Wolverine247 Board

Down goes our number one player in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, QB hurries, and forced fumbles.

There is no bigger loss to this team outside of quarterback.

At this point, we won't be back for this season. But he should be back full-go by spring next year, and hopefully gotten everything worked back to normal by fall 2014.

This really is a shame. He was a definitely a play maker. But this is also how opportunities are opened for other players. Jake Ryan got his because of an injury to Cam Gordan. Hopefully others on the defense will step up. Great programs and great coaches overcome this kind of stuff, as it happens to every team at some point. It's the reason why you constantly need to be recruiting depth. We'll find out soon if this staff is able to adapt to his loss and continue to be great.

Do not be surprised if Cam jumps into Jake's vacancy

Definitely.

Gedeon or McCray play that position?

Perhaps this is regression to the mean from having, like, no major injuries to our most important players the 2011 season. I mean, has anyone really thought about that? We had no depth on the OL, WR, and especially DL. Could you imagine the DOOM if Mike Martin or RVB would have gone down in 2011? Even Hoke said we were fortunate to not get hit with significant injuries the 2011 season.

I think it will be a huge blow but its not like we don't have the talent behind him. Joe Bolden is a clone of Jake Ryan IMO. If Ross and Morgan step up and Gordon can be solid then I think we'll be fine. Nobody panic just yet.

Well.... This sucks.

They can step up and be formidable linebackers, no doubt, and it's fortunate this was the best unit on our team (with arguably the most depth) but we're talking about replacing the senior quarterback of our defense, who led the team in nearly every defensive stat, poised to have a monster year. I agree we shouldn't panic, but there is zero doubt our entire defense will take a step back no matter who steps up and no matter how well they play. There are some guys you simply cannot replace, and unfortunately Jake Ryan is one of them.

No, I don't think he'd be ready to step in and start, but I also didn't think Desmond Morgan would start any games as a true freshman. Gedeon is more athletic than Morgan and seems strong enough to handle the game as a backup, if he can pick up the scheme.

I'm just gonna say that if a unit goes from a position of major strength to a place of significant concern with the loss of one player, then it wasn't a position of major strength in the first place. Depth goes into whether a position group is a strength, and if losing Ryan destroys all that, then it wasn't strong to begin with. It was just a facade based on a tenuous tipping point.

I think it is gunna have to be Morgan, Ross, and Bolden. Royce Jenkins-Stone is going to have to be that 4th guy. Hes a good player, and having Kaleb Ringer back will help too. Cam Gordan gives us a veteran to help all our young studs out. Huge blow, but if it had to be any position i would have picked linebacker...just not Jake Ryan