talkin defense -- so who starts at MLB?

By moopdawg -30 January 2013
31 Comments
- Football

Shazier definitely has his position locked, and it seems like we have lots of athletic guys who can man the other outside linebacker spot. However, with Grant not playing to expectations last year, who do you all see playing the middle this upcoming season? Anybody in the know -- can you tell me what the coaches are thinking, or what y'all think?

Nick on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:14pm #

Hopefully Grant puts it together like Sabino did

buckeyechad on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:18pm #

Please put it together Grant! Obviously he's not going to be living up to his 5 star hype, but just get to Senior-year Sabino level and you'll be fine.

AllDay028 on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:19pm #

I'm guessing Perkins or Mitchell. I don't see any way Grant makes the strides with how absolutely horrendous he was last year.

rjenkins26 on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:27pm #

Im kinda pulling for Mike Mitchell...

moopdawg on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:32pm #

I'm always impressed to see any freshman getting a starting spot right off the bat. The ones that come to my mind are Andy Katzenmoyer and Mo Clarett. You really got to be a badass to pull that off.

On another note, hope Grant finds his way on to the field somehow.

FROMTHE18 on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:52pm #

sames...think he finds his way in there, along with Perry

dubjayfootball90 on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:47pm #

Grant. I am really pulling for this kid. I love the incoming freshman, but this kid has the potential to be a world beater, and it has not come together yet. but when it does, world watch out

OSUnathen on 30 Jan 2013 - 5:52pm #

I am really really pulling for Grant but with what we have seen so far I'd have to say that hopefully Mitchell or someone else can step-up into this position. I just don't see Grant getting that much better in the off season so I think it is going to be an interesting battle for that job. What about the other OLB position?

Buckeye06 on 30 Jan 2013 - 6:10pm #

No reason to think Grant won't at least the first shot in the fall. Hopefully he catches on cause his raw ability is through the roof

I think it's Grant, Shazier, and Perry to start the year...and who knows by week 8

Triv on 30 Jan 2013 - 6:21pm #

Start the year:

Perry, Grant, Shazier

By midway through the season I see all of the above as well as Marcus (though maybe at viper), Perkins, Williams, Johnson, and Mitchell seeing the field on defense (not just ST, though Mitchell will be a badass pirhanna)

Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite

falconlax13 on 30 Jan 2013 - 6:31pm #

+1 for badass pirhanna comparison

brandonbauer87 on 30 Jan 2013 - 6:28pm #

The MLB slot requires a lot of knowledge. Hopefully grant can put it together. I'm not gonna hold my breath about him though. I expect a young guy to get in make a lot of mistakes and a few big plays.

Shaun OSU on 30 Jan 2013 - 6:51pm #

I really want it to be Grant but I just have no confiidence in him. He didn't even see the field on special teams! The coaches thought a slow Storm Klein who missed all of camp was a better option at MLB than Grant. Then they also thought that Boren, who had little to no knowledge of the defense, was also a better option at MLB than Grant.

If he has all the physical tools coming out of high school like we thought, and two years were not enough for the staff to trust putting him on the field, then I just don't know if we can ever expect to see him at MLB. Maybe a position change would be for the best.

I really hope a light comes on, but we had this same conversation last year unfortunately.

Citrus on 30 Jan 2013 - 7:17pm #

Grant is going to get on the feild as a DE maybe even Viper.

Cam Williams should get some time.

It is rare that a freshman start, esp at MLB. Mitchell will see the feild but I don't doubt he starts.

VintonCountyBuck on 30 Jan 2013 - 7:38pm #

agree..I think Grant will end up switching to DE/viper.

Cam Williams and Joshua Perry are the ones I would keep an eye out to start the year. But I believe Mitchell will get some significant playing time mid-season and possibly even push for a start role by years end.

“Right now, Michigan is not at the pinnacle of college football, and that’s all Urban Meyer cares about...He’s been there and knows what it takes to get there.”

Citrus on 30 Jan 2013 - 7:40pm #

We are of the same mind on this my friend. I am excited to see Grant on the field. He could be a pleasant surprise in another postion.

ArizonaBuckeye on 31 Jan 2013 - 5:39am #

I completely agree with moving Grant to a DE/Viper type position. Simplify the game for him if he's having trouble understanding schemes. In the little time I watched him play last year it was as if he didn't know what the hell was going on. Physically, the kid all the tools of an absolute freak, don't let it go to waste. Tell the kid to pin his ears back and bull rush like a goddamn madman into the backfield and f*ck the QB/RB up!! ... Sorry, I get worked up. When does the season start again???

" ... let's beat the shit out of M*chigan." -Urban Meyer-

HighBallAce on 31 Jan 2013 - 9:57pm #

It seems like just yesterday that we were all complaining about how long the summer was taking and when the season would start! We were all bickering with each other till the season started.

Here's to hoping we have a season like last year!

buckeye4life050233 on 30 Jan 2013 - 7:44pm #

Cam Williams or Jamal Marcus need to step up huge......Fickell was so high on sealing up williams commitment late last year....hopefully we see some strides and get back to big time silver bullet defense and not the swiss cheese defense it was at times last year ala the bend don't break style

CasualBystander on 31 Jan 2013 - 5:51am #

Of course Grant gets the first shot as the experienced upperclassmen, but I'm not sure he's ever gonna be able to get off blocks and read plays at the level to be an elite MLB. He's a physical beast but needs technique, and it's a HUGE deal if he can't figure it out this offseason.

Theyounger guys Perkins, ball, Williams etc have a year of coaching, but I haven't heard any specific rumblings of them doing much in the middle. Mitchell could come in and be a STUD, but I see his true freshman ceiling kind of like what bolden did for TSUN this year, a solid player, but still a true freshman.

Summary: Grant has exactly 7 months to figure it the f*ck out, or one of many talented youngsters have to become men real fast. Could be great, could be a disaster, gonna be something to keep an eye on for sure in spring ball

"It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways." - Buddha

osu07asu10 on 31 Jan 2013 - 8:57pm #

Guys, I believe that Mitchell is being recruited as an OLB, with Johnson slated to paly MLB. Now, Mitchell has said if he picks up the middle and he is fit to play that position, he will.

However, I am not going to slot a freshman who hasn't stepped on campus into the most important position on our defense. I hope to see both Mitchell and Johnson out there contributing in 2013 but I think our starting MLB will come from somewhere else.

That being said, when we go to the Nickel, which we do a whole lot, we really are only going to play playing 2 LBs anyhow. Obviously RDS is 1, I believe the other one will be occupied by one of our sophomores, Jamal Marcus, Josh Perry, Boom Perkins, or Cam Williams.

I would LOVE to see Perry out there. I think he plays fast, athletic, and pairing him with Shazier and Bryant (or our star) would really put a quick defense out there.

I think the 3rd linebacker we'll see out there may be Cam Williams, and he will be our "MLB".

This is a good thread, MLB may be the most important position for our D, at least as far as playcalling and pre-snap reads, helping our defense get set right.

I hope someone steps up big.

RBuck Mod on 31 Jan 2013 - 4:42pm #

Jacoby Boren anyone?

"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)

Remington2323 on 31 Jan 2013 - 4:48pm #

Grant will start. Mark my words. Go Bucks!

ab42beerman on 31 Jan 2013 - 5:42pm #

Hope you're right but I kind of figured he might end up with a hand in the dirt this year. Situational LB / Leo kind of guy.

Who knows...spring and fall practice should be interesting.

DJRivera24 on 31 Jan 2013 - 4:54pm #

I'm going with Grant. He just needs his mind to catch up to his physical ability, hopefully another offseason will do the trick.

12-OH

willshire58 on 31 Jan 2013 - 5:33pm #

I think Cam Williams starts at mlb. I think Grant will start at the sam lb spot and of course Shazier has the will lb spot on lock down.

steensn on 31 Jan 2013 - 5:44pm #

Grant will get the first shot again, hope he can pull it together...

moopdawg on 31 Jan 2013 - 5:45pm #

Watching Boren last year made me realize how important it is to be able to shed blocks and read and react to the offense. That's what made Boren so effective -- it wasn't so much his speed, but because of his intelligence, he played very fast. That's why I, like others here, are skeptical about putting a freshman in at MLB. The game moves a lot faster at this level.

I'm actually curious to know about guys like Joe Burger and Luke Roberts. They may not have been known to be the most athletic coming out of high school, so I'm hoping that they have the football savviness and toughness to be effective at the position.

Statutoryglory on 31 Jan 2013 - 10:10pm #

I think we face the very real possibility of two key positions, MLB and Star, being manned by true freshmen. I like Cam Burrows to be our Star, especially since he is already on campus and going through spring ball. As for MLB, I predict it will be a wild card candidate no one is talking about now breaking through to start like Zach Boren pulled this year. That means not Grant, Mitchell, or Cam Williams.

Knarcisi on 31 Jan 2013 - 11:12pm #

Lots of competition with the young talent should give us the best result. Grant, Williams, Perry, Perkins, Roberts, Mitchell, Johnson. Think Perry or Perkins could slide inside. May the best man win, and may the Bucks be stronger for it.