Speight to start UA game

Submitted by Real Tackles Wear 77 on
Per everyone. Looking forward to future maize and blue!

BlueCube

January 1st, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

the practices, Speight practiced extremely well and hit difficult passes frequently. The starting assignment was earned and I think he will be elevated in status by the recruiting sites soon.

Joined: 12/12/2013

MGoPoints: 45965

Real Tackles Wear 77

January 1st, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^

Not to reveal any specific paywalled info but all of our commits are getting huge praise (even by already lofty all star game standards) and guess who had had a disappointing week...one Hand-y fellow

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 9685

Magnus

January 1st, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^

I know a lot of people around here were really upset when Hand picked Alabama, and I do think he'll turn out to be a good player. But in my opinion, he's never been the kind of physical freak that guys like Jadeveon Clowney and Jevon Kearse were. I think he could have come in to Michigan and perhaps started as a true freshman, but that's not necessarily a huge compliment. I don't really think he should be heavily in the discussion for one of the top few players in the country, where as Peppers absolutely deserves to be there.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166007

LSAClassOf2000

January 1st, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^

In addition to Speight, I had thought all of our recruits actually were on Team Nitro, or at least this had been the case according to a few sites last month. I might be misremembering this, however.

Now not all will be playing, of course - I think there are some injuries among them - but to have seven recruits at least selected for this game is a great statement in favor of the staff's ability to attract talent. Further, talent that is being recognized on a national stage like this. 

Congratulations to Wilton Speight on the honor being named the starter and good luck to all our recruits in this game!

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130612

Michigasling

January 1st, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^

I've been having a heck of a time finding a roster with the player's numbers.  Even the UA game's website lists only the players (with lovely photos) and some info, but not even which team they play for.  Do you have the info?

For amusement, here's the LINK to the only one I could find.  Take a look at the pix accompanying the cast list and judge if we should trust the accuracy of the #'s.  I had no idea Jared Wangler, Wilton Speight and Bryan Mone were African-Americans, and found it fascinating that the last four guys on the roster are identical quadruplets!  

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 7751

Sione's Flow

January 1st, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^

The general consensus coming out of the practices is that Speight has been throwing well in the pocket and on the run, shows good mobility for such a tall QB, and has a stronger arm, than most expected. So this staff may have pulled in one of the best under the radar recruits in the country this year. And everytime, I hear praise for Mone, I recall the article about his brother and I want this kid to have legendary career at UM.

Joined: 06/05/2011

MGoPoints: 5193

Hoke is the ne…

January 1st, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^

Although Navarre was somewhat frustrating to watch, this kid reminds me of Navarre but seems much more refined at this point.  Hope he learns a lot during his redshirt season and is ready to compete in 2015.  Really looking forward to seeing his development (and what Borges/future OC can do with his skillset).

Joined: 12/31/2013

MGoPoints: 332

JT4104

January 1st, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

If I remember correctly....only ESPN thought anything of Speight having him in there 150 early. 

No other site thought much of him at all....considering he plays in Virginia which is a pretty solid football state I would have thought his season #'s would have stood out a little more.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 12328

GoBLUinTX

January 1st, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

while QBs are languishing within a mediocre program.  QBs are fine, but until this team does a full 180, those QBs will have to be happy with their degree.

Gardner?  Where's Gardner going?  Not the NFL, not if next year isn't a significant improvement over this past year.   So he had a few good games throwing the ball around the yard, he was also a turnover machine when pressured.  He holds on to the ball too long, he has trouble with progressions and a habit of looking down receivers.  However, as I noted elsewhere, following his foot injury he arguably had his best quarter of football of the season.  So it is entirely possible that he can overcome his shortcomings.

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

getsome

January 1st, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^

gardner has his faults as do almost all QBs, but overall i think hes a very solid ncaa QB especially considering a position switch along with an OC / offensive scheme switch.  cannot possibly overstate that he played with a pathetic OL and run game and his OC dd not do him favors on occasion - and yet he still  used natural athletic ability and pure toughness to gut it out this year while putting up pretty solid numbers and keeping UM in contention for most part even if shouldnt have been.  sure he has some turnover issues at times and his mental discipline/toughness and/or confidence took some obvious hits this year but he was playing behind a revolving sieve and had to function as the teams only running threat all year while admirably filling the role of tackling dummy every other pass pro situation.  is it his fault borges almost killed him with endless strings of 2 straight runs for -2 yards followed by slow developing PA passes into teeth of blitz?  or is it his fault many coaches take full advantage of play clock by adjusting calls at the line after viewing the D?  or is it gardners fault that hes hamstrung and limited in his checks at the line?  sure he can bump a run call from left to right but doesnt do much good when theres 8 stacked in his face.  UM mightve won 2-3 games this year if morris started in gardners place.  hes not an NFL GMs wet dream and he certainly has his faults but gardner performed pretty well this year, and by most accounts was admirable team leader and a hard worker, in spite of the hot garbage piling up around him in team 133.  the dude deserves a pass in my book 

Joined: 09/07/2013

MGoPoints: 7386

joeyb

January 1st, 2014 at 7:41 PM ^

At this point, I think Gardner has done enough to earn a 3rd-4the round pick as a project. Mobile QBs are the new craze in the NFL and I could see an established team take him to work with him and maybe keep him as a cheap backup if their starter goes down. Worst case is that he is a practice squad guy.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 16845

BlueCube

January 1st, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^

but the first day of the Under Armour practice is currently being shown on ESPNU. They had an interview with Wilton Speight a few minutes ago. I caught a few seconds of it. It may be worth taping or flipping back and forth.

Joined: 12/12/2013

MGoPoints: 45965