Fitz probable winner of job but Green not in first pack of RBs if season started today

Submitted by alum96 on

According to this scuttlebutt (edit: not scuttlebutt but direct quote), Fitz would be the starter tomorrow but the 2 freshmen would be behind the returning RB crew of Rawls, Hayes, and Drake.  Since the season starts in 10 days that seems unlikely to change dramatically in a short period of time.  Could be a nod to the veteran players but seems the "Green is 2nd in line" talk is premature.

In fact, Hoke said his hierarchy right now would probably feature Toussaint, redshirt freshman Drake Johnson and juniors Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes -- with Green and fellow freshman De'Veon Smith falling somewhere behind the pack.

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Brown Bear

August 20th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^

Smoke screens out of Fort Schembechler by the General himself. Very nice. This obviously means that Green and Smith both beat out Fitz and will be a two headed attack with Fitz as the 3rd down back.

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Baldbill

August 21st, 2013 at 7:41 AM ^

wow...I find it very useful, it seriously points out sarcasm. Text can and often is misread/misconstrued and found offensive/not funny with out proper context...If you spoke your sentence to me, yes I would get the sarcasm...typing a one or two line sentence...not likely.  Yes, he was going for the sarcastic, but honestly I think there are enough posters that actually think what he typed was not.

 

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ChiBlueBoy

August 20th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^

A few things to consider:

1) Fitz has looked good in the pore-view scrimmage/practice tapes we've gotten from camp, and buzz has been consistent. 2011 Fitz was pretty damn good by the end of the year.

2) Recruits can be tough to assess. I think Green will be very good, but it's hard to tell, particularly with large backs that run over HS defenses, just which recruits will translate well to the college game.

3) Frosh are still figuring out things like picking up blitzes, and more established backs are better known commodities, particularly early in the season.

My prediction a week or so ago was that Fitz would wind up the 3rd-down back primarily. That could still be true by the end of the year, but I'm leaning heavily now towards Fitz starting and doing well with a lot of off-tackle runs to the left. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Hayes as the change-of-pace back.

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Erik_in_Dayton

August 20th, 2013 at 7:56 PM ^

My guess is that this quasi-depth chart has a lot to do with blocking. I don't doubt that Fitz is running the ball the best, but it seems unlikely to me that Green or Smith isn't running better than at least one of the older guys.

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alum96

August 20th, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^

ChiBlue agree.  Listen, let's not make any judgement until the first game is played but if Green is not making a meaningful appearance in the 2nd or 3rd quarter it is a disappointment.  I dont want to hear about blocking assignements or freshman follies.  He is at a position freshman can make an impact.  He was the #1 RB in the class - ranked 8th overall by Rivals.  The fanbase had him slugging it out with Fitz for #1 or worse case being the #2.   A year ago at this time the #2 RB in the country (#12 overall by Rivals) Yeldon ran the football down our throat in his very first game of his college career, behind (yes a superior) offensive line.  But Saban was not worried about him being a freshman or his blocking assignments.  And Michigan's defense is better than Central's.   Yes Green had 5 days of boo boo's but he has 2+ weeks now to show better and win a 2nd or 3rd slot.  Again let us wait until Aug 31, but a 4th quarter Green or a no show Green would be disappointing. 

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alum96

August 20th, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^

You guys are rationalizing.  So Alabama runs a "simpler" offense then with less pulling and play action and hence even a dummy like Yeldon can figure it out but if Yeldon was a Michigan recruit this year he would be unlikely to challenge for 2nd slot playing time due to the complexity.  I am not sure what your Saban shot is about - I watched the game, Yeldon was the 2nd or 3rd back in after Lacy and did just fine.  Albeit in a supposedly "simple offense" that doesnt stunt as much as Michigan right? p.s. I think Yeldon is a superior back to Green but if you want to rationalize why the #1 ranked RB is not on pace to push for the #2 slot go right ahead and keep going.  (Again not saying he won't - just saying if in 2 weeks that is the case, it is below expectations for that rank of a RB)

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LB

August 20th, 2013 at 9:45 PM ^

I didn't make any arguments one way or another, and I am not "you guys". If you have problems with comprehension, let me know and I'll make things easier to understand.

You stated:

But Saban was not worried about him being a freshman or his blocking assignments.

I just asked if you had an audience with him to get that tidbit. How do you know what he was worried about?

How do you know that Yeldon is a dummy?

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alum96

August 20th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^

Let me reword it so you are satisfied:  Due to the fact Yeldon played major minutes in his first NCAA game against at least a competent defense (Michigan) it appears Saban had confidence in the fact Yeldon's ability would offset any potential negative Yeldon, the #2 rated back and #12 player in the country, brought to the running back position; some of those negatives could potentially include a lack of blocking acumen or missed assignments.  Without being in the actual mind of Nick Saban these are the thoughts of a general observer of said contest.  To that end if a similarly rated back does not achieve a similar ability at this university versus a much lower rated opponent, one should note the divergence between similarly rated running backs.

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Blarvey

August 20th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^

I know the OP was being sarcastic, but you have to read between the lines. The players are all aware where they stand on the depth chart and while Hoke and Jackson and Co. may rave about certain guys (Nathan Brink, Drake Johnson, Joe Reynolds, etc.) that does not mean they are going to play a lot or get significant snaps.

It is all motivation and the framework for a "you have to earn your right to play" team. Maybe it is pass blocking, maybe it is knowing the playbook, maybe it is stamina, or maybe it is something else. I don't know. But being 4th or 5th on Michigan's current RB depth chart is probably not far from 2nd or 3rd and I bet the coaches are valuing protecting Devin almost as much or more than having a gamebreaker in the backfield.

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MGoStrength

August 21st, 2013 at 7:25 AM ^

I agree it's too early to judge Green and his blocking shouldn't kill us in the first game, espeically on 1st and 2nd down, so I think he has some time to learn and contribute.  Also, I've heard Hoke talk up the upplerclassman in years past so I don't totally buy what Hoke is saying.  I beleive Fitz will be the #1 guy, but I also highly doubt Rawls & Johnson will ever get meaningful snaps.  That may just be coach talk and basically making the freshman earn it versus just handing them praise too early over guys who have been here longer.  I assume as the season wears on Green & Smith will prove themselves (at least one of them) and seperate from Rawls & Johnson.  But, TJ Yeldon is the best college running back I've seen as a true freshman since Adrian Peterson.  And, Yeldon is a completely different back than Green and had an amazing o-line in front of him.  

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alum96

August 21st, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^

I agree - Yeldon looks special but that OL seems to make everyone look special.  I only picked his name as a good representative of that level of ranking since he was familiar to UM fans.  I could have picked Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina the same way with the same idea.

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wolverine1987

August 21st, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^

as one poster who respnded to you stated, it is a dispointment that our coaches don't have him higher, which means (so far) that he has not shown the promise indicated by the rating. That means nothing for the rest of his future, but I think it is true that if a few games have gone by and he hasn't moved into that #2 spot predicted for him, that is objectively disappointing. Doesn't mean he won't be a good back , but if he is buried on the bench for most of the year then it definitely means he isn't the elite runner that everyone believed. Lots of time before  that, but I think when Hoke saud "Derrick is learning about college football," thatwas an indication that so far he hasn't wowed the coaches

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wolverine1987

August 21st, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^

as one poster who respnded to you stated, it is a dispointment that our coaches don't have him higher, which means (so far) that he has not shown the promise indicated by the rating. That means nothing for the rest of his future, but I think it is true that if a few games have gone by and he hasn't moved into that #2 spot predicted for him, that is objectively disappointing. Doesn't mean he won't be a good back , but if he is buried on the bench for most of the year then it definitely means he isn't the elite runner that everyone believed. Lots of time before  that, but I think when Hoke said "Derrick is learning about college football," that was an indication that so far he hasn't wowed the coaches

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SamIam

August 21st, 2013 at 7:50 AM ^

This is Hoke keeping Green focused and driven to work for the #2 back spot.  The season is close to starting and he wants everyone on that team to pratice as hard as they can and earn every thing.  Coaches want as much competition fueling players to improve each other as long as possible.

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BlueinTC

August 20th, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^

1. the injury to Green

and 

2. the sublte hype DJ has been getting.

It may be a blessing.  If we can get by with Fitz plus current return players and then red shirt Green and Smith, we could definitely get by without a 2014 RB in the class.  I still feel Green will get his reps in later in the season, but it may be ok if he doesn't.

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A Dude

August 20th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^

I am still going to assume that it will eb Fitz then Green off the bench.  If DJ is number 2 come Aug 31 then and only then will I believe that this wasn't just a media/motivation tactic.  

 

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gwkrlghl

August 20th, 2013 at 7:42 PM ^

because they've both gotten varying levels of hype, I do find it hard to believe though that Rawls is ahead of both Green and Smith. Seems fairly unlikely or maybe it's just a gesture of respect for the upperclassmen

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GoBlueInNYC

August 20th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^

Wait, are you serious? I hadn't heard that, but I wouldn't be shocked given that the same thing happened with Stonum and then Roundtree (the inspiration for the ol' Wild Thing avatar). How do kids get into the program and not get diagnosed as near-sighted immediately?

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Sllepy81

August 20th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

say that the freshmen need another month of playbook knowledge and preparedness. they probably want to avoid playing freshmen against ND before they play with there new weapons.

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WhoopinStick

August 20th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^

No suprise as (1) Green's a freshman, and (2) that kind of talk is good motivation for all the backs.

 

If you recall, Mike Hart - who was by far Michigan's best freshman back ever - didn't start and didn't even really get many carries until his third or fourth game of the year.

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