Green and Issac together puts UM in very heady company
It goes without saying adding Ty is one "Great Get" for UM football. However, the more I thought about it I realized, even with a year in between original recruiting classes, just how unique having the no. 1 and no. 4 rb in the same class is. The "Pony Express" at SMU was far before stars were being placed beside player's name and I'm not certain James was among the top ten that year, even though Dickerson would have to had been among the top five.
I can recall when we got commits from Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham in the same season, but it was actually the combination of David Terrell and Marquise Walker that gave UM two of the nation's top 15 receivers, a feat that had not been accomplished prior to then. But knowing how much we wanted this kid motivated me to do some research and although Green was the consensus no. 1, Issac was just a few places back at no. 4. Toss in Smith who came in at no. 37 and that's one hell of a haul for that season, even though Derrick and Ty are, of course, are not considered part of the same recruiting class. Fact remains just the same we landed two of the top five rbs for that particular year.
I am not certain, of course, especially with some of Bama's recent hauls, whether or not they were able to accomplish a like feat. Given that Hart was considered by many the no. 1 back in his respective senior season, then getting beaten out for the starting spot, leads me to believe they may have, indeed, pulled something similar. The only two I'm certain are of USC in their "Glory Decade" when they pulled both no. 1 Reggie Bush and according to many sites who had Lendale White at the same spot they, undoubtedly, pulled off the same accomplishment.
They will be considered part of the same graduating class, of course, unless one of them bounce for the NFL, an unlikely scenario inasmuch as Green has yet to accomplish anywhere near the numbers penciled in for him immediately after his verbal. Although Issac, due to learning a sophisticated offense along with the experience the Trojans had, he did enjoy some season ending success, particulary vs. a weak, ableit a true D1 defense against Cal. Don't know the whys or werefores, but Smith looked like the best back on our roster in the spring game. No matter how the two big names in this particular piece end up in the all-time UM record books, the reality that they both ended up wearing the winged helmet is one hell of an achievement for Brady and staff.
Does it? Are their actual people named Issac? I'm asking seriously, because I've never ever seen that.
But it really doesn't matter, because even if it exists, 99% of people with that name spell it Isaac. If we had a recruit named David, I don't care if you once met a dude named Dayvid, there's no excuse for spelling it wrong.
If Ty's last name was spelling Issac, no one would fault you for spelling it Isaac, because that's the normal way, just like if I mistakenly spelled your friend Dayvind's name David. But there's no excuse for misspelling someone's name when they use the traditional spelling.
Issac meaning and name origin
Issac \i(s)-sac\ as a boy's name has the meaning "laughter" and is a variant of Isaac (Hebrew), biblical: the only son of Abraham by his wife Sarah.
Issac has 7 variant forms: Isaak, Isac, Isak, Izaac, Izaak, Izak, Izik.
A suggested similar baby name is Izsak.
Popularity of Issac
Issac is a somewhat popular first name for males (#698 out of 1220) and an even more popular surname or last name for all people (#14870 out of 88799) (2000 U.S. Census).
Read more at http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Issac#zKUv5I4Tgb1qUzpB.99
if the running game still sucks? In 2015 we have to be one of the top running teams in the country.
...with a different OL coach.
Smith may end up being the best of the 3. My only complaint is that all 3 of them do not seem to have break away speed from what I've seen. A scat back like Mike Weber would be a nice compliment. In any case I think we can all agree it's an embarassment of riches these days based on the rankings.
I think Isaac does have a bit of that breakaway speed but I agree with your overall comment. I think Justice Hayes fits the mold of the type of player you describe, and I actually think far too many people are dismissing him after the addition of Isaac.
He is a very talented runner who should see the field a lot this year. He was clearly the best back in the spring game, which should count for just about as much as star ratings in high school (i.e. not much).
Don't forget about Drake Johnson either. Dude was riding the hype train before his knee blew out.
I like Smith alot as well. I think he is the toughest to bring down. Although I think he's not very shifty and is most effective when he can get his momentum going. I think when the O line starts blocking a little better he will come into his own more. I also agree that all three of the backs have similar styles. I'm hoping that a guy like Ross Douglas, Dennis Norfleet, Justice Hayes or maybe even Peppers can step up this year and provide a nice change of pace.
Didn't Green run a sub 4.4, laser timed 40? That's pretty good breakaway speed there.
Darrell Green?
Apparently he ran 4.36 at the Army AA game, but not sure how it was timed.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/01/countrys_top_high_sch…
I like Smith too. A lot. But, I seem to recall Isaac having break away speed. Not sprinters speed but enough to take it to the house.
Don't sleep on Smith, I think he is capable of being a big part of the offense.
1. Simplification of scheme. Hell, most of us could not figure out what Borges was doing from an eagle eye perspective. Imagine being in the trenches as a kid with all that pressure? Recipe for disaster.
2. Have the kids play at one spot, injuries later this of course, and stay there. When you put Lewan on the right side and still run to your left, well you go backwards.
3. Nuss by all accounts is a better teacher, communicator and is more hands on with the offense. This can only be a positive influence.
I'm thinking the line improves, not to the usual standard, but enough to make defenses think about and game plan for our run game.
I, too, think the OL will be much improved from last year. If I had to guess I would say they will be somewhere around the 2012 team in terms of rushing offense (41st nationally in ypg). I think Magnuson and Glasgow will be the tackles, and while they aren't Lewan/Schofield, I don't think the drop off will be near the level of Molk to Mealer. The interior OL can only get better (right?). I think some combination of Bosch, Dawson, Kalis, Miller, Kugler and Bars will be a huge improvement over what we saw last year. I've mentioned before that I believe the defense will be very good (top 10 nationally), so if the offense can be just average, it should be a very good year.
I would feel ok about the O-line, except for the gaping hole at center. Miller just could not get it done last year and Kugler has tremendous upside, but is still young. Our best move might be to start Glasgow there, but that is hardly ideal. Unless Miller develops into a complete surprise, Kugler is ready earlier than expected, or Glasgow is servicable (and not needed elsewhere on the line), our post-Molk travesty will continue. The other wierd thing is that we don't seem to have a long-term plan for that position. It is the worst position on the depth chart, by far. Even if Kugler develops, there are no good options behind him.
Glasgow is fine at center. I liked what I saw from Kugler for the most part during the Spring Game too. Kalis and Bosch seem to have locked up the Guard spots so it's not like Glasgow's needed there like he was last year. RT is the place that scares me. Braden is the obvious choice here, and I thought he looked decent in the Spring Game as well, but the way the coaches seem to see him (i.e. the inexplicable disappearance after last year's fall camp, constantly trying different people other than him out at RT) makes me a little leery that he might not be the most consistent player. Depth all around is razor thin right now, I didn't really like much of what I saw from the back up options at all.
several depth charts I've seen project Glasgow at RT, which leaves us with Kugler and Miller at C. Other positions on the O-line are thin now, but there are already young players ready to step up by 2015 or 2016. Right now, at center, we have Kugler and Miller for the foreseeable future.
the star-gazing on this board has reached unprecedented levels. it's pretty embarrassing.
It's just a matter of time before all the talent shows up on the football field..
no, you are right. but i would like to think that our fanbase (at least the subset that frequents this site) is a little more intelligent and can see through the BS. the fact that people still have a hard-on about derrick green being an OMG 5 star in high school just blows my mind.
dymonte thomas was a great example of how this board operates at a high level. OMG this guy is going to be the sickest player ever. he's going to come in from day 1 and start and dominate. next charles woodson. okay, dymonte wasn't an all-american as a freshman? he sucks. who is the next 4/5 start coming in? jabrill peppers? OMG this guy is going to be the sickest player ever. he's going to come in from day 1 and start and dominate. next charles woodson
Or the fact that "everyone" thinks our running game will be solved by adding another highly rated running back. I believe our running game will be better, but that it would be better with or without Isaac.
OMG ths guy is going to be the sickest player ever. he's going to come in from day 1 and start and dominate. next charles woodson
Dude, one word: Freshman
Patience, sometimes it takes a little time for guys to break through at the next level.
Someone needs to let the Texas talent know about this.
The Texas that was playing in the National Championship game 5 years ago? Yea, we'll be sure to let them know.
Umm no, but nice try without doing any research:
Recruiting class ranking via ESPN:
2014: 16
2013: 16
2012: 3
2011: 5
2010: 2
Does one top25 rankning since that game seem acceptable given those recruiting classes?
or Alabama. Tell Nick Saban to stop stargazing.
(A) It doesn't matter how much incoming talent you have.
(B) The recruiting sites are terrible judges of incoming talent.
Or (A) and (B)? Neither?
it's the general tendency of this board to focus a disproportionate amount of attention to a recruit's star-rankings rather than on-field performance. for example, when people were discussing last year before the season started who should start on the OL. there was this chorus of people that said that they would be disappointed if Glasgow or Miller started over Ben Braden or Magnuson or whoever. the focus was not "i am agnostic as to who starts, as long as it's the best 5 offensive lineman". instead, it was basically "the starters should be the guys with the most stars. if not, we are in trouble". that's just one example. the majority of people on this board have star-clouded vision.
Still, I think the talent pipeline is really important. Aside from a few exceptions, the teams that consistently win in college football are the ones that consistently bring in elite talent. Maybe that's just correlation and those teams have great coaching or something, but I think the thing that most clearly distinguishes Alabama, LSU, FSU, etc. is that they're getting incredible talent year after year. To me, bringing in elite recruits is a big deal, even though some of those guys won't pan out and most will need some time before they're really contributing.
In general it is always positive news to see good players interested in the Wolverines, but like some of the other posts have noted - the presence of one or two RB may not instantly give us a great running game.
To grossly simplify (which is ideal for the web and blogs :) )
1. Great OL + Great RBs = Amazing running game - ideal but rarely achieved
2. Great OL + Good RBs = Great running game - what I nostalgically believe the Wolverines had during their glory years
3. Good OL + Great RBs = Good-Great running game - what I hope will happen this year
4. Good OL + Good RBs = Good running game - what we hoped would have happened recently
5. Poor OL + Near Great RBs = ? suspect below average - at times good running game, but spotty and more variation subject to play call and where the play is heading. Have to wonder about how some of the RB who were taken in the 3rd or 4th rounds have fared well in the NFL - maybe they were much better than given credit, just needed a better line.
6. Poor OL + Average RBs = Poor running game - the obvious opposite of 1 and 2.
but Michigan needs at least 1 of the 3 to redshirt. Whether it's Ty not getting his waiver, one of the others taking one for the team or whatever. Having 3 top level running backs is great, having all 3 of them in the same class not so much.
It's a huge get, but the obvious factor going forward will be blocking for them. I really do think Green and/or Smith would have looked WAY better last year with a bit more blocking up front; while they will have to learn to run through contact a bit more, that should come with physical maturity. But if no back can get some momentum going forward before he's trying to dodge two or three LBs, it won't much matter their star ratings.
for the possibility of a three headed RB monster. If our OLline is somewhat ok this year, defenses will never get a break with these three guys running..
Isaac possible second coming of Jim Brown?
Negged for "Issac."
It's the thought that counts. I've lost a few brain cells over the years.
Green, Isaac and Smith have the potential to be great, even devastating together. But it will all be for naught if the O-Line can't mesh together and live up to its potential.
Yes, it would matter, because Richardson isn't eligible. What are you trying to do to Michigan's football program?!?!?!
#1, 7, and 10 running backs and the #2 APB in 2013.
Nice work.
Now we have three 220+ lbs RBs but have only one truely quick RB in Justice Hayes I think it will be important to recruit a smaller quicker and more of a make you miss type of guy into Michigan. I think Harris would be that guy but we will see how that goes. Also we should redshirt Smith for this year if Isaac gets his waiver.