2010 Running back corps
Everybody seems to be talking about Toussaint as the next go-to back in '10, and rivals ($) talks about him too.
Link
"I worked with the scout team a lot and Fitz was a guy that can really run the football," departing senior Jon Conover said. "He has outstanding lateral speed in addition to the downfield quickness you need. He can make defenders miss but I think he'll fill the void left by Brandon Minor because he's not afraid to lower his pads.The article goes onto to say good things about Cox, V. Smith, and Shaw as well. Should be an interesting battle when they're all healthy.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^
minor obv the toughest to replace in theory -- we really were a better team with him in there -- but he missed so much time that it is really difficult to even look at it as a true replacement.
I dont think that F Toussaint is the same type of back as Minor, although he may be physical - the closest bet to approximate Minor in style is Cox or Hopkins.
That being said, I am least worried about RB - there are several talented options there, FT being one of them.
If Smith is unable to return, I think that a comittee of Shaw, FT and Cox is likely unless one emerges far and above the others.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:08 PM ^
B Minor had all the talent to be an amazing back but he was lacking in durability. IME, durability is one of the most important characteristics of a good or great runningback. I don't consider Minor a good back bc of this. If the next feature back can stay healthy I believe the offense will be extremly successful.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
But what is it with RBs? Or is it just with RBs at Michigan? I'm thinking about David Underwood, Mike Hart, Sam McGuffie, Carlos Brown, Brandon Minor and even Kevin Grady a couple years ago.
Have we had durable RBs, and/or is durability only relative given the physicality of the position?
December 15th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
I wouldn't say that durability is a problem at Michigan. Some RBs have the sense or know how of how to take a hit. By shifting your body slightly or moving at the last second greatly decreases the chance of injury. Minor either did not have this sense or he just liked to try and truck the defenders. Mike Hart definitely had this sense and thus was able to see/prepare for the hit which also caused him to have a really low number of turnovers throughout his career.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:14 PM ^
Surely there are better examples of staying healthy than Mike Hart...
December 15th, 2009 at 6:34 PM ^
I was really excited at how V. Smith finished the season and was really looking forward to watching him run wild in 2010. I was very sad when I learned about his knee injury. Hopefully someone can pick it up next year!
December 15th, 2009 at 6:37 PM ^
I think he'll fill the void left by Brandon Minor because he's not afraid to lower his pads.As long as Toussaint has good pad level, I'm sold.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:36 PM ^
I have shared this on the blog before to mixed reviews, but I'm down on Shaw. I think he'll get PT early next year but I see it dwindling behind the young guys as the season goes on.
I like his speed, but that's it. I don't think he has good vision, elusiveness, or power. I haven't been impressed at all.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^
I completely agree; aside from some runs against Delaware State, he didn't look promising to me at all.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
I still believe Shaw can be a great RB. What I really see lacking in his game is his balance. He can make great cuts and has great moves but he is always tripping over himself. Could it be nerves or his mind going faster than his body? I dont know. But when he gets a good sense of balance he could be elite.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
He hasn't developed at all. In term's of speed, strength, or elusiveness. From everything I've seen, he looks waaaayyyy too soft for the Bigger Twelve.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:02 PM ^
like bad luck. Every time he got the chance to run it seemed like he was getting hit by 2 or 3 defenders behind the line. Hard to judge on that and the few carries a game he gets.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
hard to be down on a 20 year old running against 8 men in the box at the end of the year. there are other things that rbs need to do in the system besides run for 70 yd tds, like pass block or catch screens or whatever. its early, lets see how things evolve before writing kids off.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:49 PM ^
Don't feel bad, you aren't the only one. I just haven't been impressed with Shaw this past year. His first season he did pretty good, but I'm not seeing the same playmaking ability now. Maybe he will improve and start, but I just don't see it. Vincent Smith is a much better option, IMHE, and I think Toussaint adds a different feel as does Cox. Yes... I like the feel of Cox.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
Shaw was injured his whole freshman year, and then had surgery which held him out of spring practices and part of the summer. He was behind the two seniors and was playing catch up the whole year. And based on this, you are discounting him?
If Shaw can get the off-season to gain strength and speed, Michigan's running back corps is going to be stunningly good next year. If I were a defensive coordinator, I'd personally hate to have to try and defend against Shaw and Toussaint as RBs, along with Tate and (especially) Denard as running QB options. That stuff will be sick.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:40 PM ^
I have said it over and over ..1st time i seen Toussaint he was a Junior in HS .. and i told my Dad who was sitting next to me that this kid was going to be a NFL back 1 day ... During the Ohio vs PA all star game the announcer said he reminded him of Brian Westbrook and i agree as far as build .. but he runs with more of a mean streak than BWestbrook... May the UM RB hating gods just let him be and he will be a fan favorite.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:47 PM ^
I think these two will be by far our best backs next year. Also, I don't believe that any of the three freshman coming in (drake, white, and hopkins) will be able to push these guys for playing time.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:28 PM ^
is there anything besides watching HS highlight film that has lead you to believe that white, drake, and hopkins will push Smith/Touissant for PT?
December 15th, 2009 at 7:03 PM ^
I agree that Shaw seemed to lack vision at times and missed the cut back running lane. Hopefully he gains some of that over the summer with reps. However the key to the running game is Molk remaining healthy. Molk was able to make those reach blocks on the LB's where Moosman did his best but was out of position. UConn and ND are just HUGE games for RR in 2010-must wins for so many reasons.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:56 PM ^
RB corps in full preemptively barred from Greek association, potlucks
December 15th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
Can someone do me a solid and spell out "Toussaint" phonetically for me?
December 15th, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
I think its "too-sain(t)".
December 15th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
Its Too-sont .... like Font ... but Sont
December 15th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
More nasal. Too Sooont.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:46 PM ^
like Font... but Sont.
Classic.
Video of Fitz leads me to believe that he could run like Minor. I hope he's nothing like Minor in the fact that the dude was injured his whole career. I agree with a lot of you on Shaw. I don't see him being a starting back for our team. If FT lives up to the hype, him and Vincent Smith would be a nice one two punch.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:48 PM ^
Cox impresses me most with his balance. he had a few carries this year and almost all of them were highlight-reel runs where he'd be like 2 mm from hitting the deck and he'd put a hand out or something and just keep going.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^
... didn't one of our backs do a front flip over a defender that tackled low, stayed on his feet, and kept running for another 10 yds? Was that Brown? I think it was early in the season...
December 15th, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
you just used "stayed on his feet" and "[Carlos] Brown" in consecutive sentences.
Oh yeah, and the only front flip I have ever seen from a michigan RB is this one:
It wasn't exactly in a game situation
December 15th, 2009 at 11:11 PM ^
I'm positive the running back was Brandon Minor who did the flip.
I'm pretty sure it was only another 2 or 3 yards, not 10.
I have a vague recollection that the opponent was Notre Dame, but I could be wrong.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:13 PM ^
I think it was Indiana, I was watching old UFRs today and saw it.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:53 PM ^
I know many people complain about the massive amounts of RB's and WR's that will be at Michigan. The glass half full version:
We are going to have ferocious position battles. Competition only makes the players better so we're definitely going to see these guys giving it their all to get on the field. Should be a very exciting time.
I think Fitz is a lock to get some great playing time. Although RR's offense has been tinkered with a bit, he seems to be the type of RB Rodriguez really wants on his team. We're gonna see a healthy dose of all these guys though.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
I don't understand the hope to fill Minor's shoes. Minor only had a handful of good games in his career. He never filled Hart's shoes when given the opportunity when mike got hurt. And the last 2 years Brandon has not been able to stay healthy or play through injuries with especially this season laid on his shoulders he could not deliver.
With names like Hart, Perry, Thomas in just this decade alone carrying Michigan by their multiple great performance in not only games but whole seasons, I do not want a replacement for Minor. I am hoping for one of fitz, smith, cox or even shaw to play like a Michigan rb that I grew accustomed to watching when life as a Michigan fan was good.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:05 PM ^
You make it sound like he purposely injured himself.
Watch games where Minor played vs. game's where didn't, and tell me there aren't some shoes to be filled. He added a physical element to our offense that no other RB has been able to match, and we are dealing with the Wolverine's of 2009, not Hart, Perry, or Thomas.
December 16th, 2009 at 1:50 AM ^
It was fun watching him play. But at the same time completely frustrating. Not once in 4 years was he a dependable back for more than one game at a time.
I have nothing against his effort / attitude. I simply hope that Michigan will have a consistently productive rb again. Which we haven't seen in the last 2 seasons, regardless of "Minor's Rage" which came out in a few games.