BTN Reaction Articles

Submitted by carlos spicywiener on

1st Article: Dienhart's Take

Michigan has just 10 scholarship seniors as Brady Hoke enters his fourth season in Ann Arbor. He hasn’t been able to replicate his 2011 debut, when he went 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl. Needless to say, the Wolverines will be scrutinized this fall. The defense has a chance to be good from front to back. The key to success will be how the offense develops, especially up front. New coordinator Doug Nussmeier has arrived from Alabama. Don’t expect any new, radical schemes. Just look for a balanced attacked built around the ground game. This was a tough, physical practice in full pads. It also was a spirited session with lots of energy, even after the rain came and pushed things inside.
Here are my thoughts from practice. BEST OF MICHIGAN PRACTICE Most impressive player: DE Frank Clark. So quick, strong and explosive off the edge. Expect big things. Top specimen: DE Taco Charlton. No. 33 is a looming presence at 6-6, 275. If he ever puts it all together, he could be a force. Best drill: Fun to watch the o-line and d-line engage in pass block-pass rush drills. Man-on-man on an island. Loudest coach: Brady Hoke is pretty vocal. He has a raspy voice and barks at players with frequency. Impressive newcomer: True freshman OT Mason Cole stands out. He arrived early and went through spring drills. He is 6-5, 292 and will be heavier and stronger. He could be a very good one.
Top moment: Watching Brady Hoke roll up his sleeves and work with the d-linemen. On the rise: RB De’Veon Smith. A 5-11, 220-pound sophomore, Smith is a strong runner who has carved a niche for himself. He may be hard to unseat from the No. 1 spot. Nagging question: Is the o-line better? Under the radar: Dennis Norfleet. The diminutive Norfleet is one of—if not the—fastest wideouts on the team. He often gets overlooked amid hub-bub about Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, Freddy Canteen and Devin Funchess. MY POSITION-BY-POSITION OBSERVATIONS Jeremy Gallon will be missed, but the pass-catchers look good. Lots of competition.

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2nd Article: Tweet Roundup

Some below

 

BTN Bus Tour #Wolverines Much like last year a team with more talent than most teams in the B1G recruiting rankings r accurate in most cases

— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 11, 2014

The o-line has moving parts. Top line today. LT Cole (52); LG Magnuson; C Miller; RG Bosch; RT Dawson. pic.twitter.com/XBOHQfUPlz

— Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) August 11, 2014

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Space Coyote

August 11th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^

He looks a ton like the first OL coach I worked with. Old, short, white, balding guy, who digs his feet in the ground heavy and hard, as if the whole sole of his shoe (boot) was being pushed through the ground. And when he'd watch he'd lean just like that, hunched back, his legs bowed, ready to correct something when the play finished.

Learned a lot from that old guy. Just seeing Ferrigno coach reminded me of him. Memories...

Quail2theVict0r

August 11th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^

Yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic this year because it's truly hard to find holes in the team on paper. OL is our big, and pretty much only, question mark but even there it's stacked with kids who came out of HS highly ranked/recruited. Every other position seems to be shockingly deep and full of exciting players.

reshp1

August 11th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^

On the other hand, the jump from RS SO to RS JR is probably going to be less than the other guys are making from RS FR to RS SO, all things being equal. I'm not counting Miller out yet, but his timeline to show his potential is a bit shorter than the other guys.

MayOhioEatTurds

August 11th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^

A year can make a difference.  But it tends not to be a quantum leap from red shirt SO to red shirt JR. 

Also, there were plenty of opportunities on the OL merry-go-round last season.  Miller worked his way out of the OL, not into it, as the last season progressed.  He worked his way out of it for the reasons you and I have both mentioned (viz., getting owned by UConn's NG.  That is never a good sign.). 

I wish for Miller's best.  More than that, I wish for the team's best.  And when the guy who has always repped at C plays his way off of last year's OL, yet finds his way back on this year's, I worry about this year. 

Space Coyote

August 11th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^

I know people are often skeptical of DiNardo, but he's usually pretty honest with his tweets and has a few things to say as far as standouts and suck.

LINK

Not sure why it's posted in full in the OP. Are we against going to btn.com now? Anyway, could probably serve as just links to their practice reports/tweets and a reminder about what time the show is on tonight.

Real Tackles Wear 77

August 11th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^

I know that's a joke but I actually feel like Jabrill's presence is going to create something of a distraction in the academic setting early in his freshman year. Many non-athlete classmates of his have been hearing his name/watching his highlight film for the past 2 years and just seeing him walking through the halls of Mason Hall will be a big deal for many of them. Michigan is definitely a school where star athletes are celebrities from day 1.

ADSellers

August 11th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^

Jesus, man. We're going to have a True Freshman LT, aren't we? 

Excellent OP btw. Thx for posting the article. 

814 East U

August 11th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^

Yes! The Frank Clark practice hype has been rolling full steam ahead for 2-3 years now. I really hope he can put it together on the field for the entire season. He would be a game changer if we can get a decent pass rush (without blitzing)...something Michigan has lacked for a few years now (Brandon G? Woodley?).

ypsituckyboy

August 11th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

I've seen a few of those interviews with opposing offensive lineman who have faced Frank Clark. They basically say that he's really tough to deal with when he actually tries hard, but that doesn't happen more often than not, so on the majority of plays he's not that terribly difficult to block.

Hopefully he's more motivated this year.

reshp1

August 11th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^

Meh, it was one quote and I wouldn't read too much into it. I don't recall anyone, from the coaches to Brian doing UFRs ever picking up on him taking plays off. It's probably more that he has a certain go to move or two that are effective, but can't consistently beat people without them. For a guy that had no help from his interior DL for much of last year, he was pretty damn good... he just didn't quite live up to the hype.

Vote_Crisler_1937

August 12th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

I lived with an O-lineman and a fullback in college who used to say the same things about Alan Branch and Gabe Watson. They always said that M had the most freakish athletes but they were out of shape, took plays off, and had terrible technique. They always said OSU DLine was far less athletic but way better football players. Over the years hearing this kind of thing come up again and again about player X at Michigan "taking plays off" makes me wonder how true it is. I don't know what another explanation might be but diff players under 3 different coaches over the past 10 years, they can't all be lazy.

ADSellers

August 11th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^

Cuz thats all its been so far: potential. ESPN doesnt write articles about guys ALMOST returning a kick for a TD. Hes not under OUR radar but he's not going to turn any heads nationally until he breaks one. We know what we have with Norfleet. It will happen.