MSU LB Ed Davis out for season
let's all knock on wood in hopes that Michigan can make it to fall as healthy as possible.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 11:49 PM ^
I had a similar experience in high school. Trained all summer and then broke my leg (pelvic avulsion fracture to be specific) on the last day of 2-a-days. Was absolutely terrible and I trained nowhere near as hard and devoted a fraction as much of my life as I'm sure he has.
Rivals are gonna be rivals, but you have to feel bad for the guy.
August 13th, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
Worked out every day 2x all summer long. Go to a soccer camp the week before tryouts.
Come home on crutches. :(
August 12th, 2015 at 10:25 PM ^
good luck with your recovery, Ed
August 12th, 2015 at 10:29 PM ^
Just wrote in my MSU preview in diaries that MSU has not suffered a significant injury in 2 years. It's been a couple 3rd down only linebackers and a 6th/5th type of OL - considering their style of play you'd think they'd suffer a lot more. Reversion to mean was likely. Looks like it did today.
They do have some depth at LB however and Ed Davis normally plays like Superman vs UM and then looks like an above average but not Lawrence Taylor in his prime vs other teams. So we probably have a diff view than others.
Will be interesting to see if he comes back for his 6th year.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:31 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:45 PM ^
If the Bullough family has been multiplying at their usual rate, I'm sure MSU should have one of those they could use.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:45 PM ^
There's actually two
August 13th, 2015 at 6:20 AM ^
is like a Pez dispenser. . .
August 13th, 2015 at 8:38 AM ^
He impressed me in their Spring game, and think he's become the clear leader for the MIKE spot. It's unlikely he moves back to SAM (MONEY in MSU's system) this year.
There is another Bullough, but I don't think he's ready yet. He's supposedly a backup at the MIKE spot as well but is just a RS FR.
Most likely, the first guy to get reps will be Frey. Frey is a bit like Davis was as a younger player: a missile with some technique issues but can make up for it a bit because the scheme allows you to make a simple read and fire away.
Tyriq Thompson is another listed backup that enrolled early. I don't personally think he's ready yet. Drake Martinez (brother of former Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez) is a JUCO transfer that is quite a bit like Frey. He was playing the STAR position before though, so it may be asking a bit much for him to slide over early.
They have some other young guys (Harrell) and a walk-on (Harrington) that could steal some snaps. Harrell I think is still too raw (played RB last year) and Harrington lacks a bit of athleticism, but they could have roles.
The main impact this brings is that MSU loses an every down type LB. Most of the other guys looked like they could be really good this year in a role, now they have to step up and be every down players. Big difference.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:58 PM ^
Not sure how flexible their MLBs are to swing outside but they have Shane Jones (one of their high recruits) backing up Bullough at MLB...then yet another Bullough behind him, then Jon reschke. Those 3 are younger rs so types but that is about the age MSU starts getting guys going as serious backups or starters (year 3 in the system).
If they dont believe any single of those 3 backups can flip outside its probably going to be Chris Frey who UM fans will remember for getting kicked out of last year's game. So a big drop off in experience of course in that case. But a guy like Bullough can usually play in or out. The younger 2 Bulloughs supposedly are much more athletic than Max.
EDIT - I forgot they signed Drake Martinez this offseaso as a JUCO and will play him as OLB. That is Neb QB brother. So very fortunate signing now in retrospect.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
Per Mike Wilson
Chris Frey and Tyriq Thompson are the guys on the depth chart at MONEY right now.
Drake Martinez getting a look would be highly likely. MSU is going to take a hard look this Saturday in the first scrimmage no doubt to find an answer at the spot.
-----
I'd assume Martinez wins this based on experience at the JUCO level - Thompson is a true freshman and while MSU seems to love Frey he will be a SO who mostly played special teams.
But definiately a step back whomever it is from a pure exp level.
August 13th, 2015 at 7:40 AM ^
That's one of the drawbacks of redshirting.
August 13th, 2015 at 8:07 AM ^
redshirt year was due to injuries.
Compliance 101, Session 3: Extensions of the Five-Year Clock Compliance 101: Your source for learning the ins and outs of NCAA and Big 12 rules. An application for an extension of his five-year clock is much rarer and more difficult to attain. For an extension request to be successful, the institution requesting it on behalf of the studentathlete must prove that the student-athlete was deprived of more than one season of competition for reasons beyond his or her control. For example, a student-athlete could have been forced to withdraw from school for two years to help support his family or to care for an ailing parent. More commonly, the basis for an extension request is incapacitating injury. In cases of injury, the institution must show that the student-athlete suffered injuries or illnesses that prevented him or her from competing for two seasons.
This link is to a write up on MGoBlog about Jake Ryan's case. I assume this case is similar.
August 13th, 2015 at 8:37 AM ^
He was a standout on their scout team while he redshirted..
August 13th, 2015 at 8:34 AM ^
Your MSU preview was the first thing I thought of when I heard about this.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:29 PM ^
That's a major blow. What a day for injuries.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:30 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:54 PM ^
OSU Oregon Baylor exposed every D in the nation. Kind of an unfair bar. Not sure I can name a D that would hold any of those offenses below 35 on the regular.
They dominated average to poor offenses which is 75% of their schedule. And exposed vs elite ones - just like any defense in the country. Those were 3 of the top 7-8 offenses in the country.
2013 D was better because you had 2 NFL 1st round corners man it. That helps. But if they had played Oregon instead of Stanford in the bowl youd have seen more fireworks. You can only do so much vs elite offenses.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:57 PM ^
That may be true but Dantonio seems to want a team that wins by playing dominating defense. His one truly great season they shut down virtually everyone they played. I don't think they can take that next step they are looking for to be a playoff team without that kind of defense and they just don't have the athletes to do it.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:03 PM ^
And their offense went from ho hum in 2013 to top 15 in 2014 to compensate. Its a pretty balanced team now... the 2013 squad was all about elite defense definitely. I think they are realistic from their comments they are not going to be holding elite spread offenses to 20 pts a game and opened up their offense once they had a capable QB.
Again I say this on every MSu thread - their D is built for big 10 offenses with a load of mediocre QBs and offenses that are so run based. It could not work in the Pac 12 for example where even crap teams like Wash State or Cal have system Qbs or top level QBs and can put up 400 in the air in any game. Think it would get exposed in the Big 12 as well.
ACC and Big 10? Built for those.
August 13th, 2015 at 7:38 AM ^
August 13th, 2015 at 10:26 AM ^
Obviously having the horses to run you defense correctly is a pre-requisite of my position but....
Ohio State started running a quarters last year and it took some to time to grow in it but they shut Oregon down. You can point to the fact that Mariota had over 300yds passing but I point to the scoreboard.
I also realize that OSU defense while similar now isnt' exactly the same but I think 2013 MSU would fare just fine in the Pac 12 or Big 12. Especially if they saw those teams every year.
August 13th, 2015 at 1:33 AM ^
Like you said, having 2 NFL 1st round corners is what I think was the real reason for their excellent defense in 2013. Having Dennard leave after 2013 caused a decline. I think the loss of Waynes, along with their experienced safety Drummond, will lead to further decline, as now you have mostly unproven options in the secondary. Having seen some of those last year in action, I'm not impressed. Go back and look at how OSUs receivers destroyed Darian Hicks last year, who is a strong candidate to start this year, and you'll see what I mean. When entire articles are written about how badly you played, you know it was bad. I'm predicting they are going to struggle without reliable options to play elite, lockdown man-to-man like they have enjoyed in the last few years, and they're going to have to play less aggressively because of it.
August 13th, 2015 at 1:37 AM ^
August 13th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^
Baylor had to sell out with the pass because they could not run the ball. They had -20 yards rushing. Eventually, it cost them the game because they couldn't eat up the clock in the 4th quarter.
August 13th, 2015 at 8:22 AM ^
I think they'll be mostly ok. How many quality offenses will they face this year? Oregon, OSU, and maaaaaybe Nebraska or ourselves? Even if their d is exposed, it's still good enough to be very good against a still mediocre (but improving) B1G.
August 13th, 2015 at 9:33 AM ^
It's sad to say but western michigan will probably be the 4th or 5th best offense they face all year. It's a benefit all Big 10 defenses get - a lot of sad sack offenses. Only MSU and OSU last year were top 20 and only Wisconsin joined then in the top 40. The Pac 12 had like 7 offenses in the top 30. Big 12 something like 5. etc.
August 13th, 2015 at 10:01 AM ^
Oregon, OSU and Baylor are 3 of the elite offenses in the country. While I'm sure teams will look at how those 3 teams attacked the Spartan defense, most teams aren't going to have the athletes that Oregon, OSU and Baylor do - especially at the QB position.
Having the blueprint to attack MSU's defense is one thing. Having the athletes to carry out the blue print is another thing.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:31 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:49 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:51 PM ^
their player development is excellent, and if I had to bet, whoever replaces him will end the season as a surprise star.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:57 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:54 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:56 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:56 PM ^
Rough injury new for both Michigan schools today. I wish him and Mone speedy recoveries.
August 12th, 2015 at 10:57 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 10:58 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 11:01 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 11:05 PM ^
Let's hope he recovers fully and we play them at their best
August 12th, 2015 at 11:08 PM ^
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August 12th, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
there are some things that don't need to be verbalized or written on message boards - this would be one of them; the subtext is enough.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
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August 12th, 2015 at 11:12 PM ^
Time and place, my friend. This is neither.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:08 PM ^
Very unfortunate.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
August 12th, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
Well, before today they hadn't had a serious injury since 2012 while we had Butt, Ryan, Bellomy, and Peppers during that time. Injuries may happen to every team but we've definitely had it harder than most. Teams like Iowa and Purdue have had it even harder than us. Eventually, it will return to the mean.
August 13th, 2015 at 2:09 AM ^