Lawrence Marshall (image via Maize and Blue News)
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Name: Lawrence Marshall
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) Southfield
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #93
Last year: I ranked Marshall #43 and said he would be a backup Buck linebacker (LINK). He played in three games and made 1 tackle.
Marshall reportedly spent much of his 2015 season in the doghouse, so he did not get a lot of opportunities to play. Michigan needed pass rushers, especially after Mario Ojemudia’s Achilles gave out, but still Marshall didn’t get much run. He finally saw some playing time again in the bowl game blowout of Florida, but it was not a productive year. Michigan rotated a lot of defensive linemen, went through a few Buck linebackers, and still Marshall didn’t see the field much.
This year Michigan only lost one true defensive lineman (Willie Henry), but the Buck linebacker spot will turn into more of a traditional weakside end position. There is an opening there with Ojemudia, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and James Ross III all vying for NFL roster spots, but Taco Charlton is headed for weakside end. Meanwhile, Marshall reported in the spring that he has become a full-time strongside end (or “Anchor”) and there’s talk that he’s up to around 270 lbs. With freshman Rashan Gary a strong possibility to start there, Marshall will be fighting for his shot in an attempt to keep someone like Chris Wormley at 3-tech. Michigan has a lot of depth on the defensive line, but if Marshall can keep his nose clean, he may be able to stake his claim for playing time in 2017 after Wormley, Charlton, and others filter out of the program.
Prediction: Backup Anchor
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Alright if you’re going to use “Anchor” as a position – where’s a primer that explains what the other DL positions are called now? I feel like I have to learn a new language every year, guess that’s what happens when DCs change 3 years in a row.
I had very high hopes for Marshall as a recruit but his last 2 seasons severely curtailed those. Thunder summarized the context well. There was an opportunity – Marshall didn’t take it. Now, he is changing positions. At least it seems he cleaned up whatever put him in Harbaugh’s doghouse.
With all the depth and talent on the DL I can’t imagine Marshall sees meaningful downs, even if an injury or 2 strike. If not Wormley, then Godin and Gary should get most of the real snaps ahead of him. I do think he’ll get some run in the early season blowouts we’re hoping to see, but his absence would not be felt in any meaningful way.
Opportunity is still there for Marshall to emerge in the DL rotation next season. For this season, this seems like an overly high ranking for an unproven player who is 3rd string, at best. Marshall’s completely buried on a deep senior-laden DL unit. Unless he moves back to WDE, his role is insignificant. Even for a guy locked into a backup role, his snaps aren’t that critical. Long, for example, seems more likely to be a starter in 2017 than Marshall does and closer to playing if injuries strike.
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Word out of AA this summer via Sam Webb is that Marshall has gotten his act together and is entering camp as the second string DE behind Gary. Kind of a surprise, but that may have something to do with the ranking.
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You sure about that? I know Marshall is at SDE now, but he’s ahead of Godin? I find that hard to believe. I think there’s a lot of positional flexibility on DL but SDE has more options than any other spot (Wormley, Charlton, Gary, Godin, Marshall and probably even Hurst can play there.)
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Like you said, there’s a lot of positional flexibility. Godin is a guy who plays some SDE and some 3-tech. Hurst can play a few different spots, but I really haven’t seen him utilized much other than NT. The NT position is going to be very interesting this year with Glasgow, Mone, and Hurst all capable of playing that spot.
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If the Mone hype is legit (and there’s plenty of reason to think it is), it’s very possible that Hurst’s NT snaps will be limited to pass-rush situations. He seems like a more natural DT anyway, and someone has to be Wormley’s backup (if he is indeed the DT).
Godin is better suited for SDE than DT.
It’s just hard to imagine Marshall getting snaps at SDE is optimal for this team. Unless he has made a huge leap and/or Godin stinks (which he doesn’t). Possible that Marshall leaped, but unlikely given how good the vets on the DL are and how good Gary projects to be.
Opposing OLs = dead.
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I am sure. Godin is competent enough to be in the rotation, but Marshall is more physically gifted as a DE than Godin (especially as an edge rusher). Marshall’s issue the last year or two apparently revolved around effort/maturity. Maybe he is turning the corner. From Webb’s “gut feeling” (i.e., direct info from coaching staff member), Gary and Marshall are penciled in as #1 and #2 at SDE entering fall camp.
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Very interesting. Webb has earned his respect, but I have my doubts it plays out this way. Just can’t see Hurst or Godin sitting on the sideline.
Godin was more than “in the rotation” last year, he was actively taking snaps from Henry and Wormley and made Charlton a 3rd stringer. He supposedly did well in the spring (no surprise). Brown may see him as a better fit at DT though.
Also, FWIW, Harbaugh’s press conference made it sound like they still think of Wormley as primarily a DE, albeit one that can play inside.
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Yeah, it can be frustrating how often terminology changes. And that’s just for us as fans, who aren’t privy to all the little terms Brown uses on a daily basis. Coaching primers can be tough, because some coaches use different terms at new schools. For example, a coach might name the strong safety a “Cat” at a school with the Wildcat as a mascot, but then he might call it a “Warrior” at a program with a Warrior mascot. I worked with a coach who had different names for the personnel in a 3-4 vs. a 4-3, so when we changed packages in the middle of a game, the previous WILL (weak inside linebacker) became a JACK.
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All of this makes me feel like I don’t know JACK.
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