MichiganTeacher

August 28th, 2016 at 10:05 PM ^

It is impressive. It also lends credence to everything else we've been hearing out of camp: Bredeson possibly/probably starting somewhere on the OL (LT or maybe a G due to injury concerns), freshmen receivers impressing, Speight at QB, LBs generating not much buzz at all, Taco blowing up. I'll take it as long as there aren't any serious injuries that are being kept under wraps.

Joined: 10/06/2011

MGoPoints: 9263

jdemille9

August 29th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^

Not all the current RB commits will stick, it's just how recruiting is, and there's always a chance someone (possibly Dillon in this case) who can be moved to another spot if they don't work out. Harbaugh loves him some versatile guys and will move parts as necessary. So I don't think we need to worry about his roster management, but I do get the concern after the last two regimes. We're just jaded because of RR/Hoke and late Carr eras.

Joined: 01/29/2011

MGoPoints: 8560

Esterhaus

August 28th, 2016 at 10:02 PM ^

 

Each of our RBs on the list is likely to play quality time and we can have confidence in all of them. I like that Smith battles for the start and wins it. Thrilled that Evans has done enough early to rank. Unsurprised that Isaac is No. 2 - I expect him to push for the start. Johnson makes me sad for all he's been through, truly, I want the hometown guy to start and perhaps he will at some point. This should be one heckuva year for our run game even discounting Peppers on O.

Joined: 03/16/2015

MGoPoints: 7733

M-Dog

August 28th, 2016 at 10:45 PM ^

Isaac appears to have finally made it out of the dog house  I was starting to think he was done here.

And Smith has done a Chis Perry where he has emerged from relative mediocrity to stardom.

If this list is true, our #1 and #2 RBs are guys I thought a year ago were going to fade out and leave the team.

So good for them. 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

stephenrjking

August 28th, 2016 at 11:30 PM ^

Perry is an interesting analogy. The styles are different, of course, and Perry had become a solid, reliable back in 2002. But Perry in 2001 couldn't get carries over Askew and wasn't impressive at all. Pretty good thoughts there. Now, if Smith can produce a Perry-like senior year...

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144176

JamieH

August 29th, 2016 at 1:12 AM ^

His production increase corresponded direclty with Michigan fixing their ridiculously bad field by putting in field turf.  Perry's running style always seemed to me to use a lot of footwork, and if anyone can remember the ridiculous state of our field back during his early time here, well anytime anyone tried to make a cut on our field giant clods of turf just tore up from under the players foot.  It was ridiculous.

Before Perry's senior season, Michigan put field turf in.  Perry then came out and ripped off consecutive games of 232, 188 and 133.  Up until that point, he had only gone over 150 yards ONCE in 3 years.  He then proceeded to go over 100 years 6 more times that season, with 4 of those games being at home on the field turf.  Though his big game of 221 (on 51 carries!) was on real grass at MSU)

You would have to ask Perry how much the field turf helped him, but I believe the added confidence that the turf gave him that he could make the cuts and jukes he wanted to make on the field made him a TON better runner in that 2003 season.  Instead of just trying to run over people, he started trying to make people miss, and he became a superstar

Of course, it could be that he just put it all together that final year too.

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

CorkyCole

August 28th, 2016 at 10:02 PM ^

Regardless of Johnson's ACL injuries, the dude still ran well last season. He's not broken. If Chris Evans is in fact #3, it's because he's dang good.

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 4498

Bodogblog

August 28th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

It means the coaches think he's better than Drake, which is every thing to thsee guys coming out of camp. What it means for number of carries is probably what you're getting at, but I'd argue that's much less important. Drake doesn't want to be 4th on that chart, I guarantee it. If Evans moved past him it means he fought like a dog and won out. That is huge news re. this backfield, because Johnson has already proved he can play. It's an upgrade in overall talent vs last year.

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

Glen Masons Hot Wife

August 28th, 2016 at 10:09 PM ^

If this is the case, Walker and maybe Davis should redshirt...

5-6 legit backs with Peppers occasionally getting carries should be enough to get through the season.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 3685

Bleedmaizeblue

August 28th, 2016 at 11:14 PM ^

I think this team SHOULD be able to rush for 250 each of its first four games. Especially since the only good team we face in our first four games is PSU, and they lost their DL almost completely. Those four games need to have us ready, running the ball, for Wisconsin, that'll be our first true test of how good this group of RBs and how good we can run block. I'm excited in a nervous way to see how we can execute our run game this season.

Joined: 07/11/2013

MGoPoints: 2919