Jim Harbaugh on "In the trenches w/ Jon Jansen"
Some highlights: "I would start right where you started with Mazi Smith and Donovan Jeter," "Mazi just keeps growing and growing and growing. Donovan Jeter had his best offseason; that's half the battle. The level of consistency we've seen out of Donovan Jeter is the best since we've been here. With Chris Hinton you can see the maturity
"Nikhai Hill-Green. He's not a sophomore like you would think of a sophomore. The way he studies the game," "He's right where you want him to be. Junior Colson has a lot of experience from the spring and is knocking at the door to be a starting football player as well.
Oline: "I think we're pretty close in how it all fits together with the best five guys. I think we're going to have eight or nine that are really going to be in the mix. Ryan Hayes, Zak Zinter, Andrew Stueber; those guys are starters. Trevor Keegan and Chuck Filiaga both had really good summers.
"Two of our best players on the team are Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum," "They're both tremendous. Blake Corum is doing everything he says he's doing and then some. Hassan Haskins isn't saying anything but is doing everything that Blake Corum is doing. They're looking really good.
"This is as many good receivers as we've had on the team at one time since I've been here. We've had years where we've had some really good guys; this year I can talk about six guys in there that are all going to play and contribute. At the top of that list is Ronnie Bell and Cornelius Johnson. They're winners. They're going to make plays. They block. The third best....Roman Wilson with speed
We have less guys worried about being stars and more guys worried about winning for Michigan and that Block M."
August 13th, 2021 at 8:28 AM ^
How many times can Donovan Jeter have his best offseason? Surely we have reached the asymptotic maximum of his offseason greatness
August 13th, 2021 at 8:48 AM ^
He said he’s finally getting consistent. There’s a world where Jeter can be all Big Ten if he’s consistent and also just not be consistent. He might be great in 70% of the practices, but inconsistent. The big thing I took out of his statement was Jeter is being more consistent. Consistency sometimes is the issue.
August 13th, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
Sure but it's not like in games Jeter's problem has been great plays mixed with bad ones. He's been pretty consistently mediocre on the field. But who knows, another year and a new defense.
August 13th, 2021 at 11:14 AM ^
I mean he did score a touchdown in the 1st game, but I get your point. Not saying he’s going to be all-big ten, but maybe if he can stay consistent he will be a solid rotation guy.
August 13th, 2021 at 8:51 AM ^
+1 for use of the word "asymptotic"!
August 13th, 2021 at 9:10 AM ^
Not a big fucking fan of taking veiled/subtle jabs at former players.
"less guys worried about being stars" --- this is your fucking program. Has been for five plus years. Positive or negative you own the culture.
August 13th, 2021 at 9:50 AM ^
"Attitude reflects leadership"
- Julius Campbell
August 14th, 2021 at 1:30 AM ^
Exactly, Saban has a shitload of players who are worried about being stars, but he knows how to keep things going in the right direction.
August 13th, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
Sounds like 10-2 minimum record.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
17 - 1
you heard it here 3rd.
August 13th, 2021 at 9:54 AM ^
"Two of our best players on the team are Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum," "They're both tremendous. Blake Corum is doing everything he says he's doing and then some. Hassan Haskins isn't saying anything but is doing everything that Blake Corum is doing. They're looking really good.
Does this make anyone else worried about Edwards? We already lost one borderline 5-star RB. I don't want to lose another one. I know Haskins is gone next year and Edwards is a true freshman and you have to reward Corum for his hard work this offseason. But, you simply can't play 3 supposedly great RBs at the same time. And, if you do you're gonna do so at the expense of your best back again like we did last year. At least one of those guys has to get significantly fewer snaps than the other two, and we know Haskins is the #1. Hopefully Edwards will accept a smaller role in year one or at least the start of the season But, I wouldn't bet on that for year two. We've gotta see how this plays out a bit. You don't just displace Corum because Edwards has more stars next to his name. But, those two are going to battle it out for several years and they need to figure out a pecking order or we might lose Edwards over it. Elite recruits won't wait for their junior years to be starters anymore at the skill positions.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
Everything we've heard is that Edwards will have a role in the offense. And Haskins is better than the borderline 5-star RB that we lost.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
I know the stats do not support my opinion very well, but i think Corum is going to be a star. Edwards will get his and eventually be the guy, but Corum IMO is elite. Haskins just runs so hard and is tough to tackle, but the shiftyness and upside of Corum is phenomenal.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:22 AM ^
You can play 2 backs at a time. Corum and Edwards are willing and able pass catchers and Haskins is good in pass pro, and all are great runners. Getting 2 guys on the field on 1st and 2nd downs is more than doable. Plus Gattis has talked about running the ball more this year and with 3 horses like that they’ll be able to.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
If an elite recruit won't commit because he's worried about playing time, that's a kid you don't want in the program anyways. High star ratings obviously matter, but when they get to the program, the players that best help the team win should see the field. If Edwards has a small role this year, that means Haskins and Corum are better at that moment in time. Edwards can either continue to work hard and earn a larger role or transfer.
August 13th, 2021 at 11:03 AM ^
You don’t play the 5 star just because. Lloyd Carr pulled that crap with Henson and really hurt Michigan big time. You play the best players. Haskins is a legit back and Corum is going to be elite. They have already said Edwards is going to play in game one and will get his chances. You don’t hinder Haskins and Corum though just to appease a back who is not currently as good as them. Corum is the total package, so Edwards doesn’t bring anything that Corum doesn’t. If it was Haskins, Charbonnet and Edwards I would we where Edwards would get more looks. Because he would bring something the other two don’t. But Edwards doesn’t bring anything that Corum doesn’t already. So no you don’t just play a 5 star freshman just because.
August 13th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ^
To be fair, you have no idea if Edwards does or doesn't bring something different than Corum. I'm guessing you're basing that generalization off height and weight measurements and high school youtube clips.
Or maybe you're at practice everyday.
August 13th, 2021 at 6:07 PM ^
Maybe he is
August 13th, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
Nah I’m in Bloomington. I wish I lived and worked at U of M, but IU is not bad at all! But I’ll just say one of Michigan’s coaches just came from IU and I’ll leave it at that.
August 13th, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^
I'd rather have a freshmen running back ease into his role, aka Alabama, than running 33 times in his second game and ruin his entire year.
Harbaugh also spoke highly of Edwards, saying something to the effect that Donovan has next level speed, is great catching the ball and was going to get meaningful snaps game 1.
It might be preseason coach=speak but it doesn't sound like DE is the forgotten back.
August 13th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
I've heard nothing but praise for Edwards from spring or fall camp, but it would be foolish for the HC to beatify a guy who hasn't played in a game yet. We don't know about his knowledge of the offense, his ball security, pass blocking, etc.
I will say what I saw of him in high school convinces me that he is a special talent. Seems like a very instinctive, one-cut back and when he hits the hole it is with tremendous explosion. He's at top speed in two or three strides. And he has the hands of a receiver.
August 13th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
Again with using recruiting rankings as quantitative data. Dude, when did Zack Charbonnet look like a boarderline 5 star to you? When the play was blocked perfectly and he ran through the box without anyone touching him? Haskins is 100% a better back and turns poorly blocked plays into something way more often than not, and he doesn't fall over when pushed by a safety. I know it throws a major wrench into your recruiting world view, but low ass 3 star Hassan Haskins is the best back on this team, at least until someone shows otherwise in a game. Edwards isn't going to transfer because he doesn't get 200 touches as a true freshman.
August 13th, 2021 at 3:10 PM ^
Dude, when did Zack Charbonnet look like a boarderline 5 star to you?
When healthy and not being mauled by 3 players behind the LOS...yes. Haskins is better right now, but freshman/sophomore Charbonnet was better than freshman/sophomore Haskins. So, it stands to reason as Charbonnet continues to develop he will be better than Haskins as an upperclassman. FWIW freshman Charbonnet was also better than freshman Corum.
Charbonnet left because we mismanaged the RBs last year. One guy makes a big run, then suddenly he's on the bench for the next two drives. It happed to both Charbonnet and Haskins at times. I hope it doesn't again and Hart can remedy this.
I personally don't believe Edwards will wait around until he's a senior to be the starter (assuming Corum stays 4 years). Again, I'm not suggesting we just give him snaps due to recruiting rankings, but I think we need to manage this better than we have the last few years or we could be in jeopardy of losing another highly recruited back. That's all.
August 14th, 2021 at 11:26 AM ^
I remember days, not too long ago in the Michigan football program, where high ranked HS guys swallowed their star rating and were willing to mostly sit and learn and await their chance. Then when their time came they played lights out and the team was all the better for it. It was a big reason why Mo and Carr were able to essentially reload and field consistently good teams. There was continuity of high level play at just about every position group, year after year. Based on what I've witnessed over the past 7 years, Harbaugh has struggled getting his players to buy into this concept. Probably a sign of the times in an instant gratification culture but it's certainly a problem that has hurt Harbaugh and Michigan.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
That last paragraph gave me chills
August 13th, 2021 at 10:22 AM ^
Touting a lot of talent on offense, hope he has them do something other than stand around and watch the clock run.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
I'm not sure if the comment about the oline is intended to be optimistic or not. Coming close to having it fit? Nine guys in the mix?
August 13th, 2021 at 11:17 AM ^
Yes. Last year Michigan probably only had 6 starting caliber big ten guys with experience. Now they’ve got a lot more after injuries so they could realistically go 8 deep. So if a guy goes down this year, they won’t be in such a bad spot.
August 13th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
I like to talk a big game about going 8 deep but realistically it rounds up to 6.
August 13th, 2021 at 6:59 PM ^
So the coach who also recruits the players is having a whine about guys who were more concerned about being stars than winning? Lol, then maybe don’t run a program that recruits those guys and allows them to fester.
Just another football coach that is all about “do your job, no excuses” when it comes to players, but when it comes to himself it’s bad players, bad administration/ownership, bad situations, etc. Maybe players will be more invested in a team and program that doesn’t regularly shove it’s head up it’s own ass.