2014 Offense…."Optimistify yourselves"!
QB: Devin--Shane--Russell---Wilton(rs)
RB: Green---Smith---Johnson---Shallman---Rawls
FB: Houma/Kerridge
WR: Darboh--Harris--Canteen--Jones
WR: Chesson--York---Ways---Dukes
Slot: Canteen---Norfleet---Peppers
TE: Funchess---Butt---Bunting---AJ
LT: Braden--Tulley-Tillman---Fox
RT: Magneson---Samuelson---Bars
OG: Kalis---Dawson---
OG: Glasgow---Bosch---
C: Kugler--Miller
5* Starters=2
4* Starters=6
3*Starters=3
KR: Canteen/Norfleet + Peppers
PR: Peppers or Norfleet
There is absolutley no excuse for this team to not field a good to GREAT offense next season. Any competent Offensive Staff would whip this into a legitimate offense.
I personally think we win 10 games next season. Call me crazy....a dreamer....whatever. There is simply no way this amount of talent fails to materialize. 2014...Get Optimistic!!
GO BLUE!
January 3rd, 2014 at 3:23 AM ^
I would not be surprised to see Harris pass Chesson, but if not he will likely get some serious playing time next year, especially after enrolling early. Also would not be surprised to see Butt surpass Funchess at TE, though this also may see Funchess move over to WR. I also suspect Bosch and Kalis are your starting Guards with Kugler and Glasgow fighting it out for center. Glasgow may get the edge based on experience, we'll see.
Peppers will not be on the depth chart for offense this year, no way he can learn both sides of the ball as a freshman. He will remain focused on defense, though punt returns are possible, even that may be questionable given the role he could play on defense and where they want his focus for now. That said, I do think/hope he will someday see snaps on both sides of the ball but not until his junior year.
Also would not be surprised to see Morris push Gardner hard at QB.
It's a lot of transition for the offense, they should be able to pull it together but lets not act like it will be easy.
January 3rd, 2014 at 3:45 AM ^
He is too electric not to feed him. Unless Canteen or Harris pan out REALLY well...we need to utilize Peppers on Offense. We are solid but still lack explosive playmakers. Peppers is that times a 1000.
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
On offense? Because he's going to be learning a ton of new things on defense, including a very multiple scheme that Michigan runs, combined with lots of technique things, etc. If you expect him to just go out there on offense and out-athlete other great athletes because he's Peppers, you're fooling yourself.
The margin between the level of athlete Peppers is compared to others is small. There is a margin, but it's small. He won't get by on just being a better athlete on offense at this level. He simply doesn't have enough time as a true freshman coming in during the summer to only getting college coaching come fall to warrent at least 3 touches a game on offense combined with defensive duties.
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
I don't think any of you have optimistifed yourself enough, here is the totally optimistified depth chart for offense.....
QB: Peppers--Devin--Shane--Russell---Wilton(rs)
RB: Peppers--Green---Smith---Johnson---Shallman---Rawls
FB: Houma/Kerridge--Peppers
WR: Peppers--Darboh--Harris--Canteen--Jones
WR: Peppers--Chesson--York---Ways---Dukes
Slot: Peppers--Canteen---Norfleet
TE: Peppers--Funchess---Butt---Bunting---AJ
LT: Braden--Tulley-Tillman---Fox (Peppers)
RT: Magneson---Samuelson---Bars (Peppers)
OG: Kalis---Dawson---(Peppers)
OG: Glasgow---Bosch---(Peppers)
C: Kugler—Miller (Peppers)
5* Starters=2
4* Starters=6
3*Starters=3
KR: Peppers + Canteen/Norfleet and more Peppers
PR: Peppers or Norfleet
GO BLUE!
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^
Yeah, but can Peppers play OL?
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^
He will be 3rd or 4th at every position, offense and defense!!
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
You forgot a few things.
OL Coach: Peppers
Offensive Coordinator: Peppers
Equipment Manager: Peppers
Radio Play-By-Play Announcer: Peppers
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
I think Peppers could do a better job at OC
January 3rd, 2014 at 1:13 PM ^
Peppers could also start the game off by singing the National Anthem and start the second half off with a dope old school rap version of "Hail to the Victors"!
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
Installing a simple wildcat formation for Peppers to run out of or handoff shouldn't require much practice. Shit, don't even worry about having him read the handoff, have a run or keep predetermined in the playcall, and that simplifies it even more. I honestly don't see why that couldn't happen this year.
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
If Peppers plays on offense, I doubt it'll be in a RB type role. Lots of beating, and then he'd have to work much more on ball security. You also have to understand how to run plays. There are designed cut backs, flow patterns, etc. You can get by more to some degree on instinct at the RB position, which is why you see FR playing that are ready to play at that position, but it still takes coaching, coaching that Peppers likely won't have time to see.
Also, I hate the wildcat and it's been pretty ineffective for most teams lately. I don't think what this offense needs is another thing to add to it, especially if that thing provides nearly zero pass threat (people thought tackle over was bad...).
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
I am not a huge fan of the wildcat either, I am just thinking of the easiest way to get the ball in his hands occasionally. I'm not advocating for this to be an every game thing, but bringing it out in a few games where the coaching staff thinks it could be effective would be a quick & easy way to get one of our best playmakers the ball. Throw him back there, tell him to run right at the tackle keeping an eye open for a cutback lane; doesn't sound too complicated to me, albeit I am no football coach.
In regards to ball security, he has carried the ball a lot in his career, not to mention he very likely will be returning kicks. I wouldn't think he needs too much coaching here.
I guess throwing him a bubble screen would be equally easy. I can't see how either of these playcalls would require that much practice time on Jabrill's part. Heck, at a certain point you just need to give a playmaker the ball and let him try to make a play and not worry about whether you have practiced it a million times.
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
But both of those things do still require practice. There is a very big difference between ball security in high school and ball security at the college level when you're inside the box. Even a bubble screen takes work with how to properly run the route, catch the ball appropriately, where to take your eyes immediately, how to understand flow, etc. It's easier relative than other things, I just don't think it's wise to have him learning those things his freshman year when he's still learning his primary position to a large degree.
So down the road, his 2nd or 3rd year and from then on, I agree, but I do not think he should be his first year at Michigan.
January 3rd, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
We could note that Charles Woodson didn't play on offense as a freshman, either. It was his sophomore year that we worked him in as a WR.
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
He is a throwing threat. Didn't he have a 100% completion rate yesterday?
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
A lot of fans want to compare Peppers with Woodson.
OK. Charles Woodson was a top athlete recruit that year out of Ohio, so it cannot be argued that in 1995 Carr and DeBord had no idea what they really had.
Result? Freshman year - no rushes, no catches, no kick returns/punt returns. He only played defense.
http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aawoodsn.htm
January 3rd, 2014 at 5:04 PM ^
Fred Jackson was actually our OC at the time. He was relieved of that position after 1996.
January 3rd, 2014 at 4:16 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 4:53 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 8:31 AM ^
Incredibly too rational. In this thread I believe you're supposed to optimistify yourself.
January 3rd, 2014 at 8:36 AM ^
Myles Jack, this year's Pac 12 offensive AND defensive newcomer of the year?
January 3rd, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
Actually, a good point.
January 3rd, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
he only played due to numerous injuries at running back for ucla, he didnt start out playing both sides
January 3rd, 2014 at 5:06 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
It's one thing to act like this coaching staff isn't up to snuff relative to their counterparts. It's a completely different thing for people to continually act like a staff that coached a team that won 11 games 2 seasons ago has no clue how to coach.
Just last year people raved about how good the staff was at coaching, one bad season and suddenly the staff can't draw Xs and Os on a tic-tac-toe board and can't teach a kid figure out how to get kids to walk correctly. The amount of people that act like this staff has absolutely no clue, even if it is hyperbole, are getting ridiculous. Players on the team raved about how much more technique driven this staff was than the previous staff, and they are. That's not a slam at the previous staff, they just focused on different things. But to act like this team just goes out and has thumb wars for two hours a day and calls it quits is insulting. It's insulting to the staff, it's insulting to the players, it's insulting to the recruits, it's insulting to all their families, it's insulting to the program, it's insulting to other coaches, etc. And now it's not just the offensive staff, it's everyone. Apparently we all just suck, everyone associated with the university and the football team just sucks, except you good posters, because you can say these sort of stupid comments for the next googleplex of threads that go up.
The product on the field this year was very much sub-optimal, I think everyone knows that. But this bullshit that people keep spewing about how terrible our coaching staff is makes this fan base look, dare I say, extremely fickle. Which it is.
I get it, some of you don't like the staff, just like you get that I do like the staff. But leave the heavy dose of hyperbole-driven, tired, self-deprecating insults away. It's fine from time to time, it's even healthy to a dgree, but this place has turned into an overbearing load of it.
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^
SC, dear fellow, why don't you ignore these posts? most of us do. i'm worried it's shortening your life and adding unnecessary stress. save your writing for football analysis. :)
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
I'd be a better spirit guide. Alas, I'm still a coyote after all. Sometimes I have to bite a pant leg.
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^
one bad season and suddenly the staff can't draw Xs and Os on a tic-tac-toe boardooo..I like that one. I'm gonna have to use it sometime. #MichiganDifference
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
"11 games 2 seasons ago"
Denard Robinson for far more responsible for those 11 wins than brady borges.
THE EXPECTATION IS FOR THE POSITION
Does this only apply to the players, "coach" ?
THE EXPECTATION IS FOR THE POSITION
No excuses, right?
THE EXPECTATION IS FOR THE POSITION
The position is head coach at the University of Michigan. Please tell me again what our expectation should be.
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Let the downvotes do their work.
January 3rd, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
played good sir!
January 3rd, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
Logged on to up vote. It really does appear that we have a loser's mentality in our fanbase. Critical thinking is one thing, but bashing for the sake of bashing does no good in my view. There is something to be said for the abundance frame of mind-- bringing a positive outlook to any situation allows one to see the resources that are available and exploit them for maximum gain. If you continue to focus on the negative, you end up hamstringing resources for fear of losing what you have. It's soffocating.
January 3rd, 2014 at 6:36 AM ^
"He's the most talented playmaker we have."
Putting the cart before the horse much?
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
sentiment, but remember he has a LOT to learn on both sides if he's going to do that.
Once he makes a few plays, just putting him on the field will demand the defenses take note and prepare, even if he doesn't get the ball (and please DON'T give him the ball every time AL).
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
Funchess is NOT a tight end anymore. Why is this taking so long to sink in on this board, and with the B1G, media, etc.?
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
I think they like his ability outside, but I also think the mismatch he brings at the TE position is huge. I think they'd like to at least give him another offseason working on the blocking (he never would have played as a freshman if Michigan had TE depth, he still isn't all the way up to size, and I'm guessing his first year they worked mostly on pass route concepts rather than blocking, add to the mix that he played WR the 2nd half of this past season).
Now that he has developed to the level he has as a WR, if he can even become a below-average blocker for a TE, it opens up so much more versatility and complexity for the defense to have to cover this offense. I doubt the staff wants to give up on that entirely, and I think for Funchess's future it's better for him to learn how to play TE at least average, because it will make his NFL prospects sky rocket compared to him just being a WR.
But, you are right that he was about 5% TE in the 2nd half of last season, and that 5% included about 1% TE blocking and 4% TE route running. Why people insisted on still calling him a TE is because the media loves a good talking point and fears doing work to actually recognize change.
January 3rd, 2014 at 3:26 AM ^
I think we're still going to be a bit of a work in progress on offense. The defense should be elite though with all that's coming back. If our defense is subpar with Peppers and Jake Ryan etc. then Hoke will be looking for another job.
January 3rd, 2014 at 3:31 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 3:44 AM ^
on the road under Hoke. Unless he and his staff can figure out how to get off the schneid, we're looking at three losses at minimum next season against MSU, OSU, and ND.
8-4.
January 3rd, 2014 at 3:47 AM ^
We will beat ND like we usually do and take back the State. Ohio will be a toss up. No Kenny G next year so that means they are one play away from mystery qb. I like our chances in all 3.....IF our coaching staff wakes up and the O line comes full circle. They have 8 months to get this done and some great material to work with.
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^
Hoke has been 2-1 vs. Notre Dame, but it's not like he holds Kelly's number and we can chalk that up to a win. It's an away game, and it's vs. a mobile quarterback, which Hoke's teams have suffered against. I would hope we win this game 5/10 times.
We take back the state? Michigan state loses Fowler, and 3 OL next year, but they have some pretty good depth on their OL and I think they'll be fine. Michigan state went 13-1 this year, with a win over a very talented Stanford team, and will finish #2 in the polls.
Their defense will take quite a blow, losing playmakers like Dennard, Lewis, Bullough and Allen. They're losing a few other starters as well like Hoover, and Reynolds. Then, they have a couple players who could leave early for the NFL if they wanted, and get picked up somewhere early, like Calhoun and Drummond. As of right now, they're definitely losing 6 starters. Seeing how Michigan state has had a great defense year in and year out, I am left with no reason thinking they wont be great next year as well. I would think we win this game 3/10 times. Definitively saying we take back the state is a bit unrealistic.
OSU, again, is an away game with a Mobile QB. Hoke vs. Meyer is 0-2. If this is a toss-up, you're using a weighted coin here. I imagine we win this game 3/10 times.
January 3rd, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
defenses for a few years, I don't think the losses on D will kill them. It's the SYSTEM just as much as the players. Not suggesting a bunch of 2* athletes would be the same, but you get my point.
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
I'm pretty sure no one said that about Tom, certainly not here. That said, it was somewhat frightening that they didn't seem to lose anything with Bullough out. Still though, they need lock down guys in the backfield to be as agressive as they are and they'll be losing a bit part of that.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
they'll have two corners as good as the Dennard / Waynes combo. Obviously Waynes returns but Dennard seemed like a once a decade kind of corner to me.
Loss of Lewis at S will be tough too. Drummond is good, but who's next to him? Won't be as good as the Lewis/Drummond combo. With the defensive backfield surely a downgrade, I don't see how they are as good as they were this year. They'll be good, most likely. But tough to be great given the quality of players they're losing.
Combo of Allen / Bulloch unlikely to be replaced with equitable talent/production. True, there is some talent behind them. Just inexperienced.
A lot comes down to schedule again, and MSU gets everyone tough in conference at home save for PSU (who may be in shambles by that time). Road games at Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and PSU. Has to be one of the weakest away conference schedules out there.
Kudos for Sparty for going to Auzten, though. That will be a fun non-con game to watch.
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
I'm guessing they will take a significant step back next year. 8-4 is my estimate. Interestingly, their offense looks to be their strength next year.