Big House Blurbs

Cam Gordon shining this spring

Cam Gordon was the big winner last spring at Michigan's spring practices, switching sides of the ball and securing the starting safety position. Nothing has changed this year, as Gordon, according to defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, has been the most improved player on the defense after six spring practices. Gordon is working at strong side linebacker, his fourth position since arriving to Ann Arbor in the fall of 2009.

Mattison spoke with the media Wednesday afternoon and praised just about every player he could during the 20-minute press conference. But he saved his highest praise for Gordon, a redshirt sophomore who played OK during the 2010 season.

Mattison also praised ... well, Mattison praised just about everyone. You would've thought he was talking about Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the Baltimore Ravens defense rather than a Michigan unit that was downright awful a year ago. Is this honest optimism on Mattison's part? We'll see, but I do think the defense will be better this year. Perhaps dramatically better. But there's a lot of work yet to be done.

In terms of position battles, Will Campbell and Quinton Washington are "neck and neck" at one of the tackle positions, and Jibreel Black is pushing Craig Roh hard at one of the end positions. My guess is you'll see some heavy rotation along the line this year.

Wish I could post more, but Toledo's WNIT semifinal is about to start.

 

 

Cox working with first team

I have no idea if this has been a usual arrangement this spring, but Michael Cox took snaps with the first-team offense at running back at today's practice. This was the first opportunity for the media to take a look at Brady Hoke's Wolverines. We were shown the door after 20 minutes.

A couple of things to consider about Cox:

* At 5-6, 180 pounds, Vincent Smith is simply too small to be an every down back in a pro-style offense. Smith worked with the second-team offense today. I do not forsee him getting many carries on first or second down.

* Michael Shaw, who split starts with Smith last season, has a broken hand and is being limited in what he's doing this spring.

Still, it was surprising to see Denard Robinson take a snap from under center, turn, and hand off to Cox. A redshirt junior, Cox has just 19 career carries and appeared in just two games last season. But he weighs 211 pounds, and there's certainly value in having size in Al Borges' new power rushing attack.

Other notes from practice:

*Urban Meyer, now working for ESPN, stopped by to film a segment. Tan and fit, Urb looked healthy and happy.

*The first-team defensive line looked like this: Roh and Van Bergen were the ends, and Martin and Campbell were inside. No surprises there. At linebacker, I saw Cam Gordon, Mike Jones and Isaiah Bell running with the 1s. Is this a usual arrangement? Again, I don't know. This is the first we've seen practice this spring, and honestly, I cannot confirm Kenny Demens was even there. I'd be surprised if Demens isn't the starting middle linebacker when the season begins. He played decently after taking over for Obi Ezeh midway through last season. Finally, Jordan Kovacs and Carvin Johnson manned the safety positions, and Tony Anderson and Courtney Avery played the corners. Veteran corners Troy Woolfolk and J.T. Floyd practiced with either the second or third team defense as they try to bounce back from injuries. If I had to guess, Woolfolk will start at one corner, and Avery and Floyd will figure out the other starting position. I have doubts that Anderson is part of the plans.

*Will Hagerup is one of the top three or four players on this team, regardless of position. The sophomore punter was BOOMING kicks inside the team practice facility. Coach Hoke, who has vowed to be hands on with the special teams, stood nearby offering advice.

Vinopal leaves the team

Coach Hoke's Wednesday press conference was uneventful until midway through when he confirmed sophomore safety Ray Vinopal has left the program.

Hoke said Vinopal left the team because of a family issue and that the departure is permanent.

In losing Vinopal, Michigan is without a six-game starter in 2010. What does this mean? I'm not sure any of us know the answer to that question. Vinopal was not ready to start for a Big Ten defense last year and probably should've redshirted. But he had some promise moving forward. He's a guy you'd like to try and develop. 

But as is, Vinopal adds his name to this list of defensive backs from the 2007-10 recruiting classes who left early: Demar Dorsey, Vladimir Emilien, Justin Turner, Adrian Witty, Boubacar Cissoko, Donovan Warren, Mike Williams. I'm not counting Donovan Warren on this list because even had he not made the ill-fated mistake of declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season, his eligibility would have been exhausted after the Mississippi State game.

Hoke doesn't poke at Vest

Coach Hoke and his staff met with members of the press this afternoon and the topic of Jim Tressel and the Ohio State football program came up quickly.

Hoke, who has said before that the Ohio State rivalry is "personal" to him, said he didn't know enough about the situation that Tressel suddenly finds himself in to make a comment. The Vest is suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season because he was not forthcoming with information related to the selling of memorabilia by Terrelle Pryor and others.

“I’ve known Jim Tressel a long time,” Hoke said. “He’s a quality guy. He’s a daggone good football coach. I don’t know that situation.”

Still, Hoke has to like this. Just a little. Or maybe a lot. The best chance for Ohio State to start slipping is for Vest to retire. A suspended Vest doesn't hurt either.

Will Campbell will be back at defensive line when spring ball begins March 19. I'm not counting him out just yet. Yes, Campbell has been a disappointment, but he also hasn't played much. Presumably, he'll get more chances in Greg Mattison's 4-3 than he did in Greg Robinson's 3-4. Campbell should benefit from excellent coaching. Hoke is Michigan's former line coach, Mattison did the same, and defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, is, well, the defensive line coach. Don't count out Campbell. I think there's something there.

-The coaches made two things evident today. One, that they haven't watched much Michigan game film from last year, and secondly, that this team is not very tough. Their exact words weren't as harsh, but Mattison said we need "a team of bullies" similar to Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs in Baltimore. Hoke said this of his team: Athletically they're some pretty good athletes. Now, do they like the physical contact of football? I don't know yet." Sounds encouraging. Michigan football might not yet be back. But the attitude is. 

Oh, and why haven't they studied much film? Because, and I'm guessing here, the schemes are completely different to the ones they plan to run, the defense is unwatchable, and the coaches don't want to have preconceived judgements of a player entering the spring. Everybody starts clean.

-In other news, Quinton Washington will stay at defensive line, Troy Woolfolk will stay at corner but might not participate in spring ball due to the leg injury that kept him out last season, Cam Gordon is working at linebacker, and Carvin-Marvin Security is at safety. If these two ever become standout free and strong safeties, you can take credit for Carvin-Marvin Security. The things I do for readers of The Blade.