Diaries

MGOPOINT SHIFTS DURING THE NON-OT SEASON

Last week, I completed the second half of a data pull which has been about eight months in the making .

About two weeks about the 2012 football season commenced, I copied the point table down to those with 500 MGoPoints, which is more or less in the middle of the MGoMiddleClass, if you will. At the time, there were 1,195 bloggers with point totals of 500 or better. In that group, the median value was 1,173 and the mode was 884. The average point total of this group was 2,149 points with a standard deviation of 3,149 points. That was August 17^th, 2012

As of April 17^th, 2013, the picture was markedly different. 1,320 users now boast point totals of 500 or more. The median value in this group is now 1,198 and the mode has jumped to 982 points. The average point total is 2,207 and the standard deviation has increased substantially to 3,714 points, no doubt because of the flurry of diaries and front page content during this stretch.

 Here, you can see some of the more significant shifts in the MGoPoint totals:

Among these groups, only one shrank, which is interesting. Another item of note is that the number of people who broke the 1000-point barrier during this time was significant, but of course, these are the highest traffic, most talkative months on the board.

In this table, you can see the twenty most “talkative” users in between posts, creating content (diaries, front page, etc…) and replying to others.

It should be noted that, among the users who had point totals of 500 or more in this period,  343,562 points were created in that time, and although I only list the Top 20 in terms of points created here, the Top 50 on the MGoPoints list account for 31.3% of all the points generated by this group. In the Top 50, the mean contribution was 1,113 points and the median was 395 points. The one “aberrant” figure, of course, would be joeyb, whose total is largely the result of a wager, but the points were deserved so I won’t adjust the figure.

So, if we break up the group into quartiles, you can sort of see where your completely made-up MGoPrestige sits in a broad sense. If your point total, for example, is between Brian’s and 2,178 points, you are in the 1^stquartile of those above 500 as of late last week. If you are between 2,177 and 1,198, you’re in the 2^ndquartile of users in this group. Between 1,197 and 739 sits the 3^rdquartile, and rounding out the group would be those beteween 738 points and 500 points.

TL;DR CONCLUSION:

These statistics don’t hold any real-life significance, of course, as points doing really matter. I have been interested for some time in doing an analysis of karma, but as I don’t have access to the table, this will have to suffice.

OBLIGATORY:

Okay, now they're all 1920 x 1200

Frank Clark Background

Devin Gardner Background

Fitz Background

Lewan Background

Frank Clark destroys Braxton Miller

Jeremy Gallon Backrground

Team in Tunnel Background (team shot from 2 years ago)

Funchess Background 1

Funchess Background 2

Brady Hoke POINT background

Mobile Backgrounds

All mobile backgrounds are 1136 x 640, standard resolution for the iPhone 5.

Devin iPhone background

Funchess iPhone background

Funchess iPhone background 2

Gallon iPhone Background

Lewan iPhone background

Team iPhone Background

TOUCH THE BANNER

(Click the Image to See Full Size Version)

These things have a life of their own sometimes.  I swore up and down this one was going to be regular size, with no extra panels or artwork. I was wrong of course. Sometimes it's really difficult to draw a comic strip when you see it so clearly in your head as an animated movie. The timing, the sound, everything is occasionally so clear in my head-- and the process of 'choosing' which scenes, or frames, to depict is a painstaking chore.

Hey Ace, you're pretty good with GIFs... maybe we can make an animator out of you?

Tomorrow's Friday Fun will be a drawing that has something to do with Michigan.

THE BLOCKHAMS™ runs (typically) every week here at MGoBlog and on its official home page.  Also, don't forget to check out the Friday Fun, my weekly single panel comic based on trending Michigan events, available on Twitter and the home page every Friday.

Follow THE BLOCKHAMS™ on Twitter at @theblockhams, and don't forget to
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We can discuss and debate from now until November, what position players are going to play next year and how many minutes they are going to get.  Coach Beilein has recently stated that he feels good about the flexibility of next year’s team, meaning that many players can play multiple positions.  I approached this from a player position point of view and tried to see if we would likely be better or worse than this year.

1 Spike, Walton

Walton’s minutes increase as he earns them and he will likely be the starter at some point next season (likely sooner than later).  Less scoring than last year, but hopefully they can both run the offense and get shots for others.  A big step down from this year's POY, but we should be solid.

2 LeVert, Irvin, Spike, Stauskas

A 5 star player who was Indiana’s Mr. Basketball, needs to be on the floor somewhere.  With Hardaway’s departure, there is an opening here.  LeVert has a year of experience and knows the system.  Both players should give us length on the perimeter, outside shooting, dribble penetration and be good in transition.  Solid on defense.  Even with this year.

3 Stauskas, LeVert , Irvin, Robinson

Expect Nik to be bigger and stronger and a better ball handler.  As a second year player, he will have a better understanding of the offense and defense and should be a better defender.  Several guys can play this position.  Experience makes this is an upgrade from this year.

4 Robinson, Donnal, Bielfeldt, Morgan, Horford

Expect GRIII to be bigger, stronger and a better defender.  Donnal could be the perfect stretch 4 that we thought Smotrycz would be, but probably not this year.  We can go with 2 bigs for stretches with Morgan, Horford or even Bielfeldt at the 4.  An upgrade from this year.

5 McGary, Horford, Morgan

We should count on a double, double (15+ points & 12+ rebounds) every night from the 5 position.  Improving defense from McGary.  His threat to score should open things up for the other positions on offense.  A big upgrade from this year.

This year, during most of the regular season, we started 2 freshmen, a sophomore and 2 juniors.  With this lineup, we would be starting 2 freshmen (Walton & Irvin) and 3 sophomores.  Still a very young team.  Who will be the leaders?  We lost the leadership of Burke, Hardaway and the 5 seniors.

I would expect a slower start to the non-conference portion of the season.  Hopefully, they grow up fast and come together by late season.  This team could be a Big Ten title contender and a NCAA Sweet Sixteen or better. 

[Ed-S: bumping this to diaries. I wonder who the Diarist of the Week will be...]

After picture paging a play from the spring game in which James Ross makes one of his several TFLs on the day, I was trying to think of his best comparison.  Forgive me for going outside Michigan lore, but I think he compares decently well to Sean Spence, or at least has the potential to in the future.  For those unfamiliar, Spence is an outside linebacker from Miami(FL) who was selected in the 3rd round, #86 overall by the Steelers in the 2012 draft.  In full disclosure, I'm a Miami grad, (currently at Michigan and don't worry, Michigan always comes first) so that's where my knowledge of Spence's career comes from.  It is also likely the reason why I was able to quickly connect the two's similarities.  Anyways, here's the meat of why I think they're similar:

Recruiting and Measurables

Both were 4-star outside linebackers, but Ross may have been a little more impressive.  Spence's offer list looks lacking, made up of Rutgers and North Carolina types, but he committed early enough to explain that away. Spence was part of the famous 2008 Miami Northwestern High ("national championship" high school team) of which Miami pulled basically their entire number one class that year, most of which turned out on the bench or became an interception machine (Jacory Harris), but I digress.  

Spence was listed as 6'0 and a tiny 186 lbs (!!!), whereas Ross was listed as 6'0, 209.  Spence ended up coming in at 5'11", 231 lbs at the Combine, and I wouldn't be surprised if Biggs was trying to sneak in an inch or two.  Ross is listed on the latest roster at 6'1", 223.  I think around 230-235 is reasonable to expect Ross to end up at, although if he actually is north of 6', he could end up a few pounds larger. 

Strengths and Weaknesses

If it wasn't obvious yet, one of the reasons I think this comparison works is because they both could be classified as under-sized.  Ross may outgrow that moniker, but for now, it's appopriate.  Additionally, they're both quick, smart, instinctual linebackers who can bring the wood, despite their size.  Dan Gibbs can vouch for Ross.  Here's a few snippets of Spence's draft profile from NFL.com; tell me it doesn't sound familiar.  

He was a four-year starter at Miami, and although undersized he makes up for this deficiency through speed, instincts and overall athletic ability

He can quickly diagnose a play and use his explosive hips to meet running backs and deliver the blow.

WEAKNESSES

Spence is undersized and needs to play free of big blockers on him to be productive. He can flow to plays but "rides the pole" and falls off tackles at times.

I'll confess, but I don't know what "rides the pole" means in a football context, so maybe Ross can be free of that weakness.  I'd assume it's a bad habit of making initial contact and stopping his feet, but that's just my guess.

Career Path

Spence played in every game as a true freshman, and only didn't see the field a handful of times in his career - due to injury and a pesky little Nevin Shapiro related suspension.  Happy that Ross won't have that on his resume.  Spence made a name for himself with a couple plays in a loss to Tebow in Gainesville his freshman year, and eventually became the leader of Miami's defense.  He played some at the MIKE his senior year due to injuries and the graduation of Tennessee Titan starter Colin McCarthy.  He ended up a Butkis semifinalist and earned All ACC honors (har har har ACC, but still) before graduating and heading for the NFL.

Tape

Ok, so I saw in a post the other day that people want a banner that no longer has the Denard prayer pose since he's leaving for the NFL.  I read requests for a banner that had Trey for the offseason.  I read requests to have Gardner/Lewan or some other football theme.  I read requests for some combo of the two.  I opted for a combo of the two.  This isn't meant to be some sort of permanent banner change - I didn't put enough time into that, nor do I think the banner design needs changed (maybe just a photo-swap of Gardner/Lewan or whatever for Denard).  I just wanted to see what people thought.  Enjoy.

By the way, I think a good subtext would be "not just a basketball school..."

- JonValk