Best Skill Position Players of the Harbaugh Era

Submitted by diji1994 on January 18th, 2022 at 1:52 PM

If Harbaugh comes back (and I think he will) the team next year would have incredible players at the offensive skill positions; maybe the best group of the last decade or so.  This led me to think about the best offensive skill position players during the Harbaugh era.  My Top 5s go as follows:

Quarterback

  1. Jake Rudock
  2. Cade McNamara
  3. Shea Patterson
  4. Wilton Speight
  5. Brandon Peters

Running Back

  1. Hassan Haskins
  2. Blake Corum
  3. Karan Higdon
  4. Chris Evans
  5. De'Veon Smith

Tight End

  1. Jake Butt
  2. Eric All
  3. Zach Gentry
  4. Sean McKeon
  5. Nick Eubanks

Wide Receiver 

  1. Ronnie Bell
  2. Nico Collins
  3. Amara Darboh
  4. Jehu Chesson
  5. Donovan Peoples-Jones

I left off players who were not "starters" or who never contributed at a "starter level".  For example, I thought about including JJ at number 5 instead of Peters, but it didn't seem fair to include him over other players who started multiple games.  It's possible, if not likely, that he will be at the top of this list by this time next year.  You could also make the case for a guy like Charbonnet to be at number 3 or 4, but I chose to leave him off since he only had the one impactful year before transferring away, whereas the other backs had a longer lasting impact.

In addition to JJ, guys like Edwards, and Anthony could make an appearance on these Top 5 lists next season, and All and Bell have a chance to move up the all-time lists. 

What does the rest of the board think?

 

 

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jethro34

January 18th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^

I really wish we would have had a better ability to utilize the downfield threats of Nico, DPJ, and Tarik with Chris Evans out of the backfield. That offense could have been must see tv.

Joined: 01/28/2011

MGoPoints: 2346

bhughes81

January 18th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^

I had to downvote, because I'm not sure how you better utilize them IF you are including all 4 on the field at the same time. Due to all 4 of those players having injures, Evans not playing at all in 2019, and the receivers not playing at all in 2020, Do you know how many games all 4 were able to play in together?

Answer: 3 

2018 Indiana, 2018 Ohio State, and 2018/19 bowl game against Florida.

So, I'm unsure of how you better utilize players that aren't able to play.

Joined: 10/04/2016

MGoPoints: 819

Harball sized HAIL

January 18th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^

Or the game plan.  Patterson was fools gold.  He could never hit a deep route on time.  Simply throwing a jump ball to Nico 8 times a game would have resulted in at least 6 completions for 250yds + 1 PI.  Somehow all the staff they had that were paid millions to watch and review tape couldn't see what I could from my couch.  

Joined: 10/05/2018

MGoPoints: 11769

bhughes81

January 18th, 2022 at 3:43 PM ^

yea.. I've re-watched most of the 2018 season just a little bit ago, that is quite the exaggeration. Best QB? not by far, but you're making him sound like Dennard Robinson lol. It would have been nice to actually have the 4 weapons in question here on the field, but sadly, the 4 of them were never on the field together, outside of 3 games, due to injuries

Joined: 10/04/2016

MGoPoints: 819

tazredii

January 19th, 2022 at 1:38 AM ^

Can we trade out Shea Patterson for Jake Rudock???  Jake had no hype, and an outcast from Iowa, but could get things done. Shea, with all his hype and new offense, and little to show for it. Especially with all the weapons at his disposal ... IJS

Joined: 11/17/2009

MGoPoints: 31

TK

January 18th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^

 Yeah maybe. There might be some recency bias here. And I still think the hope is that JJ is the starter. Even though I know you didn’t want to include him,I feel like he’s got to be well above Brandon peters. Already. 

Joined: 09/23/2014

MGoPoints: 18078

Booted Blue in PA

January 18th, 2022 at 2:07 PM ^

The way Edwards was used this season really gets my hopes up that he's going to be the ideal 'speed in space' guy that we've been waiting for.  he's such a receiving threat coming out of the backfield, splitting out wide, or lining up in the slot.    

i'm hoping that he has a monster season, heisman hype type season....  

Joined: 12/18/2018

MGoPoints: 60408

Barry22

January 18th, 2022 at 2:23 PM ^

I haven't seen enough from Bell to put him that high just yet. For his first couple years, I also think Bell's production got a huge boost based off where he fell in the scouting report relative to M's other top receivers. And IMO, based on the height of his peak, I'd slot Chesson slightly ahead of Darboh.

1. Collins

2. Chesson

3. Darboh

4. DPJ

5. Bell

Joined: 11/30/2021

MGoPoints: 499

rcrichlo

January 18th, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^

Despite how poorly we used Nico I’d still have him over Ronnie imo. Maybe Darboh too

Nico made many big plays and in big games. He looked like he belonged in our outmatched games vs OSU for example 


comical how bad the WR stats are in general. Thankful Gattis has that on the up and up. We spread it around now but I think if we have a legit nfl 1st rounder they’d put up big numbers under this new offense. We scheme pretty good talent open as is

With NFL WR talent look out. Maybe Anthony can be that 

 

 

Joined: 09/16/2010

MGoPoints: 160

rcrichlo

January 18th, 2022 at 2:33 PM ^

Not to thread back but kind of 

 

People need to listen to this NIL podcast deep dive. By a lawyer and UM sports fan. Focuses on UM OSU MSU

“forever Saturday” podcast 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-saturday/id1604090577?i=1000548003996

 

i would start a post but not enough points. Hopefully someone else does

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-saturday/id1604090577?i=1000548003996

 

 

Joined: 09/16/2010

MGoPoints: 160

TruBluMich

January 18th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^

Jabrill Peppers was a top 5 skill position player.  Normally I would agree that defensive players are not "traditional" skill players.  But there are not very many players who have the skill to play corner, safety, and linebacker then turn around and play the traditional skill positions on offense. Not to mention return punts and kicks.

In 2016 he had more touchdowns than any of our WR's had this season.

Joined: 08/03/2011

MGoPoints: 21976

JamieH

January 18th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^

I love Ronnie Bell but no way is he the #1 WR.  His career numbers are 83 for 1380 and 5 TDs.

Nico Collins put up 78 for 1388 and 13 TDs in 2 season.   Darboh was 151 to 2062 and 14 TDs.   DPJ didn't have more yards but had way more TDs with 14. 

Bell could be at the top of the list with a monster final season, but there is no way he is #1 at this point.  That is a credit to the other guys, not a bash on Bell.


 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

diji1994

January 18th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^

These are all super valid points.  I could definitely see the argument being made for Nico, DPJ, Darboh, and maybe even Chesson being better than Bell.  

I mostly had Bell at 1 since he has been the best/most productive receiver for multiple years straight.  He led the 2019 team in both catches and yards (over DPJ and Nico) and was the best receiver on the team in 2020 as well.  

 

Most likely I am just a biased Ronnie Bell fan haha.

 

Joined: 01/09/2010

MGoPoints: 790

Double-D

January 18th, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^

Ronnie Bell may be fighting for a starting spot on next years team.

This is not a knock on him and how great he has played at all but not everyone makes a full come back in one season from his injury.  And the WR room is pretty stacked. His leadership is hard to ignore. I’m pulling for him.

I also have both Cade and JJ ahead of Ruddock. 

Joined: 12/21/2013

MGoPoints: 87520

WolverineinLA

January 18th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^

His production wasn't as good as others on the list and I think he was a different type of back but De'Veon Smith will be one of my favorite Michigan running backs of all time. He always fell forward and it took multiple guys to take him down. He played with pure heart and will. 

Haskins had a lot of the same traits this year. 

Darboh should be higher imo.

Joined: 02/11/2016

MGoPoints: 1939

Brandywine

January 18th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^

Truthfully, the answer is Jabrill Peppers. I've never seen a more electric player with the ball in his hands. I understand his value on defense, but I think he could have been reggie bush esque as a RB.

Joined: 01/30/2015

MGoPoints: 434

turtleboy

January 18th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^

This is just, like, my opinion, man, but I think a little space on the list could be carved out for Khalid Hill and Sione Houma. Their ability to make key blocks and execute the FB dive carried more than a few scoring drives. FB deserves a place on the list.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35130

Bambi

January 18th, 2022 at 5:18 PM ^

Maybe a hot take but I'd put Speight at #2 for QBs. His SO year stats in 2016 were almost identical to Cade's this year, and that's despite only playing in 12 games compared to Cade's 14, while also being injured for the last 3.

Speight also had significantly worse OC at the time, and I'd argue comparable or worse skill talent. The RBs/run game as a whole was clearly worse and the TEs were probably comparable (Butt>All, but All+Schoonmaker = Butt+the rest of the TEs in 2016).

And even for the WRs, the top talent was better for Speight (Darboh+Chesson), especially since Bell was out this year. But after the top 2 in 2016, the only other WR in 2016 with more than 10 catches or 100 yards was Perry. Hell, only 5 skill players had 100 yards all season. Whereas this year there were 5 WRs who hit 100 yards, 10 players total, and that doesn't include Henning or Bell.

Obviously the rest of Speight's career didn't work out great (I'd once again put most of that on injuries and a terrible offense surrounding him in 2017), but especially considering many of us hope and want JJ to be the guy moving forward, I think we'll really only have the sophomore years of both of them to compare. I'd take Speight, especially since to me Speight at his best was better than Cade at his best.

Joined: 10/12/2013

MGoPoints: 23158

Blue Middle

January 18th, 2022 at 7:16 PM ^

I don't like the "starter" requirement.  I'll rank based on who I think the best players are/were based on a "draft board" style factoring production and demonstrated talent:

Quarterback

  1. Jake Rudock
  2. Cade McNamara
  3. JJ McCarthy (I believe he'll be #1 in a year)
  4. Shea Patterson
  5. Wilton Speight

Running Back

  1. Hassan Haskins
  2. Blake Corum (I believe he'll pass Haskins)
  3. Donovan Edwards (Could also move up)
  4. Chris Evans
  5. De'Veon Smith

Tight End

  1. Jake Butt
  2. Eric All
  3. Zach Gentry
  4. Sean McKeon
  5. Nick Eubanks

Wide Receiver (I believe we have players on the roster or incoming who will overtake at least #4 & 5...could be: Cornelius Johnson; Roman Wilson; Andrel Anthony; or any of the incoming freshmen)

  1. Nico Collins
  2. Ronnie Bell
  3. Amara Darboh
  4. Jehu Chesson
  5. Donovan Peoples-Jones

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MGoPoints: 5242

Ronswanson13

January 20th, 2022 at 7:16 PM ^

Agree with the two posters who brought up Peppers. He was the most electrifying player with the ball in his hands that we’ve had in the Harbaugh era. It’s not his fault that they decided to only use that lame ass wild cat formation for him at the end. A more creative OC would have gotten even more out of his talents.

He was a first round pick, had a really good season last year as a S, and was voted a captain by the Giants this year before his season ending injury, so it’s difficult if not to stupid to question what I’m about to question, but I still wonder what he could have been exclusively as an offensive player. He had some Reggie Bush in him to me.

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