News on new defensive starters
Looks like Nikhai Hill-Green has officially passed Michael Barrett on the depth chart. Coach Helow called NHG a 1st teamer.
I'm surprised because I figured Barrett was a shoo-in to start, although after the Minnesota game last year he never made many more splash plays.
Thoughts?
August 26th, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
For those keeping score at home, that means there will be a Green, a Hill, and a Hill-Green on the field for the first snap with another Green and Green-Warren in reserve roles.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
As long as we beat the green team on October 30th I’m all for it.
August 26th, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
Now I have the Green Hill Zone theme song from Sonic the Hedgehog stuck in my head.
August 26th, 2021 at 10:51 PM ^
I think Brian was talking about this last year. That would be awesome if they all could see the field at the same time.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
My thought is that this was reported yesterday on the front page by Alex Drain.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:06 PM ^
And a week ago on the MGoBlog round table
August 27th, 2021 at 2:17 AM ^
Still glad it was posted on the board.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:44 PM ^
Sounds like we're pretty Green at LB and CB.
I'll show myself out now.
August 26th, 2021 at 10:06 PM ^
That pun made me green at the gills
August 26th, 2021 at 10:13 PM ^
Heard Gil Green was a silent to us--Sam Webb got that wrong too.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:44 PM ^
Is the defense good or is the O in a whole lot of trouble? The defense got the better of the offense? ****
August 26th, 2021 at 6:49 PM ^
Well, its August 26th and absent any evidence to the contrary I have no choice but to assume we have the best defense in the country. Maybe even better than some NFL teams.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:08 PM ^
Considering the O is quite experienced (and very talented) at almost all position groups, I'd say the D having a good day is a good sign for us.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^
If our offense hadn't been bad for the last several seasons I would agree with you.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
Last year our offense was bad for a handful of reasons, partly because we had to replace a TON of guys, partly because our starting QB couldn't hack it and partly because of injuries (notably our starting LT).
This season we bring back all of our production from last year, add a very good transfer WR and have a QB who spent the latter part of last season and the whole off-season practicing with the 1's. I'm not saying we'll break a ton of records but the offense should be good to very good.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:18 AM ^
Pass me the kool-aid please.
August 27th, 2021 at 8:10 AM ^
At one point we had 4 tr or rs fr starting on the oline last year. Nico sat out the season the one receiver that could take the top off a defense and an absolute force to go with losing Black and DJP.. so only Ronnie Bell returns.. No deep threat, no rec a threat to make the defense pay, injuries piling up on the line it made sense that defenses attacked the run..
August 26th, 2021 at 8:07 PM ^
Several have made a move on the depth chart following a scrimmage in which the defense got the better of the offense Wednesday night.
Center and captain Andrew Vastardis acknowledged as much Thursday, though the offense won the day a week earlier.
Pretty selective reading. Looks like it went both ways.
August 26th, 2021 at 9:29 PM ^
It’s seems like every year under Harbaugh, regardless of the OC, we hear that the defense is ahead of the offense. That’s probably because the guy who actually runs the offense hasn’t changed and he’s just not very good.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:56 AM ^
The defense is always ahead of the offense early in the season. It's like that for most NFL teams too. The offense has to learn an entire playbook and learn each other's tendencies so that they can play off each other. The defense has to learn broad concepts and make reads and react to what the offense does. That is a lot easier to learn and certainly doesn't take as much time.
August 26th, 2021 at 9:36 PM ^
Yet to be scored on. Elite defense if you ask me.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
Thoughts?
Kick some ass, NGH.
Be ready Mike Barrett.
???
Profit
August 26th, 2021 at 7:14 PM ^
The cream is rising to the top. Not a bad thing for Michigan! It means a solid backup is waiting.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:41 PM ^
Also, before the cream sits out too long, you must reconstitute it.
August 26th, 2021 at 9:33 PM ^
Looks like Junior Colson will make the 2 deep! Rising to the top! He is headed for all-conference some day.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^
On a side note, I think the talk from the defensive players about playing loose is a good thing. If they play loose they are much more likely to push back on the pressure that gets in the head and in the way and play their best.
Here's hoping momentum can sit on the shoulders of these players and see some stops for a change.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:40 PM ^
If an underclassman is good enough to beat out a competent veteran, that’s good news. NHG must be pretty good.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:44 PM ^
Hill-Green has been getting consistently good reports since spring and all of this fall, so I really think this is a case of him earning it, not that Barrett isn't cutting it.
August 26th, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^
I am far to lazy to look it up but I felt he was starting to generate buzz as early as last year.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^
It's nice to see the best player playing vs the upperclassmen returning starter. New staff and new eyes on the players.
On offense from what I've read/heard in the past was warinner was not doing all the coaching and was rubbing other coaches and players the wrong way. I'm excited to see what Moore and Hart do in the run game.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^
This absolutely sounds like NHG passed Barrett more than Barrett got worse, which is a good sign for player development and the floor for the LBers.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:59 PM ^
“True freshman Junior Colson is playing both positions and just returned to the practice field for the first time all fall.”
August 26th, 2021 at 9:23 PM ^
This about Nikhai Hiil-Green:
hours and hours of study
Becoming a 4.0 student of the game helps enormously. Football is "90% mental, 10% physical".
August 27th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
its 90% mental... and the rest is in your head.
August 26th, 2021 at 10:24 PM ^
The offense worked when Fisch was here. It has been a shit show ever since and will never be fixed. Not surprised that the defense is winning in practice.
August 26th, 2021 at 11:36 PM ^
2019 was pretty good and capped it off giving Alabama some trouble.
August 26th, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
For a half.
Then Alabama started trying, and that was that.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:32 AM ^
That was Shea Patterson being unable to hit the broadside of a barn.
August 27th, 2021 at 6:42 AM ^
Shea just didn't have the accuracy down field. So stretching the field against Bamas D wasn't there while the Jones and Jeudy show was firing away!
August 27th, 2021 at 11:50 AM ^
Shea's plan of action was always to roll out 30 yards deep to evade rushers, then try to throw it 40 for a 10-yard gain.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:56 PM ^
August 27th, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
This statement just isn't true and is flat out lazy. We've had a couple of better performances since Fisch left. Look at S&P rankings.
August 26th, 2021 at 11:35 PM ^
Yah - I’m taking any news that the D is ahead of our offense as an unmitigated disaster waiting to happen….
August 27th, 2021 at 12:10 AM ^
What a great attitude to have
August 27th, 2021 at 8:23 AM ^
Get real. At this point if the Defense didn't win any against the offense, disaster would be absolute! By this point the defense is installed and operating daily. They should be winning half the practices this last week of fall camp if not more.
Good on Good defense should be ahead. If that makes you worried about the offense you won't know until next week or the Washington game for both tbh. This week is to fine tune everything and get them rolling. Get that first game out with a solid opponent and fix the mistakes for the Washington game.
August 27th, 2021 at 12:39 AM ^
This happened 2 weeks ago.
August 27th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
Forgot the game last year but Barrett didn't hold the edge on the backside in a play, that destroyed us...and since then I wanted him replaced.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
Keith Jackson said this yesterday......I think.
August 27th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
I only see this as good? Barrett is a solid player, so if he got passed up, thats depth
August 28th, 2021 at 2:38 AM ^
I could see NHG playing more against Washington, Wisconsin, and MSU types of offenses and then Barrett playing more against teams that spread it out more and need more coverage from your linebackers.
NHG was thought of as a thumper in his recruiting profile but it also sounds like he has transformed his body a bit in the off season so maybe he has put it all together. His player comp from Brian last year was Mike McCray.