After a slow week or so the Wolverine news train seems to be running at high speeds the last 10 hours or so.
News Maker #1: Brady Hoke Gets His FB
Surprise Utah FB Sione Houma become Michigan's 20th commit to the 2012 class yesterday. Houma is a 6'0 211 pound FB who ran for 1,211 yards and 9 touchdowns last year. To say he is under the radar would be putting it lightly, he is not rated on Rivals,ESPN or 24/7 and is 2 stars to Scouts.
His offer list included Utah, Utah State and Washington.
My take: The coaches wanted a FB in this class and now they got one. I will trust the coaches with this one but with now only 6 spots left at max, I sure hope have room for the impact guys Michigan is still in on. I would have felt much better about this commitment last Spring. Either way it's another player the coaching staff targeted and got.
#2: Jones, Jones and Pace are officially off the roster.
The Michigan Athletic Department confirmed that Kellen Jones is no longer enrolled at Michigan and both Teric Jones and Christian Pace careers are over due to injury.
My take: Losing Kellen and Christian are the biggest blows to future playing time. Christian was the only offensive lineman in the 2010 class and there was high hopes for Kellen to maybe even play this year. Look for Poole to take advantage of Kellen's departure. Side Note: With Christian Pace is now gone, Cullen Christan left a few months ago for Pitt, should freshman basketball player Colton Christian be concerned? :)
#3: Michigan 2012 class ranks #2 on Rivals.
What a compliment to Brady Hoke and Staff. To be able to recruit this well after being on the job for 7 months is pretty incredible.
#4 Kyle Kalis and his OSU recruitment
Some people have speculated that with recent news from the NCAA that OSU won't face the "failure to monitor" penalty that Kyle would head back to Columbus. Kyle said this: Despite all the speculation about the limited sanctions that Ohio State will receive, I've grown to love Michigan too much to ever consider going back. I'm excited to get up there next season and to start what I know is going to be a new chapter in Michigan history, and with the amazing class that my head coach Brady Hoke is putting together.
My take: Love this kid! If you want to worry about a kid, I think our chances with Dunn probably dropped a few points, but if we can still get him up for the BBQ, I think we have a punchers chance at landing him.
Also don't forget that OSU could be found guilty of being a double offender which carries a big penalty as well.
Update: It seems DT Terry Talbott career might also be over due to a back problem. Terry is the brother of DB Terrance. If you remeber Terry all most went to North Carolina on signing day but stayed with Michigan.
If you wondered how Michigan had 26 spots in the 2012 class, these injuries are the reason.
Showing posts with label Michigan's recruiting class 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan's recruiting class 2010. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Michigan Thursday: This Defense is Who We Thought They Were! (which is bad)
Every Michigan fan that watched Saturday's game wondered the same thing, how in the hell did the defense get this bad? I have spent the past 4 days reading Michigan blogs and other media and have come to this startling conclusion: this defense doesn't know what hell it's doing. (brilliant I know!)
Here are two good examples from two well respected Michigan Blogs.
Mgoblog: Michigan's deployment of the 3-3-5 isn't really a 3-3-5. I don't know what it is, but that whole attacking from everywhere, making different fronts, blitzing, getting guys through the line unblocked thing is something you can see on a fairly typical WVU play
I have no idea what Greg Robinson is trying to accomplish. This puts me in the same situation as Greg Robinson. (what a great line!)
Burgeoning Wolverine Star: Looks at Michigan trying to defend a 2nd and 21 against a guy that is "paying his own way" at Penn State. These pictures are not for the faint of heart and you probably don't want to look at them while at work, due to the expletives that will soon come out of your mouth.
At this point, Kovacs realizes how poorly he's executed this play and has turned his head away from the quarterback to try and catch up with the outside receiver. Michigan's linebackers are literally running into each other and covering no one (What's happening here?). Michigan's underneath defenders are all still essentially inside the hash marks and none of them are deeper than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. McGloin has all day to throw because, well, seven blockers against three rushers won't ever get to the quarterback.
Can you believe this guy is that wide open on a 2nd and 21! How can that happen? After this play, Greg Robinson should of laid down his headset and walked in to the Happy Valley of Darkness.
The linebackers tackled themselves and the Penn State WR skipped to an open spot 25 yards down field where he was wide open. He caught the ball and the Penn State fans cheered.
How do you fix this mess? I wish I knew. But the scheme that Robinson is trying to run is either not working or his players don't understand it. The lack of pressure on the QB has been troubling all year long. To recap: Michigan's D can't stop the run, can't cover WR's, gives up a lot of yards and points, and doesn't pressure the QB, but Greg Robinson has Super Bowl Rings.
How RR watches this tape and doesn't fire Robinson is beyond me. I'm guessing he feels he has no other choice but to keep him until the end of the year. (I wouldn't be betting my career on him, that is for sure).
My suggestion is to just play man defense for the rest of the year with safety help deep. Each CB plays the receiver in front of them, each LB picks a running back or Tight End to cover, and the safeties pick a player to help on deep. Yes, that means the Michigan CB's could get beat deep and yes, it could mean Michigan gives up bigger running plays when Michigan doesn't expect it. But how is that any different to what is happening now? At least the CB's would know what to do and stick with their guy. When a pass is thrown at least the Michigan defender would be (hopefully) within 10 yards of the wide out. More importantly the freshman in the secondary wouldn't have to "think" what to do, they could just play football and cover the guy in front of them. As RR said, when players "think" on the field they play slow.
If the opposing offense goes 4 wide, take most of the LB's off the field (they aren't doing anything anyways) and put corners in to cover the WR's. Yes, I understand that opens the defense up to RB and QB draws.
The last change is to put Craig Roh just as a DE or Rush LB. Have you even heard his name mentioned since the UConn game? He should be rushing the QB and not in coverage.
I'm sure there are a million reasons not to do what I suggest above, but I can tell you one thing: This defense can't get any worse.
Here are two good examples from two well respected Michigan Blogs.
Mgoblog: Michigan's deployment of the 3-3-5 isn't really a 3-3-5. I don't know what it is, but that whole attacking from everywhere, making different fronts, blitzing, getting guys through the line unblocked thing is something you can see on a fairly typical WVU play
I have no idea what Greg Robinson is trying to accomplish. This puts me in the same situation as Greg Robinson. (what a great line!)
Burgeoning Wolverine Star: Looks at Michigan trying to defend a 2nd and 21 against a guy that is "paying his own way" at Penn State. These pictures are not for the faint of heart and you probably don't want to look at them while at work, due to the expletives that will soon come out of your mouth.
At this point, Kovacs realizes how poorly he's executed this play and has turned his head away from the quarterback to try and catch up with the outside receiver. Michigan's linebackers are literally running into each other and covering no one (What's happening here?). Michigan's underneath defenders are all still essentially inside the hash marks and none of them are deeper than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. McGloin has all day to throw because, well, seven blockers against three rushers won't ever get to the quarterback.
Can you believe this guy is that wide open on a 2nd and 21! How can that happen? After this play, Greg Robinson should of laid down his headset and walked in to the Happy Valley of Darkness.
The linebackers tackled themselves and the Penn State WR skipped to an open spot 25 yards down field where he was wide open. He caught the ball and the Penn State fans cheered.
How do you fix this mess? I wish I knew. But the scheme that Robinson is trying to run is either not working or his players don't understand it. The lack of pressure on the QB has been troubling all year long. To recap: Michigan's D can't stop the run, can't cover WR's, gives up a lot of yards and points, and doesn't pressure the QB, but Greg Robinson has Super Bowl Rings.
How RR watches this tape and doesn't fire Robinson is beyond me. I'm guessing he feels he has no other choice but to keep him until the end of the year. (I wouldn't be betting my career on him, that is for sure).
My suggestion is to just play man defense for the rest of the year with safety help deep. Each CB plays the receiver in front of them, each LB picks a running back or Tight End to cover, and the safeties pick a player to help on deep. Yes, that means the Michigan CB's could get beat deep and yes, it could mean Michigan gives up bigger running plays when Michigan doesn't expect it. But how is that any different to what is happening now? At least the CB's would know what to do and stick with their guy. When a pass is thrown at least the Michigan defender would be (hopefully) within 10 yards of the wide out. More importantly the freshman in the secondary wouldn't have to "think" what to do, they could just play football and cover the guy in front of them. As RR said, when players "think" on the field they play slow.
If the opposing offense goes 4 wide, take most of the LB's off the field (they aren't doing anything anyways) and put corners in to cover the WR's. Yes, I understand that opens the defense up to RB and QB draws.
The last change is to put Craig Roh just as a DE or Rush LB. Have you even heard his name mentioned since the UConn game? He should be rushing the QB and not in coverage.
I'm sure there are a million reasons not to do what I suggest above, but I can tell you one thing: This defense can't get any worse.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wolverine Wednesday: Trying to Win with Freshman
Being a freshman is hard. Your away from home for the first time, you have to figure out where your classes are, you have to meet a bunch of new people, your classes are much more difficult then high school, and by the way you have a new full time job - Michigan football. That is a lot to take on for an 18 year old kid.
That is why if coaches had the option they would hardly ever play a freshman. They need time to get used to college life, the Michigan football program, the weight room, their position, the schemes and the plays. It's like getting to college and starting a job where millions of fans are counting on you. That is a lot to put on anyone, mostly a kid that just got to campus in July or August. Kids that enrolled in January do have an advantage because they can join the program at a much less hectic time before spring ball starts.
I get that, but why are some freshman more successful then others?
Sure some kids are just naturally talented and make a "better on the field" transition then others. The best example this year is Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina. He was clearly one of the best football players in the country last year in the class of 2010. A Michigan example is Chad Henne. Chad came to Ann Arbor in Early August as the QB of the future but was pretty much going to be second string as a freshman. The week of the first game, Michigan's starter hurts his throwing shoulder and Chad is now the starter on opening day. With a veteran WR core and a good running game, Chad leads the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl and never gives up the starting gig for 4 years.
Those are great stories but I wouldn't consider them the norm. Running Back is probably one of the quickest ways to get on to the field right away. You just need to teach them the plays and then let their natural talent take over. The biggest things freshman running backs struggle with is blocking assignments and blitz pick ups.
Justin Turner is another example of a talented kid out of high school (5 star recruit). Who struggled with the transition to college football on and off the field. He didn't play his freshman year and only made it through two days of fall practice in his sophomore year before he left the team The rumors were he was having some programs in his personal life and couldn't focus on football at Michigan.
Most kids that are recruited to Michigan are the best athletes on their high school team, the best athlete in the county, or maybe even the best player in the entire state where they grew up. High school coaches aren't dumb and when you have a special player on your team you put them at a position where they can touch the ball a lot, like QB Which is exactly the example I want to use.
Courtney Avery is a talented smart athlete. He played QB for Lexington High School in Mansfield, OH and broke a number of records, passing and running with the ball. He had offers from a number of programs including Stanford and Florida but picked the Wolverines last year. The key is that Courtney's ticket to Michigan or any other top programs was as a defensive back not as a QB. His 5'11 167 pound frame just wasn't what these programs were looking for in a QB. Courtney knew the value of a Stanford or Michigan education and decided that DB was the place for him.
In Courtney's case it would have been prefect if Michigan could have him 3rd or 4th on the depth chart so he could learn the position, learn the defensive schemes, understand the different WR routes he was going to see and make the proper transition from quarterback to cornerback. As we know, something happened on the way to redshirtville and Courtney finds himself in the below situation.
This was a miss tackle on one of the drives where Michigan was starting to muster up a comeback attempt late in the 4th quarter. When all of sudden Michigan's CB depth goes "Boom" due to injuries, transfers, non-enrollments and crime/prison. You have a freshman/former QB trying to make a tackle on a running back to save a game.
Anyway you slice it that is not a good position for Michigan or the Michigan coaches to be in.
Who's to blame? Everyone.
Lloyd Carr is on the list for not recruiting defense for a number of years.
Rich Rodriguez is on the list for recruiting kids that were borderline in getting in to Michigan.
Michigan's 3 defensive coordinators over the past 4 years.
It's everyone.
Every D1 prospect in the 2011 class wants to start as soon as they get to college. A better approach would be to take a redshirt or work you way up the depth chart and get some spot play. This "trial by fire" is causing way too many burns in the Wolverine family right now.
That is why if coaches had the option they would hardly ever play a freshman. They need time to get used to college life, the Michigan football program, the weight room, their position, the schemes and the plays. It's like getting to college and starting a job where millions of fans are counting on you. That is a lot to put on anyone, mostly a kid that just got to campus in July or August. Kids that enrolled in January do have an advantage because they can join the program at a much less hectic time before spring ball starts.
I get that, but why are some freshman more successful then others?
Sure some kids are just naturally talented and make a "better on the field" transition then others. The best example this year is Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina. He was clearly one of the best football players in the country last year in the class of 2010. A Michigan example is Chad Henne. Chad came to Ann Arbor in Early August as the QB of the future but was pretty much going to be second string as a freshman. The week of the first game, Michigan's starter hurts his throwing shoulder and Chad is now the starter on opening day. With a veteran WR core and a good running game, Chad leads the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl and never gives up the starting gig for 4 years.
Those are great stories but I wouldn't consider them the norm. Running Back is probably one of the quickest ways to get on to the field right away. You just need to teach them the plays and then let their natural talent take over. The biggest things freshman running backs struggle with is blocking assignments and blitz pick ups.
Justin Turner is another example of a talented kid out of high school (5 star recruit). Who struggled with the transition to college football on and off the field. He didn't play his freshman year and only made it through two days of fall practice in his sophomore year before he left the team The rumors were he was having some programs in his personal life and couldn't focus on football at Michigan.
Most kids that are recruited to Michigan are the best athletes on their high school team, the best athlete in the county, or maybe even the best player in the entire state where they grew up. High school coaches aren't dumb and when you have a special player on your team you put them at a position where they can touch the ball a lot, like QB Which is exactly the example I want to use.
Courtney Avery is a talented smart athlete. He played QB for Lexington High School in Mansfield, OH and broke a number of records, passing and running with the ball. He had offers from a number of programs including Stanford and Florida but picked the Wolverines last year. The key is that Courtney's ticket to Michigan or any other top programs was as a defensive back not as a QB. His 5'11 167 pound frame just wasn't what these programs were looking for in a QB. Courtney knew the value of a Stanford or Michigan education and decided that DB was the place for him.
In Courtney's case it would have been prefect if Michigan could have him 3rd or 4th on the depth chart so he could learn the position, learn the defensive schemes, understand the different WR routes he was going to see and make the proper transition from quarterback to cornerback. As we know, something happened on the way to redshirtville and Courtney finds himself in the below situation.
This was a miss tackle on one of the drives where Michigan was starting to muster up a comeback attempt late in the 4th quarter. When all of sudden Michigan's CB depth goes "Boom" due to injuries, transfers, non-enrollments and crime/prison. You have a freshman/former QB trying to make a tackle on a running back to save a game.
Anyway you slice it that is not a good position for Michigan or the Michigan coaches to be in.
Who's to blame? Everyone.
Lloyd Carr is on the list for not recruiting defense for a number of years.
Rich Rodriguez is on the list for recruiting kids that were borderline in getting in to Michigan.
Michigan's 3 defensive coordinators over the past 4 years.
It's everyone.
Every D1 prospect in the 2011 class wants to start as soon as they get to college. A better approach would be to take a redshirt or work you way up the depth chart and get some spot play. This "trial by fire" is causing way too many burns in the Wolverine family right now.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Michigan ClearingHouse issue: Another Player Gone
I have never seen a team go 2-0 and get so much hype and positive publicity lose so many players. Today, Michigan loses another defensive player from the 2010 class: Davion Rogers. Davion was late getting to camp due to an NCAA Clearinghouse issue and it seems that issue did not go away.
Davion is no longer on the team and not expected to return. This is the 5th player from the 2010 class that either didn't make it to campus or has quickly exited the program. That list includes: Austin White, Demar Dorsey, Conelius Jones, Antonio Kinard, and now Davion Rogers.
This has to stop and RR and staff have to do a better job of finding suitable recruits that have a better academic standing. 4 out of the 5 above didn't make it to campus due to academic issues.
To be fair, Conelius and Antonio are trying to enroll in January.
Davion is no longer on the team and not expected to return. This is the 5th player from the 2010 class that either didn't make it to campus or has quickly exited the program. That list includes: Austin White, Demar Dorsey, Conelius Jones, Antonio Kinard, and now Davion Rogers.
This has to stop and RR and staff have to do a better job of finding suitable recruits that have a better academic standing. 4 out of the 5 above didn't make it to campus due to academic issues.
To be fair, Conelius and Antonio are trying to enroll in January.
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