Freshman play assessment
I'm sure that this game was stress-inducing for everyone, but I have to say I like what a saw from a few of the freshmen today.
TE Devin Funchess had a good day with 4 catches for 106 yards, and looks to be a nice go-to threat for Denard.. Joe Bolden finished the game with 10 tackles, and James Ross had that big tackle to force 4th down.
Not perfect by any means, and we have a lot to work on. But i'm excited to see more from these guys and others going forward to the BIG season. What say you?
September 8th, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^
September 8th, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^
Joe Bolden had 10 tackles? From my seat it looked more like 10 hundred. Great day for him, Ross and Funchess. Pipkens was a pleasant surprise as well. Norfleet obvious plus. Good work, freshmen.
September 8th, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^
Let me preface this by saying that I was absolutely thrilled by the fact that we have an actual TE threat this year. Funchess looked fantastic and he's 6'4" (!) Nothing but positive signs today.
However, I caution us all from getting too high on him just yet. Nobody (at least on Air Force) had any idea what to expect out of him today, if anything at all. Furthermore, TE is a position where you thrive on being overlooked and not being taken seriously as a recieving threat. As teams watch game film, they'll see Funchess doing his thing and perhaps task a safety with covering him instead of say, a linebacker.
To some extent, all unknown commodities get scaled back once opposing teams know to expect them, but it's especially applicable in the case of tight ends. But if we even get half this production out of Funchess each game, I'd be thrilled.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^
but any kind of passing threat will help Denard and the running game. The running game will need all the help it can get vs ND, MSU, OSU, NEB.
Plus, we know Borges and Denard fall back to the jump ball when all hell breaks loose. Funchess showed that he has the best jumpball potential on the team. more than Gardner.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^
I disagree. I mean I think your theory is sound, but how many teams have a 6'4" safety or LB to cover him, especially on the jump ball? As Funchess learnes the offense, I think he will get even better, even if other teams have taken notice of him. I predict Funchess and Gardner will be the two leading receivers for the season.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:13 PM ^
And absolutely, Funchess could be a HUGE asset on jump balls and could play a bigger role as he learns the offense.
But I liken Funchess to a rookie pitcher in baseball. Often, a pitcher with not-especially-great stuff will come in and make an immediate impact and he'll be billed the next Greg Maddux, and then after about 2/3 of a season, he'll begin to show chinks in the armor as teams account and adjust for him. Of course, in this case, Funchess DOES have the talent to sustain a high level of performance, but we should still expect him to return to earth, at least a little. When was the last time a TE had 1000 yards receiving, I wonder?
September 8th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^
I missed the post where we suggested he would have a 1000 yards. I mean, when was the last time any Wolverine had 1000 yd revceiving? 2007?
September 8th, 2012 at 9:48 PM ^
Sorry, semi-unrelated query. Anyways, no, I'm not suggesting that you think he'll be a 1000-yard receiver. But what I do argue is that there will be a bit of a dropoff (maybe more than would would think just by looking at today's game film) as teams adjust to him.
Think about Denard: he burst onto the scene in 2010 and basically racked up yardage at will. One of the reasons (among others, notably the accumlated wear and tear on his body and changes in offensive systems/the existence of Fitz) that his unstoppability has been curtailed to some extent is that teams realized that you can jam 9 guys in the box against the run and force him to beat you with his arm. Now he's gotten better at that (adjusting to the adjustments, so to speak) and he's still the same unbelievable talent that he was a few years ago, but he doesn't have the advantage of being an unknown that he had back then.
I'd expect the same from Funchess. I fully expect him to be Tremendous. But just as Denard's September Heisman was a bit premature in 2010, so crowning Funchess as our best reciever (or close to it) is premature as well.
MGoBlog: the only place where such a debate doesn't devolve into a shouting match.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:13 PM ^
that Funchess drawing a safety would be tremendously beneficial to the offense right? That's one less defender rolled into the box, one less spying on Denard... etc. If you have to dedicate a defender, man on man, to our athletic TE we're in really really good shape.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^
Having one good player on the field makes all the other players around him better; that much is clear. But it's still the case that a team will be more successful in defending against Michigan's offense if it realizes that we have a weapon in Funchess.
September 8th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^
Sure they will have "gowing pains" and there share of mistakes...BUT the returning players we play now are just as inconsistent and don't show the flashes of brilliance at all (see BWC, Qwash, demens, morgan). If the freshman are even than you gotta play them instead. maybe by the OSU game they will be ready to roll. maybe sooner.
This includes Funchess and norfleet on O. I think we are kinda screwed on OL so that is on Borge to come up with a type of passing game that Denard can execute consistently. Only then will the RBs have a chance. Are passing game can't be 10 bombs that we connect on twice for maybe 1 long TD. we need to be able to move the chains with the pass..starting with the ND game.
September 8th, 2012 at 8:58 PM ^
Liked what I saw out of many of the freshman. I don't like seeing them in there, but hey if they are beating out those in front of them put 'em in.
Pipkins had a few nice plays. It was exciting seeing Ojemudia in there for a few as well. Ross and Bolden are going to be good. Norfleet is just electric. Funchess obviously played well (catching anyway, didn't get good looks on him blocking?) I'm really hoping that the time these freshman are seeing gives the upperclassmen a good kick to step up their game.
With essentially two weeks of practice for these guys to get reps, it will be very interesting to see what happens with Notre Dame.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^
I just got home, and I can tell you that one freshmen stand out as the real deal in person. That freshman is Funchess, who is going to be a star, starting this year. He's just a HUGE target with arms that can reach to the moon, and great, great hands. Even if he can't block this year, he's my bet for freshman of the year.
Other notes will have to wait till I've digested replays.
September 8th, 2012 at 11:05 PM ^
I, too, am in the fanclub.
Last week (I know, I know), I saw him EXPLODE off the line from his stance and I asked "who the hell is that?" He is a great athlete and is going to be an excellent playmaker. Today confirmed his ability.
With Michigan's historic brand of smash-mouth football, it almost seems odd seeing a TE run like that....
September 9th, 2012 at 5:25 AM ^
In reality, Denard placed the ball perfectly on passes to him and he executed. Funchess is definitely a great weapon but let's not get too carried away.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:38 PM ^
Frankly the only guys who I don't want to see have game time are the o line freshmen. The more of them that can redshirt, the better.
September 8th, 2012 at 9:44 PM ^
September 8th, 2012 at 9:57 PM ^
September 8th, 2012 at 11:13 PM ^
You have to get norfleet on the field..Use him like Woodhead of the Patriots..Kid will have a return for TD this yr..
September 9th, 2012 at 7:46 AM ^
Aside from the woodhead role, given that our rb situation looks crappy, why not try Playing him at his actual position - RB.
September 9th, 2012 at 1:32 AM ^
What's obvious to me is how much more talented our young guys are. Ross, Bolden, Pipkins, Norfleet (who was an afterthought in recruiting), and Funchess are clearly better pure athletes than the guys playing ahead of them. Demens looked awful today; he was always blocked and always late. I don't know what's going on there.
We are 2 years away from having the type of talent that keeps us at the top of the Legends Division. This year's success will depend a lot on how well our freshmen play. That is not how it is supposed to be.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^
I have to remind myself not to get too carried away in one way or another. The freshman on offense have flashed, but there is no film or scouting report on them yet. They may settle in and slow down some, but anyone who flashes as a freshman, is someone to continue to be excited about.