Inaugural Meeting of the JT Floyd Fan Club
Maybe we can hold it right next to the Kovacs Fan Club.
We used to cringe at JT back there. Way too slow.
WHen we saw him lined up one-on-one vs ND's Michael Floyd, how many like me worried that Mattison was a crazy gambler?
But, like Kovacs, the guy is a gamer. Plays smart & WAY above his ability.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:33 PM ^
no fly zone!
November 12th, 2011 at 8:37 PM ^
*looks longingly out the window, ponders*
EDIT: flamebait? the mere allusion to DD is flamebait?
November 12th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
You rang?
November 13th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^
Sorry...this post should probably be its own thread, but I don't have enough points to start a thread, and this was the most related thread on the board.....so, here we go:
How many incoming freshman will start (or at least contribute on non-special teams) next season!?
.....I'm posting a complete projected 2012 depth chart below, but first, I'll summarize the important news here:
A. Williams and D. Funchess (or P. Brown?). B. Moore will be the main competition for the three headed group of freshman TE's stepping onto campus next season; and I don't think he's going to play much. If he was any good, the 4th year TE probably wouldn't have gotten beat out by DE S. Watson this season A. Williams will be the main blocking TE next season. Either D. Funchess or P. Brown will be the main recieving TE next season. I've seen Funchess live, but I haven't seen Brown. Funchess looks like a real-deal NFL prospect, but he's still got a lot of muscle to put on. (p.s. - R. Miller isn't even listed on the depth chart)
J. Wilson - I think he's almost a sure thing, game one starter at FS, moving Kovacs to his natural SS position. T. Gordon will probably be his main competition at FS, but he too is a natural SS (as are M. Robinson and J. Furman). T. Carter is a dark-horse candidate (never know?).
K. Kalis - I think he's got a very good shot to be a game one starter next season. It'll essentially be a battle between him, R. Khoury and C. Bryant. I simply think that Kalis is better than the other two options. He looks very, very ready to play on film. So, I'm predicting that Barnum moves to C, and that Kalis and Schofield take over at LG and RT.
T. Strobel - I think he's got a very good shot to be a game one starter next season. His main competition at SE/3T will be walk-on N. Brink next season. Again, I simply think that he's better. C. Wormley and M. Godin could potentially step onto campus as better players (never know?). C. Rock or K. Heitzman could make serious strides (never know?). K. Wilkins could revitalize his career (never know?). But for the time being, I like Strobel.
O. Pimpkins - I think he's got a very good shot to be a game one starter next season. His main competition at NT will be the dissapointing W. Campbell. I believe the coaching staff has given BWC, Q. Washington and R. Ash every single possible opportunity to start this season; and all three have failed immensely. O. Pimpkins is a super recruit. He's physically ready. And if he takes care of business, he will play a lot...maybe even start.
J. Ross - I don't see him starting next season, but I do see at least one of the incoming freshman inside linebackers getting some significant playing time next season. It could be Ross, it could be Jenkins-Stone, it could be Bolden, it could be Ringer. I don't know who? (I've only seen RJS live). The recruiting services all seem to be in agreement about Ross being the best of the bunch, so that's who I'm going with for now. Demens and Morgan are very solid starters, but we've got some depth issues. B. Hawthorne and M. Jones have been solid WLB's at times, but we appear to be moving from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 (46 Bear-ish) defense that requires two thumpers at inside linebacker. That really opens the door for the incoming freshman, and even A. Poole.
S. Diggs? - IF we get him, he's probably a sure thing game one starter. To put it simply, he's a super stud. He probably starts at one of the outside WR spots. D. Stonum probably starts at the other outside WR spot. R. Roundtree probably moves to his more natural SR spot. J. Jackson, J. Robinson and R. Miller have all sort of been dissapointments thus far at outside WR. J. Gallon has been okay at SR, but not as good as R R-tree. D. Dileo and T. Robinson probably aren't going to be factors.
B. Dunn? - IF we get him, he's probably at least our #2 back in game one. F. Toussaint's been great thus far. Really great, actually. But Dunn too is a super stud, and he'll be hard to keep off the field if we get him. V. Smith has really become more of a third down back this year. T. Rawls hasn't really lived up to expectations. J. Hayes is probably more of a third down option. D. Johnson probably won't be ready to go right away...at least not as ready-to-go as Dunn. M. Cox's career is likely over. S. Hopkins is now a full-on FB.
Y. Wright? - IF we get him, I've got to imagine that he's a factor. He's another super stud. J. Floyd and B. Countess have been great as starters. But C. Avery and R. Taylor are probably beatable at nickleback for a guy like Wright. We shall see I guess. D. Hollowell I just don't ever really see being a big time guy. T. Talbott's career is probably over for the most part. T. Richardson is super talented, but also super small at this point. A. Standifer is big enough, but probably lacks polish at this point.
.....to say the least, we're going to have a lot of new shiny toys to play with next season :)
2012 Projected Depth Chart:
OFFENSE:
QB: D. Robinson(Sr.), D. Gardner(Jr./R.S. So.), R. Bellomy(R.S. Fr.)
WR: S. Diggs(Fr.), J. Jackson(Jr.), R. Miller(R.S. So.)
WR: D. Stonum(R.S. Sr.), J. Robinson(R.S. So.).....J. Payton(Fr.)
SR: R. Roundtree(R.S. Sr.), J. Gallon(R.S. Jr.), D. Dileo(Jr.), T. Robinson(R.S. Sr.)
RB: B. Dunn(Fr.), F. Toussaint(R.S. Jr.), V. Smith(Sr.), T. Rawls(So.), J. Hayes(R.S. Fr.), M. Cox(R.S. Sr.).....D. Johnson(Fr.)
FB: S. Hopkins(Jr.).....S. Houma(Fr.)
TE: D. Funchess(Fr.), A. Williams(Fr.), B. Moore(R.S. Sr.).....P. Brown(Fr.)
C: R. Barnum(R.S. Sr.), J. Miller(R.S. Fr.).....C. Stacey(Fr.)
LG: K. Kalis(Fr.), R. Khoury(R.S. Sr.).....B. Bars(Fr.)
RG: P. Omameh(R.S. Sr.), C. Bryant(R.S. Fr.).....B. Braden(Fr.)
LT: T. Lewan(R.S. Jr.), E. Mealer(R.S. Sr.).....E. Magnuson(Fr.)
RT: M. Schofield(R.S. Jr.)
DEFENSE:
CB: J. Floyd(R.S. Sr.), Y. Wright(Fr.), R. Taylor(So.), T. Talbott(Jr.).....A. Standifer(Fr.)
CB: B. Countess(So.), C. Avery (Jr.), D. Hollowell(So.).....T. Richardson(Fr.)
FS: J. Wilson(Fr.), T. Gordon(R.S. Jr.), T. Carter(R.S. Fr.).....J. Clark(Fr.)
SS: J. Kovacs(R.S. Sr.), M. Robinson(Jr.), J. Furman(R.S. So.).....A. Gant(Fr.)
WILB: D. Morgan(So.), A. Poole(R.S. Fr.), B. Hawthorne(Sr.).....K. Ringer(Fr.)
SILB: K. Demens(R.S. Sr.), J. Ross(Fr.), M. Jones(R.S. Jr.).....R. Jenkins-Stone(Fr.)
WOLB: J. Ryan(R.S. So.), C. Gordon(R.S. Jr.), I. Bell(R.S. Jr.).....J. Bolden(Fr.)
SOLB/WE: B. Beyer(So.), F. Clark(So.), J. Paskorz(R.S. So.).....M. Ojemudia(Fr.)
WE/SE: C. Roh(Sr.), J. Black(Jr.), K. Heitzman(R.S. Fr.).....C. Wormley(Fr.)
SE/3T: T. Stobel(Fr.), N. Brink(R.S. Jr.), C. Rock(R.S. Fr.), K. Wilkins(R.S. So.).....M. Godin(Fr.)
NT: O. Pimpkins(Fr.), W. Campbell(Sr.), Q. Washington(R.S. Jr.), R. Ash(R.S. So.)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: B. Gibbons(R.S. Jr.), M. Wile(So.)
P: W. Hagerup(Jr.)
PR: J. Gallon(R.S. Jr.), D. Dileo(Jr.)
KR: J. Gallon(R.S. Jr.), V. Smith(Sr.)
November 12th, 2011 at 7:35 PM ^
Michigan Defensive Backfield Fan Club?
"Hello, would-be scorer...."
November 12th, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^
Sorry but the multi-purpose room is unavailable...it is currently being used by the Jake Ryan Fan Club.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
.....the small conference room down the hall? It looks like the meeting about Q4 projections is letting out....
November 12th, 2011 at 7:38 PM ^
He's smart and he was well-prepared today. He bumped with a great receiver and seldom gave him anything easy. It was impressive. There is no greater monument to what the defensive coaches are doing well then his progression this season.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Don't know how someone hit you with the flamebait tag there
November 12th, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^
More like the Curt Mallory fan club. Floyd, Countess, Gordon, Kovacs, and even Avery looked really good today.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
He's too white.
<br>
<br>/s
November 13th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
You people who don't go to practices and meetings yet think you can properly estimate the value of a position coach are just ... ugh.
Players play. Floyd gets the credit.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
You obviously missed Tony "Destroy your Secondary" Gibsons tenure at Michigan with these same players so yes a good coach does deserve some of the credit.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
If Gardner doesn't make that throw we end up losing this game. It almost turned into 2009
November 12th, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
but this is the JT Floyd fanclub meeting here.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:55 PM ^
He intercepted a pass. That's the important thing. The return was gravy.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
And only gave up 14....probably not.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
He is playing confidently, and aggresive. with him and countess as our db's its no longer a free pass, to....pass.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^
If you havent noticed, this isnt the 2009 team, or more importantly Defense.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:45 PM ^
Good pressure from him, great effort, and nice to see he and Woolfolk or Avery swarming to the ball. Knock the one 32 yard catch Jenkins pulled in and he averaged 7.8 per catch for 71 total yards. Even with the long catch Jenkins was well under his 15.1 ypg. Floyd had a few bad plays but this was probably his best game of the year even without the pick.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
Even including the 32 yd catch, that's still a poor yards-per-pass-attempt average.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
Hey, great stuff by JT today. Surprised and pleased.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
is it just me or do we seem to have some of the most negative fans. Half the people on the board are posting thngs like maize rage even after a 17 point win on the road.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
that we have fans who are disappointed over a 17 point road win against a good D and are slightly bummed about being 8-2, but that's only because we had the potential to be 10-0 right now and todays game could very likely have been 35-0 at the half. Michigan was absolutely shredding Illinois to start the game and Illinois didn't even get into Michigan territory until late in the 3rd.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:02 PM ^
Of course, we could have very easily lost to ND, so we could also be 7-3.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:49 PM ^
November 12th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
I know... I'm very happy with the win because it's one more step in the right direction. It's just frustrating sometimes because as fans we have high hopes. Shit every year since 2007 I expect us to win 10 plus games. I now just need to start forgetting about the last 3 years!!! Go blue and go JT
November 12th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^
2008 punked you bad.
November 14th, 2011 at 7:36 PM ^
2008 plunked everyone here real bad
November 12th, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
I wouldn't say he's playing "WAY above his ability". More likely that he's finally playing to his potential. We just kind of assumed he wasn't very good because of last year's performances. But as Brian has brought up many times, it's more likely that he was bad last year because of Tony Gibson, who (it's safe to conclude now), is kind of a crappy d-backs coach.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
Perhaps Chris Spielman will see the highlights and learn to stop calling him "TJ Floyd"
November 12th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
In 2 weeks.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
us from a heart pounding finish. I was sure Illinois was going down to score and make it 17-14 with a ton of time on the clock and an offense that couldn't move the football. Then JT happened.
Is it wrong to use the 'big time players make big time plays in big time games'? He came up big for us today.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
but it was also only a matter of time before we burned their blitz with a few passes.
November 14th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^
Huge play at a crucial time. It was such a relief seeing those dreads fly from the bottom of the screen and snag that pass.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
The one thing JT Floyd is better at than any DB we have is jamming the receiver at the LOS. He plays the most physical at that point. He still lacks elite speed but he really seems to know where to be to make a play. The coaches really must have pumped confidence into JT during the week after getting abused last week.
Did anyone else notice how you could really "feel", as Hoke likes to put it, our defense today. They were really hitting and you could hear the "pop" of the pads all day. I am really excited to see the magic Mattison can work on our defense over the next few years. We will be a force to be reckoned with in a few years with the talent we are bringing in.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
He had a great night. I about lost it on his interception. When was the last time we came up with an interception? The Notre Dame game?
November 12th, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^
Avery (I think) had one against Purdue.
November 12th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
I was thinking in the 1st or 2nd quarter. "When's the last time we got a pick where someone just jumped a route", then sure enough JT Floyd did exactly what I was envisioning. That man was all over the field today. He got a PI one time and came close a few others but I'll take. AJ Jenkins knew Floyd was in his grill. I think at one point it said Jenkins was thrown to 14 times and only had 5 receptions. Game ball to JT Floyd
November 12th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
November 12th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
Kovacs came from a student body walk-on tryout to barely make the team in the first place. Since then he has stepped up and become arguably our best defensive player.
While its nice to see Floyd having a very nice game, its hard to consider him a difference maker just yet. I need to see a couple more nice games out of Floyd before I can start to compare his evolution to that of Kovacs.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^
I suppose "difference maker" is probably too strong a descriptor of Floyd, but just the fact that we have something resembling "solid" at corner makes me feel all tingly. I never expected Floyd to start without constantly drawing Markus Curry comparisons.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
Without a doubt, Kovacs and Floyd are the most improved players from 2010 to 2011. Kovacs probably a little more, but I'm very impressed with both of them this season.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
November 12th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
When they asked Floyd what Mattison said to him after hugging him he said he told him he loved him. He went on to say that Mattison is hard on him but that he's so happy he's there because he's exactly what he needed. What more can be said?
November 13th, 2011 at 1:49 AM ^
Pronouns are annoying.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:31 AM ^
I think his use of some of their pronouns is a good thing for us. Heck he, she, they, and we all benefit from his communication style with us. Our pronoun-rich language helps us and them find common ground with vosotros as well as nosotros.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
Maybe its because I'm cool with his fam...Yeah I'm pretty sure thats why...
November 12th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
JT, I'd like to apologize for doubting your cover skills. I've learned my lesson this year on judging players too soon. Going into this season, I thought Gallon was going to be a bust and a possible transfer candidate. That Gibbons would not see the field, that Hagerup would be the special teams star and Cam Gordon a big contributer on D.
Oh well, I thought Denard would be fast. I've got that going for me.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
I love to see a player surprise me! JT had a spectacular game against a big time receiver and I honestly did not think he had this sort of game in him. He has had a couple of rough moments this year, but he was big time today.