The Big Ten released its all-conference defense and special teams units on Tuesday (LINK). Devin Bush, Jr. was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as well as the Linebacker of the Year. Other Michigan honorees include:
COACHES
First Team
Line: Chase Winovich
Line: Rashan Gary
Linebacker: Devin Bush, Jr.
Defensive Back: Lavert Hill
Defensive Back: David Long, Jr.
Punter: Will Hart
Second Team
Defensive Back: Josh Metellus
Third Team
Return Specialist: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Honorable Mention
Line: Bryan Mone
Linebacker: Khaleke Hudson
Linebacker: Josh Ross
Linebacker: Joshua Uche
Defensive Back: Tyree Kinnel
MEDIA
First Team
Line: Chase Winovich
Linebacker: Devin Bush, Jr.
Defensive Back: Lavert Hill
Punter: Will Hart
Second Team
Line: Rashan Gary
Defensive Back: Josh Metellus
Third Team
Defensive Back: David Long
Return Specialist: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Honorable Mention
Line: Kwity Paye
Linebacker: Khaleke Hudson
Linebacker: Joshua Uche
Defensive Back: Tyree Kinnel
The #1 story I take away from this is that Michigan’s defense is pretty darn good. But the #2 story is that other coaches in the conference pegged Josh Ross as an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten linebacker, but he couldn’t wrangle the starting gig away from Devin Gil.
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The Ross-Gill thing was weird for sure
Also surprised David Long doesn’t get more love. Even moreso, that Kinnel got HM on both lists, but Watson didn’t get a nod
*I know he got abused by ohio, but he had a fantastic season before Saturday
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Also great to see Metellus get recognition. He took a lot of abuse the last couple years (probably justified for the most part), but the improvement he made to his game this year was a huge leap in my opinion.
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Some people noted in the offseason that Metellus was quietly pretty good despite a few high profile mistakes.
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M defense was so good it’s more notable who DIDN’T get all-conference honors. Of the regulars, only:
-rotating crew at DT
-Gil
-Watson
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These were the 3 weak spots that OSU exploited. When certain people talk about a talent differential, it’s not necessarily about the best 5 or even 10 guys, or the “playmakers”, it’s about the talent and athleticism on the margins of the starting units and the caliber of talent entering off the bench.
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As far as disappointment relative to expectation — Hudson had a very quiet year. Particularly if you compare back to Peppers ’16 season.
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Or even compared to his own season last year. I agree, was hoping to see more out of him this year. I wonder how much of that is the opponent’s offensive scheme to avoid him after the monster start he had last year.
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My hypothesis on Ross/Gil is that the coaches saw Ross as more of a run-stuffer and Gil as better in coverage. Both will probably start next year so we’ll find out a lot more. Though Anthony may have something to say about all that speculation.
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