Talking Expectations in 2015 for the Class of 2014 Players Appreciation Thread

Submitted by alum96 on

Hey we've all moved onto the next hottest thing (2015 'croots!) but talk about your expectations for the 2014 class next year.  UM was able to redshirt the bulk of them, and with a lot of returning starters we are not forced to plug guys not ready onto the field due to need (WR is the one exception currently). 

Hey team to the south, you are not the only one with young talent.

Here is my far too early, based on too little data assessment of how these dudes could work out in 2015.  Could/should have 3 and up to 5 starters if they really blossom IMO (Peppers, Cole, Mone, and 1-2 of Canteen, Ways, and Harris... and maybe throw in Speight).  That would be a hell of a class actually for 20-25% of your starters to be 2014 players, if the upside target is reached.  Consider the class is only 16 players (now 15).

Probable starter(s)

  1. J. Peppers - CB
  2. M. Cole - OT
  3. F. Canteen - WR

 

Probable pushing a starter or emerging as one at some point in 2015

  1. B. Mone - DT
  2. W. Speight  (RS) - QB
  3. M. Ways (RS) - WR and/or
  4. D. Harris (RS) - WR

 

Probable 2 deep guy with some meaningful playing time

  1. B. Watson (RS) - CB
  2. L. Marshall (RS) - DE
  3. I. Bunting (RS) - flex TE


Still a year(s) away

  1. J. Wangler (RS) - LB
  2. N. Furbush (RS) - LB
  3. C. Winovich (RS) - LB
  4. J. Bushell-Beatty (RS) - OL

 

No longer with team

  1. M. Ferns - LB

 

 

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reshp1

January 13th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

There's a big difference between running routes in a vanilla offense and against a vanilla defense, which we all know he can do, and understanding a system, including all the on the fly adjustments. There were at least a couple of instances where Gardner threw an INT because they weren't on the same page, most likely due to Canteen not making a correct read and adjusting his route accordingly. He also was clearly not ready physically to be an effective blocker, although I will credit him for making an effort unlike some (cough cough, Funchess).

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

Harlans Haze

January 14th, 2015 at 11:56 PM ^

that their plan for Canteen was to use him over the middle, matched up against LBs, and get him on crossing routes, but that Gardner proved too ineffective throwing in that area. For some reason, the coaches kept trying bubble screens with Funchess, who didn't have good enough hands and was too big to beat the DBs. It seems these roles should have been reversed earlier in the year. They tried moving Funchess around more, but his injury and his drops were just not improving. For some reason, they never really tried Canteen in the quick-pass role. Maybe once that I can remember.

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 2149

FatGuyLittleCoat

January 13th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^

Dever and Wangler getting lots of reps towards the end of the year? What was the explanation for this? Not trying to hate on them, but I thought we would see Mo Ways and Canteen before them

Joined: 07/05/2011

MGoPoints: 2004

Brady Elliott

January 13th, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^

Wasn't Dever getting snaps to spell Norfleet at slot? It seemed that everybody pegged Canteen at slot because of his fancy footwork and quickness but it seemed the coaches tried to work him primarily as a WR instead of slot. I could be wrong on that but I think Dever got snaps because of no one else being ready at slot. It will be interesting how this staff handles canteen and if they will feel he is ready to get snaps at both slot and WR

Joined: 12/23/2014

MGoPoints: 622

alum96

January 13th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^

Yeah it wasn't Wangler - he is a LB who RS. 

Dever seemed to pass the 2012 class guys - Jones they tried early in the year against the App State types but aside from special teams seems to be destined for a role player if he remains at UM.  Jaron Dukes is MIA.  And York was of course the 3rd of those WRs.  That was a rough class for WRs; needed at least 1 of those guys to be a contributor and Funchess and Darboh would have had some help last year.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82551

Tuebor

January 13th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^

I think he will be better.

Morris got Mono and missed his senior season or 25% of his high school football career.  I don't care how much 7v7 you play nothing can replace actual football.

Speight broke his collarbone and reclassified to 2014.  He is only 4 months younger than Morris and is in the class below him plus has a redshirt. 

 

Should be a great competition.

Joined: 03/14/2011

MGoPoints: 17467

Mich1993

January 13th, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^

I think Bunting will thrive as a mismatch, down the field TE.  Hopefully he will take to blocking more than Funchess did.  With Butt, Khalid Hill and Bunting, TE may be our best offensive postion which just happens to fit what Harbaugh likes to do.

I see Brandon Watson providing key CB/safety depth down the line.  I see spot duty in 2015 and starting down the road.

I'm in the Furbush to DE group, and I think he'll see spot duty in 2015 and hopefully be ready for a major role in 2016.

I thought Dever was terrific as a possession receiver who got open and caught the ball which are two good features in a WR.  I won't mind seeing more of him, but I would agree we need someone to stretch the field emerge from Ways, Harris and Canteen.

Joined: 12/08/2010

MGoPoints: 3490

alum96

January 13th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

With Butt and Hill, then Heitzman and AJ Williams backing them up, I wonder if they will push Bunting out for 2015 at least as a WR type in a Funchess role to compete with Chesson, Ways, and Harris.  They have a bit of a luxury in 2015 with 4 other TEs and he is not the prototypical blocking TE type - a lot more like Funchess than Butt.  Then in 2016 he'd go back to TE. 

Depends a lot on if Ways is ready and Harris' hamstrings decide to want to play football.  Hoke seemed high on Ways late last year but if you listen to Hoke we had a top 5 team in the nation based on practice so hard to believe much of that.

So far Furbush to DE is just a MGo meme due to his height.  He is all of 210 lbs as of the last roster update.  Yes it can change in 2 years to a 250 lb man but its just extreme speculation at this point.  Winovich is 1 inch shorter and 10 lbs heavier than Furbush so if we are going to extrapolate we might as well throw him in there as a DE prospect.  I'll believe it when I see it.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82551

T

January 13th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^

Are we discussing our expectations for the appreciation thread, or are we appreciating the talking expectations thread?  I'm confused.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3479

PurpleStuff

January 13th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^

This team needs to replace Funchess and dramatically improve in the passing game after averaging just 170 yards per game last year.  The top returner posted less than 500 yards and none of the other WR broke 200.

For this team to get really good in just one year, I think Harris and Canteen have to emerge as our best two WR.  Darboh reminds me of a poor man's Jason Avant (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but when the actual Jason Avant was our top receiver the team went just 7-5.  If he's the #3 guy we are in much better shape than if he's the #1.  Bunting could also make a big positive impact if both he and Butt are healthy and on the field making plays.

Adding 2-3 receiving weapons would go a long way toward improving things in 2015.  The line should be better and the D should be okay.  We just need a lot of guys to step up at the skill positions. 

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969