Practice notes at Maizenbrew
Yep... about the 12th or 15th best first time starter in the country.
April 30th, 2017 at 10:13 PM ^
MaizeNBrew and Baumgardner both have a more pessimistic opinion about Peters based on what they saw in Rome. Harbaugh also reinforced during the Spring that Speight is the starter. Peters made some good plays during the spring game, but we have to caveat that:
1. He threw a not very good looking pick six.
2. He played against the second string defense primarily.
3. He did not face much pressure during the scrimmage.
4. O'Korn arguably played better than Peters.
There is nothing to see here at the moment. Peters probably has a bright future, but he may not see the field much if McCaffrey beats him out.
April 30th, 2017 at 11:29 PM ^
Seems unlikely given his performance last year. Probably just practice reps.
The OL is encouraging but the backup DL for us are not good right now. I would interested to see how much of that is going up against Hurst and Gary. Is that a negative for Mone and Winovich? Hopefully, it means both lines are really fucking good.
April 30th, 2017 at 11:59 PM ^
umbig, can you find out why Michigan isn't pushing for Micah Parsons? That kid is a freak and if OSU gets him I'm going to be sick.
DL is one of the easiest positions to play for freshmen. Hopefully tht holds true this year.
April 30th, 2017 at 10:06 PM ^
D-Line is one of the hardest positions to play as a freshman.
April 30th, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
What is easier then? The only thing I can think of is RB. All you do is beat the OL and maintain gap integrity. For all the other positions it takes a learning curve because you need extensive knowledge of the playbook. There's a reason why there are so many impact freshmen DL. Clowney, Nkemidiche etc. while QBs and OL and TEs, and DBs need a year or two. WR is pretty easy too but you still need to know the routes which is what hurt with Grant Perry in the Utah game.
April 30th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
I'd say freshmen can contribute early and effectively at RB. I guess kicker and punter too. DL doesn't have much of a 'playbook' (aside from knowing stunts, gaps, and edge responsibilities, etc.), but you can have all of your responsibilities down and still be 50+ pounds outmatched--you'll just be in the right spot when you get knocked on your ass.
April 30th, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^
It just seems like DL is a position where you see frosh stepping up. I don't know about other recruits but Solomon can probably step in as a backup much like Rashan Gary did this year. Like I said, it's not expected a true freshman qb or OL to play right away which is rarely a good thing. The three easiest positions to play right away are RB, DL, and WR.
What on earth are you talking about? Freshman DL rarely make an impact because going from HS and having to play against grown men who have advanced hand technique is extremely diificult.
None of those guys did much of anything as freshman. You said it's an easy position to make an impact at, it's not.
How is that a reasonable definition of impact? Yeah they played, who cares, they didn't do anything in the game that changed the outcome. I honestly can't believe any sane person is OK with 3 freshman in the DL in the two deep. Hoke's last two poor recruiting classes are biting this team in the ass at some key spots.
You don't think having a couple guys that can sub in and not die so the starters don't have to play every down has an impact on the outcomes of games? Really?
Nick Bosa at OSU was good as a freshman. Dexter Lawrence at Clemson was good as a freshman. Ed Oliver was good at Houston. Seems to be a position that you can play right away if you don't need to put on weight.
Any 5 star recruit at any position can play right away in college. Generally speaking, most kids are going to struggle as freshman, especially on the OL and DL where size and technique is at a premium. If we're counting on 3 freshman in our two deep this team is in deep shit. God fordbid one of our starters goes down.
Not really. 5 star talent tends to struggle more early at positions like QB and OL. DBs and LBs can go either way. TE is hard too because of the blocking. There are literally 3 or 4 good freshman DL every year. You might have one servicable freshman QB every couple of years like Josh Rosen or Jacob Eason. OL is rare that you will get someone to step in right away. I think Cyrus Kouandjio was good his first year.
not this again
Not what again? This team is screwed if any of the DL starters go down it's not exactly a secret. Anyone that subscribes to Sam Webb's site or reads Nick Baumgardner knows they have said the exact same thing. It's not a secret there just isn't a lot of depth or talent there yet. If you don't want anyone to say that out loud then I suggest you stop reading message boards where people can interrupt your safe space.
"Peppers was nothing special as a freshman."
He played one half of football then sat out the rest of the year with an injury. Context is important.
I'm speaking in generalities, I don't know why some feel the need to poke a hole in everything that ever gets said here with some outlier example as some "see look here" this isn't true. And I don't get why people are so upset I said the DL depth worries me. First 4 are great. Next 4, I'm incredibly uneasy about and everyone else should be too.
April 30th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^
April 30th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
April 30th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^
I know it will be!
I've long thought this.... for the guys like Kalis on the OL are gone, and even if the new guys are young, it is addition by subraction. Plus you have a veteran QB now. It'll start slow at first, but pick up steam. I do think the DL is the weakest link, which is saying something good for the rest.
yeah, sorry - not buying it
the starting 4 are solid and at the very least it sounds like Kemp and Solomon will be part of the 2-deep with a couple of spots up for grabs still plus a TON of depth of highly rated RS Freshman and Freshman
DL is the area I worry least about
OL and Cornerbacks are my worries
We just had 11 guys drafted from a Michigan team featuring one of our best defenses ever. 2 DL, both safeties, four other DBs, and one of our linebackers. If we go 10-2, I'll be pretty psyched and will be waiting anxiously for a huge 2018 season
Thinking we're in line to do better than 2016 is off-season delusional thinking ime
wouldn't Ron Johnson also be in the mix somewhere?
I have a question on the guys that arrived Friday for practice and a few more that arrived "just in time" Saturday for the last practice. Are these guys flying all the way to Rome to practice for a day or two and then fly back home with the team?
I kind of feel bad for the guys that didn't get to take in the full trip - this is a once in a lifetime thing for most of these guys.
I was told the second batch of players would be spending some more time in Rome before flying back.