Michigan Football Tidbits: Pure Linebackers — Part 2
Michigan Football Tidbits: Pure Linebackers — Part 2
Demens: He is going to get snaps this year. Everyone thinks the world of him, he does everything ask of him and more. Like Fitzgerald, a very smart kid.
Much more physical than Fitzgerald, but struggles more in pass coverage. He just might be our best linebacker when defending the run. Demens will be a mainstay on all special team’s (NOTE: In spring, Ezeh was the only linebacker who played all the time with first team, Demens and Fitzgerald alternated at the other position).
Love this kids attitude and the edge he has to his game. Plays very well against the run. Needs to improve his coverage skills.
B. Smith: Will he accept the change in positions or will he struggle like Mouton? We find out in fall. B. Smith physically is one of the most impressive players on Michigan’s roster.
Move from safety was great move. Linebacker is far better fit for his skills. Already has linebacker size and run defense was solid this spring.
Just looking at him, you say to yourself “there is a kid who has all the tools”. He runs well (for a linebacker). He seems to be physical in his brief stint at linebacker (last three practices). Coach Hopson was impressed with his ability to read plays and get in the proper gaps. He could be very good at linebacker, so good that he could push people or at least add to depth.
Except for experience, would not be afraid to have him play even this year. (as you can tell B. Smith really impressed us). But, need to see him having fun and enjoying the game. This spring, he looked miserable at times. Looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but at practice. It got so bad, that a walk-on easily beat him out for second team safety which sped up his move to linebacker.
Really want him to stay at Michigan and give it all he has at linebacker, but if he cant or wont, we would not expect him here long. One thing about B. Smith, he has very thin legs — similar to Crable, but remember Crable played outside linebacker and B. Smith will be playing inside linebacker to start.
Leach: Hold up better than could be expected for a walk-on. Worked very hard all spring and expect him to get reps on special teams.
Freshmen:
Bell: Not really sure where Bell will play. As of now, he is expected to play linebacker, not spinner. If it is decided to move Bell to spinner then expect Mike Jones to move to linebcker while Hawthorne to us is a spinner all the way.
Bell looks like he may bring much needed help to linebacker spot, he can defend the pass. He looks very good so far in summer, but like all the other freshmen, he looks like he needs to red-shirt. Think Bell will bulk up enough to play linebacker at Michigan and depending how he can get off blocks could be a good one.
Cameron Gordon: NO, he is not playing linebacker, but most of the fans / posters / bloggers think this is where he ends up as we hope so too.
Gordon is the type of kid who will get a huge wake-up call early in fall. He is really a good kid, but will have to make the decision pretty soon how soon he wants to see the field.
He is actually doing pretty good at wide receiver. but will be more of a “Savoy type” of receiver. Nothing wrong with that, Gordon is very physical.
The key to Gordon’s future in our opinion is coach Barwis — plain and simple. Gordon has the type of body that he is really applied himself and goes the extra mile. He will become one of those kids that coaches will have to find a spot for him and he will be that strong and fast.
Coach Rod loves to say he wants big kids playing fast, well that will fit Gordon more so than anyone.
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Written by MaizeMan, CoachBt and ErocWolverine
