GBMWolverine: Coach's Corner -- Michigan Football -- Top 20 Defensive Players Evaluations 15-11

Posted at 6:00am — 1/28/2012

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 20 Defensive Players Evaluations 15-11

The college football season never really ends for any dedicated aficionado that wishes every week was game week. We here also plead guilty and have prepared tidbits for consumption looking at the 2011 and offensive and defensive personnel.

First off is a look back and ahead for key defensive players of 2011, and below is a short description relating to those key players.

Michigan’s defense underwent a metamorphosis throughout the 2011 season. Here are the twenty principals in this transformation.

After seeing our ranking of players come to the message board and give your opinion and how you would rank the defensive players.

15. Frank Clark:

Perhaps a wow for is upside, which is considerable. He might have the best first step on the team. He is a player that Michigan will count on more and more.

Here is another sophomore next season in the mix for playing time. Frank looks to have put on good muscle in just a few months.

Next season:
Is Frank Clark an outside linebacker or a defensive end? Our hope is he adds weight and strength and becomes a defensive end, especially considering that nice first step. Could be the player Michigan has been missing for quite awhile.

14. Will Heininger:

He had a very bad injury and coming back like he did was great to see. Not only was he able to come back, but he was able to start and help the Michigan defensive line this past season.

He provided quality depth that helped keep the other two defensive tackles healthy and rested.

He will be missed more than some perceive.

13. Courtney Avery:

He may have finally found a niche as a nickel-back this past season. He was the second best coverage player on the team.

He had some pretty big plays this season which helped either the team win the game or seal it.

Next season:
Still young, Courtney must get stronger and improve his physical play. Where will he play? Will they continue him being the nickle back next season since the played a lot of it this past season.

12 Troy Woolfolk:

If only, if only… Injuries destroyed what should have been a great junior and senior year. This is where the “potential” when recruiting a player becomes a problem because you can never factor in injuries and how it will effect that player if he can come back.

He was able to come back from a medical red-shirt last season and be part of something special and helping rebuild “Michigan” and always great to see players go out on top like these seniors did at the Sugar bowl.

We wish him only the best in whatever he plans to do in his future. This is why you plan on getting your education just in case injuries happen.

11. Craig Roh:

Again Craig needs to find a home. Is he a defensive end or a linebacker?

Craig gained weight but still had trouble at the point of attack. There were times he was very effective, gave his all and made a few big plays.

Next season:
Craig needs to continue to add strength and weight to finish up a career as a significant force.

Craig is a worker, very bright, and will do what he can to maximize next year.

Here is another classic case of playing a player before he is ready and when he is just starting to “get it” he is already a senior and going to be leaving this program a year earlier than he probably should have, but it is what it is.

Hard to believe he is a senior next fall. We remember seeing him on a visit to spring practices after he signed with Michigan and couldn’t believe how small he was at the time.

Next up will be our defensive player evaluation rankings 10-6.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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