Michigan Wolverines
To our minds junior Tony Pape is the next great lineman that will come
from Ann Arbor. In many ways he’s a combination of Jon Jansen and Jeff Backus
as he’s a dominant run blocker with tremendous strength and power but also a
solid pass protector that uses brains and technique as opposed to great
athleticism. He definitely has early round potential in ’04. The next best
prospect for the NFL on offense could well be a second junior, running back Chris
Perry, whose shown size and speed on the inside, as well as run instincts,
but may not even start this season. Fullback BJ Askew was used as the
feature runner part of last season as he’s an athletic back that catches the
ball well out of the backfield, giving top effort when used as a lead
fullback. He is fast enough to get around the corner or create space between he
and the ball carrier but is not a big, strong lead blocker that finishes off
opponents or moves defenders out of the play. Bennie Joppru is an
efficient tight end also lined up in the backfield as a blocker. He is neither
explosive nor spectacular but rather a camp player that could make a squad as
the third tight end. Senior Ronald Bellamy
has displayed speed and
pass-catching skills on occasion but playing behind the likes of Marquis Walker
and David Terrell the previous two seasons has been a second thought in
the offense. Still, he has size, runs well and a good senior campaign will get
him drafted. Lastly, signal caller John Navarre seemingly took a step
back last season and now must take two steps forward. Navarre has pocket passer
size and adequate arm strength but his accuracy is not sharp, partly because of a
terrible follow through, and his ability to scramble is zero. Needing to get it
back together, Navarre could turn the heads of scouts going into his senior
campaign should he flourish next year with less then stellar targets at his
disposal.
On defense it is much the same; solid not spectacular talent. We’ve
watched Victor Hobson three years now and like his skills, highly
rating him coming into every season since 2000 (a result of the average quality
of outside linebackers as much as anything else). Hobson is an athletic
defender that scrapes well laterally, gets depth on his pass drops or displays
force up the field, all along making plays in every direction. He has adequate
speed and is quick arriving on the scene but his size (or lack there of) will
push him down draft boards. Barely 6-0, Hobson does not have the great explosion
and only average cover skills for a weak-side linebacker yet at the same time is
small for the strong-side. Still, he is a solid middle round choice and should
be effective as both a situational linebacker and special teams player. UM has a
pair of safeties that will get middle round consideration. Cato June is a
solid run stuffing safety that displays the ability to pass cover in a small
area, but best making plays up the field. Julius Curry is better
against the pass and has decent special teams potential. Lastly; junior Shantee
Orr is a speed rusher and athletic defensive end that reminds us a bit of
former Wolverine James Hall, now with the Lions.
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