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The OFFICIAL MICHIGAN FOOTBALL TEAM 138 THREAD: THE TEAM! THE TEAM! THE TEAM!
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NigerianDonDada
FFOE
Ann Arbor — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made clear last season he has no reservations about playing freshmen, so bank on seeing several of them this fall, particularly at receiver.
Harbaugh raved about freshman receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black and Oliver Martin while meeting with media Friday night after practice.
“The receivers are doing really well,” Harbaugh said. “DPJ and Oliver Martin and Tarik Black are making a lot of plays. They’re making superb athletic-types of plays. I’ve never really seen freshmen do it the way they’re doing it.”
Freshman receiver Nico Collins also will factor in once he gets more practice time.
On both sides of the ball, freshmen will see playing time.
“Oliver and DPJ and Tarik are going to be out there, probably Nico, too, at some point,” Harbaugh said. “(Fullback) Ben Mason and then those defensive linemen are going to be in the mix for sure.
“(Cornerback) Ambry Thomas, he’s been sensational, I love him. Not too many guys on the team I get along better with than Ambry Thomas. He’s mature beyond his years and I love that about him. There’s no softness whatsoever. He’s a real ball player.”
He spoke highly of linebacker Drew Singleton and defensive ends Luiji Vilain and Kwity Paye.
Also impressive in camp has been linebacker Josh Ross, the younger brother of former Wolverine James Ross. Harbaugh accidentally referred to Josh, a standout at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, as James.
“I call him James half the time. To his face,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a real hitter. It’s hard to imagine what was he like in high school. He’s hitting guys here in the college game like that. The other guy giving everybody a run for their money is Ben Mason. Just a wonderful, physical football player. He will help us win games this year. He was made to be a fullback.”
NigerianDonDada
FFOE
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was a hot day in Ann Arbor on Friday for Michigan’s practice. And Jim Harbaugh was cranking his troops through drills with vim and vigor in his khakis, ball cap and bullhorn. Here are some fun takes.
Most impressive player: RB Chris Evans. The sophomore back from Indianapolis is built as well as any ball carrier in the Big Ten. And watch him explode from his stance. He can deliver a blow through the hole and run around end. He may be in-line to be Michigan’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Fitz Toussaint in 2014. Evans looked good today.
Top specimen: LB Mike McCray catches your eye. He is a well-put-together 6-4, 248 pounds. And he moves with frightening speed and efficiency. He is one of the few veteran hands on the defense and looks primed to be a star.
Loudest coach: Greg Mattison. Look, being a defensive line coach often requires a lot of energy and volume. You are trying to get max effort from big fellas who often need a lot of prodding and motivating. Mattison gets after it.
Impressive newcomer: WR Donovan People-Jones. I just as easily could have gone with Tarik Black. People-Jones is 6-2; Black is 6-4. And each is at or near 200 pounds. These guys are freaks who enrolled early and are ready to help a wideout unit that needs help. Both looked sharp on this day catching the ball.
On the rise: CB Keith Washington, S Tyree Kinnel and DE Chase Winovich are three guys who have made noise in camp so far. Kinnel has been a good leader in the back end, while Washington has made a move at a corner position that also features Lavert Hill, Brandon Watson and David Long. Former WR Drake Harris also is looking good at CB. Josh Metellus and Jordan Glasgow are running with the “Ones” at safety.
Nagging question: Who will be the QB? It’s between junior Wilton Speight, senior John O’Korn and redshirt freshman Brandon Peters. Speight has the experience, but Peters is more talented. What a conundrum.
Under the radar: LB Michael Wroblewski is a savvy vet who knows this defense inside out. His leadership—and skills—will go a long way in helping this rebuilt defense excel.
Most impressive player: RB Chris Evans. The sophomore back from Indianapolis is built as well as any ball carrier in the Big Ten. And watch him explode from his stance. He can deliver a blow through the hole and run around end. He may be in-line to be Michigan’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Fitz Toussaint in 2014. Evans looked good today.
Top specimen: LB Mike McCray catches your eye. He is a well-put-together 6-4, 248 pounds. And he moves with frightening speed and efficiency. He is one of the few veteran hands on the defense and looks primed to be a star.
Loudest coach: Greg Mattison. Look, being a defensive line coach often requires a lot of energy and volume. You are trying to get max effort from big fellas who often need a lot of prodding and motivating. Mattison gets after it.
Impressive newcomer: WR Donovan People-Jones. I just as easily could have gone with Tarik Black. People-Jones is 6-2; Black is 6-4. And each is at or near 200 pounds. These guys are freaks who enrolled early and are ready to help a wideout unit that needs help. Both looked sharp on this day catching the ball.
On the rise: CB Keith Washington, S Tyree Kinnel and DE Chase Winovich are three guys who have made noise in camp so far. Kinnel has been a good leader in the back end, while Washington has made a move at a corner position that also features Lavert Hill, Brandon Watson and David Long. Former WR Drake Harris also is looking good at CB. Josh Metellus and Jordan Glasgow are running with the “Ones” at safety.
Nagging question: Who will be the QB? It’s between junior Wilton Speight, senior John O’Korn and redshirt freshman Brandon Peters. Speight has the experience, but Peters is more talented. What a conundrum.
Under the radar: LB Michael Wroblewski is a savvy vet who knows this defense inside out. His leadership—and skills—will go a long way in helping this rebuilt defense excel.
NigerianDonDada
FFOE
Dienhart: 5 things I learned at Michigan fall practice
By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 4 hours ago
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Year 3 of the Jim Harbaugh era has dawned, and things are changing. On our first visit in 2015, Harbaugh likened camp to being on a submarine. But things have loosened a bit since then, as the Wolverines look to push their way up the standings in the Big Ten East.
It won’t be easy, as many key players are gone, including a national-high 11 NFL draft picks. And where is the mojo? Michigan lost three of its last four games in 2016. And it is in the midst of its second-longest Big Ten title drought (12 years and counting). The only longer dry spell was from 1951-63 (13 years). This is a big season for Harbaugh.
Here are five things I learned at Friday’s practice.
1. This is an athletic offensive line. There is a lot of potential, as Michigan searches for “the five best guys.” And, the unit has something to prove vs. quality opponents. Michigan averaged just 2.8 yards rushing per carry vs. Iowa, 2.1 yards per carry vs. Ohio State and 2.5 yards per carry vs. Florida State in the Orange Bowl last year. The Wolverines lost all three of those games. Gotta like left tackle Mason Cole, who has been an impact player since he stepped on campus. So powerful. And Ben Bredeson is a mauler inside at left guard. I also like center Patrick Kugler, who is the son of a coach. And, it shows. The right side of the line is in more flux with lots of moving parts, with guys like Michael Onwenu, John Runyan Jr., and Juwann Bushell-Beatty in the mix. Onwenu (guard) and Bushell-Beatty (tackle) were on the first team today. And keep an eye on true frosh Cesar Ruiz, the No. 1 center in the Class of 2017. He could play sooner rather than later. Tim Drevno and Greg Frey (who coaches tackles) coach this unit well.
2. It will be interesting to see what Pep Hamilton can do with the quarterbacks. Wilton Speight did some nice things last year, but he needs to improve. He needs to play better under pressure and throw deep with more accuracy. He is competing for the job with redshirt frosh Brandon Peters and senior John O’Korn, according to Jim Harbaugh. Each had their moments today. I like Peters a lot; no doubt he has the best arm and most upside. But would the staff really eschew the experience of Speight for the promise of Peters? O’Korn is a long shot to win the job, in my eyes.
3. The defensive front is outstanding. The unit lost a lot of talent in Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton and Ryan Glasgow, but I still love its potential–even depth is a bit iffy. Don’t be surprised if uber-talented DE Rashan Gary breaks out. We got flashes last year; he looked good on this day in camp. He has such a wicked combination of size and speed. He’s also explosive. Amid the hub-bub over Gary, don’t forget about DT Maurice Hurst. The guy almost turned pro. He is a monster. And NT Bryan Mone is a monolith inside. There can’t be a better nose tackle in the Big Ten. In fact, the tackle tandem of Hurst and Mone may not have a peer in the conference. It will be interesting to see how “BUCK” Chase Winovich develops; he was out today along with true freshman DT Aubrey Solomon. Youngsters Luiji Vilain and Kwity Paye looked good off the edge today. As did Donovan Jeter, who looks like a young Wormley.
4. Chris Evans has gotten bigger and shows a burst. Evans got his feet wet last season and showed some promise. Maybe he can be a star and the first back at Michigan to rush for 1,000 yards since Fitz Toussaint in 2014. Big Ty Isaac is still in the fold but hasn’t impacted as many anticipated after his transfer from USC. And don’t forget about Karan Higdon. Redshirt freshman Kareem Walker is back after missing last year; he made a nice catch way down field in one drill. If these guys can keep the chains moving, it will help the developing wideout corps.
5. There is talent among pass-catchers, but it is mostly inexperienced.No school lost a better trio of pass-catchers than Michigan, which bid adieu to Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt. Maybe my fav guy is Nate Schoenle, a walk-on who will impact this fall. He will be a fan favorite. I also like Eddie McDoom, who saw some action last year. But he is smaller and more of a jet-sweep guy. Kekoa Crawford showed nice speed in and out of cuts on this day. True freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black have the size and speed that coaches crave. Don’t be shocked if one starts. And the return of Grant Perry is huge. He recently was reinstated following an off-field issue. And he’s wearing Jake Butt’s old No. 88. Mo Ways was in shorts. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. looks good at tight end. The Michigan legacy moves well for a big man. And he made some nice catches on this day. This team loves to use tight ends, so as many as four or five will see time in the fall. Ian Bunting catches your eye along with Nick Eubanks and lanky Zach Gentry, a mismatch waiting to happen.
By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 4 hours ago
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Year 3 of the Jim Harbaugh era has dawned, and things are changing. On our first visit in 2015, Harbaugh likened camp to being on a submarine. But things have loosened a bit since then, as the Wolverines look to push their way up the standings in the Big Ten East.
It won’t be easy, as many key players are gone, including a national-high 11 NFL draft picks. And where is the mojo? Michigan lost three of its last four games in 2016. And it is in the midst of its second-longest Big Ten title drought (12 years and counting). The only longer dry spell was from 1951-63 (13 years). This is a big season for Harbaugh.
Here are five things I learned at Friday’s practice.
1. This is an athletic offensive line. There is a lot of potential, as Michigan searches for “the five best guys.” And, the unit has something to prove vs. quality opponents. Michigan averaged just 2.8 yards rushing per carry vs. Iowa, 2.1 yards per carry vs. Ohio State and 2.5 yards per carry vs. Florida State in the Orange Bowl last year. The Wolverines lost all three of those games. Gotta like left tackle Mason Cole, who has been an impact player since he stepped on campus. So powerful. And Ben Bredeson is a mauler inside at left guard. I also like center Patrick Kugler, who is the son of a coach. And, it shows. The right side of the line is in more flux with lots of moving parts, with guys like Michael Onwenu, John Runyan Jr., and Juwann Bushell-Beatty in the mix. Onwenu (guard) and Bushell-Beatty (tackle) were on the first team today. And keep an eye on true frosh Cesar Ruiz, the No. 1 center in the Class of 2017. He could play sooner rather than later. Tim Drevno and Greg Frey (who coaches tackles) coach this unit well.
2. It will be interesting to see what Pep Hamilton can do with the quarterbacks. Wilton Speight did some nice things last year, but he needs to improve. He needs to play better under pressure and throw deep with more accuracy. He is competing for the job with redshirt frosh Brandon Peters and senior John O’Korn, according to Jim Harbaugh. Each had their moments today. I like Peters a lot; no doubt he has the best arm and most upside. But would the staff really eschew the experience of Speight for the promise of Peters? O’Korn is a long shot to win the job, in my eyes.
3. The defensive front is outstanding. The unit lost a lot of talent in Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton and Ryan Glasgow, but I still love its potential–even depth is a bit iffy. Don’t be surprised if uber-talented DE Rashan Gary breaks out. We got flashes last year; he looked good on this day in camp. He has such a wicked combination of size and speed. He’s also explosive. Amid the hub-bub over Gary, don’t forget about DT Maurice Hurst. The guy almost turned pro. He is a monster. And NT Bryan Mone is a monolith inside. There can’t be a better nose tackle in the Big Ten. In fact, the tackle tandem of Hurst and Mone may not have a peer in the conference. It will be interesting to see how “BUCK” Chase Winovich develops; he was out today along with true freshman DT Aubrey Solomon. Youngsters Luiji Vilain and Kwity Paye looked good off the edge today. As did Donovan Jeter, who looks like a young Wormley.
4. Chris Evans has gotten bigger and shows a burst. Evans got his feet wet last season and showed some promise. Maybe he can be a star and the first back at Michigan to rush for 1,000 yards since Fitz Toussaint in 2014. Big Ty Isaac is still in the fold but hasn’t impacted as many anticipated after his transfer from USC. And don’t forget about Karan Higdon. Redshirt freshman Kareem Walker is back after missing last year; he made a nice catch way down field in one drill. If these guys can keep the chains moving, it will help the developing wideout corps.
5. There is talent among pass-catchers, but it is mostly inexperienced.No school lost a better trio of pass-catchers than Michigan, which bid adieu to Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt. Maybe my fav guy is Nate Schoenle, a walk-on who will impact this fall. He will be a fan favorite. I also like Eddie McDoom, who saw some action last year. But he is smaller and more of a jet-sweep guy. Kekoa Crawford showed nice speed in and out of cuts on this day. True freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black have the size and speed that coaches crave. Don’t be shocked if one starts. And the return of Grant Perry is huge. He recently was reinstated following an off-field issue. And he’s wearing Jake Butt’s old No. 88. Mo Ways was in shorts. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. looks good at tight end. The Michigan legacy moves well for a big man. And he made some nice catches on this day. This team loves to use tight ends, so as many as four or five will see time in the fall. Ian Bunting catches your eye along with Nick Eubanks and lanky Zach Gentry, a mismatch waiting to happen.
^ Posted
Trust Me
Coli Prophet
I think this shyt is lip service. Remember last year? Everyone and their mothers thought O'Korn was the dude. And then BAM! Wilton fukking Speight.
I'm just gonna sit back and wait. And pray.
great to hear
Trust Me
Coli Prophet
intra vires
Glory to Michigan
If it's O'Korn, which I'm skeptical about, then he would have made a meteoric leap in order to beat out an incumbent who won 9 games last season and has also improved.
Personally, I don't care who starts. Harbaugh will go with the guy who gives us the best chance to win.
Trust Me
Coli Prophet
Agreed with being ok with whoever the staff starts. And come to think of it, we might be too hard on O'Korn fells. The only game that dude started last year was Indiana.
1) We won the game. Yea it was ugly, but it wasn't always pretty with Wilton either.
2) The play calling was vanilla as fukk. Almost like Mike Deboard was play calling again.
3) It was cold as hell, AND a damn near blizzard (if I remember correctly) in the second half.
And finally...
4) fukk Speight.
NigerianDonDada
FFOE
NigerianDonDada
FFOE
With every mention of Khaleke Hudson I must reiterate that readers should not expect him to be Jabrill Peppers. Jabrill was the type of rare physical talent that makes predictions of comparable performance unfair to the player being held to his standard. With that out of the way, I also feel the need to reiterate my belief that the drop-off in production at the position won’t be as precipitous as many pundits expect. In the last sub report I focused on his noteworthy performance in pass coverage during camp. Today we’ll focus on how he has fared in the box. That it where he truly shines. “He sets the edge like a SAM,” one practice observer said. Tight ends and even pulling linemen have found the former Keystone State a force to be reckoned with when trying to kick him out. According to another observer Hudson’s ability to deliver blows was on full display when during a blitz, Henry Poggi stood between him and his intended target. This was one time where Poggi, a jackhammer blocker that has dished out his share of punishment, didn’t come out on the winning end of a collision. Hudson came through with such force that he ran through and over his powerful teammate. Before Hudson’s emergence last spring there was talk that Michigan would play the match-up game with the VIPER/SAM positions based on opponent or scenario. While seeing see the SAM more this year remains a reasonable expectation, any notion that Michigan will be hesitant to use Hudson in EVERY scenario is out of touch and not up to date.
Like Hudson, Josh Metellus was one of the revelations of the spring. He emergence at safety as one of the defense’s top playmakers. In fall camp, his limitation of mistakes on the back end has been increased both the calm and optimism in the secondary. An example of Metellus’ steady play occurred in a recent practice when Eddie McDoom came open on a deep dig. A completion appeared imminent, and if the ball had been on target Metellus would have been in position to limit the damage with support over the top. But the ball wasn’t on target. It sailed and went right into Metellus’ arms for the pick. Time will tell whether Michigan’s safety tandem is as good in man coverage as the talented tandem they’re replacing. However, most observers agree that the new duo of Metellus and Tyree Kinnel is already displaying the football I.Q. in camp that their predecessors did last year as seniors.
Elsewhere in the secondary there continues to be movement in the fierce corner competition. Recently it was LaVert Hill and Brandon Watson with the ones with David Long and Keith Washington with the twos. As I said in the last sub report it would be unwise to read that as the definitive hierarchy just yet. Each of four guys has seen his share of time with the first unit. Take it as a sign that the battle rages on.
Another position we still can’t make the call on just yet is right tackle. That comes on the heels of word that Nolan Ulizio was getting run with the ones recently.
At tailback Ty Isaac continues to garner praise in practice. A sign of the increased confidence in his physicality is his usage around the goal line. If practice is any indicator Isaac’s size will be utilized in such scenarios. He has sniffed the end zone fairly well in camp. And like running back cohort Chris Evans, Isaac has also flashed the pass catching ability. (That’s not surprising considering the high opinion many scouts had of his receiver skills coming out of high school). Isaac running with the ones in practice is another positive sign. But as I said regarding other positions, I’d hesitate to look at as a definitive sign of the expected hierarchy. Many fans incorrectly assumed that Chris Evans had lost ground in the race when word of Higdon getting run with the ones came out recently. Don’t make the same premature mistake twice. Just take this to be a positive sign Isaac’s growth.
Another really positive backfield sign has been the fall camp showing of freshman Kurt Taylor. The Peach State product may not be getting rotational looks/carries, but he is acquitting himself well in practice. As I mentioned in a recent messageboard thread, according to one source Taylor is showing "good quickness in and out of holes and vision." He has also shown toughness. In one memorable red zone scenario, he took a handoff at the four and seemed to be destined to be hit for a loss. Instead he shook off the would-be tackler and got three tough yards to advance the ball to one. Harbaugh was so impressed with the effort he had the entire team watch it.
Finally, one of the more impressive aspects of the fall camp performances by the quarterbacks has been their ability to extend plays. Getting flushed from the pocket hasn’t been uncommon… which isn’t a surprise going against Don Brown’s high pressure scheme and all of its weaponry… but both Wilton Speight and John O’Korn have made some of their best plays outside of the pocket in scramble drills.
That’s all for now.
Michigan Insider VIP members stay tuned for even more Inside the Sub reports coming this weekend.
If you aren’t yet a VIP member and you missed out on the previous 14 volumes of Inside the Sub, join now and access the most in-depth and accurate intel on Michigan football and University of Michigan athletics anywhere on the internet for just 33 cents per day! - TheMichiganInsider.com Subscribe
Lastly, make sure you don’t miss any of the latest Michigan Insider news and notes by having them sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for our FREE TMI newsletter - Michigan Wolverines Newsletter
Like Hudson, Josh Metellus was one of the revelations of the spring. He emergence at safety as one of the defense’s top playmakers. In fall camp, his limitation of mistakes on the back end has been increased both the calm and optimism in the secondary. An example of Metellus’ steady play occurred in a recent practice when Eddie McDoom came open on a deep dig. A completion appeared imminent, and if the ball had been on target Metellus would have been in position to limit the damage with support over the top. But the ball wasn’t on target. It sailed and went right into Metellus’ arms for the pick. Time will tell whether Michigan’s safety tandem is as good in man coverage as the talented tandem they’re replacing. However, most observers agree that the new duo of Metellus and Tyree Kinnel is already displaying the football I.Q. in camp that their predecessors did last year as seniors.
Elsewhere in the secondary there continues to be movement in the fierce corner competition. Recently it was LaVert Hill and Brandon Watson with the ones with David Long and Keith Washington with the twos. As I said in the last sub report it would be unwise to read that as the definitive hierarchy just yet. Each of four guys has seen his share of time with the first unit. Take it as a sign that the battle rages on.
Another position we still can’t make the call on just yet is right tackle. That comes on the heels of word that Nolan Ulizio was getting run with the ones recently.
At tailback Ty Isaac continues to garner praise in practice. A sign of the increased confidence in his physicality is his usage around the goal line. If practice is any indicator Isaac’s size will be utilized in such scenarios. He has sniffed the end zone fairly well in camp. And like running back cohort Chris Evans, Isaac has also flashed the pass catching ability. (That’s not surprising considering the high opinion many scouts had of his receiver skills coming out of high school). Isaac running with the ones in practice is another positive sign. But as I said regarding other positions, I’d hesitate to look at as a definitive sign of the expected hierarchy. Many fans incorrectly assumed that Chris Evans had lost ground in the race when word of Higdon getting run with the ones came out recently. Don’t make the same premature mistake twice. Just take this to be a positive sign Isaac’s growth.
Another really positive backfield sign has been the fall camp showing of freshman Kurt Taylor. The Peach State product may not be getting rotational looks/carries, but he is acquitting himself well in practice. As I mentioned in a recent messageboard thread, according to one source Taylor is showing "good quickness in and out of holes and vision." He has also shown toughness. In one memorable red zone scenario, he took a handoff at the four and seemed to be destined to be hit for a loss. Instead he shook off the would-be tackler and got three tough yards to advance the ball to one. Harbaugh was so impressed with the effort he had the entire team watch it.
Finally, one of the more impressive aspects of the fall camp performances by the quarterbacks has been their ability to extend plays. Getting flushed from the pocket hasn’t been uncommon… which isn’t a surprise going against Don Brown’s high pressure scheme and all of its weaponry… but both Wilton Speight and John O’Korn have made some of their best plays outside of the pocket in scramble drills.
That’s all for now.
Michigan Insider VIP members stay tuned for even more Inside the Sub reports coming this weekend.
If you aren’t yet a VIP member and you missed out on the previous 14 volumes of Inside the Sub, join now and access the most in-depth and accurate intel on Michigan football and University of Michigan athletics anywhere on the internet for just 33 cents per day! - TheMichiganInsider.com Subscribe
Lastly, make sure you don’t miss any of the latest Michigan Insider news and notes by having them sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for our FREE TMI newsletter - Michigan Wolverines Newsletter
