Not a whole lot out of fall camp this year, since they're being a lot tighter with access and Sam Webb has a newborn. But I'll share what we've got.

The Sources:

I draw these bits from insiders who email me, stuff that gets posted on premium/open message boards, pressers from the program, and podcast/radio appearances, most notably Harbaugh's Attack Each Day pod, since he saves some good stuff they want to get out for that, and Jon Jansen's In the Trenches. I try to leave out opinions unless it's the opinion of a direct observer.

A hearty welcome to a relatively new poster who confusingly goes by "umgoblue11" who posted a thread filled with what I recognize as the chatter between former players, which won't surprise you is a lot like the chatter between MGoBlog readers. While he took pains to say he's not an insider, I guess some people are still going "Hey, stop pretending to be an insider." Anyway I haven't included most of that because—as the OP said numerous times—they're just opinions from guys who've been around the program, not news from inside Fort Schembechler.

Big thanks to 24/7's Josh Henschke for typing up Don Brown's presser, after I gave up trying to watch it through CBS's gawd-awful, unskippable 30-second ads-infested video of it. The Gattis one isnt' available yet but fortunately he went on Jansen's podcast.

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Quarterback

What we want to hear: Shea's the bomb. McCaffrey's the bomb. Everybody: the bomb.

What we're hearing: One of the insiders who emailed Brian said "McCaffrey is legit pushing Shea." On the other hand, Gattis said Shea's been awesome so far.

"I was a little bit worried about him coming into camp, because he spent so much time on the golf course this summer," Gattis told media Wednesday in Ann Arbor. "I wanted to see him more calling me and asking questions, but he’s playing lights out. He really is. It just stands out, his playmaking ability, ball placement, his footwork within the pocket. I’ve been really, really pleased. He’s playing at a really big-time level, and so he sets the standard and really pushes the bar high for our offense."

What it means: No change.

[After THE JUMP: a train job.]

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Running Back

Now wears #3, but still has those Lytle-like scoots. [Eric Upchurch]

What we want to hear: It's fine you guys. Charbonnet's a superstar.

What we're hearing: All the injured guys from spring are playing again, but the depth chart hasn't moved yet. Two main themes have been repeated:

1) Tru Wilson is going into the season #1 and could well stay that way because he's a great blocker, and you need to be in this system. People are vastly underrating what a good football player he is.

2) They haven't had a back with as much breakaway potential as Christian Turner for as long as Harbaugh's been here.

And then a third candidate: Steve Lorenz posted some inside intel($) at the start of fall camp on Zach Charbonnet that included the decision process for the surgery he had this year.

Michigan's expectation since the beginning has been for Charbonnet to make an immediate impact of some kind. The planned procedure he had this spring was going to take place either way, but it's something the two parties conversed on and decided upon well before he arrived in January. He played through the injury for most of last year and it's reportedly something that could be managed and played through either way. However, Michigan and the family naturally (and rightfully) decided that getting back to 100% was the most important thing.

At Big Ten Media Days Harbaugh singled out Charbonnet as a guy who's been in the weight room so much he's in danger of having his name appear in all caps like some people on the team:

“Reports are really great on Zach Charbonnet,” Harbaugh said. “Though he didn’t practice in the spring, he’s been termed ‘a lot like Ben Mason.’ Strength coaches are saying that he’s a ‘stalker.’ He stalks them, he’s in the weight room all the time living in there — talking about Zach and Ben Mason — they’re both right up there at the top of that list.”

Hassan Haskins and Ben VanSumeren also got mentioned by Gattis as a guy who is having a really good fall. Jansen is pretty hype on the running back room in general.

What it means: If you're not old enough to remember 1997:

1. I'm sorry
2. I think this is a situation where Michigan believes it has three backs who can fill disparate roles, with Tru your main yards churner and pass blocker, Turner your second guy and home run threat, and Charbonnet the young engine whose role expands over the course of the season as his grasp of the offense does, ending the year looking like the feature back of the future. And,
3. None of the three, nor their aggregate, will match Higdon/Evans, but they'll be very good at getting what the offensive line makes for them, and that will be plenty to establish a strong running game given the OL.

If you are old enough to remember 1997:

1. Chris Howard
2. Clarence Williams
3. A-Train, freshman edition

------------------------------

Receiver

What we want to hear: More of that sweet hype from Collins and Sainristil. DPJ and Black are totally healthy and picking up where they left off. A wild Giles Jackson appears. Also things will be fine next year, and Gattis is a wunderkind.

What we're hearing: DPJ and Black are totally healthy but Gattis is really pushing them not to play like the next snap could be their last. Via several people Cornelius Johnson is already impressing—Gattis said he's "Like Mikey [Sainristil]" in his fluidity, and he's already a big body. Giles Jackson is invariably included among lists of freshmen impressing.

I've also gotten praise, even from Gattis, on Jim McElwain's coaching. As much as we've knocked ol' Lanifornication, apparently some people got the impression that the receivers got bad coaching last year. Guy who emails me says that's not true, and so does Gattis, so I'm sorry for going too hard on the man who absolutely did not shtup a shark while at Florida.

I could watch Sainristil's feet all day.

What it means: I do not think this our concern. Alternating reports of "Gattis loves DPJ & Black" with "Gattis is really riding DPJ & Black" sound exactly like the reports about Chris Godwin that the PSU writers were putting out a few years back when I helped them make an HTTV-like preview. It means Gattis is a receivers coach.

------------------------------

Tight End

What we want to hear: Movement on the redshirted freshmen.

What we're hearing: Some positives on Sean McKeon, mostly in the mental aspects. Gattis said Sean was playing great in spring but Eubanks wasn't; Eubanks came back to fall and really started playing at a "big time level." We've maintained McKeon had the most thrown on his plate when the offense suddenly changed directions mid-season—more of an OSU-style H-back role than a Harbaugh TE. The things being said are "he had a tough year" and he came back "in much better shape" (Ira on the WTKA Roundtable). Ira also mentioned Mustapha Muhammad is establishing himself as a third guy, though on the Jansen pod Gattis mentioned Mustapha after All (and didn't mention Schoonmaker).

Erick All is showing out, via everybody.

What it means: McKeon's matured and changed his approach, and the coaches are trying to find a way to say that in a football sense. Good to hear about Muhammad, since Schoonmaker was expected to take another year to develop and All was getting a lot of positive mention.

------------------------------

Offensive Line

Dammit freshman, I said you're on the MIKE, not line up on Mike. [Patrick Barron]

What we want to hear: Update on the tackle battle.

What we're hearing: Nothing yet on that or last year's two-deep other than the standard leadership/best season stuff—Gattis said it's a good problem to have because they've "got two guys who can get the job done" and "both of those guys are going to play for us."

Onwenu's really down to 350* from 350** and it's really showing in his footwork and stamina, says umbig11. 

Down-roster, Lorenz posted some inside intel ($) about the two freshmen impressing early, particularly Carpenter. That jives with a post here from umbig11 that included Rumler and Carpenter as true freshmen who will see the field along with the obvious ones (Charbonnet, Sainristil, Giles, Dax, All, and the DTs). In the roster overanalysis I mentioned those two freshmen OL as players who arrived already college-shaped.

What it means: We were expecting this from Rumler, who's been way ahead of his classmates in development for some time. The Carpenter inclusion sounds like the coaches think they've found a new Caesar. Looks like there's going to be quite a battle for the center position in the future.

------------------------------

Defense In General:

What we're hearing: The fastest defense they've had is the talk.

What it means:

You have reputation. Don Brown gets it done is the talk. /opens door to end of last year. You see this man? Eh, he does not do the job. I show you what I do with him, and now for you my reputation is fact. Is solid. You beat the OSU for me, then you are solid.

------------------------------

Defensive Tackle

Banged up? Really? [Barron]

What we want to hear: Dwumfour blowing up, Kemp rocked up, depth pushing through.

What we're hearing: Things were going so well until Dwumfour was held out of practice for a few days. The reason given was "just a little banged up," and Dwumfour is expected back today.

Carlo Kemp has been named a captain and named most improved:

Probably the most improved guy that I could speak on behalf would be Carlo Kemp. Stronger, way faster, confident, just body language and the whole deal. Leadership, really playing at a high level.

Jansen added Kemp "is primed and ready for a breakout year" after Brown said Kemp might have made the largest improvement of any guy he's ever seen, and admits he was referring to Kemp when he was talking about team speed.

Word on the next rank is all "like what we've seen" and "had a really nice five days" from spring hype magnet Donovan Jeter. BEN MASON sounds like a package guy:

Ben Mason, vastly improved obviously. As a former fullback, running back, tight end, whatever you want to call him. We put him into that mix and we feel good about him.

The freshmen are coming in as guys "We'd like to see things from" with Hinton in and out of the impressive freshmen discussion depending on who's asking.

What it means: Kemp is the talk. /opens door to depth concerns. You see this man?

------------------------------

Defensive End

Kwity been all over [Fuller]

What we want to hear: Embarrassment of riches despite graduating an embarrassment of riches.

What we're hearing: Via an insider the current depth chart has Hutchinson starting at anchor and Kwity Paye at End. Last year's backups are both coming in for positive mentions. Kwity Paye is the "swiss army knife" of the defense: a 270-pound guy who can play all four positions on the line and still has the linebacker skillset from when he arrived around 230 pounds.

Via Brown's presser, Mike Danna is up 20 pounds after working with Herbert. Also Luigi Vilain has not turned into a pumpkin yet this offseason:

Luiji Villain, healthy, made it through all of the spring (knocks on wood) and made it through the first five practices and doing some good things.

Steve Lorenz's notes from fall camp($) led off with some nice words about Aidan Hutchinson.

A breakout of some kind seems imminent here. Worth noting that he did work out with the TB12 team earlier this summer.

That tracks with what Don Brown told the media in his presser, when Hutch2 was the first DL mentioned.

What it means: Danna is getting up to speed, so don't read anything into his current depth chart position. All systems go for Aidan and Kwity. Probably another year before Vilain is past his injuries. I'm counting him as a double-redshirt freshman in my mind right now. Current depth chart:

Anchor	Tackle	Nose	End
Hutchinson	Dwumfour	Kemp	Paye
Danna	Mason	Jeter	Vilain

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Linebacker

McGrone's getting there. [Barron]

What we want to hear: Takeoff point for younger guys like Cam McGrone, Jordan Anthony. Where's Uche?

What we're hearing: All systems go on Josh. Brown on Ross:

He's the brightest linebacker I've been around in a long time. Even when he was injured in spring, this guy knows his stuff. You don't have to worry about what kind of a days work you get out of Josh Ross.

Brown then said he thinks Ross, McGrone, Glasgow, Gil, and Anthony could start at most schools, he's got "five guys who can play" etc. In the Jansen podcast Cam McGrone is said to have the same speed Bush had, and is making a move past Jordan Anthony.

At viper, Brown thinks Khaleke Hudson was thinking too much last year after getting nailed with some targeting penalties. Anthony Solomon was one the three freshmen Brown mentioned in the Jansen pod and his presser—it's notable that Michigan has moved both Glasgow and Michael Barrett to the WLB competition—guessing Glasgow remains the backup Viper but they like him enough to give him a shot at starting.

Jansen asked: Josh Uche is playing SAM. Excellent edge rusher, great internal blitzer, and inherits the job from Furbush, but they'll have him in there as the Cheetah edge rusher in third down packages.

What it means: A dude and four guys. The most interesting thing is Jordan Glasgow pushing a multi-year starter at WLB. I think the MLB depth chart behind Ross is still shaking out as McGrone proves himself. I wasn't impressed by Anthony's tape in spring—he was a regular victim of Gattis's games—but for all the talk about McGrone it's noteworthy that Anthony is right there too.

------------------------------

Safety

What we want to hear: Daxton Hill is a wunderkind. Big breakout from guys down the roster.

What we're hearing: In HTTV we guess Hill would start from the beginning, and that seemed all the more likely when Harbaugh said on air in May that Daxton is going to have to play right away. On that: 1) Duh. 2) You never hear a coach say that though. This is both our concern and a good thing for Daxton. Also a good thing for Daxton: a practice observer notes he already had five interceptions in three practices. The down note: it's all against 3rd and 4th stringers.

This was to be expected: Hill is behind Metellus, Hawkins, and J'Marick Woods. WolverineWire's Isaiah Hole has a guy who assures the body is as advertised:

Daxton Hill is looking the part of a five-star, and ‘is a great centerfield player.’ Also told that he ‘covers a lot of ground,’ but as Brown noted to the media: he’s going through the bridge program (freshman classes) while acclimating to college football simultaneously. It could take a little time to acclimate as such, given the new workload.

An ITF on Rivals when the Ambry news came out repeated a rumor of Daxton Hill playing cornerback and I immediately guessed it came from someone who was watching those unofficial 7 on 7s and took a nickel for a cornerback. UMBig11 checked it out and confirmed: Daxton is the #2 nickel right now behind Brad Hawkins, and the #3 safety.

The good news is Hawkins might have made a move. Not in the new spot…Brown on Hawkins at nickel:

Brad Hawkins, we've kind of utilized his coverage ability as well on the slot some. We've got some ways to go ahead and make our adjustments there.

…so it's not like he's been lights out. But then in the presser Brown turned around and said Hawkins is right up there with…Josh Metellus!

Josh Metellus is playing at an extremely high level, I think, giving quality maturity to the group. He and Brad Hawkins are neck and neck. They're both in it. Who is one, who is two? Who is best, who is our second best? I can't really tell you that.

Also:

We're feeling pretty good about the way the top end of that safety group looks.

What it means: Translation: Hawkins is playing well and holding down one of the starting safety jobs, but after those two (or three including J'Marick Woods) yikes until Daxton is ready. Read nothing into a true freshman at a complicated position having to work his way up the depth chart. I do get the sense however that the other guys after Woods are not playable. Faustin and walk-on Hunter Reynolds at least got mentions; German Green didn't even get that much. It is what it is: be grateful they think Hawkins has come along.

/remembers a Rutger thing

…if a bit too slowly.

------------------------------

Cornerback

A who? [Barron]

What we want to hear: Ambry is fine, gonna be fine, no worries. Also it would be lovely to get something nice about a guy we haven't seen or heard from yet, like Gemon Green or even better, recent enrollee DJ Turner II, as Michigan gets their first look at him.

What we're hearing: The guys Brown mentioned in his presser were Vincent Gray ("…is a player"), Lavert Hill ("playing like Lavert Hill"), and Jaylen Kelly-Powell ("continued to improve, has put himself firmly entrenched on the two-deep.")

Ambry Thomas has some kind of medical thing that they've been trying to get control of which made it hard for him to keep weight on this offseason. Sounds serious, but not necessarily season-threatening. I guessed Mono or Crohn's at a guy who'd know and was told neither as far as he knows. It sounds like whatever it is they've figured it out:

Moving forward, working on the side, following all of the trainers' orders and the doctors' orders, but all systems are positive moving forward. Probably not an answer I'm equipped to give you, he's in doctor care and all of those things so that's between Coach Harbaugh and Ambry so I'm not equipped to give you that answer.

Umbig11 noted "He is working is way back to being 100% healthy. Needs to gain some weight back." Though Hole's source says that might be outdated intel--Ambry is back to a full Ambry, though conditioning still lags.

Brown pivoted right after to depth, where in the absence of that one name, we're getting nearly all of them. Jaylen Kelly-Powell stepped up during summer workout 7 on 7s and was running with the ones opposite Hill, with Vincent Gray #2. Harbaugh was still saying Gray was their next guy and has been since fall camp resumed. At Big Ten media days Harbaugh also mentioned Gemon Green and DJ Turner, but not JKP, Green, or early enrollee Jalen Perry, as potential contributors. Then Steve Lorenz did an AMA last week($) and came up with a completely different CB leader (emphasis mine):

L. Hill at one corner. I am going to go out on a limb and say Gemon Green at the other.

A few days later, Lorenz agreed Gray is in line right now with "a long way to go" ($) so that's a projection. The one bit of good news was from the Brown presser, though it's about the distant future:

DJ Turner, Daxton Hill and Anthony Solomon, those are the three really good players. There was one snap yesterday, they were all lined up on one side of the field, kind of in coverage and I'm like, wow, the ball got snapped and guys are moving and I'm saying, those three guys are pretty nifty. I look at those three guys as the bright stars for the future of Michigan football.

Hole clarified that JKP is in the Brandon Watson role, i.e. the third cornerback who's cross-trained on either side. 

What it means: I think it's unlikely Michigan has Ambry back to start the season, but he'll probably be practicing again in a month and full strength in time for the games when they really need him (Wisconsin or Iowa). At this point anyone who says much more than that is pretending to know more than Ambry and UM doctors. It's again quite clear that there's a steep drop off after Hill/Ambry.

Re: Green, that's a hell of a limb, and I like it, because it's the first we've heard anyone in the know talking about Green since he got here. If we hear a second on Green I'll start to think maybe it's possible.

In this case a lot of names means no names. At least back when they were certain it was Gray it was a good sign for Gray. But Gray's ceiling is Brandon Watson, and they're already getting close to the rest of that 2017 defensive back class being a washout, and now the Gray talk is starting to feel a lot like how things sound when the guy who's leading is a guy with some shortcomings. Please Baby Denard, give us more Green hype?

The Brown quote was also a good indication that D.J. Turner will be the hit he needs to be. Cornerback is a position where a true freshman can make an impact, and to be honest this spring it didn't look like our other freshman, Jalen Perry, was going to be up to it. If Michigan's found even a Raymon Taylor in DJII that cornerback depth chart looks a whole lot better. Wouldn't it be nice…

ETC. Zach Shaw predicts the 2019 depth chart. Photographer David Turnley has camp pics on the grams.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by DAVID TURNLEY (@davidturnley) on Aug 7, 2019 at 2:42pm PDT