27 tickets

A wild Amorion has joined the chat. [Patrick Barron]

27 Tickets to Team 144: Post-Spring Edition

Seth • April 5, 2023 • 12:00pm

What is this? Folks who cover the USMNT drop lists like this projecting the 23 guys who end up on the next World Cup team. Brian appropriated it, dropped it for a few years, and then I stole it from him. This year's spring update isn't going to be very different from last winter, especially at the top.

How many tickets? Typically 22 starters on offense and defense + 2 specialists and three FLEX positions. This can vary somewhat to get everyone a ticket.

Previously: Post-Bowl 2023, Spring 2022, Post-Bowl 2022.

PACK YOUR BAGS

You will see them on the field a lot, whether or not they’re technically getting the start.

1. QB JJ McCarthy (Jr/Jr) [Last time: 2]

Moves up a spot because he's the most irreplaceable. Zen-master 5-star who sent Cade McNamara to Iowa, advances to the Henson 2000/Henne 2006 phase of 5-star quarterbackdom. Legs a major threat but left mostly on the shelf (see: irreplaceable).

2. RB Blake Corum (Jr/Sr) [Last time: 1]

As foretold by Fred Jackson, Mike Hart But Fast, coached by Mike Hart. Heisman candidate until an injury against Illinois. Gave up some top-end speed to become a complete back. Sees everything, sets up everything, breaks everything. Reason Duo is the base play.

3. DT Kris Jenkins (Jr/Sr) [Last time: 6]

Huge UFR scores for his quick get-off and disruptive play, now the star, probably no longer coming off for passing downs. May moonlight as Mike Morris-style DE. Turned down NFL, looked like an NFL 3-4 DE in spring.

4. RB Donovan Edwards (Jr/Jr) [Last time: 3]

Ascended in Corum's absence despite broken hand. Cut 75- and 85-yard swathes through the souls of OSU. Fixed vision/decision issues that previously annoyed in comparison to Corum. Could be a pure receiver if he wanted, plan on offense designed to use both.

5. RG Zak Zinter (Jr/Sr) [Last time: 4]

Mauler has been starting since he was a true freshman, arguably 2nd best player on last two Joe Moore Award-winning OLs. Great puller, great zone blocker, extremely good in pass pro, freakishly athletic for size (once reach-blocked a Georgia DT). Turned down NFL, Outland watch.

6. CB Will Johnson (So/So) [Last time: 7]

Five-star film rat, authoritatively ARRIVED late in true freshman year. Marlinesque size, Woodsonesque playmaking, baits interceptions he shouldn't be able to get to, plus-plus tackler, Woodson's 1996 season: Go.

7. Nickel/CB Mike Sainristil (Sr/5th) [Last time: 5]

Pictured: Play of the decade. Slot WR convert/team captain who gave the in-game speech of the decade. Also a better nickel (to our grading) than Dax Hill was, but without the physicality. Could also play CB.

[After THE JUMP: The further down the more movement.]

Roll in back. [Patrick Barron]

104

27 Tickets to Team 144: Post-Bowl Edition

Seth • January 17, 2023 • 9:11am

Michigan's NFL draft decisions all seem to be in. Cornelius Johnson, Michael Barrett, and Kris Jenkins confirmed they're returning. So did Jim Harbaugh. Seems like a good day to check in on the state of the football roster.

What is this? Folks who cover the USMNT drop lists like this projecting the 23 guys who end up on the next World Cup team. Brian appropriated it, dropped it for a few years, and then I stole it from him. Regarding the number of tickets: typically its’ 22 starters on offense and defense + 2 kickers + a Flex TE/Slot + nickel + extra DL. This year we have a K/P so I used the extra spot on a 6th OL.

Previously: Spring 2022, Post-Bowl 2022.

DEPARTURES IN ORDER OF SIGNIFICANCE

1. C Olu Oluwatimi (out of eligibility). Won Outland and Rimington Awards, centered Joe Moore-winning OL.
2. DE Mike Morris (NFL). Only DL who could get solid pass-rush. Great run defender. Badly hampered/missed after rolled ankle late vs Nebraska.
3. NT Mazi Smith (NFL). Stalwart nose, freakish athlete, ate doubles so his teammates could eat, had some contain issues.
4. WR Ronnie Bell (NFL). Leading WR, team leader, only so far down the list because M had lots behind him.
5. K Jake Moody (out of eligibility). One half of Pax Specialistica (2018-2022). Won Groza and came back for Year 5. 69/84 FGs, 148/148 on XPs. Kicked a 59-yarder in Fiesta that also broke the school record for career scoring.
6. P Brad Robbins (out of eligibility). Other half. Old-timey strongman mustache, perfect holder. Ludicrous hangtime until injury nerfed him.
7. CB DJ Turner (NFL) and 8. CB Gemon Green (NFL). Very good CBs. WRs they covered were rarely open, but caught more contesteds than they should have.
9. LT Ryan Hayes (NFL). Solid pass pro except against elites, great downfield agility, awesome down-blocker.
10. TE Luke Schoonmaker (NFL) and 11. TE Erick All (Iowa). Excellent blocky-catchies, would have been nice to keep one.
12. DE Eyabi Okie (Portal to ?) Vagabond former 5-star who leaves as he lived: lots of potential, doesn't know when it's time to stay in one place.
13. DE Taylor Upshaw (Colorado). Polar opposite of Okie: low-ranked build-a-DE/DT with a low ceiling. Responsible on edge, passing downs DT, no bend.
14. QB Cade McNamara (Iowa). B10-winning game manager who hated being called that. Fall practice hype said he'd taken next step, was tied with JJ. Tryout for his old job failed spectacularly, ankle injury shut him down.
15. WR Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma). Just 7 catches for 80 yards in 2022. We'll always have the 2021 MSU game.
16. TE Joel Honigford (out of eligibility). Blocking-only TE who specialized in scrum-pushing.
17-21. DT George Rooks (Boston College), TE Louis Hansen (UConn), DE Julius Welschof (?), LB Deuce Spurlock (Florida), QB Alan Bowman (OKSt). Playing time transfers.

PACK YOUR BAGS

You will see them on the field a lot, whether or not they’re technically getting the start.

1. RB Blake Corum (Jr/Sr) [Last time: 2]

As foretold by Fred Jackson, the one true Mike Hart But Fast has come, is coached by Mike Hart. Heisman candidate until an injury against Illinois basically ended his season. Gave up some top-end speed to become a complete back, still very fast. Sees everything, sets up everything, breaks everything.

2. QB JJ McCarthy (Jr/Jr) [Last time: 12-tie]

Zen-master 5-star emphatically defeated legacy starter Cade McNamara and had a sophomore year that bordered on stardom and frustrated only because his legs were not a big enough part of the offense. Now advances to the Henson 2000/Henne 2006 phase of 5-star quarterbackdom.

3. RB Donovan Edwards (Jr/Jr) [Last time: 9]

Assumed 1B role, then became primary for OSU/B10 CG/Playoff despite having a broken hand for that portion of the season. Cut 75- and 85-yard swathes through the souls of OSU. Fixed vision/decision issues that previously annoyed in comparison to Corum. Receiving hampered by hand issue last year but is good enough to be a full-time WR, create McCaffreyian mismatches.

4. RG Zak Zinter (Jr/Sr) [Last time: 6]

5. Nickel/CB Mike Sainristil (Sr/5th) [Last time: 19]

Pictured: Play of the decade. Team captain who gave the in-game speech of the decade. Also a better nickel (to our grading) than Dax Hill was, though the role's a bit different. Could also play CB. Used to play slot receiver, then played like an All-American. More to go? Hard to say since he's limited by size.

[After THE JUMP: Good players making jumps, very few unsettled spots.]

It's about Bufkin time. [Marc-Grégor Campredon]

Nine Tickets to Team 107

Seth • May 10, 2022 • 9:04am

Folks who cover the USMNT drop lists like this projecting the 23 guys who end up on the next World Cup team. Brian appropriated it, dropped it for a few years, and then I stole it from him, and now with the transfer deadline past and a pretty decent idea of who's returning, let's use it to set the hoops pecking order for 2022-'23. Why nine? Five starters, four rotation players. Depth chart by class lives here.

Regarding NBA decisions: We still expect Houstan to be back, despite his recent invite to the combine, for Diabate to enter the draft, and no more transfers.

DEPARTURES IN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE

SG Eli Brooks (Out of Eligibility). Steadying backcourt presence, excellent off-ball defender, a bit too small and slow to be a great on-ball one. Extra coach on the court. Team's best shooter, captain, organizer, and most consistent player. Once wore a plague mask.

PG DeVante' Jones (Pro Decision, 1 year remaining). Titch more effective than even Mike Smith the year prior, especially late in the season. Personally led the tournament-sealing victory over Ohio State. 31/17 assist rate/TO rate in Big Ten play. Defense improved from not great to pretty good. Decent but set shooter, effective floater. Head injury limited his participation in the playoffs to 12 minutes in the first weekend and a less-than-himself game in the Sweet 16. Looks like he's 40.

PF/C Moussa Diabate (NBA Draft, 3 years remaining). Elite NBA length and athleticism/defensive potential as a 1-5 switchable big, shot-blocker. Surprisingly advanced offensive game as a 4 or 5. Not an outside shooter at this stage of his career, could develop into one down the road. Questionable hands. Trying out for NBA after a true freshman year and expected to leave if any team will commit to drafting him, which one will. On tiny chance he returns, could develop into a lottery pick. Had 3 years of eligibility remaining.

PG Frankie Collins (Transfer to Arizona State, 3 years remaining). Controversial transfer when he was expected to be the PG of the future after a year backing up Jones. Last year emerged late as an excellent/athletic defender able to shut down NBA guards in isolation. God-awful shooter from anywhere, excellent set-up man, able to get to the basket and finish. Left with 3 years of eligibility.

PF Brandon Johns (Grad Transfer to VCU, 1 year remaining). Reasonably athletic big with a good shot and a danger on the offensive boards who never developed confidence. Good stretch as a starting four in the 2021 playoffs when Isaiah Livers was hurt was his only—started at PF to begin 2021-'22 but was quickly passed by Diabate. Solid defense couldn't erase set-ruining indecisive offense. Outside chance a fresh start finds the player to go with the NBA-caliber potential.

C/PF Jaron Faulds (Out of Eligibility). Walk-on transfer in 2019 after one year at 33% minutes at Columbia. Developed in to a playable big. Held up against Kofi Cockburn for 13 minutes of a night in Illinois when Dickinson was unavailable. Spot minutes against Keegan Murray were also survived.

G Zeb Jackson (Transfer to VCU, 3 years remaining). Tall top-100 point guard was a backup on the legendary Montverde team, buried on the bench in 2 years at Michigan. Spotted early season playing time showed scoring ability/shooting, but high TO rate and capable but disinterested defense. Left team in January.

SG/W Adrien Nunez (Ended Career, 1 year remaining). Player activist and TikTok star (like for real: 3.4 million followers). Recruited by Beilein as a Just a Shooter. Couldn't actually shoot in limited game opportunities, defensive liability. Did I mention the TikTok? It's an absolute delight!