Tag: 2009 Season Countdown

2010 Countdown: #66 Brandon Moore

2009 Countdown: The Rest

1. Brandon Graham – Necessary to command offense’s attention.
2. Tate Forcier – Michigan’s next stud quarterback.
3. Donovan Warren – A make-or-break year for Warren.
4. Obi Ezeh – Third-year starter at MIKE should explode.
5. Brandon Minor – A lethal running back when healthy.
6. Stephen Schilling – Should be a road grader at guard.
7. Mike Martin – Pick your poison to single block – Graham or Martin.
8. Troy Woolfolk – Only upperclassman safety; speed to cover mistakes.
9. David Molk – Strong, agile, and smart.
10. Greg Mathews – Best hands on the team.
11. Steve Brown – Backups at SAM are freshmen.
12. Zoltan Mesko – Potential All-American.
13. Martavious Odoms – Not a gamebreaker but always a threat.
14. Boubacar Cissoko – No depth behind the starting corners.
15. Mark Ortmann – Leader on the offensive line.
16. Ryan Van Bergen – Won’t make many plays but forces the action.
17. Michael Williams – Big hitter needs to solidify safety spot.
18. Carlos Brown – Potential home run hitter but often injured.
19. David Moosman – Versatile lineman provides imposing interior trio.
20. Junior Hemingway – Strong, acrobatic WR who can run after the catch.
21. Darryl Stonum – Biggest deep threat on team but inconsistent.
22. Mark Huyge – Holding off push from Patrick Omameh.
23. Mark Moundros – Former walk-on forced two scholarship FBs to transfer.
24. Jonas Mouton – Could be an all-conference performer.
25. Brandon Herron – Physical freak must stay healthy.
26. Kevin Koger – New offensive wrinkles should produce more receptions.
27. Kelvin Grady – Could make impact at slot, PR, and KR.
28. Justin Turner – Top backup if starting corners get tired or hurt.
29. Michael Shaw – Say hello to your starting RB in 2010.
30. Terrence Robinson – Must seize opportunity to make plays on returns.
31. Denard Robinson – One of fastest freshmen in country.
32. Greg Banks – Solid rotation player should see plenty of action.
33. Vladimir Emilien – One of only three scholarship safeties likely to play.
34. Renaldo Sagesse – Could probably start for some Big Ten teams.
35. Adam Patterson – Practically required to play in DL rotation.
36. Nick Sheridan
37. J.B. Fitzgerald
38. Laterryal Savoy
39. Kevin Grady
40. Martell Webb
41. George Morales/Mike Therman
42. Marell Evans
43. Zach Johnson
44. Patrick Omameh
45. Je’ron Stokes
46. Roy Roundtree
47. Kenny Demens
48. Craig Roh
49. Mike Jones
50. John Ferrara
51. J.T. Floyd
52. Jeremy Gallon
53. Brandin Hawthorne
54. Tim McAvoy
55. William Campbell
56. James Rogers
57. Vince Helmuth
58. Perry Dorrestein
59. Ricky Barnum
60. Kevin Leach
61. Tim North
62. Brandon Moore
63. Rocko Khoury
64. Steve Watson
65. Brandon Smith
66. Brendan Gibbons
67. Jason Olesnavage
68. Bryan Wright
69. Elliott Mealer
70. Mike Cox
71. Vincent Smith (RS)
72. Bryant Nowicki
73. Anthony Lalota (RS)
74. Fitzgerald Toussaint (RS)
75. Isaiah Bell (RS)
76. Teric Jones (RS)
77. Thomas Gordon (RS)
78. Adrian Witty (RS)
79. Taylor Lewan (RS)
80. Quinton Washington (RS)
81. Michael Schofield (RS)
82. Cameron Gordon (RS)
83. David Cone

Programming note

I appear to have bitten off more than I could chew when I started my 2009 season countdown. My goal was to complete profiles for the top 83 players on the roster (all scholarship players plus significant walk-ons). However, since the beginning of football season, my time has become more and more limited. Between scrimmages, scouting, a JV game, and my day job, I’ve worked 16, 16, 14, and 15 hours over the past four business days. That doesn’t leave much time for hobbies.

I plan to write a 2009 season prediction post, as well as the remaining countdown list. Otherwise, posting may be sporadic in the coming weeks.

2009 Countdown: #37 J.B. Fitzgerald

Name: J.B. Fitzgerald
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 232 lbs.
High School: West Windsor Plainsboro High School in Princeton Junction, NJ
Position: Inside linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey Number: #42
2008 statistics: 8 tackles
Prediction for 2009: Backup inside linebacker

Fitzgerald was a highly touted linebacker coming out of high school in 2008 and currently rests second on the depth chart at inside linebacker. If either Jonas Mouton or Obi Ezeh gets hurt, Fitzgerald would probably be the first guy on the field to replace them.

Unfortunately for Michigan, there’s very little competition at linebacker. All the freshmen (Mike Jones, Isaiah Bell, Brandin Hawthorne) seem destined for the SAM linebacker position, and even redshirt freshman Brandon Smith has reportedly been playing SAM at times. The backups at inside linebacker are Fitzgerald, Kenny Demens, and then walk-ons. This is why linebacker recruiting is so important in the class of 2010.

But I digress. Fitzgerald is a classic middle linebacker, a heavy hitter with a nose for the ball. He won’t beat out Ezeh while the latter is still playing on Saturdays, but once Ezeh departs, the MIKE position will be in good hands.

2009 Countdown: #38 Laterryal Savoy

Name: Laterryal Savoy
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 214 lbs.
High School: Mamou High School in Mamou, LA
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 5th year senior
Jersey Number: #82
2008 statistics: 4 catches, 38 yards, 1 TD
Prediction for 2009: Backup wide receiver

Savoy was the #30 receiver in the Rivals class of 2005. That seems . . . high in retrospect. Savoy has had off-field problems during his college career. He’s also struggled on the field. He started one game in 2008 and earned significant playing time in several other games, but he only caught four balls.

The most telling play I’ve seen from Savoy came in a game (which one, I can’t remember) last year. Savoy was wide open down the right sideline and the quarterback floated a perfect pass over Savoy’s outside shoulder. Savoy turned around awkwardly and promptly ran out of bounds before catching the pass. It was honestly the most awkward adjustment to a ball I’ve ever seen from a player at such a high level. The way he finished his route was the way I expect my high school linemen to adjust to passes I throw them during water breaks.

With Hemingway returning from injury, don’t expect to see Savoy on the field very much. He’s supposedly one of the best blocking receivers on the team, but that won’t make up for his lack of athleticism and poor hands. Hopefully, he can find a niche on special teams for his fifth and final year at Michigan.