2017 NFL Draft Preview: Michigan

Tag: Matt Godin


27Apr 2017
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2017 NFL Draft Preview: Michigan

Taco Charlton

Players are listed in order of how I expect them to get drafted.

1st ROUND

Taco Charlton – DE
Charlton didn’t particularly enjoy playing a 3-4 defensive end role in 2015 under defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, and he was more productive as a weakside end in 2016’s version of the 4-3.  He’s projected by NFL scouts as a 4-3 end, and mostly I’ve seen him pegged as going in the last third of the first round, though he has moved up to the middle third of the first round in some mock drafts over the last week or two.
Teams to watch: Saints, Bears, Dolphins, Falcons

Hit the jump for the rest of the draft preview.

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25Mar 2017
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Michigan 2017 Pro Day Results

Dymonte Thomas (image via MLive)

Several Wolverines participated in the NFL Combine a couple weeks ago (LINK), and I broke down the winners and losers from the Combine (LINK). Michigan held its pro day on Friday, and there were numerous big NFL names at Al Glick Fieldhouse to check it out:

  • Bears defensive backs coach Ed Donatell
  • Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis
  • Dolphins executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum
  • Jets head coach Todd Bowles
  • Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Bob Quinn
  • Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia
  • Ravens head coach John Harbaugh
  • Saints head coach Sean Payton
  • Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin
  • Texans defensive line coach Anthony Weaver
  • Titans head coach Mike Mularkey and head coach Jon Robinson

In total, there were reportedly going to be representatives from all 32 teams at the pro day.

Here are some notable performances from Michigan’s players:

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21Jan 2017
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2017 East-West Shrine Game

The 2017 East-West Shrine Game will be played on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. EST. The broadcast will be on NFL Network.

Here are some players to watch for Michigan fans:

EAST

De’Veon Smith – RB – Michigan
Erik Magnuson – OT – Michigan
Dan Skipper – OT – Arkansas
Kyle Kalis – OG – Michigan
Alex Kozan – OG – Auburn
Matt Godin – DT – Michigan
James Onwualu – LB – Notre Dame
Jalen Myrick – CB – Minnesota
Channing Stribling – CB – Michigan
Delano Hill – S – Michigan
Dymonte Thomas – S – Michigan
Damarious Travis – S – Minnesota

WEST

Gunner Kiel – QB – Cincinnati
Wes Lunt – QB – Illinois
Dare Ogunbowale – RB – Wisconsin
Austin Carr – WR – Northwestern
Hardy Nickerson, Jr. – LB – Illinois
Leon McQuay III – S – USC

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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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15Aug 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #27 Matt Godin

Matt Godin

Name: Matt Godin
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 294 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Godin #36 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He started four games and made 17 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 0.5 sacks.

Godin has quietly turned into a solid player for Michigan. He began last season as the starting defensive tackle before an injury began to hamper him, at which point he was displaced as a starter by Chris Wormley. Godin’s technique was an issue earlier in his career, but he has learned to stay lower and to use his length as an advantage against offensive linemen. It’s tough for most 6’6″ guys to be effective defensive tackles, but he has learned to make it work. When Godin came back from injury, he was less effective, though that may have been partially due to the increasingly difficult opponents Michigan faced later in the year.

Entering his final season, Godin looks like the forgotten man up front. There’s hype about Rashan Gary, Chris Wormley, Maurice Hurst, Jr., Ryan Glasgow, Taco Charlton, Bryan Mone, and even Chase Winovich. But not so much Godin. He can play a couple spots on the line – strongside end or 3-tech – though he lacks the suddenness to be a full-time defensive end. I would expect Godin to be a backup this year now that Chris Wormley seems to have found his stride, and Hurst may be fighting for snaps at 3-tech, too. It’s a deep defensive line group, and that should be the strength of the entire team this season. If Michigan doesn’t get solid play up front, that’s going to make it difficult on the relatively inexperienced linebackers.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

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