ESPN interview($) with departing seniors about Team 134.
The 19 departing seniors were interviewed about their time at UM and were asked some questions about the current team. Some interesting tidbits for those without insider: Willie Henry and Ben Braden were chosen as the top 2 redshirt freshmen to watch. "Willie is so talented. He's got a motor every down. If he can motivate himself to play every down as hard as he can, he'll be very successful."
And of course, all 19 said if they had to do it again they would have picked UM. Interesting read for sure if you have Insider.
April 24th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^
I definitely understood what you meant after the third time. The first two weren't so clear, but i get it now.
but he started selling jerseys in Ohio. That got people to believe in Mike Jones.
It's amazing what a school can do when everybody supports the head coach.
It's amazing what a school can do when you win*
I hate to make it into that I just can't believe the Michigan fan base will still go to bat for RR. If Hoke went 3-5-7 he would also not have support.
Just some of my own thoughts from this piece and how it will relate to the field in 2013:
- Leaders: Gardner, Lewan, Gallon, Ross, Gordon (or better put, our five best players)
- Breakouts: Henry, Braden, Kalis
- Our only issues with depth / experience will come at OL and RB, assuming Gardner stays healthy. Derrick Green can single handedly remove this concern. I have no issues with his running - but pass protection at the college level is always a question for freshmen RBs.
- Gallon will be an absolute stud at WR for us this year - our best since Manningham in 2007. Depth at WR is very strong, so strong that even Chesson might be 'one year away' still.
- TE isn't really mentioned, but we know what we have there (The Funchise, AJ Williams shedding weight, and Jake Butt most likely burning his RS).
- DL lacks major star power at this point, but has a ridiculous amount of depth I don't ever remember seeing.
- It would be nice to get a fully healthy Jake Ryan at LB - but this position group is still way above average nationwide (Bolden our 4th LB is a good problem to have, and the B1G will know James Ross' name this year if they don't already).
- DB could potentially see issues if 'Jake Butt vs. Jarrod Wilson' becomes the norm and not the exception. But Thomas Gordon should be an absolute stud, and Blake Countess should be 100% ready physically to play (but will probably take a few games to get the mental aspect, whereby he trusts his knee, back).
I haven't heard much of Jenkins-Stone since his recruitment, how is he doing? I did try to focus on him during a rerun of the spring game, he didn't do much in my eyes but he also didn't do anything bad.
He still needs to add some weight if memory serves correct, same problem that Tom Strobel has.
Currently backing up James Ross, per Brian's note on the front page.
Willie Henry really stood out to me during the Spring Game. He was kind of under the radar in other Spring Game post mortems I've read here and elsewhere, probably because he didn't make many key plays. Zeroing in just on him though, he was really impressive taking on doubles, getting push 1 on 1 and chasing down and finishing plays.
He's got a motor every down. If he can motivate himself to play every down as hard as he can, he'll be very successful.These two statements are usually said about two very different players.
or with a 'gotta' as in he's got to
Absolutely did not expect to see my alma mater (Calvin) as an answer to the "If Michigan wasn't an option, where would you have gone" question...
Who was it? I don't have ESPN insider. As a soon to be Calvin graduate, that would be interesting to know.
April 24th, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^
The article is a of a survey that was 100% annoymous and so it doesn't say. I am a Calvin College grad myself, class of 2010, and I didn't notice that that was one of the answers until I saw the comment here. I am curious who it would be, especially considering Calvin does not have football.
Also ForeverBlue, say hi to Mr. Crow for me. I haven't him seen him for a bit.
EDIT: Oops, I see the reply below mine was to you which answered your question. Now that I think about, I bet it is Brookhuizen. His ex-girlfriend went to Calvin (I know her so it's not creepy that I know this!) ...I know he isn't on the team, but do you think he was still included in this survey?
April 24th, 2013 at 11:10 PM ^
Yeah, sorry about that - I hit the wrong reply button, my bad!
So it probably couldn't be Brookhuizen, then. Wonder who it was. The survey just said it included 19 outgoing seniors. Could possibly include walk-ons?
It doesn't say - the responses are all anonymous. I was trying to figure it out, my first thought was Brookhuizen (who is a fellow HCHS alum and from Holland), but I think he is only a Jr this year? I'm guessing it had to be someone from Holland or GR, though...
April 24th, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
Go Maroons :) I'm an old geezer compared to you, there wasn't even football yet at HCHS when I graduated in '00. I remember the first ever middle school football game was held my senior year and we had an enormous tailgate for it, then watched them get smoked like 49-7 or something. I was very surprised we won a state title so quickly!
April 24th, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
Which hasn't been mentioned:
Survey:
If you had to do it over again, would you have gone to Michigan?
Yes: 19
No: 0
April 24th, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^