zach gentry

Called shot. [Eric Upchurch]

A series covering Michigan's 2010s. Previously: best blocks, the aughts.

Of course we would be the last to put out our all-2010s team. We meant to start with this episode but in the process of researching the OL a best blocks list was generated and had to be shared immediately.

Since it's a staff effort we decided these together and split the writeups. Then Brian got to 1200 words on Denard alone and we decided to split it into multiple posts. I'll note the author on each. On the methodology: instead of considering careers we will consider individual years, but the rule is we can only use a player once.

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FULLBACK

Khalid "Hammer Panda" Hill (2016)

BiSB

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We're told this inspired an entire Warcraft expansion

25 carries. 39 yards. 10 touchdowns. Simply glorious. The Hammering Panda was one of the most effective goal line and short yardage weapons Michigan has ever deployed. Virtually every Hill carry was a dive out of the I-formation. Everyone knew it was coming. And it was unstoppable. It was a simple matter of physics.

When he wasn’t vulturing touchdowns, he was a surprisingly nimble and sure-handed receiving option. He was also a plus blocker, especially in space—his +56/-10 UFR grade for the season has a lot of running in it, but it's also ten points higher than the next best total by a fullback this decade. His 13 touchdowns from scrimmage tied with Fitz Toussaint (2013) for the most scores in a season during the decade (non-Denard division)… on 41 touches.

Second Team: BEN MASON (2018)

If you were a running back for Michigan in 2018, your key was often pretty straightforward: follow Bench. Mason was a devastating lead blocker whose entire raison d'etre was to smash into things as hard as possible. As a ballcarrier, Mason accumulated a Panda-esque 33 carries for 80 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was occasionally deployed as a feature back in the red zone, a cruel decision that forced defenders to make some real choices about how they wanted to spend their afternoons.

Honorable Mention: 2017 Henry Poggi (+48/-20.5), 2015 Sione Houma (+46/-19.5), 2013 Joe Kerridge (+39/-14, person capable of pass blocking)

[After THE JUMP: Many names, few necks]

two NFL gents now [Patrick Barron]

The draft happened. Michigan results:

  • Devin Bush went 10th overall to Pittsburgh, after Detroit took a tight end. Later, the Lions would take another tight end. Keep on Detroiting, Detroit, the Bush family thanks you.
  • Rashan Gary went 12th overall to Green Bay, which immediately called him an outside linebacker. This was overshadowed by the general Giants-ing going on. For the record, drafting Rashan Gary as a specialist pass rusher is a Bad Idea.
  • Chase Winovich went in the third round to the Patriots, because of course he did. He said he was "awaiting further instruction" before talking to the media, demonstrating that he was already advanced in the ways of Belichick-fu. The Patriots then threatened to cut his hair, because of course they did. 
  • David Long went a couple picks later to the Rams. That seems like the Michigan steal of the draft to me. Long was hurt because no one dared throw at him. Criticisms of his game are about his height and how that hurts him on 50/50 balls, which I get but he put up a sub-4 shuttle at the combine and should be an elite nickel.
  • Zach Gentry overcame the ugly combine numbers to get drafted in the fifth round, also by the Steelers. That second TE the Lions took was Isaac Nauta, former five star everyone was desperate to get after. He went in the seventh. Recruiting is important—this year's five-star first round hit rate was off the charts—but it is funny how things work out sometimes. Behind The Steel curtain's scouting round-up on him has one of the sentences I feel deep in my core: "Warning, some of the tracks that accompany these videos contains profanity and most of the music is fairly bad."

Karan Higdon didn't get drafted, which says something about running backs in the modern NFL. If you aren't a major piece of the passing game it's a tough world out there.

[After: they Giants'd so hard they're now the Jets]

goodnight sweet Ent [Bryan Fuller]

Zach Gentry's entering the draft:

This will no doubt thrill the portion of the fanbase I have muted on twitter after he had a touchdown punched out by a linebacker and an admittedly bad drop in the OSU game.

Gentry didn't get as much use in the passing game as he probably should have as Michigan spent its season trying to get Patterson through it upright; he remains a giant fast person and should be of significant interest to NFL teams. Gentry's blocking was functional.

Gentry's departure bumps Nick Eubanks up to the #1 flex TE; Sean McKeon returns for his junior year as the main inline guy. Michigan will get Mustapha Muhammad and Luke Schoonmaker off redshirts to back those guys up.

It's time. Michigan's ready. 

Man is a rope over an abyss, and Michigan should cut the damn rope 

Shea Patterson as the Cat in the Hat 

They tried to slime Shea Patterson but he won the physical challenge. 

small pieces of Nittany Lion will be drifting down from the upper atmosphere for centuries 

i purchased this ornamental trout server for exactly $7.86 in 1986 and demand the full purchase price, plus interest, and a written apology

Nick Eubanks is becoming a well-rounded TE

Sherrone Moore talks to the media.

a tactical blowout obscured by some wonky execution

hail hail to Ed Warinner, the ol coach who's best 

Shea Patterson takes off