Tag: Lavert Hill

Michigan football defense grades from the 2019 season

Michigan football ended its 2019 season 9-4. The defense wasn’t as good as year’s past but was better than most projected. How’d they do?

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2019 was a big year for Michigan’s defensive coordinator Don Brown. He has lost talented players before and simply reloaded, but this year was tougher. A lot of new players would start for him, and with two new defensive coaches underneath him, after both linebackers coach Al Washington and defensive line coach Greg Mattison left for Ohio State. Harbaugh would bring in Anthony Campanile from Boston College to coach the linebackers, and Shaun Nua from Arizona State to coach the defensive line.

The 2019 Michigan football defense was better than most people projected. Headed into the season Brown’s group wasn’t getting the respect they deserved. Even with new starters across the board and new coaches, they still had loads of talent and deserved to be a top-10 defense.

The defense would see new starters at every level. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson would get to start after waiting for his turn. Linebacker Khaleke Hudson sought out to redeem his poor 2018 season. Cornerback Lavert Hill would be the top cornerback alongside Ambry Thomas and Vincent Gray. Michigan would also get to see five-star freshman safety Daxton Hill debut.

Special Teams even had an interesting battle at kicker between Quinn Nordin and Jake Moody as last season ended with a debacle between who would start.

While the defense did better than expected, in the end, it just wasn’t enough as they couldn’t slow down the offenses of Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Alabama. They were given a tough challenge of Army early on in the season too and needed double overtime to take down the Black Knights

With that said, it’s time to review how each position, including head coach and coordinators, did in the 2019 season. I already broke down the offense earlier as it’s the defenses turn to get graded on their performance.

Defensive Line: C

Michigan’s defensive ends would see some new faces start for them. Aidan Hutchinson would be one of them and his sophomore season was a good one, finishing with 69 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, three and a half sacks, and three forced fumbles. His partner in crime, and the other new starting defensive end, was Kwity Paye, who finished the season with 50 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and six and a half sacks.

While the ends were performing well, the defensive tackles are where Michigan had some trouble creating pressure. Carlo Kemp would be one of the starters and finished with 40 total tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. Michael Dwumfour would be playing through an injury for most of the season according to Dwumfour, and his play was affected greatly, finishing with just nine total tackles, two pass deflections, one and a half tackles for loss and just half a sack in the seven games he played in.

The depth behind the players wasn’t as rich as years past. Defensive tackle Chris Hinton would play in Dwumfours absence and didn’t have much production either, finishing with just 10 total tackles and half a tackle for loss. Defensive end Mike Danna, a transfer from Central Michigan, would play and help out with his veteran presence, finishing with 38 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. Defensive end Luiji Vilan would finally see the field after missing two seasons with injuries, and he had seven total tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble this year.

Linebacker: B
Josh Uche would continue to build himself up for the NFL, finishing the season with 33 total tackles, 10.5 tackle for loss, team-high seven and a half sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. Devin Gil saw a step back in playtime, only appearing in six games and finishing with nine total tackles and a half a tackle for loss.
The biggest thing about the group this year was the emergence of Cam McGrone. Josh Ross was starting before him and finished the year with 18 total tackles in just three games before getting injured. McGrone stepped in for Ross and ever since then Ross hasn’t seen the field, despite being healthy enough to play. McGrone finished the year with 65 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass deflection.
Cornerback: B-

Michigan got a boost for its secondary this year with Lavert Hill deciding to return for his senior year last year, and it ended up being the right choice in the end. Hill finished the year with 16 total tackles, nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and a tackle for loss. While it wasn’t an eye-popping season, he still overall played well.

The real star was Ambry Thomas, who overcame colitis in August, after not knowing when he’d return, and had a huge sophomore season, finishing with 38 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass deflections, and three interceptions, along with two fumble recoveries. With Thomas moving up to second-string, Vincent Gray would be moved up to third and overall had a quiet season. He finished with 20 total tackles, five pass deflections, and a tackle and a half for loss.

Safety: B-

Safety Josh Metellus made the right choice in returning to Michigan in 2019 for his senior year also, as he had a career-high 74 total tackles this season, along with five pass deflections, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Brad Hawkins was his original starting partner, finishing the season with 53 total tackles, and a pass deflection. An injury to Hawkins would force him to miss some time, but in the meantime, his playing time would get reduced due to five-star freshman Daxton Hill taking over in his absence.

Hill had an interesting year. While he would start the year on special teams, with Hawkins injury he moved towards defense and his role at safety. While Hill didn’t blow up the stat sheet like many were hoping for, along with showing signs of being a freshman, he was able to impress during his playtime. He had 36 total tackles, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.

Now onto the special teams and coaching…
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Michigan football grades from VRBO Citrus Bowl loss against Alabama

Michigan football lost to Alabama in the VRBO Citrus Bowl 35-16. How did each position grade out in the season finale?

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It wasn’t the way the Wolverines wanted to end their 2019 season, but against Alabama in the VRBO Citrus Bowl, they lost 35-16. It wasn’t a playoff game between the two programs, but it was still a prime bowl game for both teams.

Michigan had the lead at halftime 16-14, but they weren’t able to muster up any kind of offense in the second half against the Crimson Tide. The defense had trouble trying to stop the mighty offense from Alabama, and while they contained it at first, they couldn’t hold them back in the end. Check out below how each position was graded on their performance in the loss yesterday.

OFFENSE

Quarterback: C+

Shea Patterson didn’t play well in his final game as a Michigan Wolverine. He finished 17/37 for 233 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, along with a fumble that was luckily recovered by the offense. He overthrew some passes to wide receivers that were wide open. He also didn’t have help sometimes as he would make some good throws to his receivers, but they couldn’t come down with it.

He took three sacks, which is a blessing as the Michigan offensive line helped him greatly. He did all he could to avoid pressure, but he just didn’t have it in him to play to his best abilities. Michigan needed the passing game to work, and with Patterson struggling it didn’t make anything easier for the offense.

Running Back: B

While the passing game was suffering, the running game was getting some action on the ground. Zach Charbonnet led the team in yards with 84 on 13 carries. Hassan Haskins got the start, but wasn’t as successful as Charbonnet, getting 61 yards on 18 carries.

The offensive line helped create good running lanes for both running backs, but they also broke some big tackles to gain extra yardage. Once Alabama started shutting down the running game though, Michigan’s offense crumbled.

Wide Receiver: C-

Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins both have to decide within the next 18 days on if they are going to the NFL or returning to Michigan for their senior year. Collins played well with four catches for 48 yards, but Peoples-Jones only could get one catch for 34 yards. That kind of performance won’t help his draft stock if he plans on declaring for the NFL.

The other wide receivers did well but also struggled with drops. Ronnie Bell had four catches for 53 yards, and Giles Jackson had four catches for a team-high 57 yards. Mike Sainristil had only one catch for eight yards. Overall the receivers couldn’t get much separation from the Alabama secondary and with drops all around the board, they weren’t helping out much either.

Tight End: B-

Nick Eubanks was the lone player to score on offense as he finished the game with two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. The blocking by him and Sean McKeon was average and it was able to help out Patterson when he was faced with pressure.

Offensive Line: B+

The best unit on the offense was the offensive line hands down. While they let Patterson get sacked three times, they gave him a lot of time to throw the football. Even with the extra time, Patterson was forced to make some tough throws as the wide receivers couldn’t figure out how to get open.

Starting center Cesar Ruiz will have to decide his future at Michigan as well within the next 18 days. His loss would be a big blow to a unit that is already losing three starters, but his return to the school would help others develop and prepare to start on both sides of him.

Now onto the defense and special teams…
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What Alabama is saying about Michigan before their matchup

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. What has the Crimson Tide said about the Wolverines so far?

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In their first-ever matchup, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh takes on Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban. This is a matchup people have wanted to see for years and one that people thought would happen in a College Football Playoff game. While it isn’t on center stage, it’s still on New Year’s Day and in a solid bowl game.

Either way, Saban and his coaching staff and players got to prepare for what Harbaugh and his team will throw at them. Alabama is already out two starters as cornerback Trevon Diggs and linebacker Terrell Lewis have already declared for the NFL draft and will not be playing in the Citrus Bowl. Michigan won’t have any players sitting out to help their NFL draft stock, but some will miss the game due to injuries.

“This is an opportunity to enhance a player’s future by playing really well, and maybe improving their draft status,” Saban said. “That’s what we’ll emphasize to our older players on the team, and they’ll all have a choice to make. But when you have guys that don’t play in bowl games, and they do play in the playoffs, that in and of itself tells you the view of the players in terms of how they look at the bowl game.”

Another talking point about this game is Michigan offensive coordinator and former Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis. How will his knowledge of the Crimson Tide team help the Wolverines will be something to watch, and Saban had nothing but positives to say about his former colleague.

“I think Josh has done a really, really good job with their offensive team,” Saban said. “They present a lot of problems for you. They’ve got great balance. They can run the ball. They’ve got a good offensive line. They’ve got a good, young back. The quarterback has played well for them. He can make all the throws. They use the RPOs. But I think the balance that they have on offense, the formation variables that they use, the things that they make you adjust to are difficult things to prepare for, and it’s good that we have a little extra time. But I think their offense has been very effective for them this year.”

When looking at how this win can help Alabama, Saban noted what it means for his team and the program itself. Not many people see a point in a bowl game and some see it as a dangerous game for players that have a chance to get drafted in the NFL. Others see it as a learning experience for young players and more, despite it not being for the National Championship.

“Just how crafty they are,” Smith said. “They can switch it up. They can be physical. They can be patient and adjust in the things that they do. They switch it up, keep you guessing, and have you just wondering, like, ‘OK, what is he going to do this time?'”
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian had more to add when talking about the Michigan defense.
The tide then switched as defensive coordinator Pete Golding spoke about the Michigan offense and how Gattis and quarterback Shea Patterson have led the team to some success this season.

“I think offensively what they did, Coach Gattis and those guys do a really good job,” Golding said. “So, schematically, they make you account for all 11. They’re going to run the quarterback. So, obviously, your structure on defense, you’ve got to be able to account for the quarterback and the run game. And I think on third down, he does a really nice job of extending plays. So when things break down in the back end, they’ve got guys covered, he can step up or out. And he does a really nice job, based on the coverage, whether he’s going to scramble at the back stretch in a two-man principle or he does a nice job in the zone of keeping his eyes downfield.”

“Their receivers do a really good job of breaking off the routes,” Golding said. “And a little of their explosive plays come on third down when the play broke down and it wasn’t designed to be that way but it became an explosive play off the scramble. You know, in a man principle or a zone principle, you know, the scramble rules and he hits a deep shot.”

“So I think the big thing is accounting for him, obviously in the run game,” Golding said. “He’s very athletic. They do a lot of unique things to be able to run the quarterback, for you to use all 11 guys. And I think on third down, it’s going to be pivotal, obviously, to keep him, make him be a pocket passer and use our hands. Obviously, I think, the flight of the ball, we’ve got to do a good job upfront getting our hands up but we’ve got to be able to contain him and keep him in the pocket.”

“Just that we’ve got it, just that we can still compete, we can still play hard, you know, that we still have the ‘Bama factor, something that we talk about a lot,” McKinney said. “So I know in a lot of the games that we play, we haven’t really played our best, but we just want to come out here and show that we still can play and that we still can show that we are ‘Bama and that we can go out and dominate.”
Michigan takes on Alabama on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m. in Orlando, Florida in the VRBO Citrus Bowl.

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3 Things to Watch for Against Alabama

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Here are three things you need to pay attention to.

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New Year’s Day will bring new year’s resolutions, new traditions, new beginnings, and for Michigan and Alabama, a closing statement for their 2019 season. While this game won’t get as much attention as the College Football Playoff games got yesterday, it will still be a huge game lots of people will be paying attention too.

Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh will be looking for a big win over Alabama and head coach Nick Saban as the Wolverines need to upset the Crimson Tide to get win number 10 on the season. There are many things to talk about heading into this game, players contemplating the NFL draft, which players could see playing time in the bowl game, coaches taking on their former team.

For me though, here are my main three things to watch this week against Alabama as the Wolverines look to shock the nation.

1. How will Michigan’s secondary deal with Alabama’s loaded wide receiver group?

Everyone including myself has talked about this time and time again. How can Michigan’s defense, mostly the secondary, deal with Alabama’s loaded wide receiver group? It’s not going to be easy and something will have to give if Michigan is going to have a chance at stopping any of them from playing well.

Comparing the two groups of top three wide receives, Alabama’s is another level over the Wolverines top receivers.

Alabama Top 3 WR Stats

  • Devonta Smith – 65 catches, 1,200 yards, 13 touchdowns
  • Jerry Jeudy – 71 catches, 959 yards, nine touchdowns
  • Henry Ruggs III – 38 catches, 719 yards, seven touchdowns
  • Total – 174 catches, 2,878 yards, 29 touchdowns

Michigan Top 3 WR Stats

  • Ronnie Bell – 43 catches, 694 yards, one touchdown
  • Nico Collins – 33 catches, 681 yards, seven touchdowns
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones – 33 catches, 404 yards, six touchdowns
  • Total – 109 catches, 1,779 yards, 14 touchdowns.

The difference between the two teams is 65 catches, 1,099 yards, and 15 touchdowns. That difference is huge and something Michigan will need to somehow contain or at least slowdown. It won’t be easy to do, but that is the key to Michigan winning this game is to limit the Alabama passing game.

Cornerbacks Lavert Hill, Ambry Thomas, and Vincent Gray will be tested from the first snap until the final whistle. If Hill has a great game, his NFL draft stock can improve, along with Thomas if he chooses to declare. Gray will be back at Michigan guaranteed next season, so a good performance can boost his confidence and help him for his possible NFL draft appearance in the future.

2. Can Josh Gattis’s knowledge of Alabama help Michigan?

Michigan has some extra knowledge about Alabama’s football team ahead of the matchup. That is all thanks to their offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. Gattis was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Alabama last season and he could know what to do against Alabama’s defense. While things might not be the exact same, Gattis can help his players grasp how the Crimson Tide defense works in general.

That extra information about Alabama could help Michigan out in a big way. While Gattis will know about the Alabama defense in a way, he also could know about the offense that they run. While he won’t know the schemes and such, he knows most of the players and how they work and what works best for them. He can help defensive coordinator Don Brown in figuring out how to stop the offense as well as they can.

Gattis could be the Wolverines secret weapon. Alabama knows that Gattis will have an insight on how things work, so they will most likely shake things up to surprise Gattis and I’m sure Gattis knows that will be coming. Gattis could be a big help for the Wolverines as the team gets ready to try and take down the Crimson Tide.

3. Don Brown’s response to another blowout to Ohio State

Last year, Michigan lost to Ohio State 62-39 and their response game was against Florida in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. What happened in that game? Michigan got blown out again, losing 41-15. This year it’s a similar story as Michigan lost to Ohio State in another blowout 56-27. Will Michigan respond to getting blown out in their biggest rivalry game by getting blown out in the bowl game once again?

That would be a horrible way to end the 2019 season as it would be almost a carbon-copy of the 2018 season with just one less win. Brown will need to certainly get his players ready for this game against Alabama. Brown had some interesting words when talking about his team rebounding after losing to Ohio State this year.

“Yeah, we’ve moved on from that,” Brown said. “I mean, obviously, you can’t let a significant loss like that linger. If you let it linger, then one loss leads to two losses. And I think our guys have done a good job of just putting that behind us and focusing on what’s in front of us. We’ve got a great challenge coming up here next Wednesday and, you know, that’s our 100 percent focus.”

Brown will need his defense as ready as they’ve ever been as Alabama will be the toughest type of offense they’ve gone up against this year. While Ohio State was the better team overall, Alabama’s receiver core is the best in the country and one that Brown will somehow have to overcome. If Brown doesn’t want the same ending as he had in 2018, he’s got to do something different.

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5 Players who benefit from playing Alabama

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Which players will benefit the most from playing the Crimson Tide?

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For some players around this time of the year, bowl games are an unnecessary risk. If you are a lock of a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, why play in a postseason game that isn’t the conference championship or the College Football Playoffs?

That tune is one many college football fans, players, and coaches now have to deal with it as the past few seasons more and more players have been sitting out in these games to rest up and prepare their future.

Last year Michigan saw a few of their own players sit out of the bowl game to keep themselves healthy for their NFL workouts. This year that doesn’t seem to be a thing as nobody is sitting out unless they are injured, and playing in these games has some beneficial gain for the players just like sitting out does.

It’s another game of tape scouts can look at, and depending on the opponent, the individual’s performance could be looked at differently. Out of all of the teams in college football you could go up against to prove your worth to the NFL, Alabama is the top of the line opponent to go up against in possibly the last game of your career.

While Alabama isn’t playing for a National Championship this year, they are still an impressive 10-2 team that won’t be a pushover and will be a tough challenge for the Wolverines. These five players are either graduating or undecided on their future in 2020, and against Alabama, they have the most to gain out of any of the Wolverines on the team.

1. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

One of the two wide receivers still undecided on their future with Michigan, Donovan Peoples-Jones has a huge benefit of playing against Alabama. The Crimson Tide will be a huge challenge for him, and while Alabama doesn’t have a dominant defense like years past, playing well against Alabama no matter what is still something to talk about.

So far in his career, Peoples-Jones has 102 catches for 1,293 yards with 14 touchdowns, along with 88 punt returns for 745 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t as impressive as Alabama’s wide receivers, but if Peoples-Jones can play well against Alabama, he could be deterred to enter the NFL draft. He’s been projected as a second-third round pick, and a good game could boost him to a late first-second round pick.

A bad game against Alabama could hurt his stock, and have Peoples-Jones decide to return to Michigan in 2020. Peoples-Jones could even have a great game and still decide to come back to Ann Arbor. Either way, this game will be watched by multiple NFL scouts and have an impact on his future.

Next, a player that could possibly declare after the bowl game…
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Three Wolverines are set to participate in East-West Shrine Bowl

Three Wolverines are set to participate in the elite showcase after their college careers end.

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It’s that time of year, when outgoing college football players with eyes on the next level that aren’t first-round NFL Draft locks look for the appropriate showcase for NFL scouts.

In Ann Arbor, we’ve already seen TE Sean McKeon select the Reese’s Senior Bowl as his post-Michigan bowl game showcase of choice, but what about the others?

Well, one Wolverines standout found his destination.

While he might be a household name to Michigan fans, cornerback Lavert Hill might not be quite as well-known nationally. That’s because he’s so rarely targeted, given his proficiency in press-man coverage, that his name often can go games between mentions. However, the two-time All-Big Ten first-team defensive back is looking to improve his draft stock, and has selected the East West Shrine Bowl as his showcase of choice, the game announced on Twitter on Thursday.

But he’s not alone.

Team captain and Wolverines VIPER Khaleke Hudson is set to join him January 18, 2020 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Hudson had a bounce back year at the hybrid linebacker position, finishing with a team-leading 96 tackles, to go along with 3 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

That’s not all, however.

Thought McKeon was sticking to just the Reese’s Senior Bowl? Looks like the Wolverines standout TE will be pulling double-duty, participating in the Shrine Bowl in Florida before heading to Mobile, Alabama the following week for the next showcase.

As of now, the maize and blue look to be better represented in the Florida showcase than the Alabama one. However, there’s still plenty of time for the cadre of seniors to select their desired post-collegiate bowl game.

The Shrine Game will air at 3PM EST on January 18, 2020 on NFL Network.

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One Wolverine makes first-team All-Big Ten for defense

One Wolverine made the first team, selected by both the coaches and the media, while others made the second and third teams.

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Michigan wasn’t filled with upperclassmen set to go to the NFL Draft in 2019, and it showed when it came to the All-Big Ten selections by both the coaches and the media.

As a matter of fact, only one Wolverine made the first team in either selection, and it was the same player in both cases.

No surprise, senior cornerback Lavert Hill, who finished the regular season with 15 tackles in 11 games, with a tackle for loss, 3 interceptions and 9 passes broken up, was selected by both the coaches and the media to the first-team All-Big Ten.

Several others made the list, but on the second and third-teams.

  • DE Aidan Hutchinson – third-team, media
  • DE Kwity Paye – second-team, coaches; third-team, media
  • VIPER Khaleke Hudson – second-team, coaches
  • SAM LB Josh Uche – second-team, coaches; third-team, media
  • DT Carlo Kemp – third-team, coaches
  • CB Ambry Thomas – third-team, coaches
  • S Josh Metellus – third-team, media

The offense All-Big Ten teams will be announced on Wednesday, while special teams will be announced later on Tuesday.

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Michigan football quick film hits: Ohio State

Michigan football lost to Ohio State 56-27 on Saturday. What were the main film takeaways from the loss?

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Coming off the 39-14 win over Indiana, Michigan was feeling good before playing Ohio State. That good feeling would end once the Buckeyes came to town as Michigan lost 56-27.

Quarterback Shea Patterson did everything he could against the Buckeyes as he was forced to air it out with the defense allowing points left and right against Ohio State. The defense struggled to create turnovers and make stops as they didn’t have an answer for the Ohio State offense all game long.

Check out what I found when rewatching the loss to Ohio State.

OFFENSE

  • The opening drive to take the 6-0 lead was a perfect drive by the Wolverines. They mixed the run with the pass and used a perfect jet sweep play by Giles Jackson to score. The extra point though, I don’t get why they got cute with it instead of just treating it like a normal extra point attempt.
  • On the first play on the second possession, after driving down the field with ease, Michigan runs a wildcat towards Ohio State defensive end Chase Young and to nobody’s surprise, it was a loss of two. The wildcat was unsuccessful for most of the time this season, so calling it against the best defense is just a horrible idea.
  • Ohio State got away with back-to-back defensive pass interference calls on cornerback Jeffrey Okudah as he interfered with Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell and Nico Collins. The officials can’t miss calls in these games. You know hand-fighting will be a thing, but Bell got hit in the back and Collins arm was being held and couldn’t try and catch it.
  • On the touchdown pass to wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, there was some confusion by the Ohio State secondary with Bell as the defensive back covering him told the safety to go cover him as he went in motion. The safety waved him off and told him that it was his job. The original defensive back didn’t see that and both went to cover Bell, leaving Peoples-Jones in single coverage for an easy score.
  • There were five drops in just the third quarter alone, and in games like this, you can’t drop balls that hit you in the hands. That was a big blow to the offense in the second half as Michigan needed to get points.
  • The call on running a wildcat on a crucial fourth down in the fourth quarter is another poor decision by offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. While the wildcat did get them to score early in the fourth quarter, the times he has called it for most of the season have not been good. The play needs to get thrown out of the playbook.
Now onto the defense and their performance…
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Draft Wire pairs Lions and DT Javon Kinlaw in consecutive Mock Drafts

In Draft Wire’s latest 2020 mock draft, they have the Detroit Lions targeting three potential defenders, all at serious positions of need.

With every loss, the Detroit Lions (3-6-1) fan base interest in the 2020 NFL Draft grows. The latest updated draft order has the Lions picking 10th overall putting them in an excellent position to land another quality player and to the surprise of no one, that person plays on defense.

Our brother site Draft Wire has been knocking out draft content year-round and in their latest 3-round mock draft, not only do they have the Lions drafting defense in all three rounds, but they have paired the team with the same first-rounder in consecutive weeks.

With the 10th pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select:

Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina, 6-5, 308

Here is Luke Easterling’s explanation for pairing Kinlaw with the Lions:

“Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Kinlaw’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.”

A 2-gapper who will primarily line up at the 3-technique, but can spend time at the 1, 4i, and 5-techniques. Kinlaw’s game is drenched in length and power which makes him an elite run defender, but he also possesses more pass-rushing skills than he is given credit for.

Lions Wire’s own Jeff Risdon has compared Kinlaw to the Pro Bowl version of Shaun Rogers because “they play with a similar style and destructive athletic dominance on the interior”.

With pick 42 in the second round, Easterling has the Lions selecting:

Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State, 6-5, 265

So you want a pass rusher, right? Well, Gross-Matos is a supreme athlete who has the size/length of Romeo Okwara combined with the positional versatility of Trey Flowers — both can also line up on the edge and at the 3-technique.

Gross-Matos is still raw in a lot of areas but he has a loaded toolbox and the potential to develop into an impact player.

With enough length and power to set the edge, Gross-Matos would fit like a glove in the coach Matt Patricia’s defensive scheme, while his pass-rushing ceiling would potentially fill a major hole in the Lions defensive front.

With pick 74 in the third round, Easterling has the Lions selecting:

Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan, 5-11, 181

The Lions stay local here, grabbing the Detroit Martin Luther King high school product. The Lions need help at corner and Hill fits the scheme profile as a multi-year starter in Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown’s aggressive man coverage defense.

Hill is very aggressive and attacks the ball with ferocity, which often leads to pass breakups and interceptions in coverage. In the video clip below, Hill shows his natural instincts to locate the ball at the same time as the receiver, then stacking the route to give him an angle on the ball. Just textbook stuff from Hill here:

That’s as good as you can do it.

Hill’s size does leave something to be desired in this scheme, but he has the identical measurements as Justin Coleman and offers the same ability to play in the slot and on the outside.

Focused on details, Giles Jackson emerging as a tough-to-cover wideout

What the first-year Wolverine has worked on the most and why his teammates see him as a versatile threat for the offense.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When Josh Gattis signed on to be Michigan’s new offensive coordinator back in January, he already had some perfect players to fit his ‘speed in space’ scheme.

While sophomore Ronnie Bell has been the major benefactor this year, it’s the younger crop that embody what he’s looking to do offensively, and perhaps no others look the part like true freshman Giles Jackson.

Jackson hasn’t been heavily featured in the offense just yet, but he’s getting a lot of run on kick return, where he already took one to the house at Maryland two weeks ago. He does have a receiving touchdown, having reeled one in from Joe Milton earlier in the season, late against Rutgers.

In Jackson, Bell sees a player who’s coming into his own, especially given his versatility and varied skill set.

“He fits the offense really kinda anywhere,” Bell said. “Just put him on the field and (let him) make a play. That’s his role in the offense, wherever we need him and he’ll make it happen.”

With that in mind, he can be an absolute terror to cover.

Cornerback LaVert Hill is a seasoned vet at this point, and one of the best defensive backs in the conference, a frequent mention by scouting site Pro Football Focus at disallowing passes to be caught when they’re thrown his way.

Hill says that, even as a first-year player, Jackson is a little more difficult to cover than some of Michigan’s touted wideouts, given his diminutive stature at 5-foot-9, 188-pounds.

“He’s pretty fast, he’s pretty quick,” Hill said. “He’s just little, so you can’t get your hands on him. He’s a pretty good player.

“He’s very quick. He’s faster and more twitchy than (Nico Collins, Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones). It’s pretty hard (to cover).”

As far as Jackson is concerned, he’s had a lot to work on since arriving in Ann Arbor in June.

But one thing stood out more than others, and it’s something Gattis immediately honed in on.

“Definitely my start to stance – my start to stance was actually terrible when I got here. It was so terrible,” Jackson said. “He fixed that right away. That was the first thing he was doing. Details, that’s all he preaches about: details matter about everything. If you don’t show details on the route, you’re not gonna win the route.”

This year isn’t the year that Jackson will be a key contributor on that side of the ball, with just two games left.

At the moment, he has four receptions for 35 yards and the one receiving touchdown. But he has his eyes on the future, and is working to — as the team has said all year — stack brick-by-brick.

“I just have to keep working hard, keep paying attention, keep taking it day-by-day and I’ll get better,” “We just take it week-by-week.”

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