Scout: Top Offensive and Defensive Scrimmage Performers

Submitted by Bodogblog on

Predictable based on tweets and last night's thread.  But a few things stand out: 

  • Glasgow #1 NT?  This mentioned in the write-up on Hurst.  Again, not sure if Pipkins played last night, but is he #3? 
  • Godin started at 3T, some praise for his play last night.  They predict Henry as the opening day starter, but as of now Godin is #1 (probably as a way to keep fire lit under Henry).  This would put Wormley #3 at the moment.  Didn't hear much about him either, not sure if he played.  But this pushes the two supposed interior DL starters to #3. 
  • Peppers is starting at CB, if that wasn't clear.  Taylor came in at CB when going to nickel.  Lewis started on the other side.  Countess is currently on the outside looking in. 
  • Peppers was beastly. 
  • Bolden is absolutely lighting it up.  
  • For those who believe this D is just last year's D one year older, you're ignoring the facts above: two starting CB's (one of them All-B1G) and two promising quasi-starting - or at least penciled in as starters in 2014 - DL have been pushed to second (or third) string, and a younger LB has overtaken a three-year starter.  This could all change in the next two weeks of course, but that's 5 of 6 positions where competition has replaced a 2013 starter or presumed 2014 starter.  All other things being equal, that should be good news.  Plus, the aggression thing is real. 
  • Offense is as expected: Morris and WR's (Funchess, Ways, Darboh/Canteen).  Yes, we should all be concerned. 

http://michigan.scout.com/2/1435242.html

http://michigan.scout.com/2/1435241.html

 

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gwkrlghl

August 17th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^

I'd say the developments at CB should put the expectations for Peppers and Lewis close to through the roof. Countess held his own as a true freshman and Taylor is solid as well. Both are Big Ten quality starters and got bumped by these up-and-comers.

I imagine we're going to be very good at corner for years

Joined: 04/13/2012

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Blue Carcajou

August 17th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^

A lot of this only means so much... The staff is without a doubt still closely holding their cards to their chests. 

I'm sure we barely saw much from last night. Morris played more snaps than Gardner because one is futher ahead than the other... and will be starting. 

Joined: 08/10/2013

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

August 17th, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^

spelling Lewis or Peppers at CB is very possible in this more aggressive D. Lewis is a better pocket cover CB and Peppers is substantially more physical & combative. Countess is quite good in a safe, zone D. He settles in zones and anticipates well. The shift to aggression doesn't play to his strengths.

Joined: 11/01/2012

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jtmc33

August 17th, 2014 at 6:38 PM ^

If we have 4 starting CBs and a huge ? at SS then why isn't Peppers at SS (which he's more than capable of playing) and getting Lewis Taylor and Countess on the field together. With Peppers ability to play multiple positions then it's a no brainer that between Countess and Hill/Clark who need to be on the sideline.

Joined: 04/15/2009

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Mr. Yost

August 17th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

There's certainly some merit like Drake Johnson being right in the mix with the other two guys, Cole being the starter at LT for this team, etc.

Other stuff is just fall camp motivation, injury precaution, inexperience getting experience, or experience guys out because they don't need the reps.

Glasgow being the starting NG and Peppers that starting CB certainly fall into these.

We have to realize that this was still a practice for these guys...they're not going to totally go against that. So if a guys with experience is dinged, he's not going to get as many reps. It's really that simple.

I remember in Hoke first year people were all tight assed because Mike Martin and RVB weren't starting every practice. Well they were seniors and Hoke knew what they could do, it was time to try and build some depth.

He's consistently done this every year. At the same time, again, some of the rumblings are real. We need to prepare for a true freshman to start at LT or a 2-star RB to start over a 4 and 5-star back. Glasgow (OL) in the past has been a rumbling that was consistent enough in the fall to really take note.

Both Hoke and Mattison have said Peppers is the starting NB, they're not going to put too much on him until he masters the position. He did (as much as could be expected) and both said he's now going to take snaps at CB to get experience...Countess has a groin injury so it's easy to give Peppers his snaps and hold Countess out.

Mone, Pipkins and Henry have all been getting a ton of hype this fall at the nose, Pipkins is a little dinged, not sure what's going on with Mone and Henry seems to be working at the 3-tech...but one Ryan Glasgow sighting isn't going to cut it for me. What it does is make the question "Is Glasgow currently leading the way at NG?" at the next presser a valid one. What it does is make us on the lookout. But it's not like it's in stone right now. R. Glasgow and Burzynski have been 1st or 2nd teamers at some point in the fall for like 2-3 years now. 

I take MUCH more credence into all the Joe Bolden hype, or Canteen/Cole/Lewis in the spring than I do the lineup of one scrimmage. Bolden/Canteen/Cole/Lewis...even Mone...those are consistent mentionings that hold merit. Everything else could be a number of things and we should relax before calling someone a starter or even a significant contributor off these things.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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Bodogblog

August 18th, 2014 at 5:14 AM ^

Countess was not held out. He played with the second team and had an interception. Glasgow hasn't been mentioned for 2-3 years: he was a RS freshman last year and played a lot of football. He was in fact second string or thereabouts in his one season of eligible play. Burzynski is a red herring - he was a warm body at a position with either no one or freshman.

Joined: 06/08/2010

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Monocle Smile

August 17th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^

Given the personnel, the "run with the ones" concept is an incomplete picture. I'm unsure if anyone saw a snapshot of the August 30th starting lineup yesterday.

Joined: 09/17/2009

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evenyoubrutus

August 17th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

Since they are running a one back offense how do Shallman and Hill factor in? I thought Shallman looked like he could be a good replacement while Butt recovers.

Joined: 11/04/2008

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BlueinTC

August 17th, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^

My weird quirk when watching a game recently is to only watch the offense because I couldn't stand to watch another team march down the field...I know it's a quirk but the RichRod defenses did that to me.  I think that may change with this defense.  I'm excited about them.  They could be damn good.

Joined: 07/26/2011

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jtmc33

August 17th, 2014 at 6:44 PM ^

Agree. Moving him to Mike means he's able to crash every play and coordinators can't plan to the other side to avoid him. Seems like the coaches may need to think about Peppers in the same way... He's a big hitting CB who can play NB or SS. Start him at SS and he can't be avoided. Then Lewis Taylor and Countess are your starting CBs/NB.

Joined: 04/15/2009

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MaximusBlue

August 17th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

I hope the defense is really this good. It's hard to tell if they're really this good or are they just going against a terrible offense. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle, but the optimism in me says the defense will be pretty damn good.

Joined: 07/31/2012

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gwkrlghl

August 17th, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^

I think the defense is going to be pretty awesome. The back 7 should be amongst the best in the country I would think and there's enough talent on the line returning from a decent unit that they should be 'good'.

Joined: 04/13/2012

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MaximusBlue

August 17th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^

Way to much young talent in the two deep. The fact that a true frosh and soph are about to start over a senior and junior tells me that Peppers and Lewis are the real deal. Wilson is solid at one the safety spots. I don't see Ryan rotating out unless it's for fatigue and Gedeon/McCray would come in. Then you have a two-deep of Bolden/Morgan on one side and Ross/RJS on the other. Pretty sick.

Joined: 07/31/2012

MGoPoints: 9765

reshp1

August 17th, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^

I'd take the "starter" label with a grain of salt right now on defense. This staff loves to mix things up and for once it seems like we can go 2 or even 3 deep with very little difference between them.

Pipkins played, but I think only had a few snaps, didn't remeber seeing much of him. I think they're still limiting his reps to protect the knee.

Hurst was impressive on the interior. Clark was just feasting on the 2s but I thought Cole did a nice job with him. Bolden is playing well, that play where he sniffed out the screen pass and nailed Green as he caught the ball was awesome.

Offensively, Ways caught my eye and Funchess was solid as well. Morris had some good moments when he had some time, which wasn't often. Green seemed to be a lot harder to bring down, Drake Johnson looks a lot shiftier than I remember him.

Joined: 10/31/2011

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