Michigan Football Tidbits: Defensive Competition

Michigan Football Tidbits: Defensive Competition

Let's look at the competition both from performance and upside.

Defensive Line:
Performance:
1. B. Graham
2. RVB
3. Sagesse

Upside:
B. Graham
2. Martin
3. RVB
4. Sagesse

Comment: If Michigan loses any of top three for any extended time, OUCH!

Will Campbell has a ton of talent. Also needs a lot of work on his fundamentals. In perfect world a red-shirt year would do this kid a ton of good. Reality is, due to Michigan's depth problems on defensive line he is in the mix at nose tackle and defensive end. Better fit at nose tackle in our opinion long term, more ready to help at defensive end at this time.

Sagesse cannot tell you how much respect we have for this kid. Michigan's new program is not easy for any one, but is especially difficult for this type of jumbo athletes. And yet Sagesse continues to stick it out where others have left and was actually getting time with the first group.

Linebackers:
Performance:
1. Ezeh
2. Fitzgerald
3. Demens

Upside:
1. Mouton
2. Fitzgerald
3. Demens
4. Ezeh

Comment: We need these guys to step up and be linebackers!

This is more about Fitzgerald and Demens than, Mouton and Ezeh. As things stand now would expect Mouton to step in for Fitzgerald, but if Fitzgerald or Demens steps up and proves they can play the inside linebacker, than moving Ezeh to either defensive end or spinner makes sense.

Cornerbacks:
Performance:
1. Boo Boo
2. Floyd

Upside:
1. Boo Boo
2. D. Warren
3. Floyd

Comment: Three good players here, we do need Turner or Witty to add depth.

Boo Boo has that mental edge that makes up for many of his physical limitations. Boo Boo will also rip your damn head off, D. Warren has not shown that type of physical nature.

Safeties:
Performance:
1. Woolfolk
2. M. Williams
3. Vlad
4. B. Smith

Upside:
1. Vlad
2. Woolfolk
3. M. Williams
4. B. Smith

Comment: Moving Smith to linebacker is a no brainer. Vlad will be starting before season's end, he has the most talent. Woolfolk's speed is important, and M. Williams is a perfect nickel in our opinion.

Weak side Linebacker:
Performance:
1. S. Brown
2. Hawthorne
2a. M. Jones

Upside:
1. M. Jones
1a. Hawthorne
2. S. Brown

Comment: Jones and Hawthorne are the future, both are explosive and play with chips on shoulders.

One big advantage B. Smith has is he is already linebacker size. Biggest issue here will be his attitude / want to. If he commits to playing linebacker he can be a factor in short time in our opinion. Biggest thing that kept Mouton back in our opinion again, was injuries. That shoulder caused him to miss a ton of time.

Spinner:
Performance / Upside same:
1. Evans
2. Herron
3. Watson
4. Lalota

Comment: Biggest question mark on defense in our opinion. None of the four are ideal fit.

In a perfect world Ezeh would be either a defensive end or a Spinner. Problem is he is the one guy who was making proper checks and calls this spring. If inside linebacker does not check properly in zone blitz schemes things can be very ugly. Front seven has to be in sync with the defensive backs.

Special Teams:
In our opinion special teams will be key to this season. Mesko must be an All-American and our kickers need to be more consistent.

Plus the return games need to be better. This area we give props to the coaching staff for. Every practice we have attended has had a session devoted strictly to special teams skills.

Competition next to recruiting, is the bloodline of your program.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine