BTN Practice Visit Twitter Dump
The Big Ten Network stopped by a Michigan practice and did their usual suite of impressions that may or may not mean anything. They totally could mean something and it's the preseason so you'll jump on the barest morsel of information, so here they are.
This year the quantity and quality of the observations are significantly reduced, FWIW. Last year there was a fourth guy (Griffith, I think) tweeting stuff and it seemed like they got more information out of it. UPDATE: Okay, Griffith was there. He updated later than everyone else; I've added them in.
Non-Informational
Along with a shot of the new "The Team The Team The Team" entrance, Brent Yarina provides this shot of another portion of the hallway:
The crew also hit up Maize and Blue Deli but did not spawn a war on the message board by expressing a preference for it over Zingerman's.
Players Of Note
Robinson is the one guy who can beat you. D Gardner is also really impressive. D Morgan, Q Washington stood out among young defenders.
Hurrah positive Quinton Washington mention. Also, leave Desmond Morgan alone: he is not a fullback yet.
UM Prac - Good day today Smith,Gallon,Cox,Countess,Grady,Shaw,Wilkins,Ash,Black,Schofield , Washington,Lewan,Watson,Koger,Eddins
Okay, that's like half the team, including Steve Watson—who is never going to play—doghouse member Kenny Wilkins, and walk-on (and not even the hyped walk-on) Chris Eddins. At least you see Washington there too.
@BTN_Michigan Other freshman that will see playing time CB Blake Countess, CB Raymon Taylor, LB Desmond Morgan, DE Brennen Beyer
5 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
There Is No Running Back
Borges said he hasn't had a clear stand-out at RB. Wants to try to find one - but he hasn't emerged. Lots of options there, though.
UM Practice - No veteran running back has really separated himself from the pack. Rawls has had a great camp and may be in the mix.
@BTN_Michigan RB's haven't separated them self from the pack Smith, Shaw,Cox, Toussaint, but an keep & eye on Rawls. #GoBlue
Fluffy Bits
Mattison talked about decision to leave Ravens - said he loves developing kids - taking them from freshman yr to making the NFL.
Just leaving Michigan practice. The staff is really impressive - a lot of teaching and a lot of feedback in the practice.
Pro Style Transition Promises And Fear
Borges made it clear he is going to try to utilize all of D Robinson's skills - even if it means running stuff that he doesn't typically run
UM Prac -Integrating two different off may be much more difficult than I first thought. It's will be a challenge and interesting to watch
That's ominous. Grab-baggin' it?
UM Prac - Regardless of what the Michigan O will look like Denard looks like a vet and has great body language. He was a lot of fun on set
Gerry DiNardo Doesn't Actually Watch Football Games
UM Prac-Teams in the B1G that run the ball the best do a certain blocking drill. UM did it today - entire team playing with better leverage
This isn't entirely clear but his previous tweet is about how practice is very different so the implication is that Michigan did not do this blocking drill a year ago. Michigan led the league in YPC one year ago even though they played with turrible leverage and ran like 70% of the time.
UPDATE: there's a story that makes this clear, with Griffith talking about this same mysterious drill:
"One of the things I hadn’t seen in a (Michigan) practice recently is when you see one of the best running teams in the league and the drills they do; I saw those drills at Michigan. That’s an indication they’re going in the right direction.”
This quote will be fun when Michigan's YPC drops by a yard this year. I mean, no one thinks Rodriguez didn't need to go but the least you can give the guy is he knows how to put together a rushing offense.
Gerry DiNardo Puts Together Lists Of Words
UM Prac - Defense will improve significantly - because of offense scheme, coaching emphasis, simplicity, different packages, and pressure.
So, that's everything. Including "offensive scheme." Also including both "simplicity" and "different packages." I wouldn't be surprised if DiNardo believes that few possessions == good defense. He is very old and a terrible football coach. It seems like DiNardo hated Rodriguez; before he even got to practice he was talking about how you have to run the I-form to play defense.
Por ejemplo:
UM Prac- No surprise prac was much different than recent past.More emphasis on Kick Game (Brady coached it),emphasis on D (Brady coached it)
Our defensive head coach coached the defense. Last year our offensive head coach coached the offense. This year Brady Hoke, who knows jack about kicking, is looking at the people kicking the ball.
WTF, Gerry DiNardo?
UM Prac-defending I form w/o a dynamic TB & no designed QB run plays is a problem.OSU has done it the last 3 yrs. & struggled vs the best D.
Either DiNardo meant "O" at the end or he meant "running" at the beginning. It seems like the former from the context, which means he thinks Michigan running the I-Form is dumb, except it makes the defense better… except it makes the offense worse… this is how you have a losing record at LSU.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
yeah, Gerry DiNardo isn't very smart. i think we can learn just as much from his comments as from the questions asked by the little girl in the MGoBoard post OT: New Vanderbilt coach grilled by reporter
August 19th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^
who are more qualified to talk about what works in the Big Ten than DiNardo is. A 3-21 record in conference play, 4 wins against I-AA teams and CMU, and an "upset" of an Oregon team that finished 5-6 (although it's still impressive to win in Eugene, that's a scary place to play a road game) ... if anything, they should preface his segments with something like "And now, advice from a guy who knows all about losing in the Big Ten..."
August 19th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
How many conference wins did Rodriguez have at Michigan? It wasn't many more than Gerry. I bet Rodriguez wouldn't have won any at IU. Just saying!
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:54 AM ^
He's gone! If some people don't start to let this go I have a feeling the mgocardiologists are going to be a busy bunch.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
DiNardo and GERG are proof that it's who you know and not what you know. Jeebus.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^
was canned?
GERG sucks at coaching and didn't deserve a job..and yet got one just because of his connections. Now if only I could remember the name of the idiot who gave him the said job....
August 19th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
GERG has two Super Bowl rings. He's not a "just a connections" guy whatsoever.
He just had no track record of coaching up college defenses and especially had no idea how to work with a 3-3-5 defense or with a staff that was schooled in it.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
has a superbowl ring too. I rest my case.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
As a coordinator? You have no case to rest on.
GRob was a truly awful fit for Michigan at this time, but he was not a DeBord-like crony as posters above are trying to portray him.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
than a OC or a DC. Thank you for proving my point.
August 19th, 2011 at 3:25 PM ^
have you ever looked at the talent he had on that superbowl team? Not like he actually had to do much coaching...
Take a look at anywhere he coached.. Texas he did well because his defense was loaded with NFL talent as well.. every other place it proved he couldn't develop talent regardless of scheme
August 19th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
GRob was in the same role (defensive coordinator) at Michigan as he was at the Broncos. Your point about Brad Johnson is completely irrelevant to that and has no frame for reference.
You're a tool.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
LOL @ Brian still framing everything as a shot at RR. Keep fighting the good fight.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
That one is a shot at RR.
RR did some things very well. One of the things is running the football.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
One of them is running the ball. How did the tailbacks do under RR?
August 19th, 2011 at 1:24 PM ^
For the most part, the tailbacks did okay.
It's just the best tailback was never the one that Rodriguez gave the majority of snaps.
2008: McGuffie had 118 carries to Minor's 103, but Minor averaged 5.2 YPC and McGuffie only 4.1
2009: The top three running backs all rushed for over 5 yards per carry
2010: Vincent Smith had 136 carries to Shaw's 75, but Shaw averaged 5.4 YPC and Smith only 4.4. Additionally, Fitzgerald Toussaint and Michael Cox also had better YPC averages.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
But it doesn't tell you much about production. How many yards per game? More importanly, how many times did the non-Denard rushing game move the chains?
August 19th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
Is one of the RBs on your fantasy team or something? Why does it matter who got the rushing yeards?
August 19th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
Go ahead and track Denard's production as the year wore on. Quality of opponent played a role in that I'll concede, but you cant tell me Denard was the same player against OSU that he was against ND. Thats why I care about RB production.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
Does it matter how the RB's did? Rich Rod had a good rushing fame. It doesn't matter who carried the ball.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
**game. Damn IPhone, can't see even edit.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2011&rpt=IA_teamrush&site=or…
Michigan's 2010 team rushing stats: 13th nationally with 238.54 ypg, 3rd in the B1G behind Illinois (246.08 ypg) and Wisconsin (245.69 ypg).
Are you seriously trying to argue that we didn't run the ball pretty well last year?
August 19th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^
You win the reading comprehension award today. The argument is that the RUNNING BACKS did not carry enough of the load under Rich Rod. Thanks for your input though.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
Shaw and Fitzgerald were hurt most of last season. I believe Minor was also banged up for the first month of the 2008 campaign. Cox is a garbage-time legend.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
In 2008 Minor was reportedly unhappy that coaches were willing to give frosh burn which carried over into how he practiced. Also allegedly had the dropsies in practice. Then he got over it. His workload progression bears this out.
Four carries vs Utah, one carry vs Miami, three carries vs ND, two carries vs Wisky. Then started vs PSU and carried 23x, then 15x for MSU, then 24x against Purdue. 14 carries through 3 quarters vs Minnesota, then injured. Missed NW game. 14 carries vs tOSU.
2009 numbers were inflated as a result of the game vs Baby Seal U. Even Grady averaged 9+ ypc. Smith averaged almost 10. Cox 7.5; Shaw, 8.1. Michigan gained 461 yards on the ground that game.
In 2010 Cox reportedly didn't play a lot as he forgot his assignments; ran up a lot of yards vs Bowling Green.. Toussaint had a lingering shoulder injury. Michael Shaw missed games with injuries.
Difficult to give the "best tailback the majority of snaps" when they're injured/cannot recall who to pick up in a blitz.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
Kids can tell when you're wrong. If I were a junior like Brandon Minor and I saw inferior players (like Shaw and McGuffie) getting a lot of carries, I would be pissed, too. It would be one thing if Minor had a bad attitude, then came in and stunk up the joint. It's quite another when he knew he was the best player, proved it repeatedly, and still had to watch McGuffie and Shaw go down on first contact.
I'm not saying it's a perfect mindset. But if you play the right guy in the first place, you don't have to worry about pissing people off.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Idk, I didn't think it took too much framing. LOLZ @ you framing everything Brian says as unabashed support of RR.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
Ah yes, because when a guy says that the coaching staff is doing things differently than the past few years and intimating rather brazenly that it will make the team better at playing football, that totally isn't a shot at the past coach.
Man, posts like this drive me insane. Yes, this blog was definitely more pro-RR/reserved about Hoke than some would have liked, but don't dismiss the appearance of unsubstantied attacks on RR by a no-talent hack of a former head coach as sour milk.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
What could he possibly have said that Brian WOULDN'T have constured as a shot at RR?
August 19th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
If he had said something like this: "coaches this year really bring a lot of energy to the table and are doing things differently. Let's see if this translates to more wins on the field." I think that is a lot less of an attack on RR but still has the same basic concept.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
Lets examine what exactly has got Brian's panties in a bundle.
UM Prac-Teams in the B1G that run the ball the best do a certain blocking drill.
UM did it today - entire team playing with better leverage
"One of the things I hadn’t seen in a (Michigan) practice recently is when you see one of the best running teams in the league and the drills they do; I saw those drills at Michigan. That’s an indication they’re going in the right direction.”
UM Prac - Defense will improve significantly - because of offense scheme, coaching emphasis, simplicity, different packages, and pressure
UM Prac- No surprise prac was much different than recent past. More emphasis on Kick Game (Brady coached it),emphasis on D (Brady coached it)
In summary...A. Michigan did a drill he likes, and they appear to be playing with better leverage. B. eeeeeeee Mattison C. Practice was different(shocker)
Did I miss the part where he said that Rodriguez was an incompetent boob? Seriously, because I know some have made that argument pretty convincingly...anyone? Anyone?
August 19th, 2011 at 4:56 PM ^
been fired. The man is as talented as they come for his style of offense, but the man was as vacant as they come in regards to how to improve a defense.
If he woulda just stayed content with WVU or being an offensive coordinator, he never would have been fired, etc.
On to the true D-minded coach who remembers tradition and what huddles are/why they are useful in keeping your horrible ranked defense more fresh on the field.
With the new staff I could see us doing the impossible and winning the B1G right off the bat with Hoke. He brings the fire back and reminds the team that they are on their way to becoming a very tough D in addition to what should be a very tough O to defend. Look how many PPG we avg.ed the past 2 years, and then look at that horribly horribly bad PPG and YPG that our D gave up.
We will be a tough team to beat right out of the gate with Hoke.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
I think the last tweet posted is an example of the limitations of the twitter character limit. I literally had to read it 3 times to kind of understand what he might be getting at.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
@GuinnessStar Woolfok looked good. Moving around well. If they can stay healthy secondary has a chance. Blake Countess is impressive
August 19th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
I hate Gerry DiNardo.
I've always hated Gerry DiNardo.
I will always hate Gerry DiNardo.
Hate is a strong word?...not nearly strong enough.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
@BTN_Michigan RB's haven't separated them self from the pack Smith, Shaw,Cox, Toussaint, but an keep & eye on Rawls. #GoBlue
Keep and eye on Rawls? /facepalm
August 19th, 2011 at 1:45 PM ^
Why? If Rawls is the best back then why is that a bad thing?
August 19th, 2011 at 1:58 PM ^
Keep and eye on
August 19th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
I totally missed that at first. Ampersand ftw.
August 19th, 2011 at 5:33 PM ^
Nevermind, I am a dumbass
August 19th, 2011 at 5:33 PM ^
I was talking about the part where you said /facepalm
August 19th, 2011 at 3:29 PM ^
I was reading that tweet and just shook my head. Absolutely atrocious. I understand the lack of punctuation and capitalization in today's social media, but come on... keep and eye...that's just baby town frolics. Also,-1 to myself for being an anal grammar nazi.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
When will the Michigan practice air on the B1G Network?
August 19th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
According to the network's website, the BTN Michigan Preview will air on Monday, August 22 (next Monday) at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (ET). They might repeat later.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Robinson is one guy who can beat you? No shit, Sherlock!
Can I have a BTN job??
August 19th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
"The" one guy, as in the only guy on offense that can beat you.
August 19th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
His point still stands.
August 19th, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^
I'm not standing up for the intelligence of the media guys from the BTN, but the two statements have entirely different meanings.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
so I'm curious about the running game from last year to this year - we often mention the astounding YPC from last season's offense & how we expect that to decrease this year. is that metric alone enough to conclude that the running game will be 'less effective,' or would it be more accurate to call it 'less productive overall'?
I wonder this because I can't help suspecting that our YPC last year was inflated greatly by running all over weak opponents in the first half of the season, while the effectiveness was greatly reduced against formidable B1G opponents (& So Miss).
I feel like the usefulness of the running game will increase (eventually) even if the YPC goes down for several reasons ... firstly, timing: getting the hard yards at the clutch moments can be more important than the numbers show. secondly, the perssure that a more consistent running game can take off the passing side of the offense.
there are probably a lot more ways we could think up, but the bottom line is: is a lower YPC necessarily a bad thing, or a sign of a more balanced & effective attack?
& again thanks for covering all the twitter action, Brian!
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