Michigan Football: Things To Watch For Early In Fall Camp — Part I
Nov 2, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke (left) and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison (right) during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans beat the Wolverines 29-6. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Posted at 8:00am — 7/20/2014
Michigan Football: Things To Watch For Early In Fall Camp — Part I
In most years, Michigan football enters into fall camp with a good idea of depth charts. This year will probably be no exemption, except this year the depth of the team is probably better than I can remember for over a decade. This closeness in terms of talent level is going to create some interesting competition.
Here are some individual players I will be watching early in camp.
Oct 5, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins (56) is carted off the field against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports1) Ondre Pipkins:
Is he completely healthy? He is going through all the off-season programs, but things have changed at Michigan since Pipkins was injured. Even a completely healthy Pipkins is going to see some very tough competition. When you consider players like Maurice Hurst Jr., Bryan Mone, Ryan Glasgow, Matthew Godin, Tom Strobel, Willie Henry all who had their moments during spring practice it is going to be tough for any to get significant snaps this fall.
I can see a pretty liberal rotation, but when it comes to pure talent Hurst and Mone are the future of our interior defensive line. Both offer the ability to rush the quarterback up the middle which Coach Mattison has been very vocal about wanting this area to improve. And Godin may have been our best interior defensive linemen this spring with Strobel probably being the most improved. Add to that Glasgow being our most effective defensive linemen against the run you see where Pipkins not only needs to be healthy, but in much better shape than he was prior to his injury. Pipkins has some work to do.
Not that I expect him to play, but he should be healthy and along with Canteen he offers something we have bee sorely lacking in the past few years (a deep threat). Our wide receiver core (IMO) is underrated especially with Darboh coming back. I do not think our wide receiver core will be the issue this year, but rather (if there is a conceived issue) the quarterback inability to get the ball to them on time.
October 20, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) tries to lateral the ball during a kick off in the fourth quarter as Michigan Wolverines linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone (52) tackles him at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 12-10. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports3) Royce Jenkins-Stone:
The linebacker situation is going to be interesting. I really think we rotate this position especially early in the year. I do not see a real impact type of linebacker, but six players who could easily start. RJS I think is going to be tough to keep off the field he has become a silent ‘leader” and he really works hard. In addition, if he continues his performance from the spring (in which he was our best linebacker) I project him beating out James Ross III at “SAM” linebacker.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — MaizeMan
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