Chengelis on Toussaint

Could you hook a brother up with a link?

Yes I found that odd also. It would be a plesant suprise, but I think shes just filling a colum.

I love how are backs are competing, and each week a new one emerges. This only makes the whole unit better!!!

I find it hard to believe that Chengelis would not think highly of Cox.

She's normally not bad, but this is one thing about which I have zero faith that she's correct. Toussaint has been a distant third in almost every other practice report. He's practically neck-and-neck with Hopkins.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100416/SPORTS0201/4160374/1004/sports/V...

The title of your post suggests either an essay on French politics or a classy porno movie. Either way, bravo.

But I agree with the sentiment above about waiting until the fall and all the practice reports so far. That being said, Cox and Shaw have both gone through spring practice and gotten on the field already, so they should have been better at the start of spring. The last couple of practices though, I have read Toussaint is coming on strong. I am a big fan and think that he is going to be our starter before the year is out.

I think there are different backs for different packages (novel idea right...?)

All Purpose Backs:
Leader: Cox
Second: Fitz
Third: White

Speed Backs
Leader: Shaw
Second: Vincent Smith (2nd because of injury)

Power Backs
Leader: Hopkins

I'm guessing that because we no longer really ever see the fullback, there will be tons of plays that both Cox is on the field with either Fitz, Shaw, or Smith. The best comparison I can give is when Illinois used to line up Pierre Thomas and Rashard Mendenhall in the backfield if only to confuse defenses on the direction the play was working...

Angelique is the only reporter in Detroit besides Wojo who doesn't seem to hate everything about the University of Michigan. I am more than willing to forgive her errors in judgement because she doesn't have an agenda, either covert or overt, that involves getting UM coaches fired, and she seems to geniunely love her "beat."

As possibly the only NASCAR fan who visits mgoblog, I like her work in that area, too. It's great to read a writer who enjoys the events she covers and has fun instead of trying to create controversy and piss people off.

I wish more "writers" had her style of reporting.

brie en croute

The fact that we have a handful of backs who could be called our #1 is encouraging. There are a lot of teams with a clear #1, but nothing behind him in the event of fatigue, injury, or scheme change. We have a number of backs capable to being the go to back if need be.

Considering how prone to injury tailbacks are, this is a very good thing.

Also: Hopkins excites me. He's one of those backs who will likely never break a 50 yard scamper, but if we play a team with a smallish front 7, he might be able to get 5-6 yards every single play. There might be a game where we give him the ball 8 straight plays and when they bring everyone up, Denard takes it around the outside for the score. Touchdown Michigan!

It seems like the article was comprised of opinions found here. The whole comment about not wanting to start a freshman QB for a third straight year, how Robinson is improving, but it would be hard to believe he has passed Forcier. I guess it just reinforces I need not go anywhere else for Michigan news. Easier for me.

I'm optimistic on Toussaint. Word is that everything he does gonna be funky from now on.

Don't worry, they did enough together that it should be good for at least one joke a week.

...the most like this guy is the guy we should go with.

Touissant > everyone

assuming he gets the offense down of course. he's had trouble doing just that according to RR. hard to take first team reps when you dont know the full playbook.

in my opinion Toussaint is our most complete tailback. he has the best combo of size, speed, strength, vision, and cutting ability.

I don't get the love Fitz gets... oh wait because the Michigan faithful loves new players they haven't seen. Shaw has been tossed to the side by many fans and I wouldn't give up on him yet. He will be the starter to start the season. Most people will be seeing Fitz for the first time during the spring game. I just wish people
would allow the players to play their first real game before blessing them the starter stud of the future.

Toussaint reminds me of a former M running back Jon Vaughn. Toussaint and Vaughn are virtually the same size and both were top sprinters in the 100 and 200 meters in HS.

Vaughn, as I posted in another thread started out his redshirt sophomore season (1990) with back to back 200 yard games against ND and UCLA. As a redshirt freshman(1989), Vaughn rushed for about 60 yards total. Vaughn ended up sharing the running back duties in 1990 with true freshman Ricky Powers. Powers was a power runner somewhat similar maybe to Stephen Hopkins, so lookout for both Toussaint and Hopkins to have a big year this year if history repeats itself.