Exceeded / Fell Short of Expectations - 2014 Individual Players [Offense]

TL;DR - most offensive players played below expectations.

Well it was a rough year and you are what your record shows you are. 

Thought I'd take a look at individual pieces and see who exceeded expectations coming into the season and where we fell flat.   This is with the Josh Furman caveat - maybe the coaching has a lot to do with things, and with a different staff these guys would be performing better.  There were a few very bright spots but a lot of below expectations as well.  Second caveat - I am sure they are all great people (mostly); this is about football.

QBs

• Devin - way below expectation.  5th year senior expected to lead the team, outplayed by guys with similar talent in their 1st years starting at OSU, Arizona, etc.
• Shane - below expectation.  Regression in short time on field.  Coach's unwilling to ever go back to him despite struggles/injury of Devin speaks volumes.

RBs

• Green - flat vs expectation.  A more trim Green was expected to improve from disappointing freshman campaign and he did.  Is he a lights out star? No.  But showed some acceleration at second level.  Vision lagged early but seemed to improve as year went by.  Still too easily brought down.
• Smith - below expectation.  He is what he is.  Hard runner who gets YAC but that first hit usually comes early.  With a better OL he probably can be a punishing guy who smashes the first linebacker who hits him but when its a defensive tackle not much happens.
• Johnson - above expectation.  This is mostly on OSU game as the Indiana game was against a HS defense.  Huge drop off in run production minute Johnson exited vs OSU.  Plays with determination like Smith but has good vision, runs north and south, and obvious speed.  Major question as to why coach's had him so low on depth chart.
• Hayes - flat.  Like Smith he is what he is.  A change of pace back who is limited.  Nice speed but that's about it.  Had opportunity for playing time late in year and didn't grab it like Johnson did.

FB

• Kerridge - above expectation.  Another guy almost ignored all year until last few games, and played well.   There should be room for a 5-6 plays a game for a guy like this.

TE

• Butt - flat only due to lack of use.  I think Butt might be the best position player on the offense.  But he is horribly underutilized.  If he would see the ball 6x a game this grade would be "way above expectation" IMO.  Can remember 1 flat out drop all year and other than that sticky fingers, not a lot of obvious blocking blowups, and a weapon.  That we ignored.
• Williams - below expectation.  Expectations were low and he fell short of them.  As a 3rd year player he blocks poorly, and a complete non threat to catch the ball.
• Hill - incomplete.  Hill seemed to be finding his way in the offense the week before he got injured.  That is so Michigan 2014.

WR

• Funchess - way below expectation.  Obviously the 2 Devins are connected, one cannot play well with the other.  But after halftime of the App State game and before the OSU game Funchess had 1 TD all year.  That's criminal for a man of his talent.  Injury was an issue but post Utah game he seemed like a man thinking about the NFL and protecthing his body.  Didn't lay out for balls, dropped quite a few catchable balls, did not outrun Rutgers/Maryland level DBs.   Was expected to lead a young offense and simply was nowhere near what he should have been.
• Darboh - flat.  Was a mystery but with reports of #2 WR next to Gallon coming out of 2012 camp before injury, there was a good level of expectation.  He matched that.  Some games on, some games disappeared but much of that was on Devin never finding 2nd options in his reads.   Improved as the year went on.
• Chesson - below expectation.  Was expected to either be the #2 or #3 WR.  Not targeted much, and little improvement on his 15 catches the prior year.  Even blocking - his calling card for 2013 - didnt seem to be as obvious of a strength.
• Norfleet - flat.  Another "he is is what he is".  Some parts of the blogosphere believe this to be the greatest unused asset on the team but he is not as fast as those people think, and his size is a detriment even in the slot.  A bit player, and should be viewed as such.
• Canteen - below expectation.  Expectations were unfair due to strong spring.  That said he was a complete non factor until OSU game with a great catch.  Dropped a simple pass vs Maryland and looked overwhelmed.  Hopefully this is first year blues with a QB who never found him and next year his hands catch up to his fast feet.

OL

• Miller - above expectation.  Many did not want to see this man see the field in 2014 based on poor early 2013.  He wasn't great but serviceable.  And that is way above expectation of total bust.
• Kalis - below expectation.  I am being tough on the young man in relation to Jack Conklin at MSU.  Conklin is a walk on from same class playing a tougher role at left tackle and did not give up a sack 2 years in a row.  Not expecting that from Kalis but an up and down 2nd year starting (mostly).  Was he bad? No.  Was he good? No.  For a 5 star and the most "college ready" guy from his class he has been below expectation.
• Braden - flat.  Hopes were not high for Braden coming into the year and he basically met them.  An ok first year; below the standard of what UM needs at the position but again many thought coming into the year he'd have troubles.
• Glasgow - flat.  Was considered the best returning lineman ... yes it was a low bar. And he seemed to mostly play like it.  Not great but for a former walk on, he is sufficient.
• Cole - above expectation.  Expectations were for some LOL moments from a true freshman left tackle and they were actually far and few apart.  Yes there were some turnstile moments - it happens when you play a position you should be watching your freshman year (and for most guys your RS FR year), rather than playing.  Now this was the most college ready freshman on the OL the last 3 years - future very bright.
• Magnuson - below expectation.  Was expected to be left tackle.  Then Cole took the position.  Then expected to be left guard.  Played, then injured.  Then never got back into the rotation.  Maybe that speaks to Glasgow.   Turned into an emergency TE by end of year but for a player expected to be a starter on OL it was a strange campaign.

Overall - no surprise this year sucked on offense.  The 2 upperclassmen star skill players pooped most of the year post App State.  The other star skill player - Butt - was injured early, then ignored most of the rest of the year.   The highly rated RBs were ok not great; the best RB by end of year was a guy ignored for first 8 games.  Secondary WR help was basically 1 player (Darboh) all year - who most games Funchess was healthy was ignored due to QBs ability to find him.   The line was better than 2013 but that is an extremely low bar.  A true freshman may have been the 2nd best linemen which says alot about those coached by Funk for multiple years.   Not many players exceeded expectations.

Never too early 2015 thoughts - just about everyone comes back but the 2 Devins (Devin #2 mentally checked into the NFL about 2 months ago is graded 1st/2nd round - he gone) leave.   OL will be seasoned with potential stud at LT, RB battle will be fierce - guy like Smith could be 4th string, Butt will be Butt.  Need star WR and secondary WRs to emerge,  Or could just be WR by committeee next year unlike past 2 years with primary WR getting tons of attention.  Most important - need QB to emerge from space and time to steer this unit.