Tidbits From Spring Practice
****EDIT- I have removed the name at the orignal posters request. His son is a highly rated recruit and requested his name not be associated with this. ANYONE that has the orignal OP name in his post please edit and remove his name. He is fine with the post being up just doesn't want to turn off any other schools that are looking at his son.****
Quick summary of my thoughts on practice:
Team looks completely different. It's a confident swag about them. Like ... They know they are working really hard and they KNOW they will be successful. The other school that gives you that feeling / vibe is Bama. This practice had the same structure and discipline but it was more "engaging" (if that makes sense).
1. Tempo of practice and the philosophy. Very different from last year. 2 sets of scrimmages per field. A play is being ran an avg of 25 to 35 secs. If they went two groups, they would alternate but each group ran a play every 25secs. So ... Coaches saw 2 plays every 30 secs. Ton of reps. Very different from last year. Coaches are coaching very quick between plays. Emphasis on getting the reps in during practice and correcting mistakes in film. Practice was very similar to how Saban runs his practices.
2. There really is competition at EVERYTHING. I saw several of these "competitions." A couple examples ... QBs did a "fastest release/ball speed" comp. On command, they had to throw a bullet pass 20yds. Malzone looked good. Several races took place today as well but most know about those.
3. Malzone really looks good. Some on the staff appear to rally around him. Smith probably looked the best running. Green had some great runs but also hit a couple snags. Bunting will get down this year. Ways looked good too. Defense really gave the offense fits all day tho.
4. Defense looked very good. Secondary is kinda sick to be honest. Countess and Lewis? Whew. And Peppers is a bundle of Joy to watch. He's 110% all the time. Up front ... I like Taco a lot. At the Buck LB spot, Ojemedia and Marshall looked good. This is Marshalls first time standing. I think he will be a player. The scheme from the new front will wreak havoc.
5. Harbaugh is a cool dude. I mean ... Super intense but very fun.
6. Durkin is a stud. He coaches at a high tempo and relies on players intelligence and football IQ to grasp his concepts. Example: some coaches stop to explain a drill to the point where they don't get reps. Durkin calls you to a drill, says it once and then you go. Lol. Learn it on the fly! He got in 20% more reps in his drill than one of the other coaches because the other guy spent time talking about what they were going to do.
7. New recruiting department is Grade "A+". Period. Coach Partridge combining with Singletary is a nasty combo.
8) new strength coach is a Dawg. Heck ... He had the team doing a few new things that are great. His philosophy are right on point with some of the top guys in the game. And I saw 1 kid that is a walk-on from St Joe. All I could say was WOW.
Overall ... I was pleased with what I saw. This team will surprise.
****This was created on my facebook under "Michigan football recruiting HQ." Its a group I belong too. Sounds like his son is a recruit and he was able to watch practice with him FWIW. Enjoy....****
MOD EDIT - Changed the title back to something like it was as the initial controversy seems to be resolved. Also, deleted the requested references - LSA
February 28th, 2015 at 8:55 AM ^
Interesting stuff, if true. Where did you find it? Don't think I saw a source.
EDIT: Turns out i'm an idiot who can't read. Carry on.
February 28th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
Edited to remove origial poster name at hes request.
February 28th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
just doesn't want to turn off any other schools that are looking at his son
Shouldn't be much of an issue if the son is as good as advertised. College coaches recruit up until a LOI is sent in.
February 28th, 2015 at 8:55 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 28th, 2015 at 8:56 AM ^
I hope the "Countess and Lewis? Whew" comment is legitimate. I ache for Countess to be good!
February 28th, 2015 at 9:15 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^
wonder who the "walk-on from St Joe" is that he talked about and if he was a DB or receiver?
February 28th, 2015 at 8:58 AM ^
Reading though the comments people were wishing his son good luck and that they hoped he son "felt at home" and "Enjoyed his time".
Others then were asking if he was going to add another update when "Your back in the fall" and "It will be interested to compare/contrast other teams practices".
So grain of salt I guess.
February 28th, 2015 at 8:58 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 28th, 2015 at 9:50 AM ^
EDITED to remove original poster information
February 28th, 2015 at 9:16 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^
Even though we're not even a week into spring practice, hearing things like this and combining it with some of the other tidbits that have come out as well, it is difficult not to at least smile and think that the ceiling just got much higher for this team, and of course I don't believe any of us would complain about that. I will say that I haven't been this intrigued by spring practice in a while certainly.
February 28th, 2015 at 9:47 AM ^
EDITED to remove original posters name.
February 28th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
Not that I am not excited for the real upside, but I'm happy to think how much higher the floor is as well!
February 28th, 2015 at 9:23 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^
Let's see them perform on Saturdays before we start making Bama comparisons.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 28th, 2015 at 10:00 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:34 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 10:17 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with that assertion, but if you actually read the case you cited, you can see that the employee was a fuckup. That's why she was fired. Her Facebook post may have been the final straw, but no court would have given her damages or found a wrongful termination in that situation.
February 28th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
I read it, now you're going to have to kill me
February 28th, 2015 at 9:38 AM ^
mods just delete all comments referencing the guy's name
February 28th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^
He just requested his name now be associated with it. I'm editing my posts not to take his name out.
February 28th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
you won't be able to edit the comments that others have replied to, so the mods will have to delete those. But thanks for posting this for all the other M addicts who aren't a part of that board. Glad the original poster was OK with it being left up as well
February 28th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 28th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^
and thanks for the share, but I have a hard time getting too psyched with less than 5 practices under the belt. Probably can't start comparing ourselves to Alabama just yet
February 28th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
We always see it. Don't make me show pictures - it's too painful.
This take on practice is slightly different. There is an air of ass kicking competence. I will be shocked if Harbaugh ever refers to practice in a post game interview, but I feel from this post more confident that Michigan is getting its money's worth from the staff.
February 28th, 2015 at 7:39 PM ^
This team was lacking confidence and leadership. This can make a huge difference in a team and I'm sure Harbaugh will improve both confidence and leadership. Him and his staffs superior coaching will help as well. I still can't believe Harbaugh is our coach! I hope this is not some sort of dream!
February 28th, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 10:16 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^
"Dad Pants".
February 28th, 2015 at 10:26 AM ^
Huh? A recruit wrote this?
If that's true, he should just skip the recruit thing and go straight into coaching. And he should coach here, since he seems to know more about us than most of the people in the program.
February 28th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
It was a recruits father who happens to be a football coach as well.
February 28th, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
Get down the middle wide open I hope
February 28th, 2015 at 10:44 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 28th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
at least two good ones to work with.
February 28th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^
Do you like a blockiing tight end or a receiving tight end?
February 28th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 11:59 AM ^
February 28th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
I think the poster is a coach and that sounds like coachspeak to me. I think your interpretation is probably correct.
February 28th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
If we're up big in the 4th at home, Bunting will be put in for punt returns so that he can do his own special dance to Atomic Dog.