I think Dymonte Thomas stays
Serious looks you say? Pshaw!
I want to see Maurice Hurst, just for my own amusement. Not sure how much more manball you can get than a DT playing RB.
Regarding Hurst
You mean, sort of like how we used WIlliam Carr on a few occasions in the mid-90s as a situational (goal line or short yardage perhaps) fullback? I believe Hurst has some time in as an RB on his high school team despite being a DT. It's an interesting possibility to be sure, and he has the size to do it, I think.
"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."
Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3
I imagined you saying that in
I imagined you saying that in Jemaine's voice. It made it funny.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates.
Shallman
In my mind, I've always seen Shallman as a defensive end. I think he moves to that side of the ball due to his athleticism and already having Hopkins and Houma on scholarship and especially the emergence of Kerridge which gives the FB position depth next year.
Alaska Standard, 8:00 A.M. kickoff...
FWIW
Hasn't everyone involved been pretty insistent that Shallman will get a look at RB rather than FB? We sort of see him as having more FB size but I thought the plan was him at RB.
Yes.
Yes.
Shallman
Magnus, what's your view of Shallman as a RB. He is huge for the position, but there have been big RBs that have had a ton of college success (think Brandon Jacobs, every Wisconson RB). Can he be an every down back?
http://touchthebanner.blogspo
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2012/02/wyatt-shallman-wolverine.html
I am not enthused about him as a RB, and no, I don't think he can be an every-down back.
If he is as athletic as every
If he is as athletic as every seems to say he is, with his versatility, could he move to be a slant running wide receiver, kind of a Wes Welker type?
Wes Welker
It seems to me at first blush that Wes Welker is the precise opposite of Shallman.
whut
Shallman is like 6'3", 240. What about that says "slot receiver?"
I mean, I realize that you have yet to post a comment that contributes to this blog in a positive way, but you've started to dig after hitting bottom, man.
No excuses. Play like a champion.
Absolutely not.
Absolutely not.
Wes Welker was 5'9" 180 lbs
Wes Welker was 5'9" 180 lbs his senior year of COLLEGE. Shallman is 6'3" 245 lbs his senior year of HIGH SCHOOL. I don't see the comparison....
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler
Wes Welker is still growing.
Wes Welker is still growing. There's a possibility, guys.
It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
Yes. All white football
Yes. All white football players can be compared to Wes Welker. Jake Ryan? Wes Welker. Jake Long? Wes Welker. K.C. Lopata? For sure Wes Welker.
So basically you are saying
So basically you are saying he is no Mike Cox?
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
- Vince Lombardi
Mike Cox is one of a kind.
Mike Cox is one of a kind.
I kind of think the whole
I kind of think the whole huge RB idea is a little overrated. Not to say big backs aren't good or can't be, but everyone gets excited and makes Brandon Jacobs comparisons whenever a big guy is potentially going to play RB, but Jacobs isn't that good. He never really seemed a huge difference maker for the Giants (I know he is with San Francisco now). He has had some decent years but overall he runs really upright and is not fast or even particularly agile. He is slow getting to the hole and if he doesn't have a full head of steam he really doesn't run over a whole lot of guys. When it has come to the playoffs, Ahmad Bradshaw has been far more productive for the Giants. All in all, I think this large RB theme is overplayed. I like larger RB's (6'0ish and 210-230) but I like guys who have some speed and agility so he can get to the hole before the play happens. I think Shallman might be fine but if not then maybe a position change could be in order. We shall see.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates.
Agreed. There haven't been a
Agreed. There haven't been a great number of huge running backs. Everyone wants to find the next Ron Dayne or Mike Alstott, but Alstott was more of a complementary player. And Dayne did a lot of good things in college, but he's just one guy. In general, I think those guys fill a role (short yardage) and that's about it.
Aging brain here
Obviously, Alstott's complement at TB was Dunn, but I can't remember who that would be at Purdue. Do you know? Also, do you think there are any players on the M roster who could perhaps play that role if we were to try the Thunder and Lightning approach with Shallman? Or would that just be a crappy idea to even consider?
Thanks in advance.
(Too lazy for Google)
Because I'm old and grouchy
I'm not sure if he had a
I'm not sure if he had a "Lightning" partner at Purdue. It was pretty much just Alstott, IIRC.
Toby Gerhart 2.0
Toby Gerhart 2.0
Brandon Jacobs
Brandon Jacobs
Alaska Standard, 8:00 A.M. kickoff...
I hope so. Man was he fun to
I hope so. Man was he fun to watch.
If you don't ride a camel, you ain't shi'ite.
It seems froms shallmans
It seems froms shallmans comments he really wants to stick at RB- and it seems like he was told he'd get a shot.
A big part of position changes and who plays what is honesty. Lots of coaches will promise shots to play prefered positions and then not follow through. It seems like Hoke and co. are honest about where they see players. Obviously some people will ultimately switch but my bet is that for the freshman year all recruits pretty much know where they will play. It will only change if they don't pan out, change physically, or the next recruiting class changes priorities.
Usually a players potential
Usually a players potential on one side of the ball outweighs what he wants to play. Not a perfect comparison but cam Gordon was and is much better suited for lb than wide receiver. He knew it and the coaches knew it. It's just a matter of how long it takes the player to realize this.
Bears Beets Battlestar Galactica
Wyatt is a very interesting recruit
I'm very intrigued by him in the backfield. Maybe this is just me reading into stuff, but it seems that the average pure fullback recruit is a lowly 3 star who will learn to block and get about 5 touches per season. I don't really see that in Shallman. He's pretty highly ranked and, if he says that he wants to play FB, I'm assuming it isn't because he likes blocking more than he likes tackling. On offense he will get the ball with more frequency than the average FB which makes me wonder what is in store for this offense.
Exactly, now instead of
Exactly, now instead of seeing 10 HB off center dives on 3rd and 4, we'll get to see 10 FB off center dives a game!
Even if that is true
Shallman
Would be a perfect H back...I think that is where they want him, unless he continues to grow.
neoavatara.com/blog
They've told him that he's
They've told him that he's going to be a tailback. That's much different than H-back (aka U-back), which is currently being played by Devin Funchess.
Yup...
My mistake...not H back. Had a brain fart.
neoavatara.com/blog
Couldn’t have forgotten, as
Couldn’t have forgotten, as an elephant never… /s
Is McQuay (if we get him ofcourse)
projecting to S or CB?
GRwolverine73
FS and/or slot corner.
FS and/or slot corner.
CB
I thought that I saw that he was projected as a CB. I think that he will have the best shot there as Dymonte and Wilson should be manning both safety positions for a few years. He will have the opportunity to step right into the CB position.
I've said this before, but I
I've said this before, but I wish we could clone Dymonte Thomas and play the other one at RB. However, I don't really see him moving away from defense, because nobody's really proven at safety and I think he could be starting by 2014.
Offense to defense or defense to offense
Have there been any side changes at skill positions that have really worked out? I hear a lot about how we should try certain people like Dymonte or Furman at RB, but given what we see this year I don't know how that can be possible. There are, now obviously, a lot of intangibles that a RB has to possess. Maybe these guys have them, but I would just as soon chalk it up to them being amazing athletes vs high school competition. If there have been steller skill position side switches then I'm curious who they are.
Best Example
Charles Woodson. Switched from RB in high school to CB in college. I'd say that worked out alright.
Those who stay will be champions
Was Woodson recruited as a RB
Was CW recruited as a RB or CB? I'm wondering about those who were recruited as, say, a RB and switched to CB after enrolling and starred/were good. I don't think that Furman, for example, was ever recruited as a RB even though he was in HS.
Woodson was a CB from day one
Woodson was a CB from day one at M, much to the delight of the defensive coaches.
I can recall reading to commit piece on Woodson in the freep. It talked about what a great RB he was at Sandusky HS but he was going to be a CB at M.
It might have been BTN "Legends"...
where they had Carr and Woodson himself talking about his recruitment. This is going off memory from at least a few months back, but both said that Carr convincing him to play defense was a big part of why he ended up at Michigan. Woodson knew he'd be an underweight RB and wouldn't have the impact he wanted playing WR, but Carr saw the potential he had at CB and made some vague mention about playing a bit on offense and special teams. It wasn't until after his freshman season that Carr pulled him into his office and told him he'd be getting WR/RB/returner looks the following season.
Go Blue!
Not Sandusky HS
Fremont Ross HS
Good catch. My bad. I knew
Good catch. My bad. I knew that; Rob Lytle as well. I was close geographically
Woodrow Hankins
Recruited as a running back,but ended up at cornerback. He wasn't great,but he made a key play that stopped an osu touchdown and made them settle for a field goal back in 95 or 96 helped win the game.Barry Switzer, when he was at Oklahoma used to do it all the time, recruit running backs and switch them to linebacker, Carr did it with Ian Gold, many turned out to be excellent college players.
I believe that Hoke has said
I believe that Hoke has said something with similar effect. Essentially saying that RB's are usually the most "athletic" guys on the team, and can usually make position switches and special team duty better than other players (in general).
The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.
Woodrow Hankins
Recruited as a running back,but ended up at cornerback. He wasn't great,but he made a key play that stopped an osu touchdown and made them settle for a field goal back in 95 or 96 helped win the game.Barry Switzer, when he was at Oklahoma used to do it all the time, recruit running backs and switch them to linebacker, Carr did it with Ian Gold, many turned out to be excellent college players.
Dymonte Thomas, like Charles
Dymonte Thomas, like Charles Woodson, has expressed the desire to play defense in college. Both Woodson and Thomas are/were great HS RB's but preferred D. Dymonte is going to play D and he going to be very very good.
I think Dymonte Thomas stays at S. But Jourdan Lewis and Wyatt Shallman could both get looks on the opposite sides of the ball, even though Shallman has been told that he will be a running back. Those two are probably the only ones that get serious looks elsewhere position wise.
“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo
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