[Bryan Fuller]

The Question:

Who’s gonna redshirt?

The Responses:

Brian: We should get the obvious redshirts out of the way: McCaffrey, Taylor, Paea, Honigford, Hall, Paye, Hawkins, and probably St-Juste, I think?

Seth: I figured we'd go down the positions. QB is obvious. Running backs?

Brian: We should just set aside the obvious play and obvious sits and talk about the rest. Obvious plays are Black, DPJ, Solomon, Hudson, Woods, JKP.

Ace: Vilain.

Seth: Ambry?

Ace: Not so sure on Ambry. He’s a twig.

Seth: So is JKP but I'm looking at a depth chart.

Brian: Watson and Washington exist.

Adam: JKP is not a twig in the same way as Ambry. I think Ambry sees the field in a "break glass in case of emergency" scenario.

Brian: We're doing the post before the post.

Ace: I think this is the post.

Brian: Oh.

Seth: We're in the post...right now.

This is now, now.

Ace: Was there anyone worth debating in my obvious sits list?

Brian: No.

[After THE JUMP: When will then be now?]

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Receivers

Ace: We should probably sift through the other receivers. I think there’s a good chance both Collins and Martin end up playing. Collins has an obvious role as Giant Red Zone Guy and slot is far from settled.

Seth: Yeah but how many Giant Red Zone Guys does this team have right now? Eubanks and Gentry already got redshirts.

Ace: #AllFadesOffense

Seth: CJane just sent you a candy card for that.

Brian: If we're actually in the post I should re-iterate that Michigan retconned most of my redshirt bitchin' from last year out of existence by using the full extent of the NCAA's grace period. Guys like McKeon, Long, Eubanks, and Uche got their years back. The only folks who didn't take redshirts in line for major playing time this year are Gil and Mbem-Bosse, and for linebacker types with less than amazing ceilings the special teams contributions are maybe worth it.

Shoenle’s emergence means they can probably afford to save Oliver Martin. [Bryan Fuller]

Yeah, enormous redzone person seems like a filled role. Black is going to play and looks like a primo fade threat even if he's a couple inches shorter than Collins.

Seth: And if you're into "who's our fifth fade guy gonna be?" do you burn a year or give Moe Ways just one thing to work on?

Brian: Also Michigan's WR bumper crop might make it tough for them to get a VHT guy this year so getting a redshirt on one or two of them is a good idea long term.

Ace: Yeah, if it’s close they should lean towards a redshirt. Martin may end up as the legit #2 option in the slot, though.

Brian: With Martin seeming like a super polished sort I'd imagine Collins is the most likely to redshirt. Martin is 50/50; I thought I read somewhere he's got an uncanny knack for fielding punts and that would be enough to see him play. I have a deep appreciation for fielding punts.

Seth [with the quick typing fingers]: I'll add that slot is only "unsettled" because they have too many good options. McDooooooooom opens up the run game with his jet threat, Perry is apparently back with his route chops, and Nate Schoenle exists.

Brian: If Perry's back they've got him, McDoom, Johnson, and Schoenle. They really don't need another slot.

dammit seth

Ace: I don’t know if any of those guys have the all-around upside of Martin, even a year-one Martin. We haven’t seen McDoom catch much downfield, Perry is polished but not an explosive athlete, and Schoenle is basically walk-on Oliver Martin.

Johnson could be nice but the spring game wasn’t reassuring.

Brian: But don't forget that Freshman Receivers Suck

Ace: True. But that’s mostly what keeps me from predicting Martin starts this year. I still think he’ll play.

Seth: If he's in the mix right away then develops a lowerish upperbody injury after Air Force that's a good sign for his future.

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Offensive Line

Ace: I’m guessing most of us fall on the Stueber side of the Stueber/Filiaga debate? Stueber looks more mobile in pass protection and can build up instead of shedding bad weight.

Seth: Yeah the book on Filiaga is he can bulldoze in the running game but is a ways away in pass protection, and I don't think this team is at all ready to bulldoze 75% of downs.

Ace: Plus if a freshman tackle gets drawn into the lineup it’s going to be because they’re an upgrade in the passing game. Runyan should be able to handle run-blocking okay but he’s going to have trouble in pass pro at his height/length.

Seth: Do you think Filiaga might have a role this year though? Like he could be that 6th OL for unbalanced formations, and he'd be a fun guy to line up as a goal line fullback. They're bringing in so many developmental tackles (and have two more in this class) that they might see Filiaga as a one-trick pony whose trick is needed right away.

Bryan: Michigan already has a goal line fullback of epic panda-ness

Brian: No, they've got Runyan and JBB and Spanellis for 6th OL duties. I hate burning OL redshirts if it's at all possible to avoid it and Michigan does have sufficient depth to do so.

Ace: Ruiz would draw into the lineup before a second freshman OT, too.

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Receiver-Safeties Who Took a Prep Year

Bryan: Can we revisit Brad Hawkins for a minute? Now that he's officially a safety, are we absolutely sure he's gonna redshirt?

Seth: Hawkins should be an obvious redshirt but experience has taught me football coaches will burn a safety's eligibility on special teams if he's 170 and recently arrived from Tazmania. And Hawkins is older.

Hawkins just barely makes a google image search of his name.

Bryan: Jinx

Adam: I think Hawkins is one of those guys who sees the field for four games to get his feet under him before developing a hockey-esque lower body injury.

Bryan: Hawkins has a prep year, and may not want to be in college when he's 27. And safety depth is almost non-existent, especially when you assume you're playing 2.5 safeties most of the time.

Brian: How many freshman safeties are they gonna play? Not 3.

Ace: Hawkins is so generally tough to judge because most of his film and all his evals are at WR. He could be good enough already at safety that he passes JKP or Woods and we just don’t know it yet.

Brian: After both those guys went through spring? At a spot where screwing up is six? Nah.

Ace: Yeah, it doesn’t seem likely, but I’m still kinda shocked by how good at football he looked in his prep film.

Seth: Not to mention we are super-super high on Oliver Martin and this staff was close to saying "Nah, we're good" because Hawkins was in the class.

Adam: Though last season we saw how often the safeties were still getting everyone lined up with two seconds left on the play clock. Gotta think that system experience will factor in heavily here. And it may seem insane but five extra months in the system is a lot in 2017.

Seth: That is for another roundtable, This Week's Obsession: Which Player Can Michigan Least Afford to Lose It's Kinnel Yes There's a Case for Cole but It's Kinnel I'm Shivering Just Imagining It. We'll work on the title.

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Intriguing Athlete Running Backs

Brian: The last Q on offense is O'Maury Samuels. Y/N?

Seth: Yes. Given the running back rotation right now I kind of like the idea of giving that guy an extra year to pick up blocking.

Ace: Between Kareem Walker and the step up in competition, I think they’re fine without him. Maybe if they needed a return man but there seem to be plenty of options.

Brian: Yeah, also New Mexico competition level. Place in oven for seasoning.

Bryan: Yeah, gotta get that guy in the weight room.

Ace: Spring 2018 TWO: Is O’Maury Samuels Too Jacked?

Seth: Plus when you project this team to 2021 it's a fully Harbaughcized beef-o-blammo offense with lots of zone and "Duo" plays that run on RB reads and play-action with the RB staying in to block an edge. An experienced mutant in that situation would be highly welcome (think Toby Gerhart 2009).

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Defensive Line Tweeners

Ace: I guess we’re onto the SDE/3T types. Any room in the rotation for DIB or Jeter?I’m thinking one of those guys sees the field even with the projected Dwumfour emergence. You want a lot of guys ready to play at DT, especially when one of your starters is Mone.

Bryan: Whither Lawrence Marshall.

Brian: Yeah, there are real snaps for a third string guy from time to time and you can't count on a solid two deep. This is a situation to burn 'em all and injure some of 'em by midseason.

Seth: DIB is already 280-something isn't he? If that's good weight that's go-sized, and he's got some positional flexibility plus the athleticism to figure in certain packages. Don Brown loves taking guys who are super-good at one thing to do that thing.

Bryan: If Marshall can be a player inside, they've got 5 guys for the two interior spots (with Hudson & Solomon). If not, DIB time?

The first rule of scheduling is never schedule a team whose primary offensive strategy is to take out your defensive linemen’s knees. [Eric Upchurch]

Ace: I’m having a tough time believing in Marshall at DT after the spring game.

Bryan: This assumes everyone on the DL stays healthy, and what could possibly go wrong with OH HELL WHO INVITED AIR FORCE?

Ace: Thanks, Dave.

David: Sorry guys.

Seth: Really wish we could stuff Godin into a walk-on's jersey for that one week.

Bryan: Just say he's Bert Glasgow.

Brian: FBI?

Ace: Yeah, this sounds like a Parks & Rec sideplot now. I’m all for that.

Bryan: I love the one where Jerry accidentally invites Air Force

Brian: I am also a deep Marshall skeptic at this point.

David: There's always Carl Myers.

Bryan: The Ron Johnson move also does not bode well.

Seth: I think that bodes unwell for any DT on the roster not necessarily Ron Johnson, whom I bet got there because the backup DTs were looking awful and he was like "I'll take those reps, coach!"

Brian: Agreed.

Ace: I probably should’ve listed CMH as an obvious redshirt. Vilain’s presence probably covers it for WDE.

Brian: Yeah. CMH seems like he's headed for SDE long term with Vilain and Paye the two WDEs. That'll take some time.

Ace: Plus they have other Don Brown ways to get pass-rushers like Josh Uche onto the field.

Seth: They posted video this spring of the DEs all doing zone read/trap drills and CMH...well let's say he was getting a lot more coaching than some other guys.

Don Brown coaching pic.twitter.com/MPrrl9jOZi

— angelique (@chengelis) April 27, 2017

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Linebacker

Ace: Linebacker is like WR in that there’s a bunch of capital-D Dudes and room on the depth chart for them to play, but unlike WR we didn’t get to see any of these guys in the spring.

I know he was injured but since he’s on track to be recovered well before fall camp, I like Drew Singleton’s chances of emerging from the pack.

David: It seems like all 3 will play 4 games in the first 6 and they will keep maybe 1-2?

Ace: That seems pretty likely.

Adam: I think Ross gets the RS and Singleton and Anthony play more than four games.

David: That was my thought, as well.

Ace: Anthony may have a bit more of a learning curve since he bounced between RB and LB as his primary position every year in high school. After revisiting his senior film I think Ross might have the edge. And I strongly believe Singleton would’ve been in five-star territory if not for the ACL.

Adam: I completely agree. Singleton was outstanding when we saw him play at Michigan Stadium last year.

Brian: I know you guys saw him in person and were a bit skeptical but after watching his tape I'm on board the Josh Ross train. Linebackery is very very hard and some of his hesitancy might be proper read-and-react. I don't know because I haven't UFRed any OLSM games and that's the level of detail you really need to figure that stuff out. But there's a lot of violent block discards on his highlight video and that is a real rarity.

I'm torn about Anthony's immediate readiness, because he's more of a VIPER/WILL and had that RB year. On the other hand, IMG. On the other other hand, raise your hand if you think he's a punt block threat.

David: Actually, my thinking was not as much about Ross but about Singleton not getting a redshirt and that Robo might be a viable backup Mike

Seth: That year off is the only reason Singleton's not an obvious play-right-away guy. By the end of this season that may be moot. The job of third middle linebacker is in the hands of a walk-on right now, and whatever the coaches say about Wrobocop, his spring game didn't look at all like a guy who can weather an all-out assault from a future pro.

Brian: Their decision on a redshirt is probably more about who replaces McCray than immediate need.

Seth: Also Bush remains small and his game is about going hell-for-leather at lead blockers and through gaps. He's going to need to rest plenty, so the most Mike-like linebacker has a clear path to the field this year. That's Singleton.

Ace: I’d argue Ross is the most MIKE-like.

Brian: Yeah.

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QUICK LB CROOT REFRESHER FOR SETH AND ANYONE ELSE WATCHING:

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Ace: I think the rest is mostly covered by the obvious section? And Brad Robbins probably starts.

Seth: Any guys from previous classes who might sit this year? Grant Newsome will get a medical obviously.

David: If Perry is back, could Nate Johnson?

Ace: I assume anyone in that potential category would be on the quickest possible path to grad transfer status. So they’re probably not looking to redshirt them.

Seth: I think Ohio State and a few other prominent schools have been using sophomore redshirts more often for guys they intend to hold on to. Sometimes freshman PT is necessary for depth issues or just to get the kid signed and acclimated to your program requires a promise. A year later they might have a more informed and reasonable outlook on their career trajectories.

David: ND did that with Wimbush

Brian: Still doubtful.