2017 Season Countdown: #5A Bryan Mone

Tag: Bryan Mone


28Aug 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #5A Bryan Mone

Bryan Mone (#90, image via MLive)

Name: Bryan Mone
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 330 lbs.
High school: Salt Lake City (UT) Highland
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #90
Last year: I ranked Mone #15 and said he would be a backup nose tackle with 25 tackles and 3 sacks. He made 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 88

Just prior to the 2015 season, Michigan’s coaching staff did a ranking of their own players, and Mone was considered to be the #3 guy on the whole team. That was a team that included two All-Americans in Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis, not to mention a whole host of other NFL talent. Then Mone broke his leg, and Michigan took a big hit to its defensive line depth.

In the summer of 2016, word came that Mone was in the best physical condition of his life, and there were videos posted of him on social media running around like a 330 lb. guy shouldn’t be able to do. He responded with a ho-hum football season. Maybe the injury was still bothering him during the year.

Now it’s the summer of 2017, and the past two seasons of hype have dimmed my hopes for him. I would love to be wrong, but I no longer have hopes or expectations that Mone can be a Dude for Don Brown. I’m simply hoping for a year of health and competence. Much of the nose tackle depth has dissipated from the past two years, and now Mone is expected to start. If injuries or fatigue get to him, the Wolverines will have to play unproven freshman Aubrey Solomon or unproven sophomore Michael Dwumfour; or they will have to move Maurice Hurst, Jr. back over from the 3-tech position, hurting depth there. It is imperative that Mone stays healthy this season, because while there is a lot of talent on the defensive line, there aren’t many guys who can replicate the stellar play of Ryan Glasgow. Hopefully Mone can at least command some double-teams while incrementally increasing his playmaking production.

Prediction: Starting nose tackle; 20 tackles, 1 sack

1May 2017
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Michigan’s Top Six 2018 NFL Draft Prospects

Maurice Hurst, Jr. (image via MLive)

Michigan set a school record for the number of players chosen in the 2017 NFL Draft, and it’s almost impossible to replicate talent production like that in consecutive years. So the Wolverines are bound to have a less exciting draft weekend in 2018, but the cupboard isn’t totally bare.

Here’s a look at Michigan’s top NFL prospects for the 2018 class:

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30Dec 2016
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Orange Bowl Preview: Michigan Defensive Line vs. Florida State Offensive Line

Roderick Johnson (image via 247 Sports)

MICHIGAN

Starters:

  • SDE: Fifth year senior Chris Wormley (6’6″, 302 lbs.)
  • DT: Fifth year senior Matt Godin (6’6″, 294 lbs.)
  • NT: Fifth year senior Ryan Glasgow (6’4″, 299 lbs.)
  • WDE: Senior Taco Charlton (6’6″, 272 lbs.)

Football Outsiders has Michigan’s defensive line at #4 in Adjusted Line Yards, and that reinforces the idea that Michigan has one of the top few defensive lines in the country. That’s good because they are huge (three guys who are 6’6″!) and experienced. The top NFL prospect is probably Charlton (37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks), who has been dominant at times. Next is Wormley (38 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks), who will play strongside end and defensive tackle at times. Glasgow (40 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4 sacks) has turned from being excellent at holding up to double-teams to now getting penetration throughout his career. Godin (26 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack) plays less than the other three and isn’t as effective, but he’s a solid-level starting player. The unit is #2 in Standard Down Line Yards and #1 in Adjusted Sack Rate. Of course, Michigan has other players who rotate in and play well, but there aren’t many weaknesses among these top four guys.

Key backups: Backups at all four spots are worth mentioning here. Number one overall recruit from 2016 Rashan Gary (6’5″, 287 lbs.) rotates in at strongside end and has 24 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 1 sack on the year. He hasn’t been a terror off the edge as a pass rusher, but he’s very consistent and does his job well. Redshirt junior Maurice Hurst, Jr. (6’2″, 282 lbs.) is a viable NFL prospect and is Michigan’s quickest interior defensive lineman. He’s made 30 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks this season. Redshirt sophomore nose tackle Bryan Mone (6’4″, 310 lbs.) played the best game of his career against Ohio State in the regular season finale and has 9 tackles and 1 TFL. Redshirt sophomore Chase Winovich (6’3″, 245 lbs.) came out of nowhere to turn into an effective pass rusher, and he now has 33 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. A couple of these guys can rotate in at a time and Michigan won’t really skip a beat.

Hit the jump for a look at FSU’s offensive line.

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28Nov 2016
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Ohio State 30, Michigan 27

Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight drops back to pass against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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Punched in the gut. I was nervous the whole game, but Michigan led most of the way. That was a heartbreaking way to lose, because just one play here or there could have sealed the game. I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to make a game-changing interception or forced fumble or catch-and-run or special teams play, and it just never came. The Wolverines were up 17-7 at one point, but they let that lead disappear. And in the fourth quarter and overtime, Ohio State had the right answers while Michigan flailed.

Obligatory comments about the refereeing. I’m of the school of thought that if teams want to win, they shouldn’t leave the game close enough to let the outcome be altered by referees. That being said, the refereeing was bad. Jim Harbaugh said he was “bitterly disappointed” with the officiating. It’s difficult for any team to go four quarters and two overtimes with only 2 penalties for 6 yards. The two penalties were a false start and an illegal hands to the face, the latter of which cost the Buckeyes only a yard due to the location on the field. Coming into Saturday, OSU was #57 in the country with an average of 6.5 penalties for 52.7 yards per game. They had at least 4 penalties in every game except Northwestern, when they had 2 penalties for 10 yards. A few of the egregious or noteworthy calls/non-calls:

  • Ohio State CB Gareon Conley wrapped his right arm around WR Grant Perry for a pass breakup in the second overtime that should have been called.
  • Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore held WR Amara Darboh off the line of scrimmage and forced him to the ground in the first half. The ball was thrown to him and fell harmlessly to the turf, but no referee called defensive holding or pass interference. This came after a similar play on which Channing Stribling was called for P.I.
  • Jim Harbaugh’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was questionable. I get that he shouldn’t have thrown his call sheet, and he probably said something that shouldn’t have been said. But he does something similar approximately once every week, and the referees let him do it. Now in the last week of the season, in The Game, they’re going to call it? Call that consistently, and he might tone it down. But when you let him get away with it for 11 weeks in a row, then you’ve basically condoned it.
  • The Spot. On 4th-and-1 in the second overtime with Michigan up 27-24, Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett ran the ball. He was hit low by safety Delano Hill, his shoulder hit a blocker, and forward momentum that seemed bound to get him to the 15-yard line (which was the line to reach) was suddenly stopped when his body twirled in mid-air. Watching it initially, I thought the ball crossed the plane of the 15-yard line. (By the way, no measurement with the chains is necessary in that case, because the ball started on the 25-yard line, so you only have to cross the plane of the 15-yard line, kind of like scoring a touchdown. The 15-yard line is the measurement.) Upon replay, I wasn’t so sure. The ball was in Barrett’s right arm, which was trailing his left side. Ultimately, though, the referees needed irrefutable evidence that the ball didn’t get there, and no camera angles showed the ball. Either way, we’re talking about the difference of maybe 3 inches. It would take something very definitive to change the spot, and there was nothing. As a stand-alone play, I have no problem with this call. The frustrating or questionable thing is that it came at the end of a day when OSU seemed to be favored with numerous other advantages.

In case you’re wondering, Michigan was #25 in the country with 45.2 penalty yards per game on an average of 4.7 flags per game. On Saturday they had 7 for 59 yards. So Michigan had 2.3 more flags and 13.8 more penalty yards than average, while Ohio State had 4.5 fewer flags and 46.7 fewer penalty yards than average.




Michigan is mostly to blame, though, and a lot falls on the shoulders of Wilton Speight. Speight was Michigan’s best option (23/36, 219 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs). Even with a bum left shoulder, he was better than backup John O’Korn would have been. I commend Speight for playing just two weeks after what was reported as an A.C. separation. (I’ve had an A.C. separation, albeit in my throwing shoulder, and it’s not fun. Even if it had been in my non-throwing shoulder, playing football would have been tough.) Still, Speight’s the one who gave the Buckeyes most of their scoring opportunities. It started with a pick-six where De’Veon Smith missed a blitz pickup, but Speight compounded the problem by throwing in the middle of the field, where Malik Hooker – OSU’s most dangerous defensive back – was waiting. Then Speight fumbled on Ohio State’s 2-yard line when the Wolverines would have had a touchdown or at least an easy field goal. The last big mistake was an interception to sinking linebacker Jerome Baker, who may have been obscured by the umpire standing in front of him, but it gave Ohio State a short field to score. Toss in a couple errant throws that could have been first downs or touchdowns in the flat, and it was not a great day for Speight. He did make some plays, such as the 4th down touchdown throw to Darboh in the first overtime, but there weren’t enough. Take away the pick-six and the fumble, and conservatively, you’re looking at a two-score swing, even if you spot OSU a safety instead of the pick-six.

The play calling was poor, as well. I know there were some people who were upset with the play calling in the Iowa game – which I still have not finished watching – but this was a poorly called offensive game as well. I don’t understand running De’Veon Smith on power on 3rd-and-7 in overtime. I don’t understand having Jabrill Peppers run a zone read on 3rd-and-goal from the 7-yard line earlier in the game. I don’t understand running play action with your bum-shouldered QB where he’s repeatedly turning his back to the defense, even after the defense has figured out that you can’t run the ball. I don’t understand why Michigan wasn’t better at executing the run/play action from shotgun. Jehu Chesson touched the ball 4 times. Chris Evans got 6 carries. Eddie McDoom had 0 touches. Ty Isaac averages 5.6 yards/carry and 21 yards/catch, and he got 0 touches. Michigan went into a shell where it was Speight throwing to Jake Butt/Amara Darboh, De’Veon Smith running the ball, and a mostly uninspiring Jabrill Peppers package.

We are who we thought we were. Ultimately, even prior to the season, the downfall of Michigan’s team was what we expected it to be. Wilton Speight – shoulder notwithstanding – was a checkdown artist who didn’t take any downfield shots. Michigan’s offensive line was unable to create running lanes against a good defense. De’Veon Smith (21 carries, 60 yards, 2.9 yards/carry) is slow. Yes, those are all limitations on the offense, because the defense was pretty darn good and should have been good enough to win the game.

The defense was outstanding. Michigan allowed 330 yards of offense, which is the second lowest output for Ohio State this year (behind what they put up against Michigan State). Furthermore, if you take away the overtime production – which was approximately 45 yards – you’re talking about giving up about 285 yards to the Buckeyes in this game, which is 208 yards lower than their average this season. There were some busts by Michigan late in the game (the 15-yard game winner by Curtis Samuel, a handful of runs by J.T. Barrett), but overall, it was an excellent performance that included 13 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. There was talk that defensive coordinator Don Brown was hired because he’s a “spread killer,” and while Michigan definitely didn’t kill the spread, it was a pretty darn good performance. Speight handed Ohio State 10 points with his two interceptions, so we’re basically talking about a defense that gave up 7 points in regulation.

A few defensive kudos. A couple guys played what I thought was probably the best game of their career, and maybe there were even more than that. Taco Charlton, leg cramps and all, made 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Backup nose tackle Bryan Mone made 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup. Both of those guys had career best days, in my opinion. In last week’s awards post, I called out Mone as someone who had been underachieving, but he really showed up on Saturday. Hopefully he can carry that over into 2017 once Ryan Glasgow graduates. I also thought Glasgow (2 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack), Ben Gedeon (10 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack), and Mike McCray (9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU) played very well. I’ve been very critical of Channing Stribling’s tackling, but he was ready to play against OSU and finished with 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, and 1 very nice pass breakup.

A few defensive questions. The defense played extremely well, but as is bound to happen against Ohio State, there were some major goofs. I counted at least three times that Michigan played two defensive backs over the trips side, and all three plays resulted in completions for Barrett. The last was an inexplicably easy completion to Noah Brown in the fourth quarter, so it wasn’t something that happened early and got fixed. Michigan also had several communication issues, even when they weren’t getting beaten by tempo. A late long run by Barrett occurred when Michigan had no linebackers in the box except for Peppers, who was lazily spying about 7 yards off the ball. And on the final play, a blitz by Mike McCray seemed to open up a running lane for Curtis Samuel. I think McCray would have been in the hole to at least slow down Samuel if he hadn’t been blitzing, but no fewer than three (3!!!) defenders seemed to book it for outside contain, which made it a very easy cut for Samuel. When three guys overpursue and another guy takes himself out of the play by blitzing inside, you’ve got a pretty good shot at making something happen.

It was not the best day for Jabrill Peppers or his coaches. I expected and hoped for more from Peppers. He is probably headed for the NFL after this season, but it’s too soon for a career retrospective with a bowl game yet to be played. Statistically, he had a decent day on his two primary focuses, defense and special teams: 7 tackles, 1 interception returned for 11 yards, 1 punt return for 5 yards, and 1 kickoff return for 44 yards. But I couldn’t help feeling like he wasn’t quite all there on Saturday. His feet seemed to be stuck in mud at times. Ohio State TE Marcus Baugh had 2 catches against Peppers, and I would be okay with that if it was because he got outmuscled or outjumped, but on both plays, it was because Peppers was just slow to react. Peppers was also spying Barrett when the QB took off late in the game, and Peppers – a high school state champion sprinter – couldn’t make up ground on the 6’2″, 222 lb. QB who many describe as not being particularly fast, but instead shifty and tough with good vision. I don’t know if he was tired or nursing some sort of injury, but he wasn’t the ball of energy I’m used to seeing. As for his coaches, I thought his offensive usage was pretty horrendous. He had 4 carries for 4 yards, and that’s with his first carry going for 6 yards (hint: his next 3 carries went for -2 yards). The best play was using him in the backfield, faking a toss sweep to him, and then bootlegging Speight for a completion to Darboh. Michigan should have used him more as a decoy, they could have used him in the slot, they could have run a reverse or a jet sweep, they could have lined him up at QB and had him fake a zone read then throw the ball, etc. Instead, his entire offensive usage was, if I remember correctly: 3 quarterback powers, 2 zone reads (including 1 handoff to De’Veon Smith), and 1 snap as a decoy at RB. You’ve got one of the most dynamic players in the country, a potential Heisman candidate, and a future 1st round pick, and that’s all you can come up with for the biggest game of the year? Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the 3rd-and-goal zone read was a terrible play call, because the defense knows he’s not going to throw the ball and he’s going to try to keep it to score a TD.

I’m more disappointed than I thought I would be. Keep in mind that I picked Michigan to lose this game in the pre-season, and I called for a 21-17 loss in the game preview (if Speight played, which obviously he did). That was a pretty damn good prediction, considering OSU was on the brink of going up 21-17 in the final seconds of regulation. I have been expecting a similar outcome for months. But I can’t help thinking Michigan let this one slip through their fingers. The Buckeyes only led in this game for 3 minutes and 58 seconds of regulation. I didn’t expect the Iowa loss and picked an 11-1 season. Even a 10-2 season isn’t bad, but it could have been so much better. The Wolverines lost to Iowa by 1 point with no time left on the clock, and they were beating Ohio State by 3 points until there was 1 second left on the clock. The Wolverines lost two games by razor-thin margins, and instead of a potential Big Ten championship and playoff seed, they’ll be waiting to hear about a pretty good bowl bid.

21Nov 2016
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Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

jabrill-peppers-683x

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Ty Isaac catching the ball, Wilton Speight, and Jabrill Peppers. I have three suggestions going into Ohio State. First, Isaac has been underutilized as a pass receiver. Coming out of high school, there were some who thought he might be best suited to play wide receiver or tight end based on his hands. Saturday’s catch on a screen pass was just his second reception of the year, but it went for 21 yards – just like his first catch of the year (against Colorado). He has 8 catches for 111 yards in his career. Michigan has not used the tailbacks in the passing game much this year, but Isaac could be an asset for a team that might have a dinged up or backup quarterback. Second, let’s see Wilton Speight. He’s the starting quarterback, and Michigan needs him if the Wolverines want to play in the Big Ten championship game or the College Football Playoff. He’s still not 100% after getting injured against Iowa, but I think you have to at least give him a shot and try to keep him upright as long as you can against OSU. Otherwise, a lot of your other team goals go down the drain. Lastly, Peppers is a potential difference-maker. I heard last week that he would probably play more running back against Indiana, but then he only saw one snap there, perhaps because it was such a tight game in cold, windy, snowy weather. Michigan has been deploying Peppers on offense throughout the season, to varying effects, but they need to use him effectively against a solid Ohio State defense. That includes using him as a decoy, handing off the ball, and then keeping it at times.

Hit the jump for more awards from the Indiana game.

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