Michigan Football 2016: The Hostile Takeover
MOD EDIT - Normally would not meddle in these, but this seems diary-worthy. - LSA
We're here now. Michigan will finish in the top 11 and likely top 10. We went from 5-7 to 10-3 in a year. We lost to Staee on the "flukiest of flukes" and to the 2nd best team in college football. We have the coach of our dreams and an absolutely stacked roster coming back next season. If the excitement you felt today felt like fool's gold....it's not. Not only is Michigan a legit top 10 team.....they are Playoff Contenders as of Fall '16. Before you call me an idiot....let me tell you why.
Michigan returns 3 experienced quarterbacks in '16 along with a prized freshman recruit in Brandon Peters. If you haven't watched his film.....Nike. (Just Do It)
Michigan returns 9 rotation Offensive Lineman and every running back not named Derrick Green on the roster. Kingston Davis may start Day one (FB) at an athletic 6ft 240. The additions of Kareem Walker and a terrific Oline class only add to cupboard.
Michigan returns every noteable pass-catcher in '16 including Chesson and Butt who will be All-B1G and fringe national AAs. Cole will come off of his "injury" lol and Hawkins and Mitchell will add to the depth of this group. We have 3 possible slot types in the class and were looking good for Dylan Crawford which would give us 2 top 25 recievers in this class.
Michigan also returns Kicker Kenny....which is a big deal. In a jam he could also punt. I don't want to say that P-word again so I won't.....but yeah kicking should be solid next season.
Let's go ahead and jump to the defensive side of the ball. I'm familiar with Don Brown as an FSU football alum and he is a terrific coordinator. BC does NOT have ELITE athletes and they still remain a top if not the top defense in the power 5. Don has been driving a Honda and now will get the keys to a Porsche.
Michigan is returning their entire Defensive Line, which has been outstanding for most of the year. Add Glasgow back to the mix as well as Mone who was a starter before his injury and you have incredible depth and strength. Wormley, Glasgow, Mone, Henry all appear to be all B1G level. Rueben Jones, Shelton Johnson, Lawrence Marshall and Taco Charlton will be explosive in '16. Ron Johnson the prized freshman recruit is dominating the SF practices to boot. Have fun being an opposing QB against us in '16-?
The Linebacking corps is going to be the one question mark....but there are athletic bodies to insert where Morgan, Ross and Bolden depart. These guys lacked elite athleticism to be honest and hurt us in spots but played some solid football. Allen Gant, Mike McCray, Ben Gedeon, Noah Furbush and Jared Wrangler should be able to replicate their production. Bush Jr. has a great opportunity to play early next season and we are still in on some big time kids in this cycle. All in all, I would venture that we could get creative with our linebacking in 2016 and possible convert one of the redshirted FLorida D ends or Lawrence Marshall and up the level of athleticism at this postion. I don't see a decline in our linebacking in '16 and i think Coach Brown's comments eluding to change coming to the defense are directed here. Linebacking is where we were weak in '15. That is going to change.
The secondary does lose Jarod WIlson, who was quality. Dymonte, Jabril, Jourdan, Stribling, D. Hill and J. Clark all return. Look for K. Washington and B. Watson to make some leaps as well. I really like our chances with the Californian David Long and believe him to be an elite corner. Jack Jones is a bit far-fetched but possible. With a few additions, you may be looking at a top 10 secondary nationally, although much of this depends on Stribling's development or the readiness of D. Long should we land him. Peppers is an absolute stud and simply needs to work on his ball skills. He is going to be an All American next season and can line up at about 4 or 5 positions on the field.
Michigan State loses a lot this year on both offense and defense. Cook was their team. His top targets are also leaving including a couple of his linemen. Staee will be good but we will simply have more than them next season. Their losses on defense will be substantial and although M. Nicholson is a stud...their secondary has taken a step back and that renders them very mortal defensively.
Ohio State is about to see a complete MASS EXODUS. They are losing a metric ton of talent and I'm not convinced they have similar talent waiting in the wings. There was a significant talent gap between us and them this season and i think it will be bridged rapidly in '16. B. Miller, E. Elliot, C. Jones, M. Thomas, C. Smith, N. Vannet and 4 starting linemen are all graduating or likely gone......off of the Offense alone. On Defense theyre losing, J. Bosa, A. Washington, T. Schutt, J. Perry, D. Lee, C. Williams, V. Bell, E. Apple. Safety T. Powell has a decision to make and Bell and Apple are viewed as likley entries and not in stone. That is a massive amount of talent to lose. Ohio has solid talent to fill it...but these are significant losses. Ohio State also has road games @ Oklahoma, @Wisconsin, @Penn State along with Michigan and Michigan State at home. So long cupcake schedule....it must have been nice.
Michigan has 5 consecutive home games in '16 including Wisconsin and Penn State to start the B1G Schedule. I love our chances in East Lansing and Iowa City. I really like our chances in Columbus. I just don't see a clear loss on the schedule. Word on the street is that O'korn is the real deal and will be tough to beat for the qb job in '16. Watch his Freshman film and it will excite you. The national picture opens up a bit for Michigan in '16. We will start in the top 10 and have a tremendous chance to finish in the top 4. I think it happens and I see Michigan in this FInal Four group: Michigan. Oklahoma. FSU. Stanford.
*I think the SEC canibalizes itself and Bama won't have a ready made transfer in Jacob Coker (FSU) to rescue them next year.
Way too early projected starters for 2016:
QB: John O'korn
RB: Deveon Smith
FB: Henry Poggi
WR: Jehu Chesson, Amarah Darboh, Grant Perry/ J. Peppers (yup...went there)
TE: Jake Butt
OTs: Mason Cole, Ben Braden/ Grant Newson
OGs: Kyle Kalis, Eric Magnuson
C: Patrick Kugler
DEs: T. Charlton/R. Gary , C. Wormley/ L. Marshall
DTs: B. Mone/Glasgow, W. Henry/R. Gary
LBs: M. McCray, B. Gedeon, N. Furbush/ A. Gant
FS/SS: Dymonte Thomas, Jabril Peppers
Corners: Jourdan Lewis, Channing Stribling
Harbaugh has changed the culture of Michigan in just one year. He has added depth and increased the talent pool. The class this year is going to be elite. The talent bar is being raised and his coaching ability is beyond question. The momentum is real right now and I absolutely envision Michigan as a Playoff Contender in '16. The future Michigan classes will feature better athletes and have a more Southern feel. This is what i think will put the program over the edge and back into the year in and year out National Contention. It's happening and it is beautiful. I watched Jimbo Fisher change first the culture and then the talent level of the program in Tallahassee. It was pretty rapid and I'm reminded of it by whats going on in Ann Arbor now. The new Jumpman unis are also going to be a big deal. Maybe not to 40-60 year old men who care NOT for current style and "Swag", but for young recruits and college age kids....this is EPIC. It's a great time to be a Wolverine and this season was just a taste of whats to come when you start reading the fine print of the program and look realistically at what we have coming back next year. The Hostile Takeover commences in 8 months. Go Blue!
January 2nd, 2016 at 3:35 AM ^
Read about 1/3 and agree... will come back for the rest tomorrow. Go Blue!!!!!
January 2nd, 2016 at 7:58 AM ^
Chesson will look good in a #1 jersey.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
yes he will
January 7th, 2016 at 9:21 AM ^
"It's happening and it is beautiful."
love it; great stuff
#Harbaugh
January 2nd, 2016 at 3:41 AM ^
Went back and read the rest. Thanks for the insight... and the boner. Cheer!
January 10th, 2016 at 1:33 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 3:42 AM ^
Harbaugh.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:08 AM ^
Diary?
"I'll have what he's having waiter!"
A few corrections - Cole is a safety next year, Ron Johnson is at Semper Fi, and we do lose the Buck guys off the DL. Henry is not confirmed back either yet - fingers crossed.
Some of the guys you are touting probably won't even be with the team next year to be honest. I do hope we can make a guy like Reuben Jones a LB as you say however as I am not one who thinks a guy who has done nothing in his career like a Gant walks in as a sr and suddenly is effective. Gedeon today was also ....challenged.
Don't sleep on Ty Kinnel in that secondary next yr - don't think they burned his redshirt for no reason and he has all the tools on paper. Could push a Delano Hill for a starting spot.
OSU loses a lot of talent but will be very tough by late Nov - if we played them 2nd week of Sept like Oklahoma I'd love that matchup. They are recruiting at Bama level now (look at their 13-16 classes) so will just reload - but yes a very young team but one that will be humming by week 12. (Just like UM fans will expect a very young UM to be humming by Nov 2017 after a few months of experience) It will be nice to see them suffer more than 1 loss in a year for the first time in (sigh) many years.
UM 2016 season is going to be a lot like MSU 2015 season - comes down to 3 games - @Iowa, @MSU, @OSU. Should be double digit favorites in the other 9. I dont think Iowa is a barn burner team but its on the road to a team returning a lot of good players if not a great team with a SR QB. MSU needs to find a QB and WRs - their WR situation is as bad as our LB sitution next year but I expect a very good defense again, should be a good battle. If we can find any solution to LB we really should be able to limit their offense.
Next year is the year to make hay as 2017's squad is going to be very young (much like OSU next year in fact) and hope some "puck luck" falls our way as there are always 2-3 games where 1-2 plays determine the difference between a 1 loss year and 3 losses.
p.s. you didn't mention your boy Higdon in this piece?
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:25 AM ^
Really tough to decide on the third receiver. Cole is a talent and one that should see the field. Ohio has recruited great talent but they have not recruited Bama talent in my opinion. They are going to experience a talent drop off from what they had this year. Regarding Karan, he will have to have a tremendous Spring to get his carries. Deveon is in favor of the staff and Drake has hometown pull. Kareem will have some favor as well. Karan is going to really have to explode this Spring. Not a fan of the burned shirt and lack of use down the stretch to be honest. He's been the most explosive back since he got there but hasn't done enough to earn consistent time. THis spring will be huge for him. He's done well in practice all year from what I've gathered and has been sharing the rotational reps. I think he is 10 pounds away from where he needs to be, currently at 200, and the Spring Game will be a chance for him to showcase what he's got. The depth chart opens way up in 2017 with the departure of Drake, Deveon and possibly Ty.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:53 AM ^
Nice to hear the inside talk on running backs - I agree there is going to be a LOT of talk here of Smith to FB all spring and summer and then I expect Smith to open next year as the starting RB. He showed today that with holes he can do "stuff" and is a prototypical Harbaugh back even if he lacks that speed. Saw some "hops" from him today and cuts that you didnt see since Sept when he was playing garbage competition - doing it vs FL was nice to see.
Agree on Higdon burned redshirt - strange one considering he wasnt utilized almost at all after the initia game his redshirt was pulled.
As for OSU - ok maybe not Bama who gets 3-5 5* a class but I mean within a sliver. Even their 2017 class is already ridiculous - they have something like 5 of the top 75 players already in that class. And 2 of the top 12.
247 composite ranks
- 2013: 1. Bama, 2. OSU
- 2014: 1. Bama 3. OSU
- 2015: 1. Bama 7. OSU
- 2016: (still in progress) 1. OSU (with only 17 players), 4. Bama (with only 17 players)
So that's 2, 3, 7, 1-3 and 2017 might be their best class of them all if they keep the guys they already have. So let's say best in country not named Bama.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:59 AM ^
Karan has done very well but he's the little dog on the block as of now. He knows what he needs to do and is going to get it done. I see him being in the rotation next year. This season he was stripped of the redshirt because of his play in practice and the notion that he could really help the RB group. Ankle injury in fall camp derailed him early but he traveled and dressed every game and saw real time in the NW and MSU game. The play in the MSU game haunts to this day because he got tangled on Ruddock's foot. It was deep in the 4th and that play would've hit big. It was apparently a problem all week in practice because Karan hits a little quicker than some of the other backs. Tough lesson though. Been a very humbling experience for him and all of us close to him but as I told him when he decided to come here....this is Michigan. There is also the infusion of fullbacks 7 yards into the backfield and our best player Peppers taking carries that effects the rotation. I think the running back rotation will be much different come this Spring.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:11 AM ^
Yes I agree on the reps, we just have a ton of scholarship RBs right now. We all assume one of them is gone (he didn't travel to bowl) but even a guy like Drake - it will be curious if he returns. With Drake you have 6 scholarship backs, and that doesn't include any reps Peppers gets. Usually you are going with 3 main RBs. Only so many reps to go around - spring is going to be very interesting to establish pecking order behind Smith. Even if Smith gets surpassed say mid Oct he is going to start as feature back IMO next Sept. Probably 2 other guys are going to get a real chance to pass him by, by Oct 1 - those 2 will be fighting among 5ish in the next 8 months.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:21 AM ^
Every Power 5 school needs 5 healthy backs. One will go down in Spring and delayed recovery into the fall. 2 will get banged up in fall camp. There is usually a few nagging injuries and or one significant injury during the course of the year. It's kind of a war of attrition. The back that we won't mention his name, has been doing his own thing since Penn State week. Don't really have details and didn't ask for any. I would be really suprised to see him back this Spring.
January 2nd, 2016 at 6:21 AM ^
January 6th, 2016 at 9:24 AM ^
on Green? Was he overrated, is he a bit lazy? What a disappointment his career has been so far. Really thought he would thrive in Harbaugh's system.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^
I mean the guy put together a fantastic season for us let's make a New Year's resolution to get his name right.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:09 AM ^
.....they tend to make their hay with top Midwest talent. I don't like their roster against a few teams down South. They certainly don't have more talent than a Florida State for instance and i like Clemson against them as well. Oklahoma will have their shot at them next season and I think Michigan being down and missing on evaluations skews the idea of OSU being more elite than everyone else. They play a relatively weak schedule and have lost to top competition at a fairly high rate. MSU 3 times in 4 years, Clemson a few years back. They didn's have a bowl game in 2012 and had a magical run a year ago notching 3 top 10 wins. This years OSU team was simply elite talent wise. I don't see any of their teams matching this one anytime soon. They've missed on a few of their top notch recruits also and don't have a better class than Michigan does currently. Bosa is their highest ranked player and he is a DE/DT tweener and wouldn't play year one at Michigan.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:07 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:44 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:45 AM ^
....if he pans out it makes the Peppers to offense argument all the more tantalizing. I think there is a real debate as to where he helps this team the most. He can go both ways in a pinch but it's obviously not ideal for the course of the year. I think he remains the SS and we feature him in packages on offense. He should touch the ball 5-7 times and be in on 10+ offensive plays in '16. This is especially the case if we make a push to get him into the Hei5man race. I think he is that good but the staff will have to weigh the pros and cons of continuing and or furthering the jack of all trades approach with him.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:04 AM ^
I don't see Peppers going to offense full time; too valuable esp vs spready QBs and blowing up wide plays. Wasn't apparent today but that was the 110th ranked offense in the country or whatnot. He just seems like a guy that as an OC you have to remove certain plays completely out of your gameplan for (those in the flat) which is very valuable in reducing options that an offense can deploy against you. Esp with Walker and Kingston both here now. Still like to see him get 6-8 touches a game though on that side of ball. Maybe Peppers is the best pure running back of the bunch but he can't block much hah and you now have a pod of 5 (maybe 6 if Drake returns) competitors there in Smith, Walker, Higdon, Isaac, Davis, and potentially Johnson. That's a lot of wasted roster spots IMO if Peppers is a feature back.
Kinnel had a high pedigree and Zordich really talked him up early and they did burn his redshirt - which I think they did to prepare him for 2016. We lack Safety depth - we got very lucky in terms of injuries in our secondary this year - none of our top 6 guys got hurt so difficult to hope for that again.
But assuming everyone is healthy you have Hill, Thomas, Kinnel and maybe Cole pushing for those 2 spots. But you are 1 injury away from that spot having questions/inexperience.
I expect a ton of 4-2-5 again with Peppers being that hybrid guy - due to lack of LBs he is sort of going to be a small LB in essence. Then in 2017 one assumes Kinnel and Cole are your safeties although if they want to keep that hybrid spot the talk is Kinnel is the guy most able to physically fill that role. Hopefully we land Fuller or Hudson to end this class to compete for 2017 safety as well. That said I dont really love "young safeties" as it's a very mental position.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:16 AM ^
Drake is a wild card....could focus on track. Ty is going to have to make some noise this year to stay a 5th. I really like the Davis kid to be honest. He could be a special FB here. I'm excited about Walker also.
I think on defense, trimming down Marshal and keeping Johnson and maybe even Jones sub 245 will allow them to play some LB. Were heavy on Strongside ends and Rashan Gary could start at a few Dline spots next year including end. The safety position is absolutely a mental one and Kinnel appears to be a guy that could factor in next year. I think you need to have a starter level backup for Peppers in case we need to utilize him more on offense in certain games.
I expect Chesson to have an All-B1G season next year. Darboh will be a big key if he can improve. He was very up and down this year. Ways, Harris, Mitchell and Perry should all factor in as well. I really wish we could land Keyshawn "Pie" Young. That kid would set the B1G on fire.
January 2nd, 2016 at 3:54 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:02 AM ^
Yes I agree. I think the thesis here is O'Korn's ceiling is athletically higher than Jake but he probably has a lower floor too - see his SO year. After his early INTs Jake's decision making and poise really improved and people are discounting that (disclaimer - i was very disappointed in what i saw out of Jake early in the year) You can be athletically great with great "arm talent" but make brutal decisions as well - O'Korn needs to avoid that if he is the starter.
I keep hearing "If O'Korn can improve on Jake" --- umm for a pro style set (non Air raid QBs) Jake played as good as you can the last 5 weeks of the season; compare his stats to any pro style QB in the land i.e. Hogan, Kessler, et al Dude ended with 3K yards - 2nd best in program history. Pretty hard to improve on what he was doing so not sure what miracle people are expecting out of O'Korn. I'd say the better statement is "If we can get November Jake production out of O'Korn, from the Wisconsin game forward we should be in great position in 2016." Rudock was outplaying Henne/Navarre type of production late in the year - hard to "improve" on that.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:48 AM ^
The first half was very transitional and a result of not having the time with the offense. O'korn has been here for a while now and has 8 months to get coached up. He has more natural ability than Jake, or at least appears to. I think its very plausible that he improves upon Jake's numbers with a better overal team surrounding him next year than what Jake had. Add that to an athletically infused roster all around and our rivals losing significant steam.....i think you have the perfect storm.
January 2nd, 2016 at 6:19 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:12 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 7:47 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:08 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:52 AM ^
....would likely brake college football, end all wars and cure cancer simultaneously. Don't ever let Harbaugh get a RockStar quarterback like him. ESPN would drop the SEC contract and become the Michigan Network!
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
Hill has been offered by Bronco at Virginia. That just makes too much sense.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
+1 for the comment and proper spelling of Rudock.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^
When he signs a pro contract and ends up in a starting role by midseason. You might however, be underestimating the ability of his eventual replacement. There is no denying how blessed Harbaugh was to have Jake fall into his lap in his Michigan debut. Thank you karma and thank you Kirk.
January 6th, 2016 at 9:28 AM ^
that is the case with most Michigan QB's, that we don't appreciate them until they are gone. Henson was blated, Brady blasted, Navarre and Henne blasted. We are hard on our QB's. Denard was the exception to this rule.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:29 AM ^
He has more natural talent than what weve seen the past few years at the postion. You've got to think that Harbaugh can hone this talent in 8 months. I'm also not sure that Wilton Speight can't give us solid play. His play in the Minny game was impressive and hes now a 3rd year guy. He either is or isn't at this point.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:36 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 4:50 AM ^
The level of athleticism on this team is about to go waaaaay up. That has been the achiles heel for Michigan in my opinion. We've needed elite athletes. Well.....theyre on the way and the ones we have currently just plastered the 2nd best team in the SEC......by 34 points in their own backyard.
January 2nd, 2016 at 4:40 AM ^
Jake Ruddock '15 stats : 17 tds 9 picks with a 139.0 rating. 2739 yards passing
John O'korn '13 stats: 28 tds 10 picks with a 133.0 ratings. 3117 yards passing.
* I like O'korn to improve upon these freshman numbers with Harbaugh's tuteledge.
* O'korn will be throwing to a true #1 in Chesson and an All-American in Butt. He will also be protected by a Senior O-line with an above average running game. Also, look for Peppers to be a feature guy on Offense this year. Why not? I can't think of a reason....especially if B. Cole is moved to safety and sticks.
January 2nd, 2016 at 7:21 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^
January 4th, 2016 at 9:52 PM ^
JP Morgan
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:09 AM ^
1) The offense showed it is just fine without him and the yellow visor against Florida.
2) He needs to get better at his position in order to make it to the next level
3) Splitting time between offense and defense has a negative effect on both sides of the ball
4 There are many others ready to step up and do what he has done (and more)
5) He can be more effective when used wisely, not at will
January 4th, 2016 at 3:08 AM ^
He is the only member of this year's team to be named AA in his first season,and did so as a RS freshman that, w/o injury would not have occurred.
He proved he's the best and most versatile athlete on the entire team. Do agree, just as I would with any other freshman you wish to name, they must become better at their position to make it to the next level. That will happen naturally. He synthesizes information and is capable of executing faster than anyone else on the team. These words come from our head man.
He lacks great coverage skills but so too do many others with one year under their belt. He does, however, possess such tremendous and rare instinctive skills that at times he has proven unblockable and able to virtually shut down plays before they have a chance to succeed. It was his quick recognition of what IU was going to do and he reacted and stopped the big man in his tracks to force them into a fourth down pass. That play gave us the victory.
In his first full year, he played at more positions than any other player on the team. If available for the draft this year, he would be taken, based on nothing more than potential and freakish athletic ability. This is a very rare football player that may have some off-the-field issues. If such is the case, I cannot think of a better coach to steer him in the right direction.
Barring injury, he will be playing this game for a long time to come and we will be very proud he chose to play at Michigan.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:33 AM ^
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:36 AM ^
The EAST lacks an elite team. The West will be a dog pile. Imagine if Bama lost another one of their close calls this year....they would be out. I don't think Bama will be back and don't see another team that projects to be Elite next season.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
...and as much as I hate to say it, having an SEC team in the playoff is probably justified, even if they beat each other up.
SEC looked weaker than usual this year, but still they dominated their bowls (with one obvious, glorious exception!).
The entire Big 12 conference plays no defense - they can put up points, but man, they are vulnerable against compentent offenses. If anyone gets left out, it will be them, or maybe an ACC team with a loss.
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