The Blue Board

In lieu of studying for my accounting final...

Michigan's big thing is that we're exchanging size for speed for the most case along the DL. Upgrading on quickness across the board.

SDE
SR Craig Roh (6'5 270) - moving over from WDE, where he started last year. He got bigger and is looking to beef up more for his new position, but he should be one of our top D-linemen next year.

RS FR Keith Heitzmann (6'3 250) - had a huge game on Saturday at the Spring Game - possibly our top defender of the day. He looks to be a strong second team linemen, and with Mattison rotating DL like crazy, I'm sure he'll get a lot of PT

RS JR Nathan Brink (6'5 265) - extremely impressive last spring before he was passed on the depth chart and didn't see much time. He was hurt this spring, so he'll have to make up time in the summer and fall workouts. Could contend with Heitzmann for the top spot.

DT
JR Jibreel Black (6'2 260) - also moved over from the WDE spot, where he was second team last year. He has a lot of beefing up to do, but his incredible speed could be a very valuable asset next to monstrous Will Campbell. Providing he puts on enough weight without losing his speed, he could be an incredible force in the middle on pass rushes.

RS JR Quinton Washington (6'4 302) - hasn't impressed very much so far, but by all accounts should be our second team player, receiving some solid minutes and hopefully being more of a run-stopper compared to Black's pass-rushing skills.

NT
SR William Campbell (6'5 320) - oh Will Campbell. The five star dud. Now comes the year where he really needs to step up. He has been one of the most vocal defenders and is really stepping up into a leadership role, motivating other linemen. That's great and all, but if he doesn't step up and actually do his job of taking up double teams and stopping the run, he'll be passed quickly on the depth chart.

FR Ondre Pipkins (6'3 320) - Another five star, but he actually has promise because he hasn't busted yet. He'll be in the two deep the moment he steps on campus as long as he didn't get mortally wounded in the offseason. He could easily beat out Campbell for a starting spot if he performs well or if Campbell blows it again.

RS SO Richard Ash (6'3 300) - he's the backup for now, but hasn't done much. Most likely won't see the field too much, but hopefully he comes along and surprises people.

WDE
SO Frank Clark (6'3 230) - this is a very tight battle between Clark and Beyer for the starting spot, and we can't really go wrong with either one. Frank Clark is an athletic freak and showed great plays last year towards the end of the year. If he can learn the schemes better, he'll be the starter.

SO Brennan Beyer (6'3 230) - Beyer was the starter in the Spring Game, transitioning from SAM last year. He knows the schemes and is always in the right place in the right time, he's just not the athlete that Clark is.

That's the DL. Strengths should be the outside, and the weakness is definitely the middle. Black and Campbell are both unknown at their (new) positions, and no one knows how they'll do against the run especially. Alabama should have a field day with the inside run game.

SAM
RS SO Jake Ryan (6'3 230) - Jake Ryan is probably our best player on the defense. He just makes plays. He still has learning to do and he should learn a lot more about the defense and knowing where he should be, but he just has a knack for the ball.

RS JR Cam Gordon (6'3 222) - The Spring hype machine. Every offseason, he has been hyped at whatever position he's decided to switch to. All amounting to nothing so far. He should be a very solid backup to Ryan, and could get a lot of PT with Mattison's constant rotations.

MIKE
RS SR Kenny Demens (6'1 250) - Should be one of the main leaders of the defense. He was our leading tackler last year, and was out for some of the spring with a concussion and wrist injury. He's gonna be a force this year as long as he is able to read the plays a little better.

FR Joe Bolden (6'3 230) - The EE rose in the rankings dramatically at the end of the year, even claiming a fifth star on some sites. He played a lot in the Spring Game with Demens' injury and was impressive. Should get a lot of PT this year before being a mainstay in the middle of our defense for three years.

WILL
SO Desmond Morgan (6'1 220) - Started last year, and should be the main starter again. He's not the best athlete and made several bad reads throughout the year, but he hits hard. He was also the most impressive LB in Spring Ball with the possible exception of Joe Bolden. If he can't be in the right place, there's a good chance he gets beaten out.

SR Brandin Hawthorne (6'0 220) - Another Spring Game standout, he made several big plays. Could possibly make a move for Morgan's job, as he knows the defense much better.

FR Joe Bolden could also contend for the starting spot here before moving inside next year.

Overall, our LBs and DEs are very solid. The LB corps should be a strength of the team next year, with Bolden, Ryan, Gordon, Demens, Hawthorne, and Morgan all being serviceable if not strong players. DEs are also a strong part IMO, as Clark/Beyer and Roh should be great rushers and also strong against the run. The biggest question mark here are the DTs. If Campbell or Pipkins and Black can step up, we should have an excellent defense. Our DBs are strong and the DTs are really the only question mark on our defense.

Roh, Clark/Beyer, and Black are going to bulk up more, but we're definitely exchanging size for speed.

It'll probably end up being 280 - 285/290 - 320 - 235/240

Roh should be in the 280's by fall as should Black. They are both on diet that have them consuming 5,000 calories a day. Campbell said he should be down to 305-310, at least that is what I think he said. Beyer will be up to 240 at least.

I am not sure how accurate the spring roster weight chart was, Roh, Black and Campbell all quoted different weights than what was on the chart.

Yeah our second team OL is pretty awful, so I'm not sure how much we can look at the backup DL.

yeah and it looks like AJ fenton is running with the one's lately too. hard to tell how the staff ranks every one with all of the guys missing early on.

OLBs are more fungible than ILBs . . . but Greg Jones was a WILL who moved to MIKE.

Situational basis.

Mattison talks about how the Will and Mike are almost interchangable in his 4-3 Under defense. The Sam is a bit different, almost a WDE size wise, with the ability to drop into coverage.

I don't think Beyer played any LB last year, so this would be his 2nd year at WDE.

I'm not sure and I am too lazy to check. So I guess it will remain a mystery.

buckeyes strong suit for sure,

simon, williams, hankins, bennet with washington, schutt, pittman and spence waitin their turn...

shazier is tearin it up at lb and i hear curtis grant is startin to live up to his hype...

(pre-emptive strike) yes, its against our o line which is our weakest group but they (o line) will be a decent...

simon, williams and hankins are all potential B1G first teamers with all american consideration (again, potentially)

shazier should challenge for B1G first team status...

Agree that OSU's front 7 will be good, but OSU's OL will not be decent. They will most likely be very bad.

OSU lost all their good starters from an already bad OL and replace them with less talented players, OSU's OL group is going to be very bad this year.

He said you're losing "good starters from a bad OL", which means that he was calling Brewster and Adams "good starters"