Positive Ty Isaac article from Baumgardner
Pleasantly surprised to read this-i guess I incorrectly assumed he was out of the picture for next season, or so far in the doghouse he wouldn't find a way out. Sounds like this season was a wakeup call for him, and he says he's ready to work hard and earn more playing time next season. Hopefully that will happen, and we'll get "5-star Ty Isaac" for a season. He had flashes, but he admits he made some mistakes that cost him opportunities.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2016/01/rb_ty_isaac_said_hes_…
Edit: I didn't realize he has two years of eligibility left. Even better news! I will attempt to be more fully aware in the future.
January 4th, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^
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January 4th, 2016 at 10:04 AM ^
"The biggest thing I've learned this year are expectations. Not to say this staff expects more or less of you than any other staff I've played for, but getting that familiarity (was important). It's definitely nice to know that all this stuff will be the same come spring ball."
Maybe that was indeed it when it came to the "internal matter". I could be way off on that theory, but I always assumed that - at its core - it had a lot to do with expectations in general, or at least, learning that the hype surrounding you won't earn you playing time under Harbaugh. Hopefully, as Isaac says, he's learned his way around this staff and is willing to do what they expect of him.
January 4th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
after reading this article. We've all seen guys come in here and struggle for whatever reason for their first few years. Sometimes, there are personal problems. Sometimes it a maturity thing. Other times it's injuries and their after-effects. Highly rated guys like Isaac come in with more pressure in a lot of ways - pressure they put on themselves and a lot from the outside. I can understand it fully with 18-19 year old guys. I really hope next year he has a breakout season - whether that's as a 2nd or 3rd back or a receiver.
January 4th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
long run I wasn't overly impressed with him. He has the tools and God-given build to be a good back though. Hopefully his attitude will get right and he will be able to contribute. Would be awesome to have a huge back plunging into the off tackle gaps.
January 4th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
January 4th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^
January 4th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
My understanding from my eyeballs and the UFRs is that Smith's greatest asset this season was his ability to pass block far better than the other backs, with Isaac being notoriously bad at that same skill. I think we saw flashes of what Isaac could do with the ball in his hands, but his presence in the game was a tell that Michigan was running, or would be one man short in pass protection.
I think Smith has proven that he deserves to be the work horse back, but perhaps the best posistion is a feature FB and third down back (like Franco Harris or LenDale White) to Ty Isaac as the Reggie Bush explosive TB. Let Smith be the back that stays in on all three downs. If Isaac can come up to simple competence as a blocker, then the offense will not be limited by to the one-dimension he showed this season. He might then be a viable second back in the game as a home-run threat. Or, if Isaac can't/won't play up to this roll, maybe one of the other backs will?
DeVeon Smith for feature FB!
January 4th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
Smith as Larry Csonka and Isaac as Mercury Morris also come to mind as an analogy.
January 4th, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^
A good fullback is a staple in a Jim Harbaugh offense. We lose our two top fullbacks for this year and need a couple players to step up in that role. I recall reading an article around mid-season where Shallman was considered the future fullback. He certainly has the size and athleticism but he will need to be tough as steel to play that position. Some of the blocks made by our fullbacks in the Florida game were bone shattering!
January 4th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
January 4th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
January 4th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
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January 4th, 2016 at 4:13 PM ^
Since Coach Harbaugh's opening presser I look at these things like coach said he was going to.
--Find out what the players intent is, but then they have to be willing to work for it.--
Really positive comments from Ty and now I hope he will do the work to follow through.
Go. Ty. Go.
January 4th, 2016 at 4:28 PM ^
January 4th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^
Show me