66% of the Season Over: Pleasant Surprises?
After an excellent beatdown of the Fighting Kellys, I have lost about 17% of my BPONE. With my renewed hope, I've decided to start thinking positively. In reflection of the season so far, I've been thinking about "pleasant surprises". There have been quite a few in the negative category, but I want to focus on the positives. I'll list mine, and would love to hear yours.
Haskins emergence: I was pretty disappointed early in the season that he was getting carries at all, but put one in the "coaches obviously see things that we don't get to see in practice" category. Haskins has looked excellent and he and Charbonnet have been a great 1-2 punch.
Ronnie Bell: In a reddit post a few years back (after we signed Ronnie's 2018 recruiting class) I was pretty bullish on him being the best signee of the bunch. Now, I wouldn't go that far because of how impressive Hutchinson and McGrone have been, but man it's been great to see how great Ronnie has been.
Eubanks: Eubanks has clearly added another dimension to his game with good blocking and he is a valuable piece now. We all knew he could run/catch, but to see him add that element has been great. He'll play on Sundays, I believe.
Onwenu: One of the better guards we've had here. Fun to watch.
Mcgrone: Nickname should be cheap beer, because this dude is Bush Light.
Ambry: We went from wondering if he'll even play, to wondering if he'll play at a high level, to wondering if he'll be going to the NFL soon. Stud.
Hutchinson: Not as physically gifted as Rashan, but feels as though he's more productive and maybe even has a higher ceiling? Such a huge leap from last year to this year.
What say you all?
October 27th, 2019 at 12:18 PM ^
RBs have been good and improving every week
Oline was a surprise in a bad way until last week against Penn State but over the last 6 quarters have been dominant
McGrone is moving towards stardom already which is a surprise from the start of the season
Defense as a whole has been pretty consistent compared to past years. D. Brown has changed up schemes which will be evolving each week.
Patterson has been serviceable which is a surprise with the expectations I am sure he had coming into the year. Need him to gain more and more control of this offense each week if we even want a chance to beat the Buckeyes.
Go Blue!
October 27th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
Oline was a surprise in a bad way until last week against Penn State
Hmm, I thought it played well against Iowa and Illinois. Shea had a tough day against Iowa but I thought the OL pretty much did its job. And rushing for nearly 300 yards against Illinois looks considerably more impressive two weeks after the fact.
October 27th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
Started the season a little concerned about RB but now we appear to have scary depth. Love how they are playing and have to give credit to the OL for opening up some nice holes
October 27th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
When healthy Ross should resume his 2018 starting role at Will
October 27th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
Agreed. I believe the combination of McGrone, Ross, and Glasgow gives a excellent LB play to finish out the season.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
Don't forget Dax Hill. He should get more playing time. The best is yet to come for all of them by the way things are now trending.
Great to see all of these plays peaking, as is the team. Got to give credit to Harbaugh for keeping this team together when it all could have gone south.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
One of the things that worried me after our loss at Penn St. last week was it seems when our hopes of a B1G championship are gone, Harbaugh seems to lose any fight in him to finish out the season. It could be a bad assumption but it’s what I takeaway when we lose 3 out of 4 bowl games. There play last night Showed the exact opposite of my worry. They played hard, dominated both lines of scrimmage and flat out looked like the team we all expected to see most of the season.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
It could be a bad assumption but it’s what I takeaway when we lose 3 out of 4 bowl games.
We led FSU and South Carolina in the fourth quarter - his bowl record could very easily be 3-1.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:39 PM ^
If our ST didn't give up that long kick return to FSU after we scored what should have been the clinching score, we win that game. Absolutely unforgivable to give up a big play at that moment.
October 27th, 2019 at 2:45 PM ^
I foolishly thought Jordan Glasgow was just nepotism for a long time because of that play. But he is a solid contributor, as good as any walk-on can be expected to be if not better. Today he definitely makes that tackle.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
"Mcgrone: Nickname should be cheap beer, because this dude is Bush Light."
I don't know you, but I hope someone punches you really hard in the arm 5 times for making this joke.
Otherwise, a good post! ;-)
October 27th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
I like the "human guided missile".
October 27th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
McGrone will prove out to be much better than Bush. He is a quintessential linebacker--size, strength, speed, and great instincts--much better than Bush. McGrone is everywhere, in good position, does not take himself out of plays and is better at fighting off blocks.
It would be nice to have him stick around for four years--hes definitely going to be an All American here
October 27th, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
Bush is one of the best college linebackers I've ever seen with my own eyeballs. He is already making a major impact in the pros as a rookie with his smaller stature. I think Mcgrone will be a great player, but to say he will "prove out much better than Bush" is a bit over the top.
Here are Bush's stats as a rookie:
Tackles
-
52
Sacks
-
1
Interceptions
-
2
He's #20 in the NFL in tackles.
October 27th, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^
Devin Bush still is the best Michigan LB, IMO, since I started following the team in 1986. Big, smart and fast as F. Think Ian Gold, but bigger and faster. McGrone certainly looks like Devin in physical build and may at some point surpass him but for now Devin Bush owns the crown.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:35 PM ^
I'm going to chalk up your violent desires to jealousy that you didn't come up with it.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
I thought "Cheap Beer" was solid material. I laughed. Dad jokes, ya'll.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
Glasgow as an every down baller.
There's residual walk-on skepticism about him but he's more athletic than any other LB save McGrone and he just keeps stacking plays.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
He gets better with every game. He can cover a TON of ground and his instincts are getting better as well. I think he had to find a position, find a groove, and gain experience. I believe hell be an NFL player--special teams, blitz packages--I think he is carving himself a nice niche and will go down as one HELL of a Wolverine.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:21 PM ^
We need more Glasgows. I honestly though this was the one that was only here because his brothers... I was wrong, the guy can play. Mr and Mrs Glasgow if you are reading this.. get to humping please.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
Dude is a freaking missle
October 27th, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
Well, there was a lot about last night in general that was a pleasant surprise, especially coming off the loss to Penn State.
As for specific things, there are a couple that stand out right away to me - the Haskins-Charbonnet combo at RB has been fun to watch, and watching the defense re-establish some of its previous nastiness (in a good way, of course) has been great as well.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
Hutchinson, Paye, McGrone, Ross, Thomas, Gray, Dax Hill, Hawkins has this defense looking scary next year.
I think we return Tarik next year out of the WR, he will be a feature piece, and the 1-2 punch with Haskins and Charbonnet will be huge. Sainristil and Giles Jackson will be little slant bugs across the middle, hopefully McCaffery stays healthy as well.
11-2, while no Big Ten championship and playoff birth is dissapointing, is still a very respectable year.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
As one who is disappointed with Harbaugh despite 10 wins, etc--
11-2 this year would include a win over OSU and either a bowl game or BiG championship game win.
Successful as heck.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
We may just be caught up in the wordage I used, very respectable=successful. I agree with you.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:58 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if either DPJ or Collins is also back next year.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
I think Collins returns. He seems to have fun. Tarik may transfer since his minutes are decreasing and DPJ might go pro.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
If we were to end up 11-2, I don't think anything about that would be disappointing.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
Haskins and charbonnet have shown significant improvements and the blocking by the oline has been flawless recently. Shea has been playing his ass off the last few games. I am very optimistic now. Please just win out and I’ll be satisfied with 2019! Go Blue!
October 27th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
The offense has me really excited for next year. It may have started clicking one quarter too late for us to challenge for the B1G title this year, but it seems to be firing on all cylinders now after struggling early in the season. Our rushing attack could be lethal with McCaffrey, Charbonnet, and Haskins if the young, talented linemen produce. If even one of the big three receivers comes back, the passing game could take off too. Bell, Sainristil, Eubanks, All, and any of the big 3 who returns will make up a hell of a pass-catching team.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
Logged in just to upvote bc of the Bush Light joke
October 27th, 2019 at 12:35 PM ^
I like that we're improving, significantly, as the season goes on. The last several years we've peaked early and were exhausted by late November.
OSU looks great this year, as per usual, but we're playing them at home and the coaches had an outstanding game plan for ND. I think they have one more up their sleeves.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
I hope you're right and I fear for what you'll do to a migrant worker if they don't.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:00 PM ^
Something like Jason Vorhees goes to Home Depot.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
Hawkins has been solid imo. Credit to staff for moving him to safety.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
For me it’s Haskins and Charbonnet becoming a really good 1-2 punch in the backfield. They’ve gotten better and better each week, and seem to be gelling with the offensive line more as the year has progressed. Seeing them continue to build on that for another season or two is exciting to think about. McGrone has been as advertised, if not even better. The defensive line has been much better than many of us thought.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
That I'm still coming here after all the negativity?
October 27th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^
Love to see Carlo Kemp getting some results because he plays so hard and is such a fantastic kid.
I know there is some gray area around whether he gets a fifth year, but Michigan should have a team of lawyers putting together the case. Would love to have his presence in the locker room for another year.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
And they desperately need the depth at DT because if not it’s Dwumfour and two freshmen and that’s it.
October 27th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
I'm pleasantly surprised by the overall significant improvement during the season. This team is far better than the one that couldn't hold onto the ball and got hammered by Wisconsin early in the season.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:07 PM ^
Mayfield
Grey
Calm demeanor this week.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:26 PM ^
I can't believe this is the case with a Harbaugh team, I am sure some will disagree. I think the biggest difference in Michigan early season and now is effort. I think the mentality of not trying to get hurt against cupcakes crept into overall play... and when things went wrong with fumbles they played even more timid. I also think that's what the main thing wrong with MSU is right now.. along with the whole sexual assault enabling thing.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
The offense has begun to mature a little later than I expected and the defene began to mature a little earlier than I expected...but...no big surprises other than Hassan Haskins
October 27th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
Vilian healthy and getting some PT.
Also gotta say Hassan
October 27th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
Don Brown...has changed the defensive scheme.
October 27th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
Very pleasantly surprised that I may not have to stockpile as much liquor as I anticipated
October 27th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^
I was pleasantly surprised by how we kicked the shit out of ND last night. My boss being an ND fan makes it so much sweeter.
October 27th, 2019 at 4:33 PM ^
Praying to God that Ambry and Kwity stay for another year. It’ll be key to having an elite defense next year since the juniors have honestly outperformed the seniors.
October 27th, 2019 at 4:45 PM ^
We are worried they would leave? Doesn’t seem like either would be high draft picks right now.
October 27th, 2019 at 5:36 PM ^
My nice surprise is how many solid contributors are emerging from the 2018 class.