Spring Stuff

Tight ends, like Toussaint, have been largely absent from the spring buzz thus far.

Fitz at TE, when did that happen?

"Demens was behind a walk-on last year and didn't see the field even when Michigan was rotating their linebackers so they could yell at them better."

This line is hilarious. Thank you Brian for this instant classic.

I took it to mean that the tight ends as well as Toussaint have received very little buzz during the spring so far.

Equally surprised about the Robinson/Forcier differences, but I agree that it sounds more like motivational speech than a clear shift at signal-caller. That said, it will be interesting to see if Robinson has made the supposed strides throwing the ball. If so, it certainly gives the offense a whole new dimension.

Also surprised that Fitz is a non-entity, but that is still one position I am not too worried about.

ooooo… oh, that guy looks open.

It was usually followed by a, "Crap."

Still really interested in seeing how his passing and understanding of the offense develops over the off-season... he just has more upside than Tate, and I have man-love for Tate.

Nothing in this summary is making me particularly happy. In fact, it's filling me with dread.

I'd love to see some more clarity from a team that desperately is lacking it. But again, it's only spring practice.

...is not accurate. RichRod has provided some Ezeh/Mouton love, even if it's been fairly minimal.

DetNews.com: With that in mind, Rodriguez says he has high expectations for seniors Jonas Mouton and Obi Ezeh.

"(They are) two veteran guys that have played a lot of football for us," Rodriguez said this week. "We're expecting a lot out of them. I'm really pleased with what they've done the last seven weeks in the weight program and with what they've done in the first (few spring) practices."

A2.com: “As a coach, you want all of your guys to have their best years as seniors … leading a team and certainly on the field,” Rodriguez said. “And I would be very shocked, I’d be disappointed if those two don’t. I think they will have great years.”

I didn't get the memo (like Miley) that Michigan already named its starting lineup after six practices of spring ball.

I see no reason to be concerned about the fact that the more experienced JT Floyd (who by all reports had a fantastic winter workout period) is getting marginally more reps than the redshirt freshman, who was reportedly very good in winter 7 on 7s.

Is it a bad thing to have two JTs that might actually be performing well? Just because Floyd is starting, it doesn't mean Turner is playing poorly.

I am very excited to hear DROB is making strides. I don't know how his HS coaching was, but seeing the offense he ran I doubt he had much mechanical coaching in high school. He has now had 9 months of college coaching to refine his delivery, I could see the improvements in one of the practice videos. His arm is plenty strong enough, and if his touch and accuracy have improved he could be one of the most dangerous QB's in the country.

I'm not a quarterback coach or anything, but does Denard's release point in that pic look a little, um, Quisenberry-ish?

Does Grady has evaporated mean that he's fallen so far on the depth chart that he's a non-entity, or has he actually evaporated off of the team? As a baskeball first fan, I'd be happy with the latter if it means he will be back to playing hoops full time next year.

Actually, it might be the alcohol, but Brian hit the nail on the head.

We still have a long way to go before our first game. I'd expect the defense to play better than last season, but that isn't saying much.

The offense should improve as well, and we will know a lot more once the freshmen get here. I have hope.

What is that based on?

(I'm not asking that rhetorically.)

If he is in fact a Pat White clone (the evidence is compelling) it would make sense if he had a breakout sophomore season. Who knows what White may have looked like as a true freshman had he played. And as for Rasheed Marshall, in his limited playing time he was an up-and-down guy like Robinson (from what I have heard, which may or may not be credible). Perhaps Robinson's second year in a winged helmet will be similar to White and Marshall's second years as Mountaineers. I don't think it's fair to write him off right now.

is a mug's game, especially if it's based on anything coming from the walking undead zombie transmogrified corpse of the AA News and its crack reporter David Birkett. I'm just going to enjoy the sunshine at the spring game. There'll be plenty of time to obsessively worry in the fall.

It's all about DENARD

After hearing all this news about him I really want him to get the ball a lot more this year. Get him on the edge and let the speed do the rest.

I like that the coaches are starting to temper their enthusiam. Coaches are often from the school of building players up when things are bad and acting less than enthusiastic when things are going well. They want the players to stay positive yet focused.

The Denard Robinson thing is probably part of that, but also a measure of just how far behind he was last year. There's no way he should have had to see the field last season. Forcier was more able to because he was really coached up in high school. However, Robinson really getting the offense and becoming a servicable passer would give him a much, much higher ceiling than Forcier--which would bode well for this season and in the future.

Lump me in with Chait. From what I gathered, D Robinson's main drawback last season was his lack of familiarity with the offense. He's got the tools, just needs for the offensive system to become like second (and eventually first) nature to him, and I think he could be a huge competitor. It could happen, especially if Forcier lets attitude issues of his own (which have been rumored) close the gap.

Denard's progress, liking the idea. The conservative scared guy in me might prefer a settled QB situation, and the guy who is super-skittish after 2 years of terrible losses and attrition prays that Tate is a grownup if Denard is that good.

Memories are short, but there were suggestions Denard WAS that good when he first came along. And I agree with Zone Left, if last year hadn't been Armagideon Time (note old school Clash reference) Denard might be making a much-heralded debut this year.

Odoms seems like he has very bad "Interview ADD". His eyes were all over the place.

I'm very happy to hear Denard is playing the "Des" position next year.

Hmmm, I may have to modify my Barwis Gym T-shirt to put "Hypertrophy, Bitches!" on the back...