No Gallon Hype?
My buddy has held a liking to J. Gallon since he saw his recruiting video and I must say after reviewing it was pretty awesome. So we got the mixtape and rave reviews from the All-American game, a quick search of the Mgoblog archives produced Brian's position preview of maybe punt returns.
Anybody got the latest internet buzz on him? I don't recall any scout team buzz like when S. Breaston redshirted or any post season buzz from the departed when the Toussiant hype started up.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
Maybe there's too many Canadians on this board, eh?
February 16th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^
I was trying to come up with something clever, but this is perfect.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
try Adrian.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
HE'S ON FIRE!
February 16th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
I didNintendo be.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
At first I didn't get it. Then I got it and didn't think about it. Then I thought about it about five minutes after I got it and laughed out loud. This was a wierd sequence.
Anyway, +1 well deserved.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
Maybe we haven't heard much about him because there are many other WRs being talked about, and for good reason. I am sure he'll get a chance during spring practice to make a name for himself. Just a thought...
February 16th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
for all we know, but I think the lack of hype is just a product of us having two really solid slot receivers than it is a diss to his abilities.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
Not just that, but practice hasn't even started yet. The hype on him was that he came into fall camp a little out of shape. With a year under his belt, I'm sure he'll impress this spring. Give it time.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
Speaking of a lack of ninja hype... no T. Robinson hype either.
Or WR hype for Stokes... who Mike Jones'd his redshirt this year for zero production
February 16th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
cannot catch the ball.
February 16th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^
I thought he was injured?
February 16th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^
He was injured his redshirt freshman year, but fine to play last year if it weren't for the dropsies
February 16th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
Any lack of ninja-hype talk HAS to include Drew what's the dilly-yo?
February 16th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
When the transfer rumors started up, I thought T-Rob would be one to go based on our depth at slot.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
With Roundtree emerging as a solid possession receiver and Odom's also producing well, Gallon will have his work cut out for him to step into a significant roll on offense this year.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
He shoots lasers out of his eyes. I pity the PR coverage team that tries to stop him.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^
I am an outlier on this but I really think we will get more production with Roundtree on the outside most of the time so that Odoms and Gallon can be on the field more. Hemingway and Stonum are only juniors so they may finally emerge as good targets, but so far they have not shown the ability to get open. Roundtree and Odoms find the holes in the secondary, and I believe that Gallon will be just as elusive. We need these guys on the field so that Tate (or Denard) can throw the quick passes that keep the defense off balance. How many times last year did Tate look to his first read and then have to head for the hills as the defense closed in (I'm looking at you Mark Huyge). Gallon is magic with the ball in his hands and he has the 'tude that this team needs and he will show it this Spring.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^
a lot, but I don't think he'd make a particularly good outside receiver. His greatest assets are his hands and his route running. He doesn't have great speed and is only 6 foot tall. I think he has an easier time getting open against nickel dbs and linebackers but might struggle against cornerbacks. Stokes, Stonum and Hemingway are all faster and Miller and Jackson are taller.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^
Love Roundtree, but not confident he'd be able to be as successful if he were getting pressed at the line.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
Your right that Tate looked at one read and then took off, but the reason wasn't always that the pocket was collapsing. More often than not, he took off pre-maturely and would have fared better to step up or slide. He should learn a ton from watching film of last year this summer, and the kid was just a true frosh. He's got plenty of time to learn how to be a better pocket passer. I think it's extra hard for him because he was so successful in high school with the "run like crazy and bomb it to the wide open guy" style. Drew Brees is an excellent QB to study when learning the in's and out's of stepping up into the pocket.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
Tate may not be quite the athlete that Brees is, but the similarities in stature and arm strength are compelling. I totally agree that this is the guy he should emulate and learn from. As my Grandfather might have said: "From your post to God's (Rod's?) ears." I believe that Tate actually worked out with Brees in San Diego - it was mentioned on TV during one of the games.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
I don't know, I think Tate is every bit the athlete that Drew Brees is. Tate needs to put on some weight, but his speed and agility is very high for a QB. He doesn't have the mental part down yet that Brees has (and even had for most of college) but once he gets all that together, watch out.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
As of right now, Hemingway is our only downfield threat. We've seen flashes of his potential downfield several times over his career, but he has yet to stay healthy or consistent. Stonum has the wheels and the hype, but has yet to produce much at WR. He's the most talented WR on our roster, though, and this year is a make or break one for him.
To open up our run game, we need a legit downfield threat. Roundtree is reliable, and can get open underneath, but does not possess the coveted top-end speed nor the size to be that legitimate downfield threat at the X (or the Y) outside WR positions. Stonum and/or Hemingway do.
I'd expect to see Gallon more in that 4-wide set we use, where we often split out a tight end or bring in a second slot. With Odoms as an experienced junior (and an EXCELLENT blocker, at that), and the consistent Roundtree all vying for the same spot, it will be interesting to see how the coaches manage to get Gallon, who is clearly a very talented and dangerous athlete, onto the field.
But for a moment imagine an offense where Roundtree, Gallon, V. Smith, Koger and Denard all have an opportunity to get the ball. That's scary.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
I essentially agree with your post, except for the second paragraph. Although a deep ball threat is good for opening things up, it's not necessary. When you take out his one long reception, Roundtree averaged 11.5 yards per catch. That's not game changing, but it's enough to keep the safeties out of the box.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
This is splitting hairs, I know. I'd argue that a deep threat is entirely necessary to establish any semblance of a rhythm in the most important facet of our (and most teams') offense: the run game. Unless you have somebody who is a danger to take it to the house on a regular basis, the safeties can crowd the box all they wish to stop the run. The safeties aren't going to stop crowding the box for an 11-yard deep in. Factor into that the fact that the 11.5 ypc includes YAK, and that's not a downfield threat. Think of how much more Roundtree will get the ball if he can catch those underneath deep ins or seams unmolested while the safeties are occupied chasing somebody else down the field. A good deep threat opens up all kinds of options.
The coaches are hoping that Williamson may be that guy, having good track speed, but he's a project. Stokes, though he doesn't have the height, has got the speed and is a polished route runner. Keep in mind, Manningham isn't a tall guy either.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:33 AM ^
Agree to disagree, I guess. I was no D1 prospect but I played safety all of high school and when I think of a safety playing honest I think of him staying at least 8 to 10 yards off the ball. If he creeps up into the box and Roundree takes off on a slant or a drag, he'll be behind the safety in 3 steps and he's off.
And it's not like Roundtree is our only receiving threat. Stonum and Hemingway didn't catch as many balls as he did, but they averaged 15-16 yards per reception. With just those three, you have around seven or eight 12-16 yard catches a game, enough to keep the safeties deep. We have plenty of a passing threat to open up the run.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:21 AM ^
if Tate can get 'em the ball deep. Hopefully with that shoulder rested this season up he can put some more on that ball, because he was clearly struggling on the deep ball toward the end of last season.
Does Tate have the proper arm strength when healthy? Another big question coming into this season. With DG and a hopefully much-improved DRob pushing Tate at QB, that should be one of the most interesting position battles coming into this season.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
Tate can place a beautiful deep ball when healthy. The range never was the issue. If you'll note, he was missing on short throws at the end of the season too. The torn labrum was causing his arm to sometimes move wildly at the shoulder socket.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
the majority of the hyping is on the needs rbs dbs linbackers but jeremy will get talk by spring game remember roy roundtree thats what started his
February 16th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
Gallon, JT Turner, Fitz; all these guys have hype, but it's time to see if they can produce. Spring practice starts next month, and then we'll see if these guys are the real deal or not. Forget high school highlight tapes, scout team reps and reports; time for these guys to step up.
Barring a miraculous turnaround, I doubt T Robinson will contribute much at UM. I mean, hell, Kelvin Grady got more PT than Robinson, and Grady walked on.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
Has there been any talk of moving TRob to RB given the glut at slot and his inability to catch passes?
I'm not giving up on TRob Dream Shake at Michigan!
February 16th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
You heard it here first: The success of Michigan Football in 2010 will depend on whether Fitz/V. Smith can properly execute the "Wheel Route".
February 16th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
A properly executed wheel route has the potential to simultaneously score a touchdown and redeem a lost soul.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:16 PM ^
Kelvin Grady wasn't your typical walk-on. He was a guy that would have been recruited by a lot of big schools for football had he not decided to play bball in college. He was still a relatively highly rated football player.
And I agree with the other guy, I think TRob will get the ball in his hands as a RB this fall. His hands are keeping him from being an Odoms or Gallon type player, but I don't know if there's anything keeping him from being another VSmith type guy. Remember, he's faster too.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
pretty good, till he got injured last year?
February 16th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
He had one awesome game against a terrible team and then did nothing the rest of the season. It's hard to say if it's because of the injury or if it's because he wasn't very good. I don't remember any rumors coming out of the team that said whether he was being slowed by the injury. It looked like a minor injury at the time, but maybe he was hiding something more severe. I really hope that's the case. Lack of production by the outside receivers last year was an issue.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
blame the lack of production from Stonum and Hemingway on injuries to Molk and Forcier. The time Forcier had to throw decreased after Molk's injury and the torn labrum prevented the deep ball.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
he's one of our better big play makers; I look forward to seeing more of him. Heck, I'm excited about the whole offense; there's hardly a weakness anywhere...'10, the year of redemption, please!
February 16th, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
He won the Heisman trophy on my NCAA 10 dynasty.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
I don't know what my problem is, but I can't get myself to play us, I go for the weaker teams; I've won NC's with Minnesota and Indiana.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:22 PM ^
I usually play the first four or five years with Michigan until it becomes too easy. After winning sixty or seventy games in a row I move to a lower tier school. I've done this with Eastern Michigan, San Diego State, Army, Stanford, Oklahoma State and North Carolina.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:35 PM ^
I created my alma mater as a cupcake team and slowly working with them to get them up to dominance.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
When it comes to video football - I create one championship after another. Dominance is insufficient. Obliteration is the goal. Woe unto all non-Wolverine football squads.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
I seem to remember Rodriguez mentioning him as a standout player in one of the press conferences. Howeva, considering that he is behind our top two wide receivers from 08 and 09, he might not see the field much.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
I remember being specifically instructed by Public Enemy: "Don't believe the hype." The dude abides....
February 16th, 2010 at 6:40 PM ^
I hope he can get some playing time this year but Roundtree and Odoms will make that hard to happen but Gallon is a flat out playmaker. I do agree that Terence Robinson should be moved to running back because he is very elusive and fast but he has a major hands problem. I just hope some outside recievers start living up to the hype this year( I'm looking at you Darryl Stonum and Junior Hemingway) so it takes some pressure off the slot guys.
February 16th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
Don't discount the "arched eyebrow." There's cloak and dagger in that:
http://tinyurl.com/ycju3dn