Special teams, offense, and defense: Dennis Norfleet, triple threat!
Good thing the kid seems to have boundless energy.
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Rivals: Norfleet expected to return to offense
February 20th, 2013 at 1:38 PM
#302
Special teams, offense, and
February 20th, 2013 at 1:43 PM
#303
I wonder who will be featured
in the GIF to follow??
February 20th, 2013 at 1:47 PM
#304
The best drummer in
The best drummer in Michigan:
February 20th, 2013 at 1:48 PM
#305
The best drummer in
The best drummer in Michigan:
February 20th, 2013 at 2:36 PM
#309
I was standing next to him at
I was standing next to him at the AATA stop the other day. He waits for the bus in the same way he waits for the opening kickoff. Dude's a one-man dance party.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:42 PM
#310
This news makes me very happy.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:30 PM
#311
Retro.
Is that Groucho Marx in Horse Feathers? Trivia: Harry Newman led Michigan to a national championship in the year this movie came out, and Gerald Ford was our back-up center. I feel like this post should end with a ~Herm.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
#312
Yes, it's Groucho as Quincy Adams Wagstaff
Yes, it's Groucho as Quincy Adams Wagstaff the college president. Groucho gets convinced to recruit professional football players but ends up signing Harpo and Chico instead. A must-see for the witty, high-IQ mgocommunity. Wow, I'm a dork.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
#313
Well
For the record, they may have looked like pro players. They're pretty good with disguises.
"We foola you good, eh boss?"
February 20th, 2013 at 5:14 PM
#314
The guy who posits the
The guy who posits the question and the guy who responds to the question both have Tolkien-inspired screen names. Coincidence? Or is it RDT (Roll Damn Tolkien)?
February 20th, 2013 at 5:27 PM
#315
9+1+1=11
9/11.
February 20th, 2013 at 5:48 PM
#316
Half life 3 confirmed!
Half life 3 confirmed!
February 20th, 2013 at 5:32 PM
#317
Coincidence. I don't think
Coincidence. I don't think RDT was smart enough to have been a Tolkien reader. Although, finding someone who has also seen Horse Feathers is quite rare.
As for Tolkien inspired names I think there's: Thorin, Balrog, and myself. Perhaps Logan88 can become Glorfindel.
February 20th, 2013 at 9:33 PM
#318
Nah, I'll take Radagast the
Nah, I'll take Radagast the Brown.
February 20th, 2013 at 5:49 PM
#319
And look at their joining dates-
Only digits are 0, 1 and 2 for both of them. Very suspicious.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:42 PM
#320
Darren Sproles comparisons
Darren Sproles comparisons still have a chance!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:30 PM
#321
You're black, your short, you
You're black, your short, you play Running Back. = Darren Sproles
You're white, your short, you play Wide Receiver = Wes Welker
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February 20th, 2013 at 1:46 PM
#326
Coach Mattision expressed
Coach Mattision expressed disapointment in losing Norfleet back to the other side of the ball:
"Look...we gave the kid all off season to grow and put him on a strick diet to facilitate growth but despits all our efforts he simply refuses to get any taller. Until Dennis gets serious about his height we sadly have no place for him on defense."
February 20th, 2013 at 1:56 PM
#327
I bet we could stretch him.
I bet we could stretch him.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:53 PM
#328
Deer Antler Spray?
February 20th, 2013 at 1:44 PM
#329
I never understood why Brian
I never understood why Brian was so worked up about this. There was never anything suggesting the move was permanant, and it seemed to me pretty clear this was about CB depth, with Countess and Floyd both down and out.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:58 PM
#330
...nothing except Coach
...nothing except Coach Mallory telling Heiko as much.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:03 PM
#331
(No subject)
February 20th, 2013 at 2:35 PM
#332
Yeah, this one did not look too good
To the credit of this staff, at least they tend to reconsider and fix issues.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:47 PM
#333
I don't think it matters much
I don't think it matters much whether it's offense or defense, this kid is never going to play relevant minutes other than special teams / return game. He's got too many people in front of him at RB, right now at slot, and certainly at CB to ever do much in those 2 phases of the game.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:44 PM
#334
Good, Defense seemed like a
Good, Defense seemed like a big mismatch for his size and abilities and what it seems like the coaches are trying to do there. Would much rather see him back on offense. This is good enws if it holds up.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:17 PM
#335
regarding defensive size
stronger, faster and slightly shorter than Richardson. He could do it in the right situations. With that being said, I am happy if he gets to play where he enjoys the game the most and it's what the coaches are good with.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:46 PM
#336
Thank The Heavens!!!!
The guy looks better with the ball in his hands
February 20th, 2013 at 1:50 PM
#337
This is happy news
This is happy news
February 20th, 2013 at 1:53 PM
#338
Thank goodness
His skills are a much better match for kick returns and selected offensive roles like the slot, screen passes, and certain running plays.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:59 PM
#339
Yes!
I'd love to see him take a bigger role on offense next season. He offers a unique change of pace compared to Fitz, Green, Smith, Rawls, etc. Would love to see emerge as a third down back, slot WR and kick returning terror.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:08 PM
#340
Absolutely. With Vincent
Absolutely. With Vincent Smith leaving, there's definitely an opening for a 3rd down back. I'm guessing it'll come down to Norfleet and Hayes to fight for that roll. Hopefully one of them can tap into whatever it was that made V. Smith such a monster when it came to blitz pick-ups.
Ideally, I'd like to see Hayes move to the slot and keep Norfleet at RB. But that is based on nothing but my knee jerk response to my own post as I was writing it.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:01 PM
#341
3rd down back
To me if you have a 3rd down back, it probably means your back on first and second downs isn't that good at catching the ball or pass blocking (or possibly both). If your back that's out there on 1st and 2nd down can catch the ball and pass portect, you don't really need a 3rd down back do you?
February 20th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
#342
Yeah, but you want to keep
Yeah, but you want to keep your running backs fresh, and if you have another back perfect for a certain situation it's a good chance to get that starter some rest and cut down on the pounding he takes
February 20th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
#343
Well yeah
you want to rotate running backs but if you put a back in only for certain situations, defenses will start to pick up on that and have a pretty good idea of what is coming depending on which back is in the game.
You ideally want 2-3 backs who can handle all aspects of the position - running, catching and pass protection.
February 20th, 2013 at 4:09 PM
#344
Yes, ideally you want all
Yes, ideally you want all your players to be able to do everything. But that will never be the case; teams will always have situational players. It's not like V. Smith only came in to run one play or only stayed in to pass block whenever he was on the field. He ran it sometimes, he took blitz pick-up duties sometimes, and he ran out for passes/screens sometimes. He was used for a variety of purposes, but he was still very much a situational player.
February 20th, 2013 at 5:14 PM
#345
Lets just hope he isn't
on the field in place of Smith on 3rd or 4th and short - I think Borges has scrapped that package.
It also won't be easy to get plays on 3rd and long given Green's and Fitz's speed and catching ability.
Depth is a wonderful problem.
February 20th, 2013 at 4:24 PM
#346
The whole point of a third
The whole point of a third down back is to have a guy who can pass block and catch the ball out of the backfield on third and long. How is puting him in giving anything away? It's not like the defense doesn't know the down and distance. If we have third and 8, the D is probably thinking pass regardless of who our RB is.
Now, if you have a RB who only goes in on passing downs and you put him in on first, then you'd probably be giving something away. But that's not what a third down back is for.
February 20th, 2013 at 8:03 PM
#347
With Vincent Smith leaving,
With Vincent Smith leaving, we'll need more small hobbitses to feed to the clowney.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:00 PM
#348
Hooray
February 20th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
#349
Meh
Let's see that Otter shoot the three.
February 20th, 2013 at 7:12 PM
#350
That's the problem with you Michigan hoops fans.
Too much emphasis on the three. Look what that otter is bringing you in the lane! Not just the high-efficiency two, but the opportunity for and-ones at the line! Foul trouble for the opposition bigs! Cute otter accessories for the ladies!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:00 PM
#351
a DB ?
I never understood the move to DB in the first place. The coaches are always talking about wanting bigger physical corners and then they try Norfleet out at the position? Even if there was an immediate/temporary need there moving him made no sense at all, to me at least.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:45 PM
#352
Well...
They want bigger, more physical players at just about every position, including running back. Lesser of two evils?
February 20th, 2013 at 2:02 PM
#353
I was hoping he would come
I was hoping he would come back to offense after watching him in all those 7 v 7 summer camps, his ability to not even let someone get hands on him was impressive.. Also taking home the mvp against a bunch of SEC recruits was pretty nice too..
Hope he can expand the roll that Smith had as he has much better speed and juking ability
February 20th, 2013 at 2:05 PM
#354
Thank God!
Thank God!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:10 PM
#355
Hindsight being 20/20 and all
Hindsight being 20/20 and all - Did we really think he'd be a DB forever. Wasn't it just for bowl practice since we were a little light there? (No Countess or Floyd)
February 20th, 2013 at 2:12 PM
#356
there's only one thing to be said here
O LETS DO IT!!!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:23 PM
#357
OH LET DO IT!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:15 PM
#358
Don't object to moving him
but I do believe it is not in a 7 v 7 "coach" (another point of contention too) to yap about this. I know it isn't a trade secret prior to a big game but you are twice removed from the kid at UofM and just because he told you - you shouldn't spill this to rivalscout247et al....
February 20th, 2013 at 2:24 PM
#359
Awesome news!
This is great news! I have a feeling norfleet finally breaks one and gets his first return td in our home opener.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:31 PM
#360
This is not a surprise.
This is not a surprise.
February 20th, 2013 at 2:39 PM
#361
Joy
February 20th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
#362
Looking back on it...
it blows my mind that Ren and Stimpy was originally on Nickelodeon, intended for children. What a fucked up cartoon that was.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:30 PM
#363
Oh, Ren,
Happy, happy, joy, joy over this news!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
#364
Gott sei Dank!
Gott sei Dank!
February 20th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
#365
Clearly this move is to make
Clearly this move is to make room for Charles Woodson to return for his last year of eligibility.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:24 PM
#366
Because it's my all-time
Because it's my all-time favorite:
February 20th, 2013 at 3:56 PM
#367
Excellent
Last great thing (and maybe only thing) Danny Hope has been part of.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:55 PM
#368
He's like Tyrone Wheatley,
He's like Tyrone Wheatley, except small.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:57 PM
#369
woo!
February 20th, 2013 at 5:01 PM
#370
OH PRAISE JEEBUS AND GORGEOUS
OH PRAISE JEEBUS AND GORGEOUS AL
February 21st, 2013 at 2:06 AM
#371
Happy but...
If this kid was really that good on offense do you think they would have moved him?
Yes, I think he's a better fit on offense and I'm glad he's back there, but I'm not sure he will make much of an impact.
February 21st, 2013 at 1:54 PM
#372
I disagree with your thinking
My guess is his move made the team better for the bowl game. Denard had to get RB reps, and Norfleet is a freshman who is lower on the depth chart anyway. We were down CBs because a couple of guys got kicked off the team.... So yeah. He could really be that good at offense. The team just had an extra body at RB that needed a lot of work and they also needed bodies at CB. A temp switch makes a ton of sense.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:06 AM
#373
The bottom line is Norfleet
The bottom line is Norfleet is going to be making more big plays on offense then he ever could have on defense.
