Camp Legends 2009
We fans get excited every year, whether you're following a college team, pro team, or both, about the players we hear who are starring in August practice.
This year is no exception. There is nothing wrong with hype, and having a little hope and positive things said about players is a good thing.
He are hearing great things out of Ann Arbor about some guys who are just lighting it up in practice. They are the Camp Legends of 2009.
Vincent Smith, Brandon Herron and now Kelvin Grady are guys I see emerging as 2009 Camp Legends. Anyone else?
I hope all these legends bear fruit.
The questions are, which of these legends are likely to blossom into good players this season, which of these legends are the most important to our success and which legends may be wishful thinking and seen through maize and blue sunglasses.
Just something to talk about. You know, when discussion of academic rankings, dorky snap count plays and, of course, the Belch vs Duke squabbles begins to bore you.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:48 PM ^
Well Stevie Brown is prolly the ultimate camp legend; every year we heard about great things he was doing in camp, but then come game time, we all know the results. I really want Herron to become a good player this season, as the quick position will be critical in this defense. We need to build solid depth at that position, so Roh and Herron are a good start, and I like the Wilkins kid coming in, as he appears to be a great fit for the position.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^
The top guy should win the Stevie Brown Camp Legend Award.
I will echo your thoughts on Herron. If he even comes close to the hype we're hearing from practice observers, then this defense will have an unexpected weapon to throw at offenses.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
that Vincent Smith, at 5' 6" and a buck eighty can lay the wood on a 240# plus player, I see that more as wishful thinking and stories that legends are made of.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
Dooby is a Junior he will have bulked up significantly. He could be really special if he keeps progressing.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:59 PM ^
Its hard not getting caught up in a Jamie Morris or Mike hart emergence after hearing the news about Vincent Smith is doing in practices.
But where are his carries going to come from? Its seems unlikely that there will be enough carries to go around.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:02 PM ^
It looks, from "letters from camp" that Denard might be emerging as a camp legend. He certainly gets more mention than Tate so far this week - 5 positive mentions to Tate's 2, one of which is erased by mention of an interception by Vlad.
But it all could be selection bias. Whoever is reporting could just a Denard fan. And there is a lot of camp left.
http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=182882
August 20th, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^
Shucks. Looks like you beat me to it.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:09 PM ^
1. Mike Shaw: He had this one really impressive run in the M drill that was all over the interwebs and got everyone super excited.
2. Nick Sheridan: We were told that he made very good decisions and was very accurate on his short throws. A lot of people thought he was the next Brian Griese and should start over Threet.
3. Sam Mcguffie: More of an offseason legend then a camp legend. Still, he performed very well in camp, and combined with his previous hype, made everyone think we just got Reggie Bush.
4. Stevie Brown: yeah
August 20th, 2009 at 3:05 PM ^
Morgan Trent seemed to get high praises during camp as well.
Vlad is scaring the crap out of me. I'm reading reports that he is looking extremely solid then reading 5 minutes later that he looks "completely lost".
August 20th, 2009 at 3:13 PM ^
He's a true freshman. Don't expect him to be the second coming of Taylor Mays yet. Vlad is going to be a good one; just need to have patience with him. Mike Williams should get the starting nod at the safety position, but I like that Vlad is pushing him hard. Competition breeds success.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
Yeah, Kelvin Grady is really surprising me. I figured him to be a guy just giving football a one-time shot, and if not working out, possibly transfer to another school for basketball PT. Didn't expect him to display outstanding athleticism and great hands in the slot position. A great bonus for the team if he contributes this year; I'm rooting for the guy.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
Terence Robinson. If you recall there were several quotes from players and other sources saying that he was the man before his injury. Now you hear nothing other than a couple mentions saying he has trouble catching.
August 20th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
Yeah, this is a bummer. He was a kid I was really excited about last year.
I sort of wonder if it's a mental thing with T-Rob. Instead of being the probable starter last year he now has to play catch up. Let's hope he can get focused and ignore any negative thoughts that might be swirling around in his head.
Disclaimer: This is just a hunch (nothing more), but if T-Rob sits a lot this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him take off after the season. I hope that doesn't happen. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer. I feel like a manic depressive these days, waiting for the season to start.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
I'm hoping that our camp legends this year do a lot better than our camp legends did last year.
August 20th, 2009 at 4:55 PM ^
This page (http://mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=182882) suggests Denard Robinson is quickly becoming a camp legend. However, last time I posted something similar I was pegged as a Tate hater (despite concomitantly claiming I prefer Tate, expect him to develop quickly, and would love nothing more than to have RR switch from a Pat White-clone paradigm to a Drew Brees-clone paradigm).
Take this post and those reports for whatever you believe they are worth.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:07 PM ^
Great minds.....