 |
| Surprise, he’s starting at quarterback. |
The initial depth chart was released for Michigan’s game against Western Michigan. Here’s the depth chart and a few thoughts:
QB: Denard Robinson, Devin Gardner
Yep.
TB: Michael Shaw OR Fitzgerald Toussaint, Vincent Smith, Stephen Hopkins
Shaw is going to be good if he stays healthy. Just wait. Lots of people think he was a better fit for the spread just because he was recruited by Rich Rodriguez, but he was actually a poor fit for the spread because he doesn’t have great vision. He’s a one-cut-and-go back. This is the offense in which he belongs. Toussaint’s another kid with great potential and lots of injuries. If he stays healthy, this is a nice one-two punch. Smith will be a good third down back.
FB: John McColgan, Steve Watson
There’s, like, no one else.
WR1: Junior Hemingway, Kelvin Grady, Jeremy Jackson
WR2: Roy Roundtree, Jeremy Gallon, Martavious Odoms
I’m a little surprised that Odoms is third on the depth chart, but his shoulder and wrist injuries probably have something to do with it. I’m expecting Gallon to bust out, so hopefully that does indeed happen.
TE: Kevin Koger, Brandon Moore, Steve Watson
Yep.
LT: Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield
LG: Ricky Barnum, Elliott Mealer
C: David Molk, Rocko Khoury
RG: Patrick Omameh, Elliott Mealer
RT: Mark Huyge, Michael Schofield
Exactly as expected, although Mealer’s a bit of a surprise there. My gut tells me that Khoury would replace either guard if there were an injury at either spot and Molk were still healthy.
5-TECH: Will Heininger, Nathan Brink
Walk-ons are a bit scary.
1-TECH: Mike Martin, William Campbell
3-TECH: Ryan Van Bergen, Quinton Washington
These two positions are largely interchangeable, although I doubt we’ll see Van Bergen playing much nose tackle. I’m a little surprised that Campbell won’t start, but Van Bergen should be fine at DT instead of DE. He played well there in 2009 and ended up with 5 sacks.
WDE: Craig Roh, Jibreel Black, Frank Clark
The first two were expected. I’m a little surprised that Clark is on the depth chart, but . . . well . . . there’s not much depth on the defensive line. Hopefully he’s a situational pass rusher and not much more. He won’t hold up against the run at only 228 lbs.
SAM: Cameron Gordon, Jake Ryan, Brennen Beyer
I sure hope Beyer stays off the field this year and can redshirt. Gordon and Ryan are going to be solid.
MIKE: Kenny Demens, J.B. Fitzgerald, Marell Evans
Demens is going to be a stud. There’s actually a little bit of depth here. The two backups are steps down from Demens, but they’re not bad players.
WILL: Mike Jones, Brandon Herron, Brandin Hawthorne OR Desmond Morgan
I was leery of Jones starting at WILL since he was only 207 lbs. the last time we saw him, but he’s up to 224 lbs. now. I don’t think he’s a playmaker, but he had a decent spring game. Herron and Hawthorne won’t scare anyone. Morgan’s going to be a player someday.
CB1: Troy Woolfolk, Blake Countess, Greg Brown
CB2: Courtney Avery OR J.T. Floyd, Tony Anderson
Hopefully it’s Woolfolk and Avery first. Yippee for Countess, who looks like he’ll be good for the next few years. Floyd might be a solid slot corner, but I’m scared if he starts. All things being equal, start the young guy.
SS: Jordan Kovacs, Marvin Robinson
(Edit: Never mind.)
FS: Thomas Gordon, Carvin Johnson
Gordon kind of came out of nowhere. He was playing the nickel back position in the spring, but it sounds like he really turned it on over the summer. He should have been starting over Johnson last year, anyway, so it seems like things have been righted here. Johnson has apparently been boom-or-bust back there, but both of these guys should be solid players in the next couple years.
