Media Day Open Thread: Green behind Johnson & Smith..

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Media day open thread-like substance. Interesting.

Let's all overreact to everything like a classic Michigan Media Day.

Mr. Yost

August 10th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

11:00 a.m. Asked who leads the running back competition right now, says Drake Johnson and De'Veon Smith.

10:57 a.m.: Hoke asked how adding Maryland and Rutgers changes camp prep, says they put prep together of each opponent but adds that they got to watch a lot of Maryland last season when they were preparing for Connecticut.

→ • Michigan wideout position taking form as Freddy Canteen works in slot, Amara Darboh makes promising return

10:53 a.m.: Hoke: "I want a football team who can run the football, be tough on both sides of the line and run the football." Says, "Believe me, it has been verbalized." Then asked why this football team has had trouble developing that type of toughness, Says he wishes he had that answer or they wouldn't have had that problem last year.

10:52 a.m.: Hoke asked what he has learned about Peppers, says he "Loves to play. Absolutely loves to complete and play."

10:50 a.m.: Hoke asked if any true freshman could push for playing time, mentions: OL Mason Cole, TE Ian Bunting, Jabrill Peppers, Freddy Canteen.

10:48 a.m.: Hoke asked how he has evolved as a head coach and what his expectations are this season. Hoke says expectations never change. Evolution-wise, says like everyone he tries to learn every day.

10:46 a.m.: Hoke asked about offensive line, says they'll settle into a Top 5 guys sometime maybe next week.

10:42 a.m.: Hoke asked what he wants Devin Gardner to do better, says "Sometimes on fourth down, punting the football isn't a bad thing." Also says he'd like Gardner to know he doesn't have to do it all himself.

10:42 a.m.: Asked about leadership, Hoke says he doesn't have any complaints. He also added that he wouldn't tell you if he did have any complaints. Then follows that he has no complaints. Mentions Jake Ryan and Frank Clark and Brennen Beyer as leaders.

10:40 a.m.: Dennis Norfleet has been taking most return reps.

10:38 a.m.: Hoke talking about GPS tracking technology the teams uses to track progress. I believe he meant that they're using it to see how far guys go during practice, especially the guys who need to take it easy due to offseason injury.

10:36 a.m.: Hoke: "From the standpoint of where we want to be, we're not there yet."

10:34 a.m.: Brady Hoke is here. Says team is still working to develop an identity. There's good competition and two-a-days will be a grind this week.

----------TWEETS----------

Packed house for Michigan Football Media Day. Brady Hoke taking the podium momentarily.

Brady Hoke on injuries: delonte hollowell has a cast on his hand. Ondre pipkins will be held back a bit in 2-a-days this week

Hoke now referring to Shane Morris as a "backup" ...

Hoke says Jourdan Lewis, Ray Taylor and Coutness are the top three corners at the moment, Stribling working to get in there.

Hoke mentions Bryan Mone that’s surprised on the defensive line.

Hoke: "We want to find the best guy." --- when asked about the running back situation

Mr. Yost

August 10th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^

The Bolden/Morgan argument is dumb.

It's a position where they're both going to see a TON of snaps. Just like RJS is going to see a ton presumably behind Ross.

Gedeon is the only wild card because Ryan is the only LB that commands 'x' number of snaps at the position.

NOLA Wolverine

August 10th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^

^ This. 

Michigan might rotate more than anyone else in the Big Ten on defense. Bolden saw a ton of time this past year, and both he and Morgan will see a ton of time this year. The only argument to be had is the semantics over who runs out onto the field for the first defensive snap. 

Mr. Yost

August 10th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^

Most defenses rotate guys in and out...we've always done this and it's especially nice to have a 2-deep at LB. Even mighty SEC teams do this. Alabama rolls guys in and out and when the seniors leave they put that 5-star sophomore in who's played snaps.

When Morgan and Ryan are gone...it's going to be nice to have Bolden and Gedeon to step right in.

MGoStrength

August 10th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^

Don't take this the wrong way, beacause the truth is I'm not sure...just adding to the discussion.  But, I don't recall that happening all that much at Bama.  I don't recall the top LBs like Mosley, Nico Johnson, Hightower, Upshaw, McClean, etc. coming off too much.  Granted, I only know the top players because I don't follow Bama close enough to know the other guys, so maybe only one guy each year stay on most of the time.  And, maybe each one of those guys is our version of JMFR and the other 2-3 LB spots did in fact rotate for all I know.  But, I don't recall these guys coming off too much in once they became established players. 

Franz Schubert

August 10th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

Michigan has rotated more than any team I have watched the last few years. It has resulted in numerous instances where we cannot get the defense set before the snap. Of course everyone rotates but it's been excessive at Michigan. Running 300 pound lineman back and forth can take a toll if not done efficiently.

NOLA Wolverine

August 10th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

I think if Michigan starts to get more all-conference performers in the front seven you won't see quite as much rotation as they have now. For example: Darien Harris, Ed Davis, and Kyler Elseworth for Michigan State didn't rack up the time or statistics that Bolden did last year. At this point I think it would be more of a symptom than a cause of anything. 

It's also possible that Mattison and Hoke want to rotate personel more often than others. 

cobra14

August 10th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

Well in the Spring RJS was the better blitzer then Ross. Saw it with my own eyes. No doubt he plays in those situations. And if Ross continues to get swallowed by lineman RJS will get his chance to take over.

And the back ups deserve a chance to un seat the starters from last year because we were 7-5.

Your def going to see a ton of rotation in the Appy State game on D. It will be less in the ND game. Pick back up for the two non conference games and hopefully slow way down by Big 10 play. If it doesn't I think that's a sign things aren't going very well on D.

Jimmyisgod

August 10th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^

No idea why some fans get so worked up over depth charts.  Green and Kalis have to earn it just like everyone else does.  Maybe Green is having a decent camp, but he's justy not as talented as the guys ahead of him?  I know, I know, recruiting stars be damned, but sometimes lower ranked guys turn out to be more talented than higher ranked guys.  Doesn't bother me at all that SMith and Johnson have possibly outperformed Green, in fact, that probably means we have some real depth because Green certainly looked like he was going to be at least a decent Big Ten RB last season.

Kalis is a little more troubling since he started last year, but then again I've always thought ranking high schoolo linemen is nearly impossible, too mcuh growing to do yet.  It's why quite often top NFL draft picks on the O line will come from schools like Central Michigan, it's just extremely hard to project that one 6-5, 285 lb 17 year old is going to be better than another 6-5, 285 lb 17 year old 3 years down the road.

Overall, I'm glad our 5 star recruits are having to earn it, it's a good sign IMO.  There have been times in the past where I wasn't so sure that guys weren't being named front runners for spots in part based on recruiting profile.

I dumped the Dope

August 10th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^

What I saw last year was that he carried the ball so often using two hands (discounting Central Mich bc that was the first game).  Perhaps some fumblerooskis in practice that none of us ever saw but were there, and he wanted to ensure didn't happen come gametime.    If he has the strength now to carry it one-handed I think you will see his progression improve.  Carrying the rock with two hands is a complete detriment to running style.  I'm not against securing it when a big hit is coming.

I am convinced that Hoke's pressers are so meh because its obvious the firestorm that gets lit everytime he mentions hierarchy in a position group, etc.  I am sure he knows who his 1s are, or will decide within a couple of weeks if there are doubts.  The rest of us can just wait to find out.

5* recruit rankings are almost a kiss of, well, mediocrity.  Seems like there are so many more unheralded 2 and 3 stars who become the big names in college football, than 5* guys who shine all the way from jr football thru college.  I want our 5* guys to do well, but it seems like its the 4* guys who have the least amount of variance.

NoMoPincherBug

August 10th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^

Green is overrated.  He goes down way to easily on arm contact, is not very shifty or powerful and struggles in pass protection.  Good to see Johnson on top...that kid works hard... Smith is a beast too.  Not worried about RB. Green can be servicable...but he is/was overrated.

uofmdds96

August 10th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

Our family went today. We stopped at Chase Wnovich and Peppers first, then made the rounds,to the OL and DL to hit my daughters' favorites Kalis, Clark, and Wormley. Every player that noticed Jabrill's autograph was laughing at how big it was and how he crossed it out as he finished it. Clark said his hand will be hurting later. Lol. Hot as hell today, kids were a little disappointed that there were no inflatables this year, but it would have been even a sweatier mess than it was.