roster overanalysis
Can there be a quickening without a culling? [Bryan Fuller]

End of Year Roster Overview: Offense Comment Count

Seth January 5th, 2022 at 12:48 PM

I updated my spreadsheets with this year’s snaps/starts/games played data, which is a good opportunity to go over who’s on the team, and what to expect over the rest of the offseason.

Extra eligibility: The COVID year created a lot of confusion. As I understand it, that is being treated as a free season of eligibility and does not affect redshirts. Every freshman in 2020 was still effectively a true freshmen in 2021 (but is still eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft). Anyone who hadn’t yet taken a redshirt season may still do so. Anyone who played four games or fewer this year was eligible to take a redshirt if they haven’t already, medical redshirts included.

We’ll go by position after the jump, but the short version:

  • Played out eligibility: Andrew Vastardis
  • Portal: Nolan Rumler (Kent State).
  • Early NFL (playing in senior bowls): Hassan Haskins, Andrew Stueber, Daylen Baldwin (update)
  • They'll be back: Ronnie Bell, Erick All
  • Graduates/6th yr option: Chuck Filiaga, Joel Honigford, Carter Selzer
  • Graduates/2 years left: Luke Schoonmaker, Ryan Hayes

Note: Eligibilities given are for 2022, and listed with [playing eligibility]/[year in school]. Snap data are from the guy on the message board who provided those this year, and imperfect career data that I tried to put together last offseason from various sources (2014-’17 was from our old PFF subscription).

QUARTERBACK

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Cade McNamara So/Sr 14 14 800   15 19 932
J.J. McCarthy So/So 0 11 166   0 11 166
Dan Villari Fr/Jr 0 4 24   0 4 24
Alan Bowman Jr/5th 0 3 11   16* 22* 1258*
Jayden Denegal Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a
Alex Orji Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

*Mostly with Texas Tech

Departures: None, but with QBs in 2022 you never know.

Newcomers: 3.5* Jayden Denegal and 3.5* Alex Orji are your typical pocket/athlete combo.

2022 Starter(s): That’s the question now innit?

What’s in the oven? The whole house smells like McCarthy.

It’s a good offseason if: JJ is “getting it” and “wowing people” and “has full command of the offense,” yada yada, except not so loudly that Cade takes this as his cue to exit for new depth charts. McNamara locked down QB1 all season, until JJ played the 30/65 of downs against Georgia and looked like the kind of guy who, fully formed, could beat a Georgia.

It’s a bad offseason if: Either one transfers because the other’s clearly winning the job. The 2022s are no time to be without a backup.

Other guys: Dan Villari came in late in blowouts for mostly run package work. Bowman never seemed to threaten the depth chart, struggling during his blowout work.

[After THE JUMP: Eligibility, games, starts, snap data, and summaries]

RUNNING BACK

Screenshot 2022-01-05 095004
Big Ten’s 2021 #3 RB ascends. [Barron]

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Blake Corum So/Jr 0 12 331   1 18 414
Donovan Edwards So/So 0 12 133   0 12 133
Tavierre Dunlap Fr/So 0 2 14   0 2 14
Leon Franklin So/Sr 0 9 26   0 9 26
CJ Stokes Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

Departures so far/expected: Hassan Haskins hasn’t officially announced he’s off to the NFL but he’s in the Senior Bowl so he’s gone.

Newcomers: 3.5* CJ Stokes was South Carolina family. Michigan may not be done recruiting here.

2022 Starter(s): Blake Corum with lots of Edwards on the side.

What’s in the oven? Passes to the RB. We barely got to play with Donovan Edwards late this year. Since Corum can do a lot of those things too, expect the offense to spend a lot more time coming up with ways to feature the RBs in the passing game.

It’s a good offseason if: They add a bruiser, either as a recruit or from the transfer portal, and everyone gets/stays really healthy. Corum and Edwards both missed time this season so the offense got tooled around what Haskins can do. Gattis is all about incorporating more passes to the RB in the offseason. Dunlap starts to get Haskins comparisons. Workout videos.

It’s a bad offseason if: Anything happens to the top two.

Other guys: Need them, no offense to walk-on Leon Franklin from Southfield.

SLOT RECEIVER

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Mike Sainristil Jr/Sr 5 14 433   9 33 799
AJ Henning So/Jr 0 14 181   1 20 242

Departures so far/expected: None.

Newcomers: None.

2022 Starter(s): Sainristil and Henning reprise.

What’s in the oven? We’re allowed to use Ronnie Bell in the slot too, remember?

It’s a good offseason if: Either is praised for his blocking.

It’s a bad offseason if: Sainristil has a drop in the spring game.

Other guys: None. The RBs are going to be doing a lot of Spread H things next year I expect.

WIDE RECEIVER

image

Here to senior a second time. [Barron]

 

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Ronnie Bell Jr/5th 1 1 20   17 33 1095
Cornelius Johnson Jr/Sr 14 14 801   17 32 1083
Daylen Baldwin Sr/6th 5 14 288   24 42 790
Roman Wilson So/Jr 5 13 395   5 19 512
Andrel Anthony So/So 0 11 269   0 11 269
Cristian Dixon Fr/So 0 1 9   0 1 9
Darrius Clemons Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a
Tyler Morris Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a
Amorion Walker Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

Departures so far/expected: None, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose a Baldwin given the depth. [UPDATE: Now it's official].

Newcomers: Great class came together late. Big Ten title run got them back in for Clemons, who’s the most ready-made with a huge ceiling. Tyler Morris is golden smooth, and Amorion Walker is a fast 6’4” frame who could outshine them all.

2022 Starter(s): Add Ronnie Bell back to speedsters Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson and speeding leapster Andrel Anthony and LFG.

What’s in the oven? Andrel Anthony’s MSU game showed his potential, but freshman receivers always suck. Sophomore receivers…

It’s a good offseason if: Andrel Anthony is projected to start next to Ronnie Bell, since the others are knowns and that would mean Anthony’s on the Braylon track. A ton of spring hype is about the deep passing game.

It’s a bad offseason if: More than one leaves because there aren’t enough targets to go around.

Other guys: Cristian Dixon got just the one 4th down throw vs WMU that I remember. That I’m having to pull a guy a project who’s been on campus one semester for this section tells you how deep this group is.

TIGHT END

image
Messirs Blocky and Catchy. [Marc-Grégor Campredon]

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Erick All Jr/Sr 8 13 484   10 30 773
Luke Schoonmaker? Jr/5th 10 14 557   10 31 677
Joel Honigford? Sr/6th 5 13 313   5 31 393
Carter Selzer Sr/6th 0 14 111   0 17 130
Matthew Hibner So/Jr 0 8 26   0 8 26
Louis Hansen Fr/So 0 1 2   0 1 2
Colston Loveland Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a
Marlin Klein Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

Departures so far/expected: So far none, but Honigford and Selzer are likely to move on.

Newcomers: Loveland is the guy the people who pay close attention to recruiting believe is a steal, and might have been a five-star if he was from Georgia instead of Idaho. He also has to adjust from Idaho. Marlin Klein is from Germany by way of Georgia and could be another Schoonmaker down the line.

2022 Starter(s): Erick All and Luke Schoonmaker both had breakout seasons. All is a *MUCH* better blocker than anyone outside of Ann Arbor seems to realize. Schoonmaker neared his full Gentry transformation in the B1G CG.

What’s in the oven? Hibner could have redshirted this year but played in 8 games, though never passed Honigford or Selzer, who were limited players. The burned redshirt could be a sign they were planning to use Hibner more if they got in a tight game when All was out.

It’s a good offseason if: There’s a lot of talk about Hibner and/or Hansen. The old guys are established; it’d be nice to get the next row of shark teeth some praise before it seems necessary. Also they find a guy who looks and acts and blocks like a fullback.

It’s a bad offseason if: They’re still dabbling with walk-ons or converting OTs, or Loveland seems like the 3rd-best option in the early fall practices (if he’s that by October it’s fine).

Other guys: That’s the question, innit?

CENTER

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Victor Oluwatimi Sr/6th 12 12 910   35 36 2561
Greg Crippen So/So 0 6 69   0 6 69
Raheem Anderson Fr/So 0 1 11   0 1 11

Departures so far/expected: Andrew Vastardis is out of eligibility.

Newcomers: Michigan seems to have found a one-for-one replacement in Virginia’s Rimington finalist Olusegun“Victor” Oluwatimi, thanks to Bronco Mendenhall retiring. Transfer OL don’t usually work out, but when they do they’re the kind that were already doing really well in the Power 5. This is Oluwatimi's 2nd transfer by the way; he redshirted at Air Force then sat out 2018 as a transfer, and started 35/36 of Virginia's games thereafter.

2022 Starter(s): Oluwatimi gives them some space before they have to start Greg Crippen, whom the program adores but is also going to be a 2nd year player.

What’s in the oven? Weirdly they didn’t get a redshirt on Crippen this year, allowing him to play six games. That’s a much clearer sign to back up the program’s insistence that they see Crippen as the center of the future, since they were trying to get him game experience in anticipation of having to start him next year.

It’s a good offseason if: Oluwatimi is an instant hit, and they’re quickly making him one of the spokesmen for the line.

It’s a bad offseason if: We start hearing more about Zinter at center and nervous chatter from insiders about pressure from the interior.

Other guys: Anderson doesn’t have to be mentioned for long time, but after doing his recruiting profile I’m rooting for him to break through.

GUARDS

image
Need a nickname for these guys. [Bryan Fuller]

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Zak Zinter So/Jr 12 13 733   16 19 947
Trevor Keegan So/Sr 11 13 697   11 18 750
Chuck Filiaga Sr/6th 4 11 284   10 38 739
Karsen Barnhart So/Sr 2 10 262   6 18 551
Reece Atteberry So/Jr 0 8 57   0 9 57
Alessandro Lorenzetti Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

Departures so far/expected: None, unless it’s Filiaga, who’d be going into his 6th season as the best 6th man in the country.

Newcomers: Alessandro Lorenzetti checks every box for recruiting industry blindspots, but his legendary workouts make him seem like the kind of guy who’ll grow into something. That’s way in the future.

2022 Starter(s): Zinter and Keegan are locks, even if the latter lost playing time this season to Filiaga. Zinter’s hand injury held him out a few games and limited him in others. Both, especially Zinter, are going into breakout campaigns.

What’s in the oven? At this point we’ve poked Barnhart with a fork so many times that you’d think the only reason he’s not on the table is there isn’t room. He could figure in at guard (where he started twice this year) or at tackle.

It’s a good offseason if: Michigan can’t get over how good their guard play is. See: The Bredeson/Onwenu offseason. Also Barnhart is “too good to keep off the field.”

It’s a bad offseason if: Filiaga leaves and there’s a major gap between the starters and Barnhart. Karsen was several steps behind the Big Three when forced into PT (again) this season. But the program loves him and keeps giving him those opportunities.

Other guys: Nobody here’s an other guy. Atteberry was the next guy in when Barnhart was starting due to injuries above, and looked like a guy you could play in a pinch.

TACKLES

  2021 Season   Career
Player Elig '22 Starts GP Snaps   Starts GP Snaps
Ryan Hayes Jr/5th 14 13 928   18 27 1324
Trente Jones So/Sr 2 14 108   2 14 108
Griffin Korican Jr/5th 0 2 17   0 8 27
Jeffrey Persi Fr/Jr 0 2 12   0 2 12
Giovanni El-Hadi Fr/So 0 1 11   0 1 11
Tristan Bounds Fr/So 0 1 5   0 1 5
Andrew Gentry Fr/Fr** n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a
Connor Jones Fr/Fr n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

Departures so far/expected: Starting RT Andrew Stueber announced he'll be in the senior bowl last November, though he still could change his mind. Griffin Korican might also graduate and be done if the kids are catching up to him.

Newcomers: Andrew Gentry was the other prize who fell into their lap when Mendenhall retired, but he’s been out of football for two years and will need a few years to redevelop into the top-50 type he was as a recruit in 2020. Connor Jones is a “one of us”-level Michigan nut, smart enough to ken MGoBlog writing in his teens, and tackle-shaped enough that the staff made sure to hold onto him when Warinner left.

2022 Starter(s): Hayes and Jones or Barnhart unless Stueber returns.

What’s in the oven? Jones has been warming next to Barnhart, and is being shown to guests so they don’t get too full on the prior courses. They used Jones as the TE wearing #90 a bunch this season and every insider made it clear that transfer Willie Allen felt superfluous when he found himself behind Jones.

It’s a good offseason if: We hold onto Stueber for one more ride, Hayes is putting on a ton of muscle, and we’re getting very good vibes about Persi/El-Hadi as guys who should be ready to step in and star by 2023.

It’s a bad offseason if: Stueber leaves and we get worried noises about Jones and Barnhart, or they talk about platooning them because both have holes in their games.

Other guys: Persi is a Ryan Hayes-type whose ETA was 2023 and Bounds is another Frey grow-a-TE we’re not looking for until 2024. Korican has been hovering around 4th on the depth chart at guard and tackle for years without seeing the field.

Comments

rc15

January 5th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^

They played Crippen in his 6 games (burning his redshirt) prior to Mendenhall retiring and knowing Oluwatimi was coming. Can't blame them for wanting to give him as much experience as possible thinking he was going to need to start next year.

Joined: 01/23/2015

MGoPoints: 12103

michengin87

January 5th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^

I agree.  The last center from IMG only played 3 years at UM and was drafted in the first round.  Of course, Cesar Ruiz was a little more highly rated but both were recruited as 4 stars. 

I think Crippen plays even a little more next year and provides a great backup before being the starter for 2 years.  I project that he'll be considered a high draft pick in 2025 either at Center or Guard and the redshirt would have been useless anyway.  Plus and at least as importantly, Raheem Anderson should be ready in another year or two max.

Joined: 07/14/2009

MGoPoints: 4096

Hail2Victors

January 5th, 2022 at 1:14 PM ^

The offense looks pretty good for next year.   Like many, I think JJM has a breakout year at QB.   I was never a fan of Baldwin -- felt he made too many mistakes/drops.   Hope they can find another Haskins type but I also expect #7 to have a breakout year.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 838

AC1997

January 5th, 2022 at 1:20 PM ^

I do wonder about WR attrition given the depth chart.  Baldwin is the easy answer as Seth points out, but I do wonder about some of the other guys (Sanristil?  Wilson?) who are looking at Bell, Anthony, and Johnson while wondering how many targets they're going to get.  Hopefully they all come back....but I won't be shocked if there's an unexpected name leaving from here.

Interestingly, Magnus wasn't a very big fan of Oluwatimi as you'd expect him to be of a Remington finalist from a P5 school.  Does feel like a high floor/high ceiling situation though given that they have Crippen and Zinter as other options if the transition is bumpier than we expect.  

Crazy to think that reading through this there really isn't a position group that "scares" me this off-season.  Sure, replacing Steuber is not ideal but they have multiple guys who have seen the field as options.  

I would like them to find a true FB so that All can focus on being an elite TE.  He's a good pseudo-fullback but having a true bruiser back there would be good for a few plays per game.  

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13809

smotheringD

January 5th, 2022 at 10:57 PM ^

Really looking forward to the competition at the QB position.  Who is going to be able to read the coverages, get through the progressions, hit these boys in the hands in stride, and not leave TD's on the field (or get picked because they're regularly targeting TacoPants)?

We've got the WR's, backs and OL.  If we find a power back and full back it will be gravy.

Need a QB to really step up now.

Joined: 09/15/2010

MGoPoints: 7586

MGolem

January 5th, 2022 at 1:39 PM ^

Sainristil seems like the ultimate glue guy, maybe a future captain. He is a stud on special teams, a great blocker, and has enough big time receptions to make you think he could get paid to play football down the road.

Wilson definitely has NFL skills. He is incredibly fast and catches the ball very well (drop against Georgia notwithstanding). While both could look elsewhere Wilson in particular is just a sophomore and will see Johnson and Bell depart after his junior year leaving him as an ironclad starter across from Anthony in his senior season. He could go looking for more touches but if he is patient he will see them in time either way. 

Joined: 10/14/2010

MGoPoints: 13592

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^

I think the best-case scenario at QB is that whomever loses the contest stays until the end of the 2022 season. It would be frustrating if they left before then, but also extremely understandable, so I don't think people should rend their clothes if JJ clearly wins the job and Cade says "thanks, had a great time, gonna explore my options." And vice versa, though it feels like more of a disappointment if JJ leaves because we perceive his ceiling to be higher. 

Regarding receivers, I'd love to hang on to all the guys that contributed this past season, but I feel like it's unrealistic. I don't think we should be surprised if more than one of the contributors transfer, because with Ronnie Bell coming back, it's going to be hard to be the third and fourth guy. Unfortunately, a logical transfer could actually be someone like CJ; I have no information on this, but if it looks like the starting WRs are Anthony and Ronnie Bell, CJ just went from #1 to #3 and his snaps probably cut in half, and it wouldn't be a referendum on the staff if he explored options. I hope not, but I'm just saying. (Edit: news about Baldwin leaving for the NFL came out while I was typing this, and I don't think this really changes the above; Baldwin was already getting squeezed out with Bell on the sidelines).

We might lose one of our two slot guys, too--we lost Giles Jackson last year, and slot snaps are limited with the heavy TE use and now with Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum both likely to get receiving snaps.

If I sound pessimistic with how many guys I expect to leave, it's because I have, in the past, been a bit more negative about this sort of thing. I was quite dour about Giles Jackson leaving, but the results on the field made it clear that he was leaving for a good reason, and Michigan was just fine. I don't think losing certain significant contributors means either they are angry at Michigan or that Michigan won't be ok if they leave, which is important for me to calibrate.

 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143860

Vasav

January 5th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^

Great writeup. I'm sure we could ask for more, but really this sets up about as well as it could for next year. Attrition to the depth is the biggest concern...and maybe tackle?

I'm guessing the offense looks more like a "Speed in Space" than "Harbaugh Haskins" type next year - with JJ, Corum, and Edwards all getting wiser, the emergence of Anthony and the return of Ronnie Bell, airing it out will be a bigger thing, but so will  read opt----nevermind, I forgot that every QB forgets how to do that when they become the guy.

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19255

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^

The record at Michigan seems to make it clear, to me, that the coaches pull the reins on the starter because they don't want him getting hurt. It makes certain run actions tough, but the amount of struggle Michigan has had with hurt QBs, and the fact that Michigan finally had a guy start the entire season healthy and wound up being successful, makes me start to think that maybe it's not the worst idea to be extra-cautious. 

Remember: 2016, Speight got hurt during the Iowa game we lost, and we lost at OSU in part because his effectiveness was limited by injury. 2017 was a real struggle, and there were development problems, but we also wound up playing our third choice at QB against OSU and could have won but the QB position was a real issue. In 2019 Shea got hurt on a QB run on literally the first play and was apparently hurt the rest of the year; DCaff might have gotten a chance at the job, but he got a bad concussion against Wisconsin. In 2020, Michigan looked terrible against Penn State, but apparently neither Joe Milton nor Cade McNamara were at full strength during that game, and we were looking at Dan Villari against Ohio State had that game been played.

I'm starting to come around to the idea that keeping the starter healthy is more important than always having a QB run option. Michigan won 12 games doing that this year, and neither of the losses were a function of the run offense missing that QB run option.

As for what the offense looks like: Almost all of my reservations from early in the season were answered pretty effectively by an offense designed to use the strengths of the personnel. I was pretty unenthusiastic by the preseason statements that Michigan was going to emphasize running the ball, and games like Rutgers and Northwestern seemed to validate that concern, but... Michigan did throw when it needed to, and often threw pretty well, using Cade about as well as he could be used. Meanwhile, they gave big-time carries to the two best RBs we've had at Michigan since 2007.

A lot of criticism of offenses boils down to fan frustration with "not putting the team in position to win" and "not getting the best players the ball," and Michigan did both of those extremely well in 2021. So I tend to think that Gattis and Harbaugh will work to do that again in 2022. Which hopefully means a bit more passing, but hopefully also means keeping up some mashing running play with Corum and Edwards. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143860

Vasav

January 5th, 2022 at 2:02 PM ^

Yea I'm ok with a healthy QB over running the QB, and also I'm pretty high on this O staff right now. but to be honest if anything I actually prefer the mashing to the passing. the only thing I "hope" for really is that we move the ball. But seeing Haskins go down the throats of the big ten is a bit more satisfying to my lizard brain than seeing Ronnie Bell streak over the top of them.

But ultimately, TDs taste good. And I think this staff is capable of doing what needs to be done.

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19255

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^

The staff this year did a good job adapting to needs. Wisconsin didn’t allow much on the ground, and Cade was thus asked to do a lot more through the air than he had in previous games. He was good, not great, and Michigan won pretty convincingly. Against MSU, Michigan faced a bad pass defense and responded by throwing a lot for huge yardage.

I admit I hold some leftover concern about how much Michigan will open the throttle through the air, but the returns this year were pretty positive that if Michigan has a guy who can make the throws, they’ll call the throws to be made.

I do think that if Michigan is to take that “next step” a dynamic downfield passing game is a part of that; certainly would have made a difference last Friday. But we’ll see what happens. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143860

los barcos

January 5th, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^

Not all QB runs are created equally. Even one or two RPOs - think Shea vs MSU - where there's generally a chunk of open field yards then a slide is the kind of thing that can really make a defense have to respect the qb run game.  Regardless, I don't think anyone is advocating Pat White style - and even JJ vs GA would be killed at some point if he was doing that for a full season.  

Joined: 03/27/2009

MGoPoints: 10842

rc15

January 5th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^

You don't need to have your QB be Lamar Jackson or JT Barrett who is pulling the ball 10 times a game. You could tell defenses still respected Patterson's ability to run more than Cade's.

Once per game against teams you're winning against easily, just to make future teams honor it as an option. Have the QB slide if possible after getting the first down to avoid the hit. Then take of the reins for OSU/MSU and have true reads in play.

Joined: 01/23/2015

MGoPoints: 12103

LeCheezus

January 5th, 2022 at 3:04 PM ^

As far as I know, every injury you stated came on a pass play except Patterson (although I recall it as a scramble?  I'll take your word for it), so our QB injuries haven't had much to do with running.   JJ does need to be more careful about avoiding unnecessary contact, and I expect that will be worked out of his system if he was the starter.  Percentage wise, I don't expect him to keep as much next year if he is the starter, but my hope is that we finally kill all the fake reads and he has something like 5 non scramble carries per game to keep defenses honest.

Joined: 06/11/2017

MGoPoints: 9852

Quailman

January 5th, 2022 at 3:07 PM ^

Re: your comments on the QB run option

That is how I felt the entire season and was always surprised how much hand-wringing there was by both posters and writers about it. With UM's recent history of QB injuries and JJ being raw/inexperienced, of course they were going to limit Cade's getting hit as long as they felt like they could get/manufacture yards in other ways (they did). The constant complaints about it seemed like intentionally overlooking the obvious just to have something to be upset about or to champion how a poster/writer thought an offense was supposed to look like. 

Joined: 08/30/2013

MGoPoints: 19712

GoBlue1530

January 5th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^

"It's policy here not to speculate on specific guys being subject to attrition because it feels like fans trying to push guys out"

Also Seth "Departures so far/expected: None, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose a Baldwin given the depth. [UPDATE: Now it's official].

Joined: 12/31/2018

MGoPoints: 3134

JamieH

January 5th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^

I'm a fan of McNamara, but looking at that receiving corp, I can't help but salivate at the thought of a much improved McCarthy running an offense with those guys flying around + Corum/Edwards in the backfield.  Talk about dynamic. 

Michigan is going to need to win games with offense next year.  I don't think they are going to be able to depend on running + TOP + defense the way they did this season.  

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

Vasav

January 5th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^

I had this thought last year too, but the D really stepped up. I know we lose Hutch and Ojabo, as well as probably Dax Hill, but I certainly didn't think our D would win us as many games as it did this year.  I expect the D to look different - but still be effective, and the LBs and Tackles to be better.

And TBH, winning with running + TOP (+ STs) is still winning with your offense - maybe less points, and less per play efficiency - but on a per drive basis I believe Michigan ranked pretty well in most fancy stats before the bowl games. Jake Moody was a stud but outside of Nebraska I can't think of any time where our FGs made the difference (I guess Rutgers, but he missed one there). Our face mashed offense got the job done as well as the defense did, and was one of the most explosive in the country. I expect the O to be more pass-happy next year - and it certainly can get better, even in Big Ten play, but I don't think it was mediocre, you know?

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19255

LeCheezus

January 5th, 2022 at 3:08 PM ^

I mean, we all saw the Georgia game right?  The only way we win that game is with a McCarthy level talent...although I will freely admit we wouldn't have been in that game if McCarthy had started all year.  He's had pretty close to the "ideal" introduction/break in, I'd be surprised if he wasn't the starter next year.

Joined: 06/11/2017

MGoPoints: 9852

Carpetbagger

January 5th, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^

No kidding, I don't know what game these people watched, but it wasn't the Georgia game I saw.

I think by fully formed they mean "knows what he is doing", which he clearly does not yet. Given 50% of QBing is between the ears, we have no idea if he can really play anything but schoolyard football in college.

For all we know he could be Milton between the ears with wheels.

Joined: 12/31/2010

MGoPoints: 6563

abertain

January 5th, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^

Roman Wilson was open deep against Georgia by 3-5 yards at least 2x. He’s exactly the type of receiver you need to beat the best teams. He’s honestly 1 and Bell is 1a for me. I love Anthony, so it also makes sense to put Bell in the slot a bit. Those three are the best. Johnson is a solid receiver, but he’s not a game breaker. 

Joined: 10/24/2009

MGoPoints: 4912

Couzen Rick's

January 5th, 2022 at 3:04 PM ^

Have there been any rumblings about portal targets? The only two mentioned prior I think were Oluwatimi obviously, and Trayanum the Arizona State RB who went to OSU as a LB.

Joined: 12/22/2014

MGoPoints: 15994

ak47

January 5th, 2022 at 4:34 PM ^

The offense has a lot of things going for it. My guess is we see at least one 'surprise' WR transfer given the lack of targets this offense can produce to keep six guys happy.

I'd also be pretty surprised if one of JJ or Cade isn't in the portal. It just doesn't make sense for either one to stick around if they aren't the starter, and honestly I'd prefer one to win the job and be the clear starter all off season over keeping both because you are constantly rotating QB reps given the different styles they bring to the table. If cade wins the job you don't mess around with a read option offense base at all, if JJ wins the job you get to build QB runs into your base offense in practice. Having that knowledge and practice time is helpful and you don't want to waste the off season on building two different base offenses. 

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

tomer

January 5th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^

The thing that absolutely JUMPS off the screen to me is the amount of returning snaps on the OL. We are talking literally a 3-4 thousand snaps depending on who wins the job.

If I am remembering correctly, one of the biggest predicting factors for an offenses success is returning production on the O-Line. This team is poised to be nasty next year.

Joined: 05/10/2011

MGoPoints: 4075

ca_prophet

January 6th, 2022 at 5:35 AM ^

I don't see any way it's not a bad offseason at QB.  If someone doesn't clearly win the job, we're likely in trouble, but I would be very surprised if the loser doesn't transfer and try to resurrect his career - particularly if it's McCarthy losing out.

 

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7079