It's a slow day, and I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing about Penn State, so I figured I'd see what everyone elses input is on this. Annarbor.com has an article where they debate how many freshman will see the field this year. The over/under is 6. I'm going with the over and predict 9.
Pipkins will play. I'm
Send him a shirt from the MGoStore.
But in all seriousness, I think Chesson could start in Dallas and that Pipkins will play extensively as well.
Yep, that's Simba made out of a pineapple.
extremely unlikely
Chesson might play, but he's not going to have the blocking chops to start. This is still a run-heavy offense. If he plays it will be in obvious passing situations.
No one is suggesting he'll
No one is suggesting he'll start, but why do you think Chesson doesn't have blocking chops? Watching his HS film, it looks like he really likes to hit people.
Although he did use could
Although he did use could instead of will, the previous poster appears to be suggesting that chesson could and possibly will start.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates.
Yeah, I think Chesson could start
in the Alabama game, although I'm not sure how likely that is. I do think that he starts by the end of the season though. I'm not very confident in our receivers this year. I think Gallon will be the best receiver and I don't think Roundtree has the speed to stretch the field. That's why I feel confident in saying that Chesson should have a big impact this season.
Yep, that's Simba made out of a pineapple.
I'd be pretty surprised if Chesson beats out Roundtree
Roundtree had a disappointing year last year, but the guy is a legitimate player. It doesn't matter if you can 'stretch the field' if you don't have a QB who can get the ball there. Denard CAN do that - but he has to get better. Borges will also figure out a better way to use Roundtree this year.
Chesson may be a star, long-term but I doubt he beats out either Gallon or Roundtree...he might not even beat out Jackson, Darboh, Funchess, etc.
Hmm
Looks like you didn't read the post I responded to, which said just that.
As for Chesson's blocking: a) he's a freshman not used to blocking college athletes, let alone Alabama-caliber athletes and b) his arms are still too skinny. He has to develop physically and learn technique before he's going to be a Big 10 caliber blocker.
I wasn't questioning his desire to block or his long term potential as a blocker just recognizing it's extremely unlikely that a true freshman is going to be able to block nearly as well as one of our vets.
Yeah - when I was skimming
Yeah - when I was skimming the comments, I thought he was saying Chesson could play when he clearly said start, so that's my bad. So yeah, I agree with you that Chesson probably won't be a starter this year, at least that early.
Funchess has the size that
Funchess has the size that could be very valuable in the redzone. With our lack of a solid TE, I think it will be hard to keep him off the field.
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler
There are some rumblings that
There are some rumblings that if you were making a list of freshmen most likely to see the field at some point, Funchess should be #1. "Needs a shirt" or not, they will use him in the slot (apparently) this fall.
"to make a complete evaluation off video w/o seeing guys in-person - I don't believe that at all." - Josh Helmholdt
blowing minds
If the 2 outside WRs are Gallon and Roundtree with Funchess in the slot - minds will be blown?
Will the MGOBLOG depth chart by class explode?
Maybe Braden?
Maybe Braden?
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
Does bring up a question that
Does bring up a question that hopefully we will never have to answer... but with our offensive line depth, I worry. Who's most ready to see the field after Kalis? How about Magnusson?
I'm guessing with that lack
I'm guessing with that lack of depth Kalis will be needed to contribute from the get-go. The rest of the freshmen offensive linemen will hopefully redshirt unless we run into injury problems, in which case Magnuson would be the other likely candidate to see the field.
If Ann Arbor is a whore, why didn't you get in?
I think
I think the conventional wisdom is that Kalis and Braden are the two most ready for college ball. Magnuson has an incredibly high ceiling, but isn't there yet physically.
That's true Magnuson still
That's true Magnuson still has to develop some more. I'm just speculating that if heaven forbid the OL gets plagued with injuries and another freshman needs to step up, Magnuson might be a likely one to burn his redshirt.
If Ann Arbor is a whore, why didn't you get in?
I think they HAVE to take
I think they HAVE to take down the statue, it's not right to continue to deify such a crook!
I miss King of Belch.
this statement is telling.
this statement is telling.
This is home...
More than I would like
Our D line is light so I would have to say Pipkins, WR we are rather small so I can see both playing a small amount of time.. Bolden already has been on campus along with Ringer at the LB spot. and Wilson and Richardson could both play quite a bit since our secondary is scary thin.. And finally, Kalis will start from begining to end.. this is my 2 cents.. Go Blue
Go Blue
How is our secondary "scary
How is our secondary "scary thin"?
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
Seriously. We return all
Seriously. We return all four starters. At CB we're like 3 deep before we get to TR. And at S we're 2-deep before we get to the frosh, although I agree that Jerrod Wilson gets some PT this fall. More because he's good than because we're scary thin.
Well...
Compared to Big Will Campbell, all the members of the secondary are relatively svelte.
More than I would like
Our D line is light so I would have to say Pipkins, WR we are rather small so I can see both playing a small amount of time.. Bolden already has been on campus along with Ringer at the LB spot. and Wilson and Richardson could both play quite a bit since our secondary is scary thin.. And finally, Kalis will start from begining to end.. this is my 2 cents.. Go Blue
Go Blue
I think Wormley will play...
...b/c he's already built like a D-I player and b/c the DL is thin.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
Hopefully not many
Pipkins
Bolden
Darboh
They all dress for home
They all dress for home games. I would say all of them SEE the field. Norfleet is pretty tiny though. He might have a tough time.
Bears Beets Battlestar Galactica
Norfleet? With Vincent Smith
Norfleet? With Vincent Smith as the Little RB and Gallon the incumbent punt returner, the only way I can see Norfleet playing is injury.
Did you ever get the sense
Did you ever get the sense that Gallon was so strong on punt returns that he couldn't be challenged, though? Plus, we need him to contribute at WR this year, so I could see Norfleet (and others) getting a real shot on punts.
Gallon looked like Desmond
Gallon looked like Desmond Howard out there this year compared to whatever I was watching the few years before on PR's. I could see Norfleet getting some time at KR and being utilized at slot and maybe rarely as a change of pace back, though. With the lack of depth at reciever it wouldn't hurt to put his speed out there and get him similar time to what Dileo recieved last year.
Special Teams means special times!
Not a chance in hell we have
Not a chance in hell we have a freshman catching punts. We are finally past that point and we have someone who isn't putting a brick in their pants when a punt is up in the air. Gallon has it on lock down.
http://midnightmaize.blogspot.com/
Latest MM Post(3-22-13) DENARD ROBINSON SIGNED MY SONIC!
Honest question
Are freshman punt returners really that weird?
I honestly don't know. The idea that having a freshman returning punts is some kind of roster desperation move seems weird. Not that it's common, but I wouldn't have thought that it was any more unusual than having a freshman WR or something.
Remeber 2008, 2009 and 2010?
Remeber 2008, 2009 and 2010? The older you are at PR the better imo.
http://midnightmaize.blogspot.com/
Latest MM Post(3-22-13) DENARD ROBINSON SIGNED MY SONIC!
Meh
I don't think you can be this absolute about freshmen returning punts. Returning punts isn't complicated in the way that running an offense (as a QB) or mastering blocking schemes (as an O-lineman) is. It does take balls, though, to handle that pressure and spotlight. Generally speaking, upperclassmen have bigger balls than true freshmen, but I'm sure there are plenty of big-balled freshmen out there. Does Norfleet have the skills and cool to handle it? I don't know, but I wouldn't rule it out because of an inflexible rule about freshmen returners. I think he gets a shot.
I actually don't really
I actually don't really remember the punt return units from 2008 and 2009. Wasn't Odoms returning most of the punts as a true freshman in 2008 and doing an alright job of it?
But even if UM sucked at returning punts in those seasons, that doesn't actually answer my question of whether or not freshman punt returners are that unusual or are inherently a really bad sign. All that means is that UM sucked really bad a punt returns.
Odoms did a pretty good
Odoms did a pretty good job...whenever he wasn't muffing punts.
Yeah, I remember Greg Mathews
Yeah, I remember Greg Mathews in 2008 and 2009...returning 13 punts for 74 yards. And he was a junior and a senior in those years.
It's not about age. It's about talent.
I disagree about issues with
I disagree about issues with Norfleet at KR/PR because of being a freshman. I asked Allen Trieu who i should be most excited for from the 2012 class he said the usuals first: Kalis Pipkins and so on then said his big one is Norfleet. He said the kids an incredible athlete and has the drive to excel. Then i asked if he thought he would get a shot a returning kicks this year? His answer, absolutely
nice first post
welcome to the blog, dennis norfleet's best friend
RIP my avatar, June 14, 1998 - October 26, 2012.
...and Allen Trieu's best
...and Allen Trieu's best friend. If Allen Trieu said it, I guess it must be 100% correct.
and if Magnus guesses
it must be 110% correct.
and kickoffs... don't forget
and kickoffs... don't forget kickoffs.
I say about 3,000. There
I say about 3,000. There will be ~7,000 incoming students this fall, maybe 4,000 of them will buy football tickets (at least once), and probably about 1,000 of those 4,000 never will actually divert their attention from their friends, phones, and hair long enough to notice the field. So 3,000.
Oh, and in the interest of not being a complete ass, I think that 8-10 guys see the field but only two or three of them really play significant roles. I think the most likely candidates for major contributions are Kalis (at left guard), Chesson/Darboh (whichever of them emerges), Pipkins (later in the season), and Norfleet (as a returner).
Trick question?
All freshman will see the field... unless we actually have a BLIND recruit.
Do I win something for getting the answer correct?
Yeah
A kick in the ass for being late to the party...Frito Bandito beat you to the punch, jeffe
Frankly
I also think the plane was a terrorist threat
Pipkins will be starting by the time conference play begins
and will be in solid contention for freshman defensive POY.
A.J. Williams?
I see a potential for Williams to see the field at T.E. if Hoke decides (though it has not been his style so far) to go Maximum Beef Machine on a 4th and Inches play.
13
Pipkins will play. I'm praying only one OL will. Funchess needs a shirt -- he's more receiver now than that.
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