WolvinLA2

July 20th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^

You know, Fitz probably won't go down as the best Michigan RB ever (that has a lot more to do with guys like Wheatley and A-Train) but I'm not sure I've ever seen a back here who has the kind of moves that he has.  Those cuts are gross. 

All that said though, if he puts together two more 1,000+ yard seasons, he has to be named as one of the all-time greats. 

EDIT:  I looked up the stats, and if Fitz has exactly 1,000 yards the next two seasons, he'd pass Billy Taylor as #9 all-time in rushing yards.  And two season averaging 1,361 per season (ambitious, but doable) would see him jump Butch Woolfolk at #5 (but who will be #6 by then after being Denarded this fall).

WolvinLA2

July 20th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^

There is?  He's not a prototypical NFL running back, and he's had some injury issues in the past, so he's have to have a killer season to be projected high in the draft.  Toussaint is about the same size as that RB from Oregon whose name is escaping me, but without the production.  Look where he went in the draft. 

I don't know, I think it would make a lot of sense for him to finish out his career here before trying the NFL thing.

gopoohgo

July 21st, 2012 at 9:10 AM ^

Lamichael James? 5'8", 195,  2nd rd (23rd pick, 61st overall to SF) 4 year, $3.3 mil, 1st year $700K.  Not too shabby.  And James definitely has had injury issues as well.

Per Mgoblue, Fitz is a little taller (5'10").  Doesn't have the top-end speed James has.  Fitz definitely needs to get better at blocking, but if he does, being a mid-round (2-4, probably 4th) pick probably isn't out of the question.  Per this year, that put you into a 4 year, $2 mil something contract, about $400-500K/year with $200K-ish signing bonus.

At RB with their shelf life (or lack thereof) would cheerfully encourage Fitz to do what is best for himself and his family.  He always can return to get his degree.

 

RakeFight

July 20th, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^

Agree... great vid, but would be even better if the cuts weren't so fast (I mean the video cuts, not Fitz).  It's ok to show him get tackled... or to even show the whole play.  And with moves like that, what would make it really good is a lot more slow motion... show the play in regular speed, and then show some of it agin in slow mo... really gives you a sense for how beautiful a runner this guy really is.

Ezeh-E

July 20th, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^

Love that Molk blocks one DT with his hands and another with his knee at 2:09. I'm not usually a fan of the close up NFL highlights, but it let me see some details I would've missed otherwise.

WichitanWolverine

July 20th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^

Fitz is my favorite current Wolverine. I'm not sure why but the fact that he's almost always completely emotionless makes him so Bad A. Anyone else notice that? I've seen him smile like twice...

kehnonymous

July 20th, 2012 at 6:25 PM ^

Fitz also, iirc, has a young daughter.  That, coupled with the fact that running backs more than any other position have a limited shelf life, could incentivize him to declare early to capitalize on his physical peak years.  Either way, here's hoping for the best for him!

JimBobTressel

July 20th, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^

Cant beleive I'm watching a post-mike hart RB tearing it up at michigan. Thanks for this video...its only after watching that that I'm realizing the unique style that Fitz plays with - quick zig zags and he brings the wood.

rjc

July 20th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^

Love me some Fitz but pretty sure he's gone if he has a similar (or better) year than last.  He doesn't have the size / speed ratio to be a first round pick by current NFL standards so there's not much upside for him to stay.  Like a lot of really good college backs, he's likely to be undervalued in the draft... but I do think he's got the skills to be productive and earn a much more lucrative second contract if he stays healthy and ends up in the right system.