2010 Countdown: #63 Steve Watson

Tag: Craig Roh

3Jul 2010
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2010 Countdown: #63 Steve Watson


Name: Steve Watson
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 257 lbs.
High school: Mullen High School in Cherry Hills Village, CO
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #81
Last year: I ranked Watson #64 and said he’d contribute on special teams and see spot duty on defense. He was mainly a special teams player and made 5 tackles.

Having been buried on the depth chart behind Kevin Koger, Martell Webb, and Brandon Moore, Watson switched to defense during the spring of 2009. Greg Robinson was a new defensive coordinator then and needed a few players to play the defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid role that was eventually locked down by freshman Craig Roh. Brandon Herron was Roh’s primary backup, and Watson settled for mop-up duty against teams like Delaware State and Illinois. He finished the season with 5 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup as the third-string OLB. He was also a part-time contributor on special teams, but only against the B-list teams on Michigan’s roster.

For spring of 2010, Watson switched roles again to 5-tech defensive end. Assuming no further position changes, he’ll be playing exclusively with his hand on the ground. Despite the position change, Watson will probably still be no higher than third on the depth chart. The starter will likely be Ryan Van Bergen with Anthony Lalota as the primary backup. A freshman like Jibreel Black could also work himself into the mix. Buried on the depth chart at yet another position, I expect 2010 to be Watson’s final campaign as a Wolverine. He probably won’t be offered a fifth year of eligibility by the coaching staff.

Prediction for 2010: Special teams contributor, spot duty on defense

27Jun 2010
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2010 Countdown: #73 Ken Wilkins


Name: Ken Wilkins
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 244 lbs.
High school: Trinity High School in Washington, PA
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Prediction for 2010: Redshirt

Wilkins is a big-time defensive end recruit out of Pennsylvania. He probably would have been more hyped by Michigan fans, but he committed last June, so the excitement wore off. I can’t find the article now, but I remember reading comments from Wilkins’s high school coach about the youngster’s work ethic – his strength, his lack of body fat, etc. It sounds like Michigan got a kid who will fit in well with the strength and conditioning staff.

Since he’s already 244 lbs., I assume Wilkins will bulk up to play the strongside defensive end position. He needs to add about 20 lbs. to be a viable option on the defensive line, which might take him a couple years to put on. Normally I would rank his likelihood of playing early lower than a heavier guy like Jibreel Black, but Wilkins has some position flexibility. There’s a small possibility that he could play Craig Roh’s Quick position, whereas Black is strictly an end. I still think Wilkins will redshirt, but he has some versatility and could earn some early playing time if there’s an injury.

23Jun 2010
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2010 Countdown: #81 Jordan Paskorz


Name: Jordan Paskorz
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Hampton High School in Allison Park, PA
Position: Outside linebacker or defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Prediction for 2010: Redshirt

Paskorz is one of the more interesting prospects in Michigan’s 2010 class. When he was initially recruited, Paskorz stated that the coaches were recruiting him to play Craig Roh’s outside linebacker position. But late in the process, Paskorz reported something that I had felt all along – if he puts on too much weight to play OLB, he’ll play the traditional defensive end position. Since watching film of Paskorz for the first time, my impression was that he would be too stiff to play OLB. There are some things that Craig Roh did in pass coverage that would make Paskorz a serious liability, in my opinion.

However, at 235 lbs. Paskorz still has some growing to do, no matter which position he plays. Craig Roh was too light last season when he was 238 lbs. and has subsequently added 10-15 lbs. Meanwhile, to play strongside defensive end, Paskorz would likely need to be 260-plus lbs. So I think Paskorz is an obvious redshirt candidate in 2010, and his position will likely be re-evaluated year-to-year.

21Jun 2010
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2010 Countdown: #84 Davion Rogers


Name: Davion Rogers
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Harding High School in Warren, OH
Position: Outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Prediction for 2010: Redshirt

Rogers has all kinds of athleticism paired with the bulk of a wind sock. That’s not a good combination for playing early. Recruited to play the “Quick” outside linebacker/defensive end spot, he’ll immediately be behind sophomore starter Craig Roh and redshirt junior Brandon Herron. Along with those two, a big chunk of fellow freshmen were recruited to play Quick, all of whom have more college-ready bodies: Ken Wilkins, Jordan Paskorz, and Jake Ryan.

Rogers’ best chance for contributing in 2010 is on special teams. He has the speed and athleticism to get downfield and wreak some havoc on kick coverage teams, but I still expect him to spend his practice hours in Mike Barwis’ dungeon: bench press, front squat, chocolate milk, repeat.

16Apr 2010
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Brennen Beyer, Wolverine

Who cares about Brennen Beyer (#7)? I think #4’s knee is bending the wrong way. Who does he think he is? Joe Theismann?

Plymouth High School (Plymouth, MI) defensive end Brennen Beyer committed to Michigan on Thursday evening. Beyer is a 6’4″, 215 pounder who had offers from Michigan State, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, and UCLA, among others. It seemed as thought Notre Dame was his #2 school, although the race wasn’t very close. He’s the #18 defensive end to Scout and a 4-star prospect on their site; ESPN and Rivals haven’t ranked him at this point.

Beyer grew up a Michigan fan and wanted to jump when the Wolverines were the first program to offer. But he and his parents made a smart, calculated decision to visit some other schools and not make a rash choice. In the end, though, his heart was in Ann Arbor.

Beyer is being recruited to play the Quick end position currently held by Craig Roh. He’s only 215 lbs. right now, but you can see in his legs and torso that he has plenty of room to fill out. He joins a long list of other players who will be vying for playing time in 2011, but ultimately, he’ll likely redshirt as a freshman. I expect him to stay at the Quick end position because he has quite a bit of natural ability as a pass rusher, but he could also play tight end or inside linebacker if the situation calls for it.

STRENGTHS
Beyer has excellent explosion off the ball. He’s tall, long, and has good straight-line speed. He generally has good pad level. Beyer almost always initiates contact and uses his hands well to deflect blockers. He plays with a somewhat reckless manner in which he finds the ball and then goes all-out to chase the play down, even if he’s on the backside; he’s the definition of a high-motor player. For the most part, he diagnoses plays quickly.

WEAKNESSES
As with almost every high school player, he needs to get bigger and stronger; he should be at least 235-240 lbs. before playing in college. Beyer is overaggressive at times and gets himself out of position. Has a tendency to turn his shoulders, allowing blockers to get into his chest. He does not drive his feet when making contact with the ballcarrier; stronger runners will gain extra yards after contact. He needs to refine his pass rushing moves, because he uses virtually no technique aside from his speed. Beyer rarely uses his strength to overpower blockers or deliver a strong initial blow. He also needs to work on his three-point stance; his athleticism could be maximized by getting his butt a little higher and using gravity to get off the line a split second quicker.

OVERALL
In many ways, Beyer reminds me of Craig Roh. Both are long, explosive, and relentless. Both are somewhat susceptible to taking the run game head on. Roh was a little more refined coming out of high school and, despite being a little bigger, has a little more athleticism. Roh will be a junior by the time Beyer arrives on campus and, presumably, he’ll be backed up by a fifth year senior Brandon Herron and a variety of sophomores and redshirt freshmen (Jake Ryan, Davion Rogers, Ken Wilkins, Jordan Paskorz). Barring a rash of injuries, defections, or position changes, Beyer will likely redshirt in 2011 and have a real shot at contributing in 2013 after Roh graduates.

TTB Rating: 82