Nightly Roundup: February 27, 2019

Nightly Roundup: February 27, 2019


February 27, 2019
(image via Youtube)

Aaron McMann talks about Michigan’s defensive tackle situation for 2019 (LINK).

Michigan landing defensive end transfer Mike Danna has made Jim Harbaugh more comfortable with the defensive line situation (LINK).

If you want a Tom Brady rookie card, it might cost you more than $400,000 (LINK).

O’Maury Samuels got probation (LINK).

The Athletic‘s Ted Nguyen says Dwayne Haskins should be a 2nd rounder (LINK).

14 comments

  1. Comments: 1863
    Joined: 1/19/2016
    je93
    Feb 28, 2019 at 12:06 AM

    I read the DT article on MLive yesterday. He refers to the position as set, then lists a 2deep that includes a TrFr, and a So DE that reportedly didn’t want to play inside (almost no experience). That’s it… After being a liability in 2018, returning one quasi-starter (Kemp) and one backup (dwumfor), I’d say DT is as big a concern as we have

  2. Comments: 1364
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    WindyCityBlue
    Feb 28, 2019 at 9:01 AM

    Well, the position basically IS set.We’ve got those four guys to get us through the year. Kemp and Dwumfour aren’t bad, but they’re nothing special, and they are undersized. This Dline is not going to stand up to a pounding running game.

  3. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Feb 28, 2019 at 12:16 PM

    It’s a huge concern but, like WCB said, the options are limited barring another grad transfer. The term “set” is correct insofar as there are 2 guys who project clearly to starter roles and a limited number of pure DT options beyond them.

    However, the analysis doesn’t mention the heavy rotation typical of the interior D-line, situational packages (e.g., Paye at DT on passing downs, 3-3-5), or positional flexibility (e.g., Hutchinson potentially sliding inside if guys like Danna and Villain pan out).

    I look at the DL as a whole and see a pecking order something like this:

    1. Paye
    2. Kemp
    3. Dwumfour
    4. Uche
    5. Danna
    6. Hutchinson
    7. Jeter
    8. Villain
    9. Smith
    10. Hinton

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Feb 28, 2019 at 12:25 PM

      The article is typically superficial in analysis but easy to read.

      I don’t agree with the conclusion that DT could be the strength of the DL since DE appears a bit stronger with Paye, Danna, Uche plus a few others. But, I did appreciate the reminder that Kemp had never played DT before last year.

      Typically you can see significant improvement in the 2nd year of a position switch. While SDE to DT isn’t so dramatic as other switches there’s still a learning curve. Kemp was already pretty solid last year and could develop into a lower-end all-conference player in 2019.

      Michigan needs multiple players in the DL group above to step up. Chances are a few will, while a few others disappoint. Dwumfour is probably the biggest X factor in terms of being critical to the team’s success.

      • Comments: 1364
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        WindyCityBlue
        Feb 28, 2019 at 7:51 PM

        Unfortunately, we seem to be playing the same game on the defensive line as the offensive line. Not recruiting and developing enough pure tackles, but getting lots of DEs and moving whichever ones get biggest inside.

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Mar 01, 2019 at 11:32 AM

          Despite not meeting expectations last year, Michigan has had great success on the interior DL over the last 5 or 6 years. OT has been a very different story.

          Furthermore, Mattison has been pretty firm about playing DTs at SDE. So the success is not even factoring in NFL DTs like Wormley and maybe Gary who could have played inside but didn’t because of the system that emphasizes run responsibility at DE.*

          I’m all for continuing to recruit more athletic DL who are projected to DE but then bulk up to play inside. It’s working. It seems like the higher rated guys that are pure NTs haven’t panned out to be impact players (e.g., Mone, Pipkins, Campbell) although I do think Michigan should continue to recruit those types also.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Mar 01, 2019 at 11:33 AM

            *gonna be interesting to see if this changes in 2019. It may have to simply because of personnel but I wonder how much of it will be Mattison heading out.

    • Comments: 1863
      Joined: 1/19/2016
      je93
      Feb 28, 2019 at 8:45 PM

      MLive writers are incapable of significant analysis, at least since NickB left

      As for your list, that’s a good conversation. Mine would tweak a bit:
      1. Paye
      2. Kemp (meh)
      3. Dwumfour (all hype so far)
      4. Uche (wish we could find a way to use him more)
      5. Hutchinson

      * big drop *

      6. Danna
      7. Jeter (hope he stays, but worth following)
      8. Smith (crossing my fingers)
      9. Hinton (crossing my fingers)
      10. Villain (to road ahead after two years off)

      DL is scary. No impact player leaving a load on the second level, who just lost the best LB in recent memory – not a good showing in the Bowl either… then there’s the secondary, that was already susceptible to decent passO even when we had a very good DL & Devin Bush in front of them

      Hopefully Gattis can produce a ton of points, because I think we’ll need it

      • Comments: 1364
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        WindyCityBlue
        Mar 01, 2019 at 6:17 AM

        The offense is definitely going to have to be better, because the defense is unlikely to be as good. We’re devoid of impact players pretty much everywhere, unfortunately. We’ve got a decent number of good players, but no great ones. I like Paye, and I think he’ll be very productive, and Hutchinson will be solid, but inside, we’re small and thin. No top-notch run-stuffers, and no one who is going to draw double teams. Smith will almost certainly play a decent amount, since we don’t have much else, but how well is, as you say, a matter of finger-crossing. I’d be happy if one of Danna, Villain and Hinton turned into a quality rotation player.

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Mar 01, 2019 at 11:18 AM

          IMO:

          Hudson, L.Hill, Paye, Uche are already impact players.*

          Dwumfour, Thomas, Hutchinson, D.Hill, Ross have the talent to get there in 2019.

          Maize colored glasses on: Jeter, Villain, McGrone, Woods probably won’t get there this year but could be pretty good.

          *I’m tempted to include Metellus because he’s one of our best and most reliable players but I do think he has a talent cap that can be a problem against elite competition.

          • Comments: 1863
            Joined: 1/19/2016
            je93
            Mar 01, 2019 at 10:50 PM

            1) I said we don’t have impact players at DL
            2) I’d hesitate to call Uche impact. Tons of potential, but no true position. Probably why we both listed him at 4, behind a backup (Paye), meh (Kemp), and Mr hype-only (dwumfor)

            Since you extended it across the field, Hudson had a couple impact games – in 2017. Minnesota was the biggest, who for some reason decided to simply not account for him

            Hill is a toss up. Pretty good when there’s pressure on a poor QB, but how confident would we be facing a good team – even with a sloppy QB? ND went right after him (successfully), so there’s that

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Mar 01, 2019 at 11:21 AM

          ” I’d be happy if one of Danna, Villain and Hinton turned into a quality rotation player.”

          A – I think there’s a REALLY good chance that happens. Like 90% likely. Between a proven player making a jump to a higher level of competition (high floor), a near 5-star recruit coming off injury heading into his junior year (high buzz), and a near 5-star freshman (high ceiling) I like our chances.

          B – I don’t buy it.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Mar 01, 2019 at 11:10 AM

        Are there rumors of Jeter transferring or is that just speculation?

        I’m optimistic on Jeter. A lot of DT’s don’t really become quality players until year 3. Mo Hurst being the most recent and shining example. While we can’t expect that of Jeter (or anyone else for that matter) he’s on track to be a solid player IMO. If he can get to a Mone-level of performance in 2019 it would be huge for this team.

        The issue last year was that there were only 2 guys with high end talent on the interior of the DL – one wasn’t quite ready for every down-duty (Dwumfour) and the other was hurt and disgruntled (Solomon). But the strength of the unit was depth – they had a lot of solid veterans who didn’t give offer much opportunity for younger guys to learn on the job.

        Jeter’s emergence into a rotational player at the end of the year was encouraging I think. We’ll need him in short-yardage situations if nothing else.

  4. Comments: 1
    9
    Mar 01, 2019 at 12:21 AM

    I am final, I am sorry, but, in my opinion, it is obvious.

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