Athletic article- Camp Takeaways Wk1
https://theathletic.com/4766523/2023/08/11/michigan-football-preseason-position-battles/
Takeaways:
- 4 starters at Edge: McGregor/Moore battling for one Edge, Harrell/Stewart at the other, may rotate run/pass
- Nugent out front at C
- OT battle may drag on into season
- Nobody has taken second CB spot, may experiment w a big safety at nickel
August 11th, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^
im just gonna believe the starting 11 on both sides isn’t 100% set yet because everyone is good enough to be an all b1g starter
August 11th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
I like the cut of your jib!
August 11th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
I like the cut of your rib. (prime rib.)
August 11th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
best prime rib in the Medina, OH area is at Lagerheads. Timber Lodge says theirs is the best, but it sucks about as much as MSU does
August 12th, 2023 at 1:16 AM ^
And I go, I says, "It's the only jib I've got, baby!"
August 11th, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^
All American level :)
Here's to hoping that the players are very good and competing for the starting spot.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:07 PM ^
From the last few articles I read it sounded as Wallace is the leader there. I think the edge spots will be almost 55/45 time share between the players and also depending on the other teams offense which edge is better suited to play that team.
Also Wallace has been connected to Mikey's hip since he has arrived and he says he knows the playbook already. Couldn't pick a better guy to emulate.
August 11th, 2023 at 5:09 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if he's the starter for the first ~4-5 weeks like Green was last year until Will Johnson was up to speed. Who rotates in after that is still a big question mark, but I think they have enough high ceiling guys that someone will break through.
August 11th, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
August 11th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
Nothing really earth shattering here
My predictions: tackles rotate a lot but settle on Henderson and Jones eventually.
CB2 starts out with Wallace but by November Jyaire Hill is rotating in a lot.
I'm not a huge fan of bumping Sainristil outside and bringing in Paige at the nickel but if that's what we have to do, it is what it is
August 11th, 2023 at 1:57 PM ^
If Paige is playing nickel, who's the other starting safety aside from Moore?
August 11th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
Hopefully Sabb is ready to go, but my guess would be it ends up being Q. Johnson if they end up moving Mikey outside and Paige to Nickel.
August 11th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Either you have Moore/Johnson at safety and Paige at nickel, or maybe Zeke Berry is far enough along to be plugged in at nickel and keep Paige/Moore at safety
Haven't heard much about him but recall he looked decent in the spring game, so if he keeps progressing I wouldn't be surprised to see him make an appearance at nickel
August 11th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
Berry will be playing sooner rather than later IMO.
I’m least impressed with Paige - arm tackles a lot and bounces off when trying to make a solid hit.
He came in scrawny but had bulked up a bit. If that continues maybe he sticks.
Johnson is set - the other side has several in the mix. I don’t see Walker in there anytime soon.
Wallace McBurrows Pollard and Hill will be in the mix until Rutgers and then we should have the
CB 2 settled.
I think Quentin Johnson is gonna steal snaps from Paige if Paige doesn’t tackle more consistently.
Sabb will be hunting time back there also.
If Sainrsitil goes outside Berry gets the slot.
FWIW
August 11th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
I agree on Sainristil..he seems like such a natural fit as the nickel/slot corner. He also had many FS type plays from that spot, like coming across the field at OSU to knock that ball out. I would worry keeping him at one of the outside cb spots limits that a little.
August 11th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
Mikey seems so valuable in the middle of the field chasing down speedy slot guys and disrupting route trees
August 11th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
I would be surprised if Jones passes Barnhart seeing Barnhart held onto the job once it was his.
It’s a bit like golf. It’s not about your best shots it’s about about minimizing your bad ones. Barnhart is very consistent.
Also Wallace is kind of giving the same vibe. Two time captain who has played some good competition and came in doing everything the right way.
He is going to be a great addition to the roster.
August 11th, 2023 at 7:58 PM ^
Jones was terrible in pass protection. I hope he's improved. Agreed that Barnhart was more consistent.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^
Contrast that with OSU for fun...
I just got a Youtube recommendation for "snap judgements" from an OSU channel ("THE Podcast") where they discussed an OSU open practice today.
The Podcasters were not impressed with the practice overall and the open session apparently ended with the OSU receiver Egbuka (sp?) yelling at the backup OL to man-up because they can't even provide time to complete a screen pass .... and at that rate they won't be "where they want to be" when they play Michigan.
I will not underestimate OSU, but I truly hope this is indicative of the state of things down in Columbus these days...
August 11th, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
It would be so fantastic if they had a shaky OL to go with a new QB. Especially given our ascending talents on DL
Got me thinking about Stewart and Moore absolutely wrecking tackles as Graham/Jenkins collapse the interior of the pocket
August 11th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
They only return their guards, and their guards suuuuuuuucked last year.
August 11th, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
we know they're soft. But if they throw up 2 stinkers and lose a couple before they get to us, they will be ripe for the picking... kinda like we were for years.. the slightest negative thing snowballs into a mess .. and then its all about the refs, and this and that. we had plenty of things go our way last year but not early... we stayed with it and the team was mentally tough enough to deal.
I think Ryan Day may be a great x and o coach, but his teams are soft and weak-minded - and if they are reminded of that early and often, we might truck Day right out of a job.
But yes yes. East Carolina on the f-ing Peacock network.. CAN'T WAIT.
August 11th, 2023 at 5:07 PM ^
I am pumped about Stewart. I'm hoping he is Arnold Ebiketie (PSU 2021, transferred from Temple - you may recall him stuffing Ryan Hayes in a trash can a few times) Michigan version - basically same height/weight (assuming Stewart is up to 245 as reported) - just undersized guys that are so quick and high energy only the tackles with the fastest feet even stand a chance. Kind of surprised nobody else has come up with that comparison, but I'm not the expert here.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
it moved.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:31 PM ^
The last two years have definitely proven that winning starts in the trenches.
Can you imagine OSU's receivers playing with Michigan's OL and RB? That would be an unstoppable offense. I'm hoping Harbaugh airs it out enough this year so that the program looks more appealing to top high school WR and, to some degree, the top QB.
August 11th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Also player leadership.
OSU is stacked and talented.
Without a Meyer or Saban type dictator coach, a team really needs to lean on player leadership in the locker room. Not sure who fits that role at OSU. UM seems to have a few that stand out- Mikey, Jenkins, JJ, Corum.
August 11th, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
OSU receivers won't come here because being targeted 3x a year doesn't get you to the league. UM doesn't want to have both - Georgia does. They play similar offense but the pass / run ratio is quite different. So no I can't imagine OSU receivers here catching 3 passes a game.
August 11th, 2023 at 4:01 PM ^
Yeah, except we have them blocking 90% of their snaps, so…
August 11th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
I can’t stand Urban but he said exactly the same thing. I look forward to our D line opening a can of whoop ass on their line and seeing the fear in whoever their qb is.
August 11th, 2023 at 2:17 PM ^
If I'm an OSU fan, I am going to hold my breath (dangerous I know due to their lack of proper nasal septums) anytime Egbuka or Harrison Jr. shows a slight hint of being hurt. JSN last year and N. Bosa Jr. have shown that when you've already done enough to prove you are a 1st round pick at OSU and the risk of injury increases, it is time to shut it down.
August 11th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
OSU is a highly successful program of mercenaries who could care less about each other and are there for the $$$$ and getting to "the league". With the level of talent (their WR room 2 years ago was better than any NFL room save perhaps Bengals) it will work most of the time. Like Georgia and Bama they pretty much have a NFL roster in the top 25-30. But there is no brotherhood. They are like instagram influencers.
August 11th, 2023 at 4:02 PM ^
How much less could they care?
August 11th, 2023 at 6:34 PM ^
That's not the point. What you hope for--as indicated in the whispers from practice--is that they're all devouring one another and in disarray when they get to us. Those things go together.
August 11th, 2023 at 8:02 PM ^
It's the grammatical point about "could care less about each other."
August 11th, 2023 at 5:18 PM ^
I think you're overselling a roster like that as a disaster. The right kind of coach can manage that and still get the most out of them - Urban, Saban, and seems like Smart can as well. This was always my question about Day - sure, the boosters and assistant coaches will keep the recruiting train rolling, he can call (passing) plays with the best NFL coordinators, but is he consistently going to get a bunch of guys from Florida and Texas to eat, sleep and breathe beating Michigan? The returns are looking a bit shaky. Basically, no starter on that roster will have beaten Michigan in their career for this year's game, which nobody ever would have believed 3 years ago.
August 11th, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^
I feel like Day gets unfairly compared to Urban. The guy has only lost two conference games in his four years there. He's just had the misfortune of facing what might have been the best two Michigan teams since 1997.
Urban got blown out by Iowa and Purdue. Day has yet to have one of those games. I feel like 2021/2022 Michigan would have beaten most of Urban's teams, and soundly. There's no way that 2016 cheater team that eventually got boatraced 31-0 by Clemson would have stood a chance against either of Michigan's last two teams.
Day is a damn good coach and the notion that he's on the hot seat, or will be if he loses to Michigan again this year, is absurd. Their fans have become spoiled brats from watching Urban beat up on RR/Hoke/Don Brown's meme defense.
August 11th, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
Kinda makes you wonder if that ND game might get interesting. One can hope.
August 11th, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^
fucking meteor game
August 11th, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
Hell, I’m hoping Indiana makes it interesting.
August 11th, 2023 at 3:50 PM ^
OSU is a program that hasn't beat Michigan since 2019. They have to prove their relevance on the field. Poor things
August 11th, 2023 at 5:24 PM ^
The backup OL could mean 3rd stringers trying to learn basic sets and plays. Doesn't mean a thing.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:13 PM ^
Crippen being the one pushing Nugent was pretty interesting
August 11th, 2023 at 1:31 PM ^
not to be a dick, but... arent they both Centers and the only 2 ones of note that we have? Who else would it be?
August 11th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
Raheem Anderson.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:42 PM ^
ah ok - i never hear his name mentioned though, in terms of starting this year. seemed to be crippen until nugent came and eveyrone says that nugent is nasty, relentless, and angry on the field ... yes please.
August 11th, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
Yeah on one of the MGoBlog roundtables a month or so ago, Sam Webb was telling people not to get too ahead of themselves declaring Nugent the starter because Raheem Anderson was doing so well that he wouldn't be surprised if he won the job. So to hear now that it's a battle between Nugent and Crippen is a bit surprising. In any case it sounds like we will be in good hands at that position
August 11th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
Yes - though I think Raheem has more flexibility to play guard than Crippen. Sam Webb in particular was touting Anderson as one to watch for at C after the spring game and we know he gets that info from inside the football building.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
That's why I think it's noteworthy that it's now Nugent and Crippen (apparently). Sam was real high on Anderson after spring, and Sam's info is usually solid.
August 11th, 2023 at 1:58 PM ^
It definitely felt like Sam has been thinking that Anderson was the next C after Nugent and it sounded like Brian felt similarly after charting. Hopefully Crippen, Anderson, El Hadi, and Persi stick around. They're buried now, but it seems like there's going to be a lot of PT available next year.
August 11th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
Makes me wonder if they are having Anderson play more guard to serve as a safety net for this season or to start there once Zinter/Keegan leave