What expectations do you have for these 5 FB players
Howdy, it's a little bit slow this time of year so I thought I would throw this out. What are YOUR expectations for these 5 guys for the upcoming season.
Colston Loveland
Tyler Morris
Kenneth Grant
Michael Barrett
Kris Jenkins
Feel free to add any names of some players you are excited/curious about for this season.
GoBlue
I expect them to play hard and help the team win. Outside of that I don't have any expectations.
Just reasonable steps forward. So Loveland- Mackey, Morris - Belitnikof, Barrett - Butkus, Jenkins - Berdnik. Grant probably tops out at 2nd team AA
Yes, just reasonable, I'd love to see our passing game humming on all cylinders, short throws to Corum and Edwards out of the backfield, mid-range outs and mesh crossing patterns to Colston and company, and deep shots to Cornelius and Roman. JJ and others getting lots of reps throwing the ball. So that after the Nuts and Penn State spend a whole off-season scheming to stop our run game, we come out and flip the script. We establish the Passing Game! So when other teams like the Nuts, or TCU or Georgia sell out to stop the run we can make them pay dearly.
Lots of reps, lots of practice, in games, throwing the ball, so by the end of the year our offense is a true, two-headed monster, able to move the ball on anyone, including Georgia.
And let's take what the defense is giving us. If our play action is gashing them for 10-20 yards a pop, stop running into 8-9 man boxes.
So take practice and reps from the run game that took us to back to back OSU victories, B1G titles, and playoff appearances? Pass.
For the 15th millionth time I think the passing game wont be anywhere near where some are expecting. Our WRs wont put up the numbers you were thinking, Corum wont have a catch that you remember by seasons end, and DE wont be catching 6+ times a game.
That being said we will do what we always do and mash teams to a pulp.
Remember our best passing games recently have been MSU 21 TCU 22 and also first half of OSU 22. I think only Bama and Georgia have a Dline that can shut down our run game.
SD -
If we dial it back just a touch, maintaining focus on the run game while using more reps on an effective -- and creative -- passing game, then we are national title contenders. That's what I'd like to see. Focus a bit more on the pass -- so we can use it more effectively when needed -- while the run game stays a step ahead because of returning talent that won't need quite as many reps.
I mean, really, how much of a no-brainer is it to throw to DE more often?
That all being said, your ideas are both insightful (repeated by many on the board, but that's fine) and a pipe dream. The MOST we can hope for with JH at the helm is incrementally more -- and more creative, effective, etc -- passing. Wholesale changes are not happening. They get talked about every year, and every year it's what it is.
As of 2021, we amassed the talent to finally run JH's preferred scheme on offense. In 2022, we also had the talent. Ditto, then, on scheme. Going forward, in 2023, we also have the talent. So you know as well as I do what we're going to do. I am hopeful that we will rep the passing game a bit more, but that will be the limit, if it happens at all.
As others have said, our scheme has led to two obliterations of OSU and two Big Ten titles. It's not going to change much.
I expect Michael Barrett to run the wildcat, without anyone knowing that he will run.
While simultaneously blocking for himself.
At the same time, he will also be drawing up the next play on defense.
And directing the Ukraine war between plays
It's a win-win on many levels.
Michael Barrett will be mic'd up and do his own play by play while executing said run.
And I expect Kalel Mullings to be our leading passer (in terms of completion percentage).
Colston Loveland - TDs
Tyler Morris - also TDs
Kenneth Grant - eating OL for lunch
Michael Barrett - President of the United States
Kris Jenkins - sacks
I expect them to be part of the 2023 National Championship team
Get 1% better every day, drink whole milk, eat less nervous meat, play as hard as they can for as long as they can.
because no one has it better than us.
I expect them to win a National Championship.
To stay out of the transfer portal and keep their heads on a swivel in the tunnel.
Can't wait to see McBurrows score the pick 6 on October 21.
5-way tie for the Heisman.
I expect them all to crush their enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
That was my movie as a kid. It didnt get any better than that. Well done!
Mason Graham, Blake Corum
All Americans
I think Jenkins has a better shot than Graham this year.
One of our OL, maybe Zinter, might make it.
Will Johnson too.
Loveland: Teams will have to game-plan for him.
Morris: He’ll do enough for people to say “Where was he last year?”
Colston Loveland - get your popcorn
Tyler Morris - will show flashes but with Roman, CoJo, Loveland, and Edwards to feed he may have limited opportunities in our offense.
Kenneth Grant - Will likely finish with far fewer snaps than his fellow DTs (for good reason) but they will be felt.
Michael Barrett - will play fewer (still a lot) snaps but they will better utilize his skills since we have more Linebackers.
Kris Jenkins - get whatever you consider an upgrade to popcorn.
Colston Loveland - All American
Tyler Morris - 2nd team All Big Ten
Kenneth Grant - First team All Big Ten
Michael Barrett - Same as last year
Kris Jenkins - 2nd team All Big Ten
Feel free to add any names of some players you are excited/curious about for this season.
Donovan Edwards - Invited to New York for Heisman Trophy ceremony.
IMO you're way overrating Kenneth Grant and wayyyy underrating Kris Jenkins
Jenkins should be closer to conversation for All American than he is for 2nd team big ten
We don't throw enough to get Morris on an All-Big team even if he turns out to be good this year. Not enough passing snaps. Wilson, Johnson, Edwards, and Loveland are going to suck up most of the receptions
So this is where all of our shit game threads start.
Michael Barrett will have an All-B1G season, maybe better. He probably will be an UDFA in the league.
Colston Loveland will emerge as a Jake Butt-level flex TE. 💪
Kenneth Grant is a massive human being and will get lots of opportunities to make amazing plays and maybe also a handful of missed assignments - he's only a Sophomore on the DL in a fairly complex defensive scheme.
Tyler Morris & Kris Jenkins - I'm not educated enough on them to say anything at all.
The best part of all is that they could all put out an average season and we'll still be contenders.
“Tyler Morris & Kris Jenkins - I'm not educated enough on them to say anything at all.”
Morris I can certainly understand, but Jenkins was a rotational player in 2021 and a starter in 2022.
Suffice it to say that he has had the best run stuff rate (TFLs, 0- or 1-yard runs) in the country for most of the last two years. If he generates any pash rush this year, he’ll be an All-American.
I expect they’ll be good players on a team that contends for the conference championship.
Colston Loveland - Budding star, locked in starter and major impactful player on offense with being JJ's safety net at times
Tyler Morris - pushing from behind for starter minutes but plays more then he has to this point
Kenneth Grant - Impactful rotational piece on a very talented Dline. Makes us a very strong unit with little drop off while other starter level players get a blow
Michael Barrett - Impactful rotational piece in a now strong LB core. Starter to start the season and likely a guy that plays a lot of snaps off the bench by Big Ten schedule. Very good guy to have on your team gives you a ton of flexibility with rotations.
Kris Jenkins - First Team all Big Ten season and major break out year becoming a 1st round draft pick. This is lofty but I really feel like he has been the best kept secret on our team for a while now. Super pumped to see him back and think when you have the defensive staff talk about impactful pass rush from interior on passing downs I think you are going to see that from him.
I expect Barrett to start collecting social security.
I'm confused that Morris is the next WR up. I had high hopes for some other guys.
I expect Loveland to split time with the new tall guy from Indiana. I think the Indiana guy is a touchdown machine and loveland is a yards machine.
I don't know what to expect from our DL. Last year I thought it would be a weak point. It wasn't great, but it was good. I would love to see more push up the middle and giving our edge guys a chance to get in there. I would love if 4 guys could provide more pressure more frequently so our LBs can roam.
Improvement as the season progresses leading to big plays in big games.
For Michael Barrett, to play offense, defense, special teams, coach the team, win the Heisman, winning the national title with ten sacks, five picks in the CFP, all of which are returned for TDs.
Then, immediately following the game, he announces his candidacy for president (just for funsies), at which point everyone else drops out of the race, all the while preparing to become the #1 overall pick in next year’s draft.
Am I doing this right, MGoBlog?