BTN Reaction Articles
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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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
August 11th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
your mom was under Bo.
August 11th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
The first indoor facility was built during Bo's tenure. The old building is directly north of the outdoor practice fields and directly west of Schembechler Hall.
But your point is taken because Bo generally used the indoor field for preparation of bowl games to be out of the late fall cold weather.
August 11th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
Bo's teams would have been waxed by most in D1 today. There, I said it. Football and S&C have come a long way. Maximizing practice time in a safe environment > acting tough and manly.
August 11th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
however, Bo had an endless sea of bodies that he could practice till they collapsed. IIRC, Bo even admitted he would have a tougher time today because he believed in full contact, full pads, all-the-time contact which you can't do with an 85 scholarship limit. Plus he also didn't have restrictions on practice time? I could be wrong about that.
August 11th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
August 11th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
August 11th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^
By law, they have to go inside.
August 11th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
Still waiting for Chris Eddins to break out.
I'm never letting that one go, BTN.
August 11th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
I'm getting weary of the Clark hype. I just want to see it on the field. If he never cracks a headline at practice and then plants opposing QBs on their rears, I'll be one happy Michigan fan.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^
I know this happened, but it didn't happen enough for all the hype he's gotten. You'd think the way he was talked up, we'd see more of Woodley type domination. I just want consistent results, that is all.
August 11th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
"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."
I won't lie - I really like the idea of always having Gallon-esque "thinking with portals" potential within the receiving corps. I would be interested in seeing Norfleet get some time in this capacity definitely.
August 11th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
For all the talking he has been doing this offseason he must be expecting to be a 1st Team All American. I'm all for backing it up.
August 11th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
What time is the BTN show on TV? Schedule on BTN.com is ambiguous.
August 11th, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
Dinardo said on twitter that it's on at 6 pm
August 11th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
It's also on apparently at 9:30pm, but 1:30 instead of 1 hr like at 6pm. Not sure if it's the same show with extras, or two separate broadcasts.
August 11th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
is different today than it was last week. Last week they were one hour shows, today the show is an hour and a half. I don't know if that means they'll spend more time on Michigan, or if they're adding other material from around the B1G. Probably the latter I would imagine.
August 11th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
Sounds like the defensive line is going to be very good; I was worried about the interior based on Pipkins injury and unknowns (I like Henry a great deal, but I'm always nervous about guys coming back from ACL injuries, especially big guys like Pipkins), so it is great to hear that the ends look good and that there is real depth there. If they can generate some organic pressure with the front 4, this defense could absolutely be one of the best in the conference. Secondary looks stacked if Lewis is pushing for top billing with Taylor and Countess back there.
August 11th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
I'm sorry to be that guy but our impressive defensive line is going against our offensive line in practice. Don't you kind of expect them to look really good? Is Clark that good or is it the opposing RT at the time? Again, sorry, I'm still gun shy when it comes to this team.
August 11th, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^
Totally agree. It can't be helping the d-line's development to have such a vortex of incompetence at o-line.
August 11th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^
That's a very logical point—how can so many here be simultaneously petrified by our OL yet enthusiastic about our DL while still in fall camp?
The fact is we won't really know anything until the first game. And since it's against Appy St, we still may not really know anything until we visit South Bend.
August 12th, 2014 at 6:59 AM ^
August 11th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 8:41 AM ^
I'm not going to worry too much about the verbage used by coaches/analysts in the battle for backup QB and I don't think anyone else should either. It's probably motivational "coach-speak" like when they tried to convince Morris he was in a battle with DG for the starting job.
August 11th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
August 11th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
August 11th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
I am thinking about ranking the best players in the B1G on each team at each position, what do you guys think? Interesting? Not worth it?
August 11th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
I imagine it would be a whole lot easier once depth charts are out though.
August 12th, 2014 at 6:57 AM ^