Shaw Would Start if Season Started Today and Other Presser Bits

Submitted by MGoShoe on

From Angelique Chengelis' Twitter feed:

  • Hoke asked if he's confident team can run the ball and stop run "jury's still out"
  • Hoke says team votes on captains on Sunday
  • Hoke on Stokes/Posada -- wishes them well. Sounds like no hard feelings
  • Hoke says if played now Brink would start. "you feel him a lot on field"
  • Hoke says Shaw has been "most consistent on a daily basis"
  • Hoke says Shaw would be lead back and Fitz no 2 if had a game right now
  • Hoke on kicking -- Seth and Wile tight race at punter. Brendan kicking best overall and he and Wile competing for FG. Wile on kickoffs
  • Hoke on Sat scrimmage: woolfolk played well. Said Fitz, Vincent, Shaw carried ball well
  • Hoke liked practice today "we moved the dial in every area"

From Kyle Meinke's Twitter feed:

  • Woolfolk said he's seen some time at nickelback, which means, yes, in certain situations, he has seen time at safety.
  • Hoke, on toughness and stopping the run and running the ball, and his team's ability to do it: The jury's still out.
  • Hoke: standouts on Saturday were Woolfolk, Herron, Toussaint, V. Smith, M. Shaw.
  • Hoke said team will scrimmage again Friday, team will vote on captains Sunday.
  • Desmond Morgan, Mike Jones, Marrell Evans could se time at LB. But Demens is favorite to start. Hoke likes what he's seen.
  • Hoke on attrition: It was the right thing for them, and we wish them the best. Said people leave for different reasons, including homesick
  • Hoke said starting to run Western Michigan prep tomorrow.
  • Offensive line has stood outp Hoke because of chemistry, and WRs. Singled out Gallons.
  • Hoke: Wile battling Broekhuizen for punting, will kickoff, battling Gibbons for FGs
  • Hoke said Brink would start if season were to start tomorrow.
  • Hoke said if RB competition were to end today, Mike Shaw would be lead back because of consistency, improved blocking. Fitz also impressing
  • [Hoke] taking stand with new goatee. Because facial hair definitely wins football games.
  • Brady Hoke worked closely with the punters early in today's practice. instagr.am/p/LFj3p/

From Nick Baumbardner's Twitter feed:

  • Hoke on expectations: 'we have high expectations, I don't worry about what anyone else thinks.'
  • Hoke says team has to 'become finishing team.' Sat scrimmage saw letdown after about 65 plays.
  • FWIW, Fitz Toussaint took first snap with No. 1 offense before media was brusquely ushered away from practice.

From Ryan Autullo's Twitter feed:

  • When assessing playing time at D-line, Hoke mentioned six guys. Absent from his list were two-year starter Craig Roh and Jibreel Black.
  • Walk-on Nathan Brink would start at defensive end (5 technique) if they played a game today.
  • No. Hoke brought up his name today. He's in the mix. RT @JHamilton24: @RyanAutullo Jake Ryan having a quiet preseason after a great spring?
  • Hoke said Brendan GIbbons is on pace to be the starting placekicker, leaving Wile for kickoff, and Wile/Broekhuizen for punting.
  • Freshman LB Desmond Morgan is expected to play this fall.

DGDestroys

August 23rd, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^

Desmond Morgan expected to play this fall, too. Interesting. Looks like two of the least hyped D players (Frank Clark and Morgan) are the two that stand to play the most this year.

EDIT: My opinion/guess. You can probably throw Greg Brown in there too.

Beavis

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:25 PM ^

Brown or Countess will be an interesting question come Sept 3rd.  If the coaches are going off consistency, like they seem to be, I'd bet on Brown.  But Countess has had some amazing moments in practice thus far.  Wouldn't be surprised if both saw the field over a guy like Talbott.

Bodogblog

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^

if the first guy in is humming along, I think he'll be given the opportunity to take the job and never look back. Others will play, but if Shaw rips off 150 against WMU, it may be he and Smith all day against ND. If he does well there, I think he'd be The Guy

bklein09

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^

I have no problem with Shaw being the starting RB this year if he has been the best guy out there.

However, I must say that I am hoping that Fitz or some other underclassman can lock it down so that we don't have to do this RB thing all over again next year. 

Nothing against Shaw whatsoever, and I would be extremely happy for him if he goes out and kills it his senior year. The guy deserves that. 

But it would be really nice to be completely set at QB and RB going into next season because I am sure there will be plenty of other ?s, as there always is prior to a season.

Blue in Yarmouth

August 24th, 2011 at 8:49 AM ^

I will be honest and say I am pulling for Shaw because IMHE he is the best back we have, and if he stays healthy I could see him being one of the best backs in the B1G. 

To your point about next year though, I think you are overreacting. It was a big deal this year because it was a new staff with a new philosophy. By the start of next season they will have had over a year and a ahlf with these backs and will know who their guy is. Fitz will have an entire year to set himself apart as the next number one guy. 

I also think the number 2 guy will be getting some carries throughout the year. I see the backup getting at least 5-8 carries per game.

dennisblundon

August 23rd, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^

Anybody else think Cox maybe the next to go? The only reason I ask is because I have heard no mention of him in the week or so and he is missing in the RB picture on the front page. Just a thought, not a rumor........yet.

ken725

August 23rd, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^

Magnus has been a number one fan of Cox for a long time.  I would like to see him get some carries, but if the coaches deem that he is a liability, I would rather see others out there.

I'm actually happy that Shaw might get the nod to start.  He has been one of my most favorite players on this roster.   

willywill9

August 24th, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^

Yes, I mean i suppose what got him on the bench was his inability to hold onto the football due to the bad (wrist was it?)  I'm not knocking RR, i'm just generally saying Minor was the best back we had.  Maybe I'm mistaken but a lot of folks on this board were pretty high on McGuffie

marlon

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^

I could not be more excited to read the reports about Gallon.  He seems to have the speed and shiftiness some of the other receivers lack.  Here's to hoping he does some real damage on the field this year.

Beavis

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:28 PM ^

I don't know if this is public info but he is in the doghouse, suspended for the first game.  Rawls hurt.  No mention of Cox.  Shaw / Fitz as the "guy" with V Smith as the "third down back" should come as no surprise right now.

hart20

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^

kickoffs, field goals, and punts. Once Hagerup comes back, I want him to punt. I really want Wile to be given the first couple of chances to kick field goals this year, I can not stand another repeat of the kicking game from last year.

Mitch Cumstein

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:05 PM ^

Hole taking stand with new goatee. Because facial hair definitely wins football games.

Am I missing a joke here? Seemed a little out of place with the rest of the comments.

Edit: from comment above, "Hole"=Hoke, it makes a little more sense. 

house of pain

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^

I'm pretty happy for Jeremy Gallon to be making an impression on this coaching staff. Especially since we thought the water bugs were going to be obsolete in this offense.

ken725

August 23rd, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^

I always thought that Gallon would be good in RR offense, but I am happy to hear he is making some noise in a "pro-style" offense.  If you saw him in the All-American practice footage you could tell that this kid has some special talent.  

joeysos33

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:08 PM ^

But Dayum, dude must be busting his backside. Regardless i will support the whole team and whoever starts. Just can't freaking wait for football.