I like reading about late rounder, udfa players also. I have come to respect guys like Kerry Hyder and Anthony Pittman who have managed to hang onto a roster spot somewhere for a number of years through grit and tenacity. This year I am currently intrigued by Ian K and hoping he can usurp Maddox at some point in the season. When I first heard of the signings of Rock Ya Sin and Avonte Maddox I thought they were probably signed with the vet squad in mind and still feel that way about Rock but Maddox does appear to be the logical candidate for that 3rd Safety spot at the beginning of the year.
Don't get in a hurry to see Ian K or any of the rookies or even 2nd year players on defense, matter of fact I hope we don't because that means we had some injuries. They have their hands full learning STs this year, getting practice reps on the defense will be tight all year.
Hopefully it's going to be them trying to get Rakestraw some work with him and Maddox in a training camp fight for 6th DB. In the end it will probably be game specific, do they want another outside corner because the other team is running 3 and 4 WR sets or do you need to cover a top TE so you use Branch on him and Maddox works the middle.
I had the same feelings about Ya-Sin and Maddox, deep veteran depth to replace Vildor. have a feeling that if we ever get down to needing Ya-Son we will be very glad to have him around but even happier if we don't need him.
Keep in mind the word I used was hoping and not expecting. There is after all a really big difference between those two words. Last year I had hopes for Dirtbag (CM) even as a sixth rounder. As camp went on however and the season started Mahagony still hadn't recovered from illness and those hopes dwindled. Still he did recover and with limited in season practice managed to usurp Yodi . That type of progress doesn't happen often though so yeah I'm aware that Ian K or one of the other young un's usurping Maddox during the season isn't likely but the 3rd safety spot has been valuable in the Lions D so I am allowing myself to hope for it.
Even with as good as the roster is now, I can't help but get excited reading about these 7th round and UDFA guys, especially anyone with this to Michigan. At this point, it's not rational to expect much cause even the best ones probably aren't going to get much playing time outside of almost invisible ST snaps, but I can't help myself. Thanks for focusing on some of these invisible dudes. I don't know if other coaching staffs talk up these guys but I'm glad our guys do.
Diamonds are found everyday.
I like reading about late rounder, udfa players also. I have come to respect guys like Kerry Hyder and Anthony Pittman who have managed to hang onto a roster spot somewhere for a number of years through grit and tenacity. This year I am currently intrigued by Ian K and hoping he can usurp Maddox at some point in the season. When I first heard of the signings of Rock Ya Sin and Avonte Maddox I thought they were probably signed with the vet squad in mind and still feel that way about Rock but Maddox does appear to be the logical candidate for that 3rd Safety spot at the beginning of the year.
Don't get in a hurry to see Ian K or any of the rookies or even 2nd year players on defense, matter of fact I hope we don't because that means we had some injuries. They have their hands full learning STs this year, getting practice reps on the defense will be tight all year.
Hopefully it's going to be them trying to get Rakestraw some work with him and Maddox in a training camp fight for 6th DB. In the end it will probably be game specific, do they want another outside corner because the other team is running 3 and 4 WR sets or do you need to cover a top TE so you use Branch on him and Maddox works the middle.
I had the same feelings about Ya-Sin and Maddox, deep veteran depth to replace Vildor. have a feeling that if we ever get down to needing Ya-Son we will be very glad to have him around but even happier if we don't need him.
Amazing how we are talking about this much depth.
Keep in mind the word I used was hoping and not expecting. There is after all a really big difference between those two words. Last year I had hopes for Dirtbag (CM) even as a sixth rounder. As camp went on however and the season started Mahagony still hadn't recovered from illness and those hopes dwindled. Still he did recover and with limited in season practice managed to usurp Yodi . That type of progress doesn't happen often though so yeah I'm aware that Ian K or one of the other young un's usurping Maddox during the season isn't likely but the 3rd safety spot has been valuable in the Lions D so I am allowing myself to hope for it.
Even with as good as the roster is now, I can't help but get excited reading about these 7th round and UDFA guys, especially anyone with this to Michigan. At this point, it's not rational to expect much cause even the best ones probably aren't going to get much playing time outside of almost invisible ST snaps, but I can't help myself. Thanks for focusing on some of these invisible dudes. I don't know if other coaching staffs talk up these guys but I'm glad our guys do.