2012 Season Countdown: #30 Jerald Robinson

Tag: 2012 season countdown

31Jul 2012
Uncategorized 10 comments

2012 Season Countdown: #30 Jerald Robinson

Jerald Robinson

Name: Jerald Robinson
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: Canton (OH) South
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #83
Last year: I ranked Robinson #40 and said he would have 8 catches for 110 yards as a backup wide receiver.  He played in eleven games, mostly on special teams, and didn’t record any statistics.

Last year one of the themes of my Robinson preview was in reference to Robinson’s work ethic and off-the-field habits.  Robinson hasn’t rid himself of those struggles.  He might have played more last season, but he still missed out on an opportunity to play a bigger role.  He has had some minor legal troubles, which this coaching staff (and many others) strongly dislike.  In the spring, Robinson appeared to be the #2 flanker behind Roy Roundtree.

If Roundtree plays as much as departed flanker Junior Hemingway, Robinson might find himself languishing on the bench a little more than he would like.  With talented freshman receivers Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh arriving on campus, Robinson needs to stake his claim for playing time in the near future.  Otherwise, he might find himself getting passed.  He lacks great speed and isn’t really known for running after the catch, whereas one of Hemingway’s strengths was YAC.  Robinson is and probably always will be a step below Hemingway, so his ceiling is pretty low, but he should be a decent possession receiver until the younger guys can develop.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 15 receptions, 190 yards, 2 touchdowns

30Jul 2012
Uncategorized 2 comments

2012 Season Countdown: #31 Joey Burzynski

Joey Burzynski (#56) playing center in spring 2011

Name: Joey Burzynski
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 295 lbs.
High school: Carlsbad (CA) Carlsbad
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #56
Last year: I didn’t rank Burzynski.  He played in four games as a backup offensive guard.

Burzynski came a little bit out of nowhere last season to be a somewhat valuable backup offensive lineman.  While he played a little bit of center in spring 2011, he only appeared at guard during the season.  I didn’t pay much attention to him individually during the season, but by this past spring game, he had “surpassed” the other competitors to start at left guard.

Going into the 2012 season, I have a hard time believing he will hold onto that starting spot.  My gut feeling from the spring is that when the Alabama game arrives, the starting left guard will be Elliott Mealer.  Burzynski did not appear to be particularly impressive, and while he’s put on enough weight to be a viable option in the size department, I’m not sure that will be the deciding factor.  To reiterate my theory, I think the coaches might have started Burzynski at left guard in the spring game to test him and to have a complete second unit.  If the coaches had started Mealer at left guard, the second unit tackles would have both been walk-ons (likely Kristian Mateus and Erik Gunderson), neither of whom is likely to play a significant role.  Mealer is bigger (6’4″, 310 lbs.), more experienced, and more athletic than Burzynski.  Regardless of who starts, Burzynski should have considerable value as a starter or backup interior lineman.

Prediction: Backup left guard

29Jul 2012
Uncategorized 10 comments

2012 Season Countdown: #32 Frank Clark

Frank Clark gets tackled after intercepting Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas

Name: Frank Clark
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 260 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Position: Defensive end
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #57
Last year: I ranked Clark #80 and said he would redshirt.  He played in twelve games, making 10 tackles, 1/2 a tackle for loss, and 1 interception.

Clark surprised me – and a lot of people – last season.  He showed up at 228 lbs., which vaulted him into the running for playing time when I expected him to be 210 and willowy.  As the third string weakside end behind Craig Roh and Jibreel Black, he played pretty sparingly but had a bit of a coming out party in the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech, when he made 5 tackles and the interception.  It’s a huge jump to go from #80 to #32 in one season . . .

. . . but now this ranking might be too high.  It was revealed in recent days that Clark has been arrested for allegedly stealing a computer, which is a serious offense that could result in jail time.  Assuming this is his first offense, the likelihood that he goes to jail is pretty slim.  But that doesn’t mean he will escape punishment from Brady Hoke.  The offseason paved the way for Clark to battle with fellow sophomore Brennen Beyer for the starting weakside end position, because last year’s #1 guy (Craig Roh, now the SDE) and #2 guy (Jibreel Black, now a DT) both switched positions.  The battle was reportedly close in the spring with Beyer edging out Clark, but regardless of the legal proceedings, it’s unlikely that Clark will start on September 1 against Alabama.  If Clark manages to free himself of the charges and any serious punishment from Brady Hoke, he could make a run at the starting job.  He has some impressive speed and playmaking ability, but he might not get a chance to use it.

Prediction: N/A due to legal issues

28Jul 2012
Uncategorized 7 comments

2012 Season Countdown: #33 Jareth Glanda

Jareth Glanda, one of the heroes of the Sugar Bowl

Name: Jareth Glanda
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 255 lbs.
High school: Rochester Hills (MI) Brother Rice
Position: Long snapper
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #54
Last year: I did not rank Glanda.  He was the starting short snapper (for field goals and extra points) and caught one pass for a first down in the Sugar Bowl.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know a whole lot about the technical aspects of long snapping, but I do know that it’s an extremely important aspect of the game.  Good long snappers can be the difference between winning and losing close games.  Last season Glanda was the team’s short snapper; a short snapper handles field goals and extra points, which are typically about 7-yard snaps.  A long snapper has to snap the ball approximately 14 yards for punts, and that duty was handled by the now departed Tom Pomarico.

My guess is that Glanda will take over long snapping duties, but last year, I assumed Pomarico would handle both duties, too.  The only other option currently on the roster is redshirt junior Curt Graman, who has yet to see the field in college.  Snappers don’t have to be huge, but Graman is only 6’5″ and 200 lbs., so he might struggle to hold up as a blocker.  Furthermore, last year’s emergency snapper was defensive end Ryan Van Bergen, who is now graduated.  Options are limited, so hopefully Glanda can stay healthy and handle some additional duties.

Prediction: Starting long snapper and short snapper

27Jul 2012
Uncategorized 20 comments

2012 Season Countdown: #34 Marvin Robinson

Marvin Robinson

Name: Marvin Robinson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Winter Haven (FL) Lake Region
Position: Safety
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #3
Last year: I ranked Robinson #31 and said he would be a backup safety and special teams contributor.  He played in five games, making 9 total tackles.

Another in the line of guys who should never have burned their shirts made of red, Robinson made all of 3 tackles in 2010 and then 9 in 2011.  Part of the reason he didn’t make more tackles in 2011 was that he got into a wee bit of legal trouble that made the coaches unhappy, which limited him to playing in less than half the games.  Now a stud safety recruit enters his true junior season having played sparingly and with a dozen tackles under his belt.

Robinson played well in the spring game, and he looked okay at times last season.  He looks to be a viable candidate to take over for Jordan Kovacs in 2013 as a guy who doesn’t have a ton of ability to cover downfield but should be a solid tackler and blitzer.  In the meantime, he’s a good special teams player and a solid backup safety.  If he can stay out of the doghouse, I think Michigan fans will like what they see in a limited capacity this season.

Prediction: Backup strong safety, special teams contributor