Top NFL Teams Have Most Michigan Players
I think it's interesting to note that 4 of the top 5 teams in the NFL this year have more or an equal number of Michigan players than other top NCAA football teams, so why isn't that success translating into Michigan being a top tier program? When you look at these players they are mostly on the defensive side of the ball.
Chiefs (12-1): Frank Clark, Mike Danna, Taco Charlton, Chad Henne (0 for Alabama, OSU, and Notre Dame)
Packers (11-3): Rashan Gary, Devin Funchess, Jon Runyan, Ben Braden (1 ea for Alabama, OSU, ND)
Saints (10-3): Cesar Ruiz, Patrick Omameh, Ryan Glasgow (3 for OSU, 1 for ND, 0 for Alabama)
Steelers (11-2): Devin Bush, Chris Wormley, Zach Gentry (3 for Alabama, 2 for ND, 0 for OSU)
Is Michigan's recruiting too focused on defense and O-Line not focused enough on offensive skill positions? In the NFL, it's hard to win a Super Bowl without a good QB, good o-line, and at least an average defense that can make stops. In the college game though, explosive skill players at RB and WR make bigger impacts on teams than they do in the NFL, and it is possible to win with poor defensive play, but almost impossible without a high octane offense (winning National Champion scored 40+ points 4 out of the last 6 years, vs the NFL, at 1 out of 6).
If you look at the last 6 Super Bowls vs the last Six College Football Finals, the total points scored are 289 vs 389, a 16 point differential per game. So does Michigan need to become a more offensive-minded team to adapt to success at the college level, even to the detriment of the defense? Looking back, I think this is what RichRod was trying to do, but was met with heavy resistance to the idea.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:28 AM ^
Edit; I meant to add they are mostly on defense and the O-line, but not skilled positions like WR and RB.
Additional Data. Michigan Total D vs Total O (Yards) under Harbaugh before 2020
2019 - 11 v. 68
2018 - 2 v. 50
2017 - 3 v. 105
2016 - T1 v. 58
2015 - 4 v. 69
Average: 4 v. 70
Also here's an article about Mike Danna who many thought should have went undrafted based on his performance at Michigan but was taken by the Chiefs in the 5th round, having a solid rookie campaign:
https://arrowheadaddict.com/2020/12/17/mike-danna-accountability-preparation-chiefs-success-rookie/
December 20th, 2020 at 6:39 AM ^
"So does Michigan need to become a more offensive-minded team to adapt to success at the college level, even to the detriment of the defense?"
Why does the pernicious notion that there is some sort of trade-off persist? The persistent top teams (OSU, Bama, Clemson) do both well.
December 20th, 2020 at 7:04 AM ^
The reason I pose that is that if running QBs, RBs, and WRs are to NCAA teams what pocket QBs are to NFL teams, there will be a lot more competition for those positions, requiring dedicating more resources to recruiting them that might have gone to defensive recruiting in the past. No team has unlimited resources and the number of elite players are limited as well.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:55 AM ^
How many of those guys play though? Devin Bush looked good but he also got injured halfway through the season. Henne doesn't play. I don't watch much NFL these days so I don't know about many of the others.
December 20th, 2020 at 8:30 AM ^
it’s okay to not comment. really.
December 20th, 2020 at 9:04 AM ^
He is absolutely right though, the list also includes Funchess who opted out this year. Very few of those guys are impact players on the teams they play for.
in response to the OP’s question, the answer is depth. Michigan puts a good number of players into the NFL and always has one or two great players on the team. But the three top teams in the country (Bama, Clemson, and OSU) are loaded and deep. We have seen consistently over the last ten years, Michigan always has positions that if they lose one person it is a huge drop off. Those three teams don’t really have that (with the exception of Trevor Lawrence this year). We as Michigan fans don’t want to admit it, but the reality is that comparing your team to those three teams is no longer viable.
December 20th, 2020 at 2:23 PM ^
what, exactly, is he 'right' about? that bush got hurt and henne doesn't play? yeah? so what?
my point: if your thoughts on the matter are "i don't watch the nfl so i don't know," maybe it's best to sit this one out.
December 20th, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
As I said, he is right that most of the Michigan players don’t really play. Please try reading my post again, I think I was pretty clear.
December 21st, 2020 at 4:10 AM ^
"that bush got hurt and henne doesn't play? yeah? so what?"
You're really too dense to see how Michigan players not playing might undermine an argument that those teams are good because they have more Michigan players?
December 21st, 2020 at 4:07 AM ^
I'm sorry, are we not allowed to ask questions here?
December 20th, 2020 at 7:12 AM ^
The top NFL teams likely have more Michigan players than players from Bama/OSU because their picks are lower in the draft.
December 20th, 2020 at 7:15 AM ^
Yes. Yes we do need to focus on offense. Bama had to score 52 against Florida to beat them and relied heavily on the skill of Najee Harris, who we were not able to reel in (and for that kid’s sake, seems like a good move for him.)
let’s not forget how much offensive production drives recruiting and gains hype. Their ain’t anything sexy about playing good defense.
December 20th, 2020 at 8:42 AM ^
Eh. Too lazy to look at the actual drafts of our guys, but willing to bet there are 1-2 guys from OsU and Bama before our guys in every case.
December 20th, 2020 at 8:52 AM ^
This means absolutely nothing. Imagine if a MSU fan found this anomaly and showed how there randomly happened to be more of their players on top NFL teams than Michigan players. Oh, and you’d also have to imagine we kicked their ass this year I guess in order to get the full eye roll effect.
December 20th, 2020 at 9:05 AM ^
Bro, half of those players do not play at all for these teams. I'm pretty sure some of them are currently not on NFL rosters.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
Yep. This is a horrible thread. Listing a backup QB might have been an indicator to the OP to research a bit deeper before positing, but no.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:43 PM ^
You really shouldn't be commenting about horrible thread after this: https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/meyer-flirting-nfl-stick-it-harbaugh
December 20th, 2020 at 9:06 AM ^
All the arrows continue to point to Michigan's coaching deficiencies-mostly schematic. Recruiting is clearly not at the top of the deficiency list. It's a complicated game-coaching is unequivocally required...Michigan has been behind this 8 ball for many years.
December 20th, 2020 at 9:14 AM ^
This lazy post seems lazy
December 20th, 2020 at 9:32 AM ^
Let me hand you the straws you're grasping for.
December 20th, 2020 at 9:49 AM ^
Heyward from OSU plays for my Steelers.
December 20th, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
I get your point, yes UM needs skilled offensive recruits by the truckload.
Problem is, we are not in the NFL training academy group of schools.
We get excited about the occasional 5*QB, or 4*RB recruit.
Those teams recruit multiple 5*offensive skill players, and back them up with 2-3 more 4* guys, in the same class, same position, year after year.
Look at OSU, 2020, 2021,2022 WR/QB/RB;( 2 5* WR, 2 4* WR in one class, repeat, repeat)
UM has never, and will not ever recruit to that level.
The don't transfer out in big numbers because they're at the best coaching and football centric opportunity.
The big boys put far more impact players on NFL rosters (On both sides of the ball) because they aquire a constant supply of the top 300 players available.
Has nothing to do with sacrificing the defense, our reality is that we are not willing to commit to the behaviors of the top 10 schools.
So be it.
December 20th, 2020 at 10:28 AM ^
What RichRod was trying to do offensively does not excuse his burning down the defense.
That's why the "heavy resistance".
December 20th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
Most of those high octane offensive recruits are in the South and rarely leave their region. In the NFL they are paid and go wherever the pay check resides. It is that simple.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:17 AM ^
We recruit 4 and 5* guys, don’t get shit out of them and their natural talent gets them into (but in no way anything) near a star.
Negbomb away!
December 20th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
Can't believe you were up at 6am typing this nonsense lol.
Gotta be better ways to spend a Sunday morning.
December 20th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Interesting
December 20th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
No Michigan QB this decade has made any impact in the NFL. Jake Rudock had what, one season on a practice squad/backup, and that's it. Speight and Patterson never made it out of camp.
We have had enough talent at every other position, but the lack of a QB that's a game-changer, let alone star level, is a huge glaring hole. It's ironic considering that Harbaugh is of course a QB who should be better at identifying and developing one.
A QB like Lawrence, Fields, Burrow, Haskins or Watson, if they could win games, would cover other roster issues. At their best, Patterson and Speight were good, but did not elevate enough to get to that higher level.