Michigan Depth Chart for Central Michigan released
From the Official Umich Twitter:
Michigan Depth Chart vs. Central Michigan: pic.twitter.com/YV5ZBx03Yd
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) August 26, 2013
A few takeaways from this are:
- Miller will likely start at center
- Drake Johnson is the #2 back, while Green is #5 and Smith is #6. However, it does have a big "OR" next to it, which makes me think that it doesn't mean much.
- Jarrod Wilson is the starting FS
- Oh, apparently Jeremy Clark weighs 305 pounds.
- Shallman is listed as a FB
- Avery is injured
- Gardner is not listed as our number one WR, but rather as a QB. Sorry Space Coyote.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
Did we know Norfleet will be returning punts now?
August 26th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
Yeah, Hoke said it in a presser last week.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
We've got the bodies everywhere that can play. This entire season will be dicated by what those 8 men listed under LG - C - RG can do, and if Chesson or Reynolds can step up and gain some separation from DBs, because we know Jackson can't.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
Ah, just beat my to the post. Here is what I found notable:
- Graham Glasgow starting at LG over Chris Bryant
- Both Green and Smith buried at the bottom of the RB depth chart
- Courtney Avery behind Jarrod Wilson *and* Jeremy Clark at FS
- Ryan Glasgow #2 DT over both Willie Henry and Tom Strobel
- Matt Godin #2 DE over Chris Wormley
I'm guessing the DL will have lots of rotation, giving players plenty of opportunity to rise up the depth chart, but those last two were suprisiing to me given camp buzz.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
Avery is listed as injured, so maybe thats why he is at the bottom there.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
Godin and Wormley are tied with the "or" disignation.
Your point still holds as this still surprised me.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
But Godin/Wormley have an "OR" in there. He is listed first, however
August 26th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^
If so, then what's the point of the "or"?
August 26th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
August 26th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
August 26th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
I was wondering. Has anyone mentioned yet that it says Godin OR Wormley yet?
August 26th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
Godin's on first?
August 26th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
Well, in fairness to Wormley, it does say Godin OR Wormley on the depth chart. :P
August 26th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
August 26th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
The RB depth chart should not be surprising - I posted a story last week saying Green was behind all the returnering players.... and Smith was as well. Let's see how it looks in 4-5 weeks. I'd expect movement there by the Big 10 season.
August 26th, 2013 at 1:10 PM ^
I actually think that this is partly a motivational tool for both Green & Smith. Nothing is going to be handed to them, and if they want to play, they need to earn PT, like anyone else. Honestly, if they work hard enough, they could see more carries 4 - 5 games down the road.
August 26th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
gotta learn all the plays and protection schemes which i imagine is tough. plus coaches probably want to see what everybody can do in the first few games.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
Courtney Avery is injured? Did I miss that?
August 26th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
The back, right? I've heard recently, in sequence: he was hurt last year with the back, but now it was better, then now at the most recent scrimmage he was sidelined again (assumption is the back).
August 26th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
He had arthroscopic knee surgery, and is expected to miss 2 weeks.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
The RB situation is the most notable one to me. Not only is Green at the bottom, but it's surprising to see Johnson that high up. It's not like he has the experience or seniority that would lead the coaches to list him that high unless he had earned his 2nd string spot.
The defensive backfield is looking more like a mess, especially the safety situation opposite Gordon. But it looks like Hollowell is working his way up and Stribling's scrimmage performance wasn't a fluke.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
Now that I reread it, I'm not sure what the order is, because at the end of the list it has the enigmatic "OR". This could mean that the 5th and 6th spots are interchangeable (Green and Smith), or it could mean that all the spots below fitz (2-6) are interchangeable, which could meat that they were put lower because they are freshmen.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
That's how I took it. Everything after Fitz is a possibility. I always take the two-deep roster to indicate that all these guys are game worthy, so that is not so back for the frosh running backs.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
That could be, but what's the order then? Why would Johnson be 2nd, as a RS freshman? It's not by seniority, experience, or even alphabetical.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
I am not going to get into the weeds of where the "OR" is on these charts but it is between Green and Smith, the 5th and 6th. You can tell this by where the "OR" is placed on the backup cornerbacks verus the LBers. With the CBs the OR is not just under the starter, it is on the bottom row of the 3 person roster indicating the 2 backups (Hollowell and Lewis) are the equals. Whereas with Beyer and Cam the OR is next to Beyer indicating the starter is an OR. But not OR with the starter. Same with the guys behind Heitzman - they are OR as backups. Same with the bottom 2 RBs - the first 4 are their slots and then the last 2 freshman RB are an OR situation. But anyhow let's relax on clinching our butt cheeks everyone. Its a first game depth chart.
August 26th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
It means 1-4 are in order. Green/Smith are 5/6, depending on how the wind is blowing.
If all six backs were possibilities, there would be an "OR" after 3, 4, and 5.
August 26th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
Correct. There were plenty of 3 way battles last year with 2 ORs listed, if that's what the coaches meant with RB they would have more than 1 OR, instead it just means that Green & Smith are interchangeable.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
But I'd agree there are some issues with experienced depth. Having a true freshman at backup CB is not what you want to see in an ideal world (unless it's a Jabrill Peppers for example).
August 26th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
The secondary is the most fascinating to me.
-Terry Richardson seems pretty buried at this point. That's a pretty big bummer for a 4* guy with an offer from Alabama.
-Channing Stribling must be the steal of the century.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
I didn't even notice that Richardson isn't even on the depth chart. Yikes.
Up until recently, I was not concerned about the DBs at all. I figured Taylor was fine and would likely improve, Countess would be back, Gordon would return, and Wilson would step in. Wasn't expecting it to be the best unit in the conference or anything, but thought it would easily be solid. But as more information trickles out the less confident I am.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
Why has your confidence been dropping? There's only one question mark, and it's been the same one since the season ended last year: Can Wilson play?
August 26th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
Probably because I was overconfident in Wilson, I guess. Obviously the guy could turn out to be just fine. It just seems like there was more fall camp shuffling back there than I was expecting.
There are positives, though. Hollowell seems to be exceeding expectations. Stribling looked good on video and has got himself into the 2-deep.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
August 26th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
Agreed, but after having two camps and a full offseason to do so, the question has become "can he"?
August 26th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^
He won't be playing meaningful time here.
August 26th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
We just sign all small corners from Cass Tech, no matter what.
August 26th, 2013 at 2:17 PM ^
August 26th, 2013 at 12:13 PM ^
He is listed only at safety, and not at all at nickel--which I always felt he played pretty well.
August 26th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
They moved him to safety half way through camp. That is probably why he is not listed at NB.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
Jourdan Lewis could be our backup LCB? Hmmm. I know they'll play nickel in coverage more likely than putting him on the field, but yeah, freshman DB do not want.
No offense to Jourdan of course.
August 26th, 2013 at 1:02 PM ^
You do realize Blake Countess played as a true freshman and did pretty well for himself don't you?
August 26th, 2013 at 6:24 PM ^
To name a few freshman DBs that got meaningful snaps.
August 26th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^
If we play nickel there is a chance we see Lewis or someone else on the field.
Notice how Countess is also listed at nickel. Based on the formation we might see Countess at nickel and someone else fill in at LCB. That someone will most likely be Hollowell or Lewis.
August 26th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Lewis has supposedly been pretty impressive in camp. IMO, he's the best corner to come out of Cass Tech yet.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
Did I miss something on Kugler? Not listed at center that only goes 2-deep.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
Likely to redshirt. Didn't see any true freshmen OL on the list. This is the depth chart for CMU only so injuries could see Kugler move up and play.
August 26th, 2013 at 12:01 PM ^
Kugler is a true freshman OL coming off of shoulder surgery. Not at all surprising that he is absent from the depth chart.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
Blake Countess starting at nickel? They must want him in for pass coverage and Dymonte in for run support. Unless Avery as been slid down due to the injury designation it doesn't look like we'll see much of him.
EDIT: Looking at Jake Ryan's slot, I would guess that being designated as injured drops you to the bottom of the chart.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
So much for the "muh muh muh" about Jarrod Wilson. I realize Avery's injured, but clearly there's enough confidence in Wilson to start him.
After the starters, the rest of the depth chart might not mean much. They'll have situational stuff and probably rotate people counter to their order in the chart.
Shallman's hurt, but listed at fullback. Somewhere, Magnus is doing D-X crotch chops.
Running back order probably doesn't mean that much outside of Fitz.
Commence meltdown.
August 26th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
I'm not sure you can really glean much confidence in starting Wilson, if Avery is injured and the only other option is Clark. He could easily be starting simply because there aren't other options.
And what makes you think that the RB order doesn't mean much?