Scouting Report: Ty Isaac

Submitted by Magnus on

This week's scouting report is on Ty Isaac, the Illinois running back that so many Michigan fans desperately seem to want.  I think some of the criticisms of his running style have been overblown, although he does still have some holes in his game.  Overall, I like him a little bit more now that I've really sat down and watched him.

IPFW_Wolverines

March 15th, 2012 at 8:33 AM ^

Marcus Allen is who he reminds me of in his style. This is the first time i've seen him run and that is first name that came to mind. 

wolverine1987

March 15th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^

that his HS competition was so poor. That does lessen (a tad) the impact of his highlights and stats for me. Still would love to get him though. Thanks for the report.

True Blue Grit

March 15th, 2012 at 9:14 AM ^

I'm pretty sure Borges would love to have all his backs being able to catch the ball effectively. With the kind of talent Michigan is bringing in at OL, I can see a back like Isaac being very successful here.  Reminds me some of Anthony Thomas.  

MGoRyan

March 15th, 2012 at 9:33 AM ^

Obvious Chicago connection, but with his size, running style, and hands out of the backfield, Matt Forte maybe?

Like It's 19BBY

March 15th, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^

Looking at his size, would he be the tallest RB in Michigan's recent history? Maybe I'm putting too much stock in how tall he is, but seeing that people are claiming he runs too high increases that worry. WTF do I know though? I guess everyone looks enormous after watching Vince Smith for 4 years.

Elmer

March 15th, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^

The threat of him catching passes out of the backfield and only having to beat a linebacker will cause defensive coordinators many sleepless nights. 

Would love to see Isaac hitting the hopefully large holes that our upcoming OL will make.

Six Zero

March 15th, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^

but De'Veon Smith has really grown on me of late, too.  I just want a star back there to spearhead the ground game bring balance to the For-- err, I mean offense.

It's hard to believe that we really haven't had a feature back since Mike Hart.  Blame it on the system, the line, the transition, who knows.  Fitz really came on at the end of the year and has a chance for the kind of career we all wanted for Minor, Vince, Shaw and the rest.  But the fact that they were selling #28 bowl game jerseys speaks volumes, and I hope Isaac and/or Smith get that.

bob_ufer

March 15th, 2012 at 11:42 AM ^

I will be more interested in this once he commits.  Going anywhere but UM makes no sense but I am sure everyone at his school is ensuring he gives ND a look. That is just how it works.

LifelongFan

March 15th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^

Magnus - I usually find myself agreeing with your scouting reports, but I have to call you out on your statement that his level of competition being "poor".  What do you know about Chicago area football?  JCA plays in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, which those on this board from Chicago know is part of the Chicago Catholic League and one of the best football conferences in the Chicago area (Joliet Catholic and Carmel are two of the best teams in the state almost every year). They play Carmel, Marist and Nazareth (each of whom was ranked in the top 25 teams in the state (for any division) at some point last year), as well as Mount Carmel (another top-ranked, great Chicago program - Donovan McNabb, Simeon Rice), every year.  To do what he has done against this level of competition is unprecedented (the championship game against Montini - another excellent Chicago-area program - is a perfect example).  This kid has proven he can do it against the best that Illinois high school football has to offer.

LifelongFan

March 15th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^

He dropped 515 yds and 6 TDs on Montini (6th ranked team in the state) in the state title game.   He also went for 218 yds and 3 TDs (one of which came on a 75 yd catch and run with 30 seconds left to win it) against Carmel (at the time, the 3rd ranked team in the state). 

With his kind of production, it'd be a pretty long film for them to show us the 5-6 yd gains against some of these teams.

ironman4579

March 15th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^

These may be good teams, but Magnus is right they aren't very talented.  Of the 5 teams you mentioned, only 3 defensive seniors will be playing for BCS conference teams next year, and only 4 will be playing in D1.  One 4*, one 3*, and two 2*'s (per scout).  They have no players ranked early from the 2013 class.  Carmel, Marist, and Nazareth didn't have a single D1 defensive prospect between them.

Isaac is a great player and I'd love to have him, but no, his competition level really isn't very good.

LifelongFan

March 15th, 2012 at 2:59 PM ^

My only point was that you can't make statements about the quality of his competition from a 13 minute highlight film unless you've take a better look at his opponents.  If you (and Magnus) are reaching the conclusion that his competition is poor because his opponents didn't have future BCS signees lined up against him every week, then that's one way to look at it.  But if you have some of the best teams in the state of Illinois, with good coaches and with above average players, gearing up to stop the guy (if you know JCA, they rarely pass the ball) and he is still torching them for 200+ yds week in and week out, the guy is talented.  

Magnus

March 15th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^

Generally, even very good players don't put up the numbers Isaac did against good competition.  Isaac is significantly better than his opponents.  If he were playing against good programs in Texas or Florida or California, he wouldn't be putting 2,200 yards and 45 touchdowns.  That's not a fact, but an educated guess on my part.

If you watch the film, the kids he's playing against are tiny and slow and several notches below him as an athlete.  If you watch the good running backs from TX, CA, FL, etc., there are at least guys who can keep up with the good running backs, tackle them occasionally, etc.  Those players don't exist in Isaac's film.

It sounds like you're a Chicago guy, and frankly, I think you're being a little defensive of your area/alma mater/whatever.  From an objective perspective (I have no ties to Chicago, Texas, California, Florida, etc.), Isaac's competition pales in comparison.  He's a man among boys, and it's not because he runs a 4.3 forty or because he's a T.J. Duckett-sized powerhouse.  Plop him down in Houston or southern California, and he'd probably rip off 1,400-1,800 yards and score 30 touchdowns.  Which is still good, of course, but his stats are inflated because of his competition.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it.

Isotoners and …

March 20th, 2012 at 11:46 PM ^

Lets not lie to the people. The ESCC is a good conference for small schools in IL. For the upper echelon it is not. The ESCC IS NOT in the Chicago Catholic League. They do not play Mount Carmel. As a matter of fact Marist that beat JCA was blasted in the 1st round of 8A playoffs by a mediocre team. Ty probably put up 200+ against Marist. Homewood had about 200 rushing against Marist. Homewood had less than 20 against Lincoln Way East, and only 4 rushing yards (yes 4 yards for the game) against Bolingbrook. Naz which beat JCA was blasted in the 2nd round of 6A. Carmel (not Mount Carmel) was defeated by an average team in the 2nd round of 7A, JCA needed a last minute Isaac TD to beat Carmel.   For example Montini, the team JCA played in the championship, was massacred by the 8A runner-up (Loyola) in week 2. Only window dressing made the game look more competitive. Loyola had 4 TDs in the first 13 minutes of the game.

 

Ty is a beast, you can look at his build and see that. But his competition is VERY poor and thats being generous.  Those guys had no business being on a field with Isaac. Now if you put Isaac in 8A, say the conference with Mount Carmel, his #'s are probably cut in half. Thats not an indication on Ty, just a reality of the difference in defenses.