Tag: Mailbag

Mailbag: What position will Shallman play?

So, I know that coaches have told Shallman he is going to get a shot at FB or RB in college, but he is getting to be a very big boy for that.  He is already two or more inches bigger than former NFL back Mike Alstott and already 20 pounds heavier than former NFLer John Riggins.  Most FBs are 5’10”-6’1″; much over that is not good for FBs, right? His frame is going to add a lot in S&C.  What are your odds he becomes Ryan Van Bergen II? Would people feel better about this recruiting class if we looked at Wyatt as a DL and not as a FB? I kinda think he would be wasted as a situational offensive player.

Well, I sort of answered this question in my scouting report of Wyatt Shallman from this past winter, but I didn’t talk about this aspect in great depth.

First of all, I wouldn’t really worry about how Shallman compares to John Riggins.  Riggins played from 1971 to 1985, so he was retired for a decade before Shallman was even born.  Players are bigger and faster than they were then.  There are guys like Michael Turner (5’10”, 247 lbs.), Steven Jackson (6’2″, 240 lbs.), and Brandon Jacobs (6’4″, 264 lbs.) running amok in the NFL these days, and each of those guys is heavier and/or taller than Riggins.

I am not the world’s biggest fan Shallman’s abilities.  He doesn’t have the suddenness of an elite running back, he doesn’t have great speed, and he doesn’t break enough tackles to satisfy me.  What he does offer is a differing set of skills from any other running back on the roster or in the 2013 recruiting class.  With the offensive line Michigan is building, the Wolverines should be plowing over people in a couple years the way Wisconsin has been for the past several seasons.  Shallman is a poor man’s Ron Dayne, P.J. Hill, Montee Ball, etc.  This past Saturday night, I watched Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla (6’5″, 246 lbs.) line up in the backfield and carry the ball 7 times for 63 yards against Arizona.  Players of lots of different shapes and sizes can run the ball in college.

As for Shallman’s size, there have been suggestions that he’s not quite 6’3″ or 6’4″ and that he’s not 255 lbs.  He doesn’t look 255 to me; I might buy 235.  Recruiting weights are often overreported, whether it’s innocent exaggeration or someone trying to beef up his own measurements to garner more attention.  Several guys in Michigan’s 2012 recruiting class showed up to campus weighing less than was reported on Rivals or Scout.

The coaching staff seems to have been pretty honest with recruits about their future positions.  They would rather have guys playing positions they want to play than to have to shoehorn guys into positions they dislike. Guys will play harder for you that way.  The coaches have promised Shallman a shot at running back, and I think that’s where he’ll stay.  There’s always a chance that somebody will change positions, but it doesn’t seem to be Brady Hoke’s M.O. to bring guys in and then turn their world upside down.  Guys like Jordan Paskorz and Ricardo Miller have changed positions, but Hoke didn’t recruit them.  Gardner is making a temporary (or permanent) switch to wide receiver, but again, Hoke never recruited him.

Van Bergen was an athletic guy coming out of high school, but he was clearly headed for the defensive line and never had any delusions otherwise.  He had the frame to add significant weight, and he ended up at almost 290 lbs.  Even if Shallman adds mass, he will likely still be 6’3″.  That’s relatively short for a strongside end and he could struggle to get his hands on offensive linemen before they get into him.  Meanwhile, unless he makes a concerted effort to beef up, he looks like a guy who could play his college career at 250-ish pounds.

On top of all that, I was not impressed with Shallman’s high school highlights.  Word is that he was suffering from some nagging injuries last season, but I don’t see a high level of effort and determination on the defensive side of the ball.  Some guys are equally adept at playing football on both sides; other guys have “it” on one side or the other.  Shallman’s “it” factor seems higher on offense than defense; he’s a fine high school defender, but comparing their high school film, I would take Ryan Van Bergen on defense over Wyatt Shallman.

What are the chances Shallman plays defensive end in his college career?  Eh, I’ll go with 15%, just because injuries and attrition and random things happen.  But what are the chances Shallman becomes the next Ryan Van Bergen (a borderline NFL draft pick at defensive end)?  I’d say that’s closer to 5%.

Mailbag: How will Michigan get to 24 scholarships?

In order for Michigan to get up to 24 football scholarships for 2013,
several players will have to be lost to attrition. Could you please
post your thoughts as to who is likely to leave the program in order
to create the scholarship space?
Thanks,
Jeremy

First of all, Michigan technically only has 20 scholarships in the 2013 class between previously unused scholarships and departing seniors.  The number 24 comes from Michigan recruiting experts such as Sam Webb, so it’s not really an official class size.  The 2013 class could end up smaller or larger than 24.  However, the coaches have already accepted commitments from 21 kids, so Brady Hoke and company clearly have some other plans.

I don’t like to speculate about which underclassmen will depart, but I have heard rumors about one player currently on the roster who may leave the team prior to the season.  In addition, there are always one or two kids in every recruiting class who don’t make it to their freshman season for various reasons.  Some don’t qualify academically, some get into legal trouble, some get homesick immediately, etc.  You can look at Chris Barnett, Kellen Jones, and Tony Posada from 2011; or Demar Dorsey, Conelius Jones, Antonio Kinard, and Davion Rogers from 2010; or Adrian Witty from 2009.  I could go on, but you get the point.  I don’t know which kid(s) from the 2012 class won’t end up making it through August, but history suggests at least one true freshman will disappear.

On top of early departures, non-qualifiers, etc., you will usually see at least one redshirt junior who does not return for a fifth season.  The list of scholarship redshirt juniors is as follows:

• Jeremy Gallon
• Brendan Gibbons
• Cameron Gordon
• Thomas Gordon
• Mike Jones
• Taylor Lewan
• Michael Schofield
• Fitzgerald Toussaint
• Quinton Washington

Mailbag: Should Devin Gardner play wide receiver?

Should Devin Gardner play wide receiver or be the backup quarterback?

Okay, this wasn’t really a mailbag question.  It was asked by Lankownia in the comments section.  Also, it’s the hip topic of spring practice (so far).  Here are my thoughts.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, play him at wide receiver.  Michigan is hurting – badly – at the wide receiver position.  Besides the 2008 squad (Greg Mathews, Laterryal Savoy, Darryl Stonum, Martavious Odoms, Toney Clemons, etc.), I think this is Michigan’s worst receiver unit in years and years and years.  Each of the returning receivers has at least one major flaw:

• Jeremy Jackson: slow
• Jeremy Gallon: short
• Drew Dileo: short
• Jerald Robinson: maturity issues
• Roy Roundtree: chemistry issues
• Darryl Stonum: drunk

Mailbag: Deciding where to play offensive linemen

Kyle Kalis could play several positions in college

 What do you look for in a tackle vs. a guard vs. a center?  Is it just height?

Well, that’s pretty straight forward.  It’s more than height, but that’s a good place to start.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Tackles are generally the tallest players on the field.  The only Michigan tackle under 6’6″ for the past several years has been the 6’5″ Stephen Schilling, who started at right tackle in 2007 and 2008 before moving to left guard.  If a recruit is legitimately 6’7″ or taller, I almost automatically slot him in as a right or left tackle.  Tackles need to be tall to deal with edge rushers, many of whom are long and lanky themselves.  The best way to combat long and athletic guys is to get your hands on them before they can get their hands on you.  If you look at tackles, they’re generally the guys you would want on your basketball team who are a little too slow to play tight end.  They tend to have relatively skinny legs.  They also have to have the lateral quickness to stay in front of edge rushers without overextending themselves, getting off balance, and getting their feet crossed up.  I look for a little more agility in a left tackle and a little more bulk in a right tackle.

OFFENSIVE GUARD
Offensive guards are the guys who look like bowling balls.  They’re generally shorter and stockier than offensive tackles, with thick legs and a low base.  They’re also the guys with bellies spilling over their belts.  They’re generally 6’4″ to 6’6″.  They rarely deal with those long and lanky defensive ends on their own (unless there’s a loop or stunt), but they do have to deal with massive defensive tackles (like William Campbell), some of whom are 6’5″ or 6’6″ as well.  Guards have to stay low enough, though, to root out the shorter defensive tackles like Mike Martin and Warren Sapp (both of whom are 6’2″).  If a kid can’t bend effectively and play with a low pad level, then he’s essentially relegated to the tackle position . . . or the bench.  Guards don’t have to move laterally in a power offense as much as in a zone blocking system, but they do have to get out and run on plays in which they have to pull.  You want a guy who can run fairly well in a straight line and who also can find a hole, cut up in the hole, and pick up a scraping linebacker.

CENTER
Centers are generally the shortest offensive linemen.  They can be anywhere below 6’5″, but once a kid hits 6’5″ or 6’6″, you have to consider moving him to guard or tackle.  Because a center has to snap the ball and immediately block a nose tackle or 1-tech defensive tackle, he needs to be quick and maintain leverage.  They also need to be good with their hands, which makes wrestling or a wrestler’s mentality very helpful when it comes to playing center.  It’s very difficult for a 6’3″, 295 lb. center to blow a 6’5″, 330 lb. nose tackle off the ball, so the most important thing is the ability to move laterally and use quickness and agility to wall off defensive linemen.  Obviously, another significant part of a center’s job is to snap the ball, but most players can be taught to snap if they devote enough time to it.  The most difficult part of gauging a center’s future at the position is the mental aspect.  Centers are responsible for calling out blocks and protection schemes, and as we’ve seen in the past few seasons with David Molk’s “head bob,” they’re integral to keeping the defense off balance with snap counts.

Mailbag: How ’bout them linebacker recruits?

Joe Bolden (#27) helps tackle Wes Brown in Thursday’s Under Armour All-America Game (image via Cincinnati.com)

 Magnus – 

This week there has been a lot of buzz about how well Joe Bolden is playing. Of the four incoming linebackers (all of which you list on your site as inside linebackers) I’m wondering how you see them fitting into the scheme and depth chart. More specifically: Demens is a solid multi-year starter who will anchor the middle next year and be replaced by someone the following year – who do you think is the best fit? Morgan is limited athletically but as a freshman proved to be a quality contributor and should only get better – do you see any of the freshmen threatening his starting spot next year or beyond that? Do you see any of these recruits changing positions to DE or OLB? Has Bolden’s performance this week changed your rating of him? 

Also, could you maybe talk about the differences in physical traits that you’d want between the Will and Mike positions? My understanding is that the 4-3 under is pretty similar to a 3-4 defense and that both the MIKE and WILL are essentially classic middle linebackers. Is that true? 

Adam Gurnee, IL

Thanks for the question, Adam.  I list all four incoming linebackers as “inside linebackers” because in the 4-3 Under, there are two inside linebackers and one outside linebacker.  Against a base offense, both the WILL and MIKE playing between the tackles and are mostly interchangeable.  They essentially have the same responsibility against the run, although obviously offensive formations and plays change things a little bit.  If Michigan ran a 4-3 Over or a Tampa Two defense, then I would consider the WILL an outside linebacker and the MIKE an inside ‘backer.  For further schematic explation, check out this post from last spring.

Both Joe Bolden and Royce Jenkins-Stone have been recruited to play MIKE.  James Ross and Kaleb Ringer have been recruited to play WILL.

I believe the best fit to replace Demens in a couple years is Desmond Morgan.  Morgan is already 220-225 lbs. and a good height (in other words, not too tall) to take on lead blocks from fullbacks.  Brady Hoke clearly values experience (why else would Troy Woolfolk start for the entire season?), and I think that will give Morgan the upper hand in the fight for the middle linebacker job, even if a guy like Joe Bolden is hot on his heels.  I also think Morgan lacks the necessary athleticism to start at WILL for the next three years, because he’s too slow to cover running backs and slot receivers in space.  He’s a short-term plug at WILL, not a long-term answer, in my opinion.

I do not think Morgan’s starting spot at WILL is etched in stone for next season.  He had a solid year but not a great one, and as I said above, his skill set isn’t perfect for the position.  If incoming freshman James Ross can add just a little bit of weight, I think he has a decent shot at unseating Desmond Morgan or at least getting some snaps as a backup.  Ross diagnoses plays as quickly as I have ever seen a high schooler, and that’s a key component of playing WILL in this defense.  The weakside ‘backer is often unblocked or targeted on play action passes, so it’s very important that he’s an intelligent player.  I think that’s why Morgan found time there as a freshman, and I think that’s why Ross has a shot there, too.

I do not foresee any of these linebackers playing defensive end, but there is a possibility that Jenkins-Stone could turn into a SAM.  He’s a tall, lean guy and if he can get in the weight room and pack on some pounds, then he could be an attacker in the mold of Jake Ryan.  However, depth is needed at middle linebacker, so my guess is that he stays there, at least for a couple seasons.  Bolden is a talented kid but has less position flexibility, so if Jenkins-Stone presses for playing time, then I could see him playing SAM to get all the talent spread out among the three linebacker positions.