Projected 2013 Starting Lineup...

v Central Michigan:
 
Offense
 
- QB Devin Gardner
- RB Derrick Green
- FB Joe Kerridge 
- WR Jeremy Gallon
- WR Amara Darboh
- TE Devin Funchess
- LT Taylor Lewan
- LG Kyle Kalis
- C Jack Miller
- RG Chris Bryant
- RT Michael Schofield
- PK Brendan Gibbons
 
Defense
 
- WDE Frank Clark
- DT Quinton Washington
- NT Ondre Pipkins
- SDE Jibreel Black
- SLB Jake Ryan
- MLB Joe Bolden
- WLB Desmond Morgan
- CB Raymon Taylor
- SS Dymonte Thomas
- FS Jarrod Wilson
- CB Blake Countess
- P Matt Wile
 
Special Teams
 
- PR Drew Dileo
- KR Dennis Norfleet

Countess coming back is huge!!! Kid is very good.
 
Mattison said some of the Freshmen would get playing time and that he's not afraid to put the best talent on the field no matter Freshmen or what class they are.
 
Fitz coming back adds even more depth to the RB corps that are not only deep but explosive and fast. Hoke said he will set up a rotation for them with Al B.
 
All in all I think this is the class that wins a National championship for U of M. Not sure the year. But, it's coming!

I've never understood why the KR and PR have to be different people.  If Norfleet is so good, why not do both?

http://umgoblue.com/talk/...g-line-up-m223016.aspx

Also, Hopkins left the team in December so I don't think he'll be starting at FB next season. ;)

Go Blue!!

ScottsdaleBlue


http://umgoblue.com/talk/...g-line-up-m223016.aspx

Also, Hopkins left the team in December so I don't think he'll be starting at FB next season. ;)

Go Blue!!

 
Thanks for the heads-up, ScottsdaleBlue...don't know how I missed that. Think Kerridge will start as the FB but could see Sione Huoma or Wyatt Shallman becoming the starting FB before the end of the season!

Green starts over Fitz?  Not buying that. 

TK23Blue


Green starts over Fitz?  Not buying that. 

 
Michigan RBs combined for a whopping 942yds last season. Can't say I'm excited about what we have coming back but I'm surely excited about what we have coming in.
 
Go Blue!!
 

ScottsdaleBlue

TK23Blue


Green starts over Fitz?  Not buying that. 

Michigan RBs combined for a whopping 942yds last season. Can't say I'm excited about what we have coming back but I'm surely excited about what we have coming in.

Go Blue!!

So you're saying anyone that can fog a mirror gets a shot?  I think I'll have to agree with you on that one.  But for the opener, I think Fitz starts (he's coming off a major injury, he's a senior, you know, a "feel good" story blah, blah, blah).  I'm sure Green will see the field plenty though.  The only other thing I'd add to the 942 yards rushing is the fact that our O line completely sucked at opening holes.  There was never much to be had in a lot of our games last year and it doesn't matter how good Green is, he's going to need some space. 

QB - Gardner, Bellomy, Morris
TB - Green, Rawls, Johnson, Fitz, Hayes
FB - Kerridge, Houma, Shallman, Hill
WR - Gallon, Dilieo, Chesson, York
WR - Darboh, Jackson, Jones, Dukes
TE - Funchess, Butt
LT - Lewan, Magnuson, LTT
LG - Kalis, Burzynski, Samuelson, Fox
C - Miller, Kugler, Burzynski
RG - Bryant (if healthy, but I could see Magnuson starting too), Magnuson, Bars
RT - Schofield, Braden, Bosch
 
DE - Black, Beyer, Wormley, Strobel
DT - Washington, Ash
DT - Pipkins, Godin
DE - Clark, Ojemudia
LB - Ryan, Gordon, Ringer
LB - Ross, Bolden, RSJ
LB - Morgan, Poole, McCray
CB - Countess, Avery, Douglas, Hill, Stribling
CB - Taylor, Shrimp, Hollowell, Lewis
FS - Gordon, Furman, Thomas, Clark
SS - Wilson, Robinson, Gant
 
P - Hagerup/Wile/Allen
PR - Gallon, Dileo
LS - Glanda, Sypniewski
K - Gibbons, Wile
KR - Norfleet, Gallon, Dileo
 
Go Blue!!
 

TK23Blue

ScottsdaleBlue

TK23Blue


Green starts over Fitz?  Not buying that. 

Michigan RBs combined for a whopping 942yds last season. Can't say I'm excited about what we have coming back but I'm surely excited about what we have coming in.

Go Blue!!

So you're saying anyone that can fog a mirror gets a shot?  I think I'll have to agree with you on that one.  But for the opener, I think Fitz starts (he's coming off a major injury, he's a senior, you know, a "feel good" story blah, blah, blah).  I'm sure Green will see the field plenty though.  The only other thing I'd add to the 942 yards rushing is the fact that our O line completely sucked at opening holes.  There was never much to be had in a lot of our games last year and it doesn't matter how good Green is, he's going to need some space. 

 
That's the rub (and an out for the coaches)...I don't think Fitz will be ready for Game 1 coming off his injury. SO, Green gets the start (if he can pick up the blocking schemes) and the rest is history.
 
We have 3 new OL who will be starting (LG, C, RG), so will we be better off with 3 new guys or what we had last year? That remains to be seen, but I have to assume that as the season progesses our new OL will be improved and open more holes.
 
Hell, you and I could have run for 1000yds with our OL's of the 90s and early 00s...now, we must have a RB with vision, power and speed to get away from defenders instead of run through holes (cuz we haven't opened up many in the last 5yrs). Eventually, that will change as we get an upgrade on our OL, but these kids are 17/18/19 years old going against 21/22/23 year old upper classmen so it's going to take time.
 
Go Blue!!
 

If Frank Clark is really up to 274 as Mattison said the other day, he's your SDE, with Beyer/Ojemudia on the other side. Black will stay inside.
 
Rumor is Braden is going to move inside to guard.
 
Ross and Morgan will likely get the infamous "OR" on the depth chart all season at the WILL spot.
 
I'll personally be surprised if Dymonte starts right away. I think Gordon slides over to Kovacs' old spot and Jarrod Wilson starts at FS. Dymonte enrolling early is big, but he's never played safety before.

I think Rawls shows up in the backfield game one.......I still like this kid.
 
+1 on Braden cracking the RG position.

I'd move Morgan to MIKE personally and let he and Bolden battle it out.

No way Gordon doesn't start.

FS should be an interesting position to watch.

TK23Blue


Green starts over Fitz?  Not buying that. 

 
Fitz is not going to be ready for spring ball & may not be ready by the fall. Green, from everything I've heard, seen & read, is college-ready.
 
Hey, if Fitz wins the job in the fall, I'll be all for him being our starting RB...and, remember, this starting lineup is based on my best guess for the season opener but could be quite different come Ohio in late Nov, depending on injuries & production.

Its nice to have quality depth......even if it is still young. Besides the interior line battle, the LB corps is the most interesting to me.....nice to have so many options.
 
I believe I saw a projected line up with Ryan not in there, r u serious?

EFWolverine


If Frank Clark is really up to 274 as Mattison said the other day, he's your SDE, with Beyer/Ojemudia on the other side. Black will stay inside.

Rumor is Braden is going to move inside to guard.

Ross and Morgan will likely get the infamous "OR" on the depth chart all season at the WILL spot.

I'll personally be surprised if Dymonte starts right away. I think Gordon slides over to Kovacs' old spot and Jarrod Wilson starts at FS. Dymonte enrolling early is big, but he's never played safety before.

 
Like Beyer & Ojemudia but IMO Black, with his speed, would be more effective as an edge rusher...it is nice to finally have some options on the DL, though 

Like MF4L's suggestion about moving Morgan to MLB & having him battle Bolden...but don't want to take the starting WLB spot from Morgan, either.
 
I also like Rawls, jsj_297...a lot...and see him being a more productive back this coming season.
 
Guess I'm placing too much thought on Bryant being the starting RG...hey, if Ben Braden is that good, I'm all for starting him! It's nice to have some options on the OL, too!

Hey, I hope both Bryant and Braden are 100% and able to start......Thats a GOOD problem to have!!!
 
Every report ive read, says Braden is likely to start somewhere with a good spring performance......Have quality 2 deep is a very nice change of pace imo.
 
Wolv07, I agree, I think Rawls will benefit from another year of strength training, learning the plays better, and just more reps....Watch out if this kid puts it all together, cause we go deep even after him!!!

wolverinefan07


Like MF4L's suggestion about moving Morgan to MLB & having him battle Bolden...but don't want to take the starting WLB spot from Morgan, either.

I also like Rawls, jsj_297...a lot...and see him being a more productive back this coming season.

Guess I'm placing too much thought on Bryant being the starting RG...hey, if Ben Braden is that good, I'm all for starting him! It's nice to have some options on the OL, too!

I do. We need to get faster and more athletic on defense and moving Morgan allows us to. There's no rule against playing multiple guys but we NEED Biggs Ross on the field.

Just curious where Ryan is on your line up. I know speed rules these days, but having great knowledge/instincts is just as valuable imo, and he has plenty of both. Speed doesnt always make up for misreading plays, and being sucked into PA, etc etc. Great for sealing edges though, cant argue that. Not trying to start an argument here.