Spring Game Standouts: Peters, Black, Hudson, Another Glasgow
I guess I need to include a SPOILER ALERT for those who weren't able to watch the live stream. If for some reason you want the ending of the Spring Game to be a mystery, and yet you still are on this blog, stop reading now. The full game is airing right now on tape delay on BTN and will be replayed several times this week.
Brandon Peters was the best quarterback on the day. [Eric Upchurch]
For the second straight year, the Spring Game came down to the final play. Kyle Seychel's 31-yard field goal gave the Brandon Peters-led Maize team a 31-29 victory over the Speight/O-Korn-piloted Blue team.
Newsy bits first: Juwann Bushell-Beatty was among the players sitting out, so the starting O-line from left to right was Cole-Bredeson-Kugler-Onwenu-Runyan. The coaches shuffled that combination quite a bit throughout the day even before Runyan exited with an apparent leg injury—he walked off under his own power. The other injury on the day was to Eddie McDoom, who went down awkwardly on the sideline after a deep catch in the fourth quarter; he needed help from the trainers to get to the sideline, eventually was carted into the tunnel, and was spotted walking around without assistance.
Here are a few initial standouts from each side of the ball; we'll have much more this week after a re-watch.
OFFENSE
QB Brandon Peters. Peters had the best day of the quarterbacks, displaying good arm strength, touch on throws to all levels, and enough athleticism to repeatedly break the pocket and even scramble for a touchdown. While Peters had one ugly pick when he didn't see Brandon Watson waiting in the flat, Speight was worse in that regard. Caveats abound: it's one scrimmage and Peters got better protection from the line. That said, he looked like he could legitimately push Speight, especially if the incumbent starter doesn't clean up some of these sloppy mistakes.
RBs Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac. These two had the most complete days at running back, showing patience on impressive touchdown runs and breaking into the secondary multiple times. Chris Evans and Kareem Walker also looked good in less extended action; Evans looked bigger while still maintaining his ability to juke defenders in a phone booth, while Walker has an enticing combination of power and patience. There weren't always holes to hit, but when they were there, the backs made the most of them.
Tarik Black, not Donovan Peoples-Jones, had the best day of the freshman WRs. [Upchurch]
WRs Tarik Black and Nate Schoenle. Black dominated much of the second half, becoming John O'Korn's go-to guy on a touchdown drive in which he caught a fade over Benjamin St-Juste for a big gain, then beat St-Juste to the back corner to cap the drive. He managed to get over top of St-Juste on fly routes a couple times, and he provides a big target. Schoenle also had a couple long catches, including a ~50-yard throw from Peters that was perfectly executed on both ends. To stave off the inevitable questions, Donovan Peoples-Jones had a few short pickups on a relatively quiet day for him.
TEs Nick Eubanks and Zach Gentry. Gentry's inclusion here is based on one play, a long touchdown catch up the seam on a coverage bust; he's quite nimble for such a big dude. Eubanks had a more complete body of work, running a nice out route for a catch and nearly hauling in a deep throw from Peters on which he made a nice adjustment to the ball. Sean McKeon ended up with the most targets among the TE group but didn't get too much out of them.
OL Andrew Vastardis. I mostly have to punt on line play, as they shuffled around so much that it was tough to keep track of who was on the field from the press box. The right side of the starting line had a lot of trouble against the starting D-line—Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary dominated Runyan—but Vastardis stood out on the interior of the second unit, picking up a couple blitzes that were giving the other linemen trouble.
Devin Bush spent the afternoon in the backfield. [Bryan Fuller]
DEFENSE
The starting D-line. As expected, the Winovich-Hurst-Mone-Gary line gave the offensive line a lot of trouble. Gary was flat-out dominant, Hurst batted down a couple passes, Mone held strong on the interior, and Winovich got multiple pressures off the edge.
ILB Devin Bush. Bush looked unblockable on A-gap blitzes; it was pretty much an automatic sack when he rushed up the middle. He looked equally capable at both inside linebacker spots. "It's so nice when you have a young guy like that who can play two spots," said Don Brown. "You can ask some guys to do that and they'd look at you like 'are you kidding me?' But he handled it really with ease. He's a really good player."
VIPER Khaleke Hudson. The hype here isn't going to slow one bit after today. Hudson was everywhere on defense, looking like the heavy-hitting player we expected against the run and proving equally formidable in coverage, where he broke up a couple passes and nearly came up with an interception. As is his wont, he came inches away from a blocked punt, too.
CB Keith Washington. Washington held his own one-on-one against DPJ, limiting him to minimal YAC after a couple short completions. Noticeably bigger than last year, Washington also played well against the run, making at least one stop in the backfield after extending an outside run to the sideline.
S Jordan Glasgow. Surprise! A Glasgow might see the field. Josh Metellus was limited due to injury today, so Glasgow started at safety alongside Tyree Kinnel and looked very viable. He came up strong against the run, stringing out plays to the sideline and finishing them off, and he undercut a (terrible) pass from Speight for a 100-yard pick-six in the second half.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Quinn Nordin. There shouldn't be a kicking controversy this year if today's admittedly limited sample was any indication. Nordin booted a 48-yard field goal that would've been good from 60+, an impressive kick even with the wind at his back, and he was also strong on kickoffs.
Yes but, keep in mind, for will be can does, so I does be will.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:12 AM ^
I salute you, good man.
April 15th, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^
How were the teams broken up?
What was the point of a draft if it seems like it was a lot of 1's v 1's. Did they only draft certain positions?
(Yes, I've been under a rock, I just can't get into the Spring Game previews too much)
The "teams" were more the QB and skill positions on O and back 7 on D.
for both "teams." And not all of those snaps were played at center. He also played a little on the right side of the OL.
April 15th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^
As Seth said, Harbaugh has recruited well enough at this point to let luck take over from here for a shot at a National Championship.
Yes, the team looks super athletic! The size/speed of the team is pretty impressive. Once this team gels and gets some experience they could be tremendously explosive on both sides of the ball.
Black went to 1 of the same all star HS games that DPJ went to and that's where he seemed to really catch fire and some word he impressed more than DPJ at said game's practices. He just might be a gamer. That said until the actual game DPJ seemed to be get glowing reports albeit sounded like he got dinged up in the past week.
I was sad to see Harris again unable to play. I think UMBig said a week ago he was poised to do some things but the guy can't seem to put together 2 weeks of practice in a healthy state.
April 15th, 2017 at 11:38 PM ^
or perhaps the Blue O-line wasn't picked so well because often times Wilton did not have a lot of time to throw; had this been full contact his jersey would have been quite dirty and he might have had another shoulder injury. He does have some things to clean up but it was a tough start for him. Peters did play well though, when the time comes he's going to be very good.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:35 AM ^
Hudson and Bush.
There was some noise that Bush was struggling putting it all together, but I did not see any of that today. His instincts and pedigree showed why he just might be the next great LB at Michigan. Hudson is a freak. Was waiting for his coming out party, and I think Ed Reed is the ceiling.
Huh, huh. He said jacked about bu . . . nevermind.
Go away, inner 12-year old.
One guy who Ace didn't mention who I thought was noticeable in a good way was Carlo Kemp. Showed some flashes and looked like a viable backup, which is something we were hoping for. Caveat that our OTs didn't look very good, which remains the major concern.
Also some love for Walker. He hit a bunch of holes where there was nothing there and yet he always seemed to pick up 4 yards anyway.
Do that 3 times in a row and it's always a first down.
I like that math.
Peters and O'Korn are battling for second. Case closed.
I thought that before today, but I'm not so sure right now. Regardless, they will keep competing.
for pretty much all of spring practice. Lots of competition before opening day yet, but I don't think today changes that.
April 15th, 2017 at 11:07 PM ^
If what people said earlier in this thread is true - that both QB's had essentially the same OL against the same DL - then Peters looked better under live fire.
There is more to the story than a simulated game, but clearly Peters has shown something.
Harbaugh is not an entitlement guy. If Speight and Peters perform in fall practice like they did today, Peters will win the job.
None of us thought that Speight would win the job last year, but Harbaugh did exactly what he said he was going to do . . . roll the footballs out there and see who wins the job.
April 17th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
but he had the poise, WS panicked. Peters found receivers and threw strikes, WS was 30% for the game and zero tough throws (the one scramble throw was so bad that a wide open receiver had to dive just to make the catch - should have been a 60 yard TD). Peters also saw a huge opening and left the pocket for a 20 yard TD run, that WS wouldnt have tried.
Speight is NOT the same QB as he was mid season last year. If he was injured last year - it is still nagging him. He looked awful - just no debate on his peformance on Saturday. As of now Peters is solidly our best QB on the field. I think some people forget the WS had a horrendous finish to the season last year. Time to move on.
Go Blue!
But last year at this time, most thought O'Korn was the clear-cut starter, and everyone else was contending for second place. That clearly never happened for JOK.
The only unofficial stats I heard were Speight was something like 7 of 24 for 70-ish yards. Would have expected much better from an experienced returning starter. Let's hope this was an anomaly for Wilton.
There are quite a few quarterbacks in the NFL with "more talent" than Tom Brady, after all. But guys like Jay Cutler can't even find a job, because there's a lot more to the game than talent.
The hope is that the solid QB coaching we assume is taking place will equip Peters mentally and instinctively as well as physically.
Certainly looks like there's good progress there.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^
I believe you're straight right Dave, at least until that game we play in the state in your avatar.
After that, if the QB play resembles the Spring Game play at all - I'd shift my chips over to 18
Okay Jim
I said after last year's spring game that Peters was clearly the most talented of the four and I stand by that. The late throw to set up the winning field goal was impressive.
But the INT he threw was an atrocious decision. I'd like to see him get some mop up duty and then be a three year starter. He's going to be real good his last two years here.
Peters made one atrocious decision. Speight made a number of them.
April 15th, 2017 at 10:09 PM ^
Not anymore!
Yes Eubanks was covered but if he continues his route he could have easily broke up the interception. Eubanks pulled up to avoid contact against watson who is much smaller. Tight ends need to be the bullies and Eubanks flat out avoided the contact and cost his team a pick six.
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