor as the 4th CB by mid-season. He's never impressed me in the past and Lewis and Peppers are sure to pass him up.

Thom said...

Total defense ratings;
2011- UM-7th, MSU- 9th
2012- MSU-10th, UM-16th
2013- MSU-4th, UM-13th

As mentioned, Mattisons are behind him.

Scott K said...

by your logic al borges and/or calvin mcgee were the best OC's michigan has ever had, because offensive records were broken under their tenure......

oy vey....

Thom said...

No one is talking OC's. Just referring to this as stated-

"I have a 100% confidence in Greg Mattison who I consider one of the top DC's in the country."

Scott K said...

#7, #16 and #13, in the country isn't anything to sneeze at, not considering loss to injuries and youth of the squad.

Bob said...

Pat is a younger and a very good DC right now. GMat has a ton of experience and also ran one of the best defenses in the NFL. OSU's head coach while at Florida called him the best recruiter in the country. I think he is a top DC for sure.