Tag: 2010 Season Countdown

2010 Countdown: #54 Michael Schofield

Name: Michael Schofield
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 293 lbs.
High school: Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, IL
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #75
Last year: I ranked Schofield #81 and said he’d redshirt. He redshirted.

Schofield is a behemoth of an offensive lineman, and reports from his freshman year have been positive. In the spring he was fighting hard for the offensive tackle spot vacated by Mark Ortmann, and his athleticism has been mentioned by several people as something to watch. He seems to be fitting into Michigan’s zone blocking system very well.

Schofield came into Michigan as a likely right tackle prospect, and that’s still his apparent destination. Two part-time offensive tackle starters return in Perry Dorrestein and Mark Huyge, although neither one seems a good fit at Ortmann’s left tackle position. Dorrestein missed practices in the spring due to back issues, and if those problems persist, expect one of the redshirt freshmen – Taylor Lewan or Schofield – to step into the lineup and protect the blind side. Both were too light last season (Lewan was 281, Schofield was 275) to play, but after a year in the program, they’ve added significant weight and strength. For the third year in a row, I expect these offensive tackle positions to be a battle throughout the season.

Prediction for 2010: Backup right tackle

2010 Countdown: #55 Mike Jones

Name: Mike Jones
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 207 lbs.
High school: Edgewater High School in Orlando, FL
Position: Weakside linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I ranked Jones #49 and said he’d be a backup SAM. He played special teams in 7 games and made 3 tackles.

Jones was an early enrollee in 2009 who I expected to contribute in a more meaningful way due to the shortage of scholarship players. Instead, he was exclusively a special teamer. For some odd reason, the coaching staff burned his redshirt so he could play about half a season on coverage units and make 3 tackles. That seems like a waste of a year of eligibility, but obviously I’m just a guy on the internet.

Anyway, Jones made a transtion mid-season from SAM to the weakside linebacker position, at least nominally backing up Jonas Mouton. He’ll enter fall camp anywhere between the third- and fifth-string weakside backer. Mouton will start, but J.B. Fitzgerald, Kevin Leach, and perhaps Kenny Demens will figure into the depth chart. Jones is also pretty light at only 207 lbs., so he’ll probably need to spend another year or two adding weight.

Prediction for 2010: Regular special teams contributor

2010 Countdown: #56 James Rogers

Name: James Rogers
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 191 lbs.
High school: Lamphere High School in Madison Heights, MI
Position: Cornerback
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #18
Last year: I ranked him #56 (weird!) and said he’d be a backup WR and special teams contributor. He was a backup WR and made 7 special teams tackles but switched to cornerback halfway through the season.

I said this last year, but so far it seems that Rogers has been screwed over at Michigan. I really feel bad for this kid. His first year was wasted by playing cornerback in garbage time, preventing him from redshirting. Then he switched to wide receiver when Rich Rodriguez was hired, started two games, and made 3 catches for 64 yards. Then he switched back to cornerback in mid-2009.

For some reason, Rogers’ development has been put on the backburner throughout his 3+ years at Michigan. Rather than keeping him at one position where he might improve, he’s seemingly been jerked around despite performing decently at both positions. He’ll likely be a backup cornerback and a special teamer in 2010, his senior year. It would be nice to see him make some strides and earn some playing time this year, but I’m not counting on it. If that doesn’t happen, I hope he can at least earn some run as a gunner on the punt unit and maybe fall on a muffed punt or two. Kudos to James Rogers for playing wherever the team has needed him.

Prediction for 2010: Backup cornerback and special teams coverage. Probably another position switch or two as well.

2010 Countdown: #57 Terrence Robinson

Name: Terrence Robinson
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 173
High school: Oak High School in Klein, TX
Position: Slot receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #8
Last year: I rated Robinson #30 and figured he would get an opportunity as a punt returner or kick returner. He finished the season with 1 catch for 13 yards and 1 punt return for 11 yards.

Robinson is a tantalizing athlete out of Texas, someone whose skill has outpaced his production so far. He suffered a knee injury in 2008, which forced him to redshirt. Then he reportedly had problems catching the ball in 2009, which prevented him from contributing as much as many (including me) expected. But he was a high school quarterback and running back, so I should have expected the adjustment to take a little bit longer.

But reports from this spring indicate that his hands have been better, so Terrence could contribute a little bit more at receiver or returner. His talent probably deserves a ranking above #57, but the depth at slot receiver means that a good season from him isn’t necessary for the team to succeed. Any positive contributions from Terrence will hopefully be icing on the cake, because these slot receivers are going to be dynamite in 2010.

Prediction for 2010: Backup slot receiver, backup punt returner; 6 catches for 60 yards

2010 Countdown: #58 Jerald Robinson