Break out player for this season...(offense)
Few weeks ago all the seniors talked about break out players for offense/defense. Buncha different names were mentioned.
Who does everyone think will be the biggest breakout player/impact player on OFFENSE?
Every other person is probably going to say Tate Forcier, I would too.. But besides him, I think Daryl Stonum will be. Every time he had a pass within 2 feet of him he grabed it. The TD he has vs Purdue was rediculous. One of the games he had like 2-3 diving catches. Over half his catches were great catches on bad throws. His TD also showed his playmaking ability. Give the kid the ball more for god sakes.
I felt bad for him because 80% of the time we threw his way it was a bad pass. (wayy over the head especially)
January 28th, 2009 at 11:40 PM ^
B. Minor will hopefully stay healthy and put together a strong campaign.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
Stonum had his share of drops.
But none of our receivers will have a break out year if our quarterbacking doesn't improve.
I expect Carlos Brown to scorch the turf as long has he dodges his obligatory spring injury..
January 28th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
Odoms
yay
January 28th, 2009 at 11:51 PM ^
If Minor stays healthy, I think he has a good chance to lead the Big Ten in rushing.
Beyond that, it's really hard to say. The success of our receivers depends entirely on the success of our quarterbacks, and it's murky at best how good our QB's will be.
That being said, if we can throw the ball downfield next year, I think Mathews could have an All-Big Ten year. Even though he didn't get much of a chance last year to show it, he's improved his speed. If we were running a pro style offense with our QB's of the past decade or so, he'd be a pretty good bet to gain 1,000 yards, in my opinion. He's got great hands, makes catches in traffic, can make acrobatic catches, and can get good - but not great - separation.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:00 AM ^
...I think of those two acrobatic, fantastic catches against Notre Dame (fuck the refs it was a touchdown) and against Minnesota (what a throw by Sheridan - the entire Metrodome said, "What? That was from Sheridan?"). He could definitely play himself into the NFL draft if either Forcier / Threet are accurate throwing the ball.
The flip side of that is that if Minor and Brown stay healthy, I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of Forcier in the Rich Rod spread (don't make the freshman QB throw it all over, AND, keep the defense off the field and fresh), and that means a lot of running, which will mean less balls for Greg.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:54 PM ^
(1) Big Will as outside receiver...
...seriously, though...
(2) We already know what we've got with Minor and Brown, and it looks good for both of them. Honestly, with those two, Michigan may have the best running back tandem in the Big Ten. But I think Michael Shaw will have a breakout year. He looked fantastic against Minnesota, and as a speed option out of the backfield, he could excel.
and
(3) Martavious Odoms. Here's why. Hopefully he won't have to return kicks this year. That could fall to Robinson, Roundtree, Hemingway or Mathews (goodness we have decent potential at WR). He can then concentrate on the receiving. Passing is the key, since Odoms was rendered useless at times since neither Threet nor Sheridan could get this guy the ball in the right spot. He's been a #1 option in his offenses since 8th grade, and despite the QB problems, he was Michigan's leading receiver last year. He will be again this year with an added assortment of passes and an additional year of experience, along with a more accurate passer. I think he will become an upper echelon receiver this year and will enable Jeremy Gallon to redshirt, thereby giving the team 2 years' separation between he and Odoms.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^
I don't really see Odoms as a possible breakout player just because, as a slot receiver, he won't get many opportunities to make plays downfield. What we saw last year is what we're going to get (although obviously he'll improve and so will our QB's, hopefully). But he's probably not going to be a 1,000-yard receiver or anything. I don't see his numbers improving dramatically, partly because I think we'll be better at running the ball and hopefully throwing it to the outside WR's.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:06 AM ^
here I think our running game will be very good next year. I do think that Odoms's success will largely hinge on who is QBing the team. If Forcier starts early, I think he'll be looking more for short passes to Koger, Odoms, Mathews, and running backs out of the backfield until he gets comfortable going downfield. If we see Threet, I think the passes will be more spread out to Odoms, Robinson and the outside WRs.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:08 AM ^
I mean the difference between catching 50 balls, or catching 60-70 balls. So, maybe one a game, not that big of a difference I suppose. If the offense gets more sustained drives this year, which I suspect (1/3 of drives last year went three and out? yuck), there will be a lot more passes to go around.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:47 AM ^
I hope any 2 of the 3 return kicks next year:
Cissoko, Robinson, or Shaw
January 28th, 2009 at 11:54 PM ^
Our qb play will improve. It can't get any worse. Obviously, Threet and Sheridan will improve(maybe not sheridan), But, If Forcier wins it out before game 1 it says alot about him.
Remember Threet transfered to Michigan to play behind Mallet. Then bam, he has chance to be starter? In an offense hes not familar in? Whatttt? Is this a dream?
Threet will improve ALOT this offseason. So will the Offensive line.
And, when your QB improves throwing, whoever it is, the recievers will get good numbers.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:34 AM ^
Yeah, I didn't feel that the ineptness of Threet was all his fault. I would put it mostly on the O-line (or Angry Michigan Offensive Lineman Hating god to be exact). I think an improved offensive line will do Threet a world of good.
I also think Threet gets the start over Forcier. Last year, one of the glaring problems on offense was lack of experience. Are we going to solve that this year by putting a true freshman at QB?
January 29th, 2009 at 7:12 AM ^
You do when the freshman has been working within the same type of a system you've implemented, versus a qb that is just learning it.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
Hopefully one of the linemen has a breakout year. Otherwise it don't much matter how good our skill guys are.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:03 AM ^
...by the end of the year. I recall Michigan running it down Penn State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Ohio State's throats for portions, or all, of each of those games.
With another off-season of Barwis, 6 RS freshmen pushing for playing time, and 9 more months' experience in the Rich Rod system, the line will be really good. I expect Michigan to be a borderline dominant running team next year.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:05 AM ^
I agree on Odoms, and I'm glad you mentioned Gallon, tiny little stud. I just see a nice little spread coming together here.
Magnus, I totally agree Odoms isn't going to bring big numbers... but first downs? Eh? Maybe be a big enough short yardage threat to open up a lot of options for the offense? The key is the QB hitting him right like jg2112 said.
I'm way too optimistic about our passing game here, but I can't logically talk myself out of it.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:15 AM ^
It's fun to think about all the potential talent that will be lining up for Big Blue this year, and how Rich Rod can use it. Along with mixing in all the wideouts in the passing game, think about the diversification of the running game. All the WRs, including Roundtree, Feagin and Junior Hemingway, can be used in the rushing attack through misdirection, end-arounds, counter traps, etc. The reasons why this will work is because not only will this year's QB be able to better run this offense, but also we'll have some good skill position blockers. Not only Moundros and Mathews, but Minor too - I believe it was in the 2008 Michigan State game where Threet ran for a very disjointed touchdown at the beginning of the second half, and Minor blocked the (FUCK YOU) State linebacker on his ass. Minor's power (heck, Grady's too) could really be used to free space for our shifty receivers.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:52 AM ^
I think he is going to be our beast.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:53 AM ^
I actually think Terrance Robinson has a chance to be a break out player. From some of the comments about him, it sounds like the coaching staff was expecting quite a bit out of him last season if he had not been injured.
Also, I realize the tight end position is sort of in limbo with this offense, but especially with a year of Barwis under his belt, I really think Koger could be a very productive option as he can really create some match-up issues. I'm just not sure how much the coaching staff will really use him.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:24 AM ^
Said and done.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:56 AM ^
I heard that if he eats chocolate, he's prone to a breakout.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:01 AM ^
The most unselfish player on the team. A true Michigan man.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:34 AM ^
I'll go PlayerS,
Top 3 Groups.
1.O-Line. Every one of these young men, will be Bigger, Faster and more importantly, Smarter than last year.
2.DB's. BooBoo and Warren, in my opinion, will be two talented shut down corners this year. Stevie B, I know was tough to watch at times last year, was stellar at stopping the run and I think will improve with one of the young safeties we have on the roster.
3.Special Teams. This area killed us as much or more than any other in 2008. Odoms on punts and Cissoko on Kick offs. Both will protect the rock more and both, as we all know, have break away maves and speed.
All 3 of these click this year and Michigan will be bowling again!!!
January 29th, 2009 at 9:08 AM ^
Jr. Hemmingway
There is something about the way he plays that makes me confident in his ability to be our go-to receiver down the road. I see him as a guy that can wear the #1 someday.
Hopefully this year he's looking at 35-40 receptions with 6-8 TDs.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:16 AM ^
I'm not necessarily talking to you (maybe you have good reasons), but I have no idea why so many people think Hemingway is such a good receiver. He only caught a few balls as a freshman and he made ONE good catch in 2008, and now lots of people think he'll be a superstar.
The good thing is he still has three years of eligibility left. But I remain skeptical of his star power.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:42 AM ^
I sort of find it hard to put Odoms as an offensive breakout player because, in my eyes, he did that last year. Not to say that he won't improve, but as far as I'm concerned, he already had his 'breakout' year. I look forward to seeing what Roundtree is going to do with some solid playing time seeing since he was supposed to be playing last year just as Odoms did.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:48 AM ^
tate is getting set up for disaster because peoples expectations for him are so high. i expect him to be slightly better than threet last year.
i think the breakout player will be a RB (probably minor) or odoms