1/18/2020 depth chart projections

It feels to me 2021 needs to set up to be the year. If I'm looking at this right, we would return almost all offense besides Eubanks and Collins. Defense there may be holes at DL and CB again, but theres a ton of young DB's, hopefully someone makes a leap by then. And if we can keep Dax, Hutchinson, and McGrone until then, there will be talent on that D.  

Is it crazy to think that Hutch will be more productive as a junior than Gary was?

My only two depth chart thoughts on this week are:

1. Probably should pencil in Vastardis at center. He came in vs MSU this year midgame for a Ruiz injury, caveat being that it was to preserve the Carpenter and Rumler RS, although they get four games anyway.

2. My impression was that McGregor's knee is pretty mangled at the moment with multiple ligament tears, I'd consider it a likely RS case. DE depth looks solid.

2 deep, a cleaner look, with less names-

Offense-

QB-

1. McCaffrey

2. Milton

RB-

1. Charbonett

2. Haskins

3. Evans

WR1-

1. Collins

2. Johnson

WR2-

1. Bell

2. Henning

Slot-

1. Jackson

2. Sainristil

TE-

1. Eubanks

2. All / Schoonmaker

LT-

1. Hayes

2. Keegan

LG-

1. Filiaga

2. Barnhart

C-

1. Carpenter

2. Vastardis or Rumler

RG-

1. Stueber

2. Rumler

RT-

1. Mayfield

2. Stueber or Jones

Strengths- 

1. RB - 3 returning starters

2. WR- top 3 core in the BT with 2 potential breakout stars in Collins and Jackson

3. QB - 3, 4* guys competing all 3 were top 10 QBs in their class

4. OT / TE- lots of experience and NFL talent here

Questions-

1. Interior OL- 2 Sr's competing with the RS Fr, Rumler and Carpenter are ready to go according to insiders. 4 good guys for 3 spots, plus Barnhart??? Not bad

Defense-

Rush end-

1. Paye

2. Vilain or Ojabo

DT-

1. Hinton

2. Jeter or Welschof ( already 280 lb) or Morris

NOTE- Michigan needs Michael Williams here

NT-

1. Kemp

2. Smith

SDE-

1. Hutchinson

2. Upshaw or McGregor

Viper / SLB-

1. Barrett

2. Solomon or Morant

MLB-

1. McGrone

2. Thomas

WLB-

1. Ross

2. Mullings

CB1-

1. Thomas

2. Turner II

CB2-

1. Grey vs Turner II

2. Green

FS-

1. Hill

2. Faustin or Moten

SS-

1. Hawkins

2. Johnson

Nickel-

1. Dax Hill ( if a #3 safety is ready ) or

1. Seldon ( if opposing offense has a small slot receiver)

Strengths-

DE- 2 all BT type guys with good depth

LB- a star in McGrone a good returning starter in Ross and lots of good options at Viper.

S- Dax and a returning Hawkins could be as good or better than Harbaugh has had at Michigan ( Hill and Thomas 2016)

Questions-

1. DT- I like the starters alot, I think Hinton is on track for a So. breakout similar to Hutchinson, but the depth is thin, Michigan needs a grad transfer like Williams from Stanford, and Smith needs to step up and be ready.

2. CB- Thomas is a great #1, but a couple of 3*s battling for #2 makes me a little worried. Both guys ( Grey and Turner ) have great size but we're 3*s bc of their speed. 

K- Nordin

P- Hart

KR- Jackson

PR- Jackson

Overall-

I love this team I think QB, RB, WR, TE and OT are all upgrades offensively from last year. DPJ is a big loss, but I really like the WR core, and I think they will have more defined roles, which will help overall. 

OG will be good with 2 veterans ( Stueber and Filiaga,) battling the young 4*s, Rumler and Barnhart, the biggest question will be C. 

Gattis in year 2 is going to be fire, having guys like Jackson, Sainristil, Evans, and Henning will make up for an inexperienced OL. Gattis wanted McCaffrey over Patterson last year, he'll get his wish this year, along with the upside of Milton competing.

Defensively, Michigan has potential stars, BT first team type of players in Hutchinson, Paye, McGrone, Thomas, and Hill. That's enough top end talent to be elite.

If Hinton can make a So leap similar to Hutch did, and Michigan can find some depth at DT  ( Williams, ) I think Michigan can have a 2016 type defense. It's so close and so similar to that team.

Defensive upgrades from last year are, DE, DT, LB, and Safety. Only CB is headed in the other direction.

2016 vs 2020 

Charleton vs Paye -1

Wormley vs Hutchinson +1

Godin vs Hinton

Glasgow vs Kemp -1

Peppers vs Barrett -2

Gedeon vs McGrone +1

McCray vs Ross +1

Lewis vs Thomas

Stribling vs Grey -1

Hill vs Hill

Thomas vs Hawkins

Total- 2016 wins by 2, only real difference is Peppers ( and having Hurst coming off the bench.) Can a guy like McGrone or Hutch or Dax make up that difference??

Offensively, the biggest difference from 2016------> 2019 is Gattis, McCaffrey, Charbonett and Collins.

 osu is osu, and Michigan will most likely lose a road game ( Washington or Minnesota,) but I don't see anything worse than 10-2, I also think 11-1 is more likely than 9-3.  Go BLUE!