I'm a little weary of all the articles saying 'some of these guys need to play a big role this year'. I come to the interwebs for OPINIONS and cat-based photoshop, thank you. So I'd like to see what you all expect from each of these guys this season; 'wildcards' if you will.
http://theineptowl.com/joomla/images/random/sunny_wild.gif
-Denard Robinson
-Mike Shaw
-Will Campbell
-Anthony LaLota
-JB Fitzgerald
-JT Turner
-Cullen Christian
-Demar Dorsey
-Marvin Robinson
-Vlad Emilien
jack kennedy stepping up to
Shaw
Although a RB-by-committee scenario is probably pretty likely, I really think Shaw is going to break out this season. Injured freshman year and last year, whether lost in the shuffle or just soph slump, underproduced given his talent.
It obviously sucks that V. Smith is out for spring ball, but I have a gut feeling Shaw makes the most out of this opportunity.
"Coach, if you need one yard, I'll get you three yards. If you need five yards, I'll get you three yards."
-Leroy Hoard
Shaw is definitely due. And
Shaw is definitely due. And he'll have plenty of motivation with the sight of V. Smith bearing down behind him; that kid's an absolute stud.
Because I Love The Name
And because he is a talent: Fitzgerald Toussaint.
Also, has Roy Roundtree already officially stepped up?
Adams Axiom: The major difference between something that might go wrong and something that can not possibly go wrong is that when a thing that can not possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.
It doesn't imply that at all.
It doesn't imply that at all.
LB Mike Jones....
LB Mike Jones.... somehow he has flown quite low under the radar on this board, much to my surprise... Sorry, I know he wans't on your list, but I am answering the header question.
No, that's exactly the kind
No, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking to hear. You think he starts down the road or even day one?
I think he starts at some
!00% I think he starts at some point during season.... and whether he starts opening game in the fall, I'm guessing 60%
I am !000% excited by this
I am !000% excited by this prediction1 !000%1
Obi. Book It.
Obi. Book It.
2 years with the same DC. He's shown flashes of brilliance before, I think he takes off.
I really like Roh and RVB also. I think they will be big this year and bigger for us next.
Haitian McSichuan Earthquake
Can I blame you if Obi
Can I blame you if Obi doesn't pan out? I'm tired of blaming him/the DC/angry _____ hating god.
I think Will Campbell will
I think Will Campbell will step up and live up to his potential by being the full time starter by years end.
This would be great
I am hoping he does as well, it would go a long way to improving our basic run defense. Having Obi then step up as well would be great for the LB situation. Those two guys would go a long way to helping the entire defense be better.
Semper Fidelis
I agree. He's literally the
I agree. He's literally the biggest piece of the puzzle. I really worry when I think about how he played last season though. No idea what to expect with him but it could account for +/- several wins I think.
He is literally a puzzle
He is literally a puzzle piece?
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me.
There's more than 1 reason to be afraid of me. If you want to find out make the trip down here some time, I'll show you if you like. - the_big_house 500th
Actually,
He's literally two pieces in the 2010 Michigan Wolverines Souvenir Jigsaw Puzzle. Am I the only one who's already pre-ordered one from Moe's?
Can someone do a haiku with
Can someone do a haiku with 'Will Campbell, will'?
(no subject)
Can anyone plow
Spartys and Bucks to the turf?
Yeah, Will Campbell will.
Official T-shirt request!
Official T-shirt request!
Almost
Will someone's weight from
three-one-eight to three-two-four
go? Will Campbell's will.
Taking it one week at a time
Everyone
I know the past couple of years have left a bad taste in everyone's mouth, and I think for themselves, Michigan, and Coach Rod, everyone is going to step up. I'm gearing up myself, errr!
You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four. ~Dan Birdwell
Yeah, if their decision
Yeah, if their decision making ever catches up with their physical attributes they will be great. They just somehow always end up in the wrong position and take poor angles. If GERG cleans that up they can definitely be solid contributors and stop a situation where a running back has Jordan Kovacs in between him and the end zone.
I know that yours is
I know that yours is commentary on Obi and Mouton, but strictly speaking, the problem with Jordan Kovacs wasn't usually when he was between the running back and the endzone. His issues were when the the running back was between him and the endzone, since his gritty white guy speed is only as fast as the smallest of baby seals.
I don't think it's critical
I don't think it's critical for Ezeh and Mouton to "step up" and improve their games. If they don't, they'll simply lose their jobs to guys like Fitz, Demens or Bell. I can't believe any one of those three could put up a worse performance than OE and JM last year. Yes, it would be nice to see the light go on for the five-year veterans, but I'm not holding my breath.
Here's my list of key step-up guys:
Campbell
Omameh
Koger
Turner
Van Bergen
WILDCARD, BITCHES!!!
WILDCARD, BITCHES!!!
It ain't easy being cheesy
did you just cut my brakes?
did you just cut my brakes?
Go Blue!
Delivery
I can never get enough of that .gif...
Follow me on Twitter
Jonas Mouton
If you remember last season's UFR's, it always seemed like Mouton would make some really nice +1 plays, but then mental errors would lead to -1 plays that outnumbered his positive plays.
We know he has the athleticism, he was a highly regarded recruit, and I think he is the epitome of the type of player that needs continuity at the Defensive Coordinator spot.
Hopefully I'm right as this is a position of need.
Keep believing
Obi and Cullen Christian
I agree with ebb, I expect big things from Obi this year. As bad as he was last year, I think he has a great deal of potential, and working with GERG for a 2nd year (and now serving as LB coach will help).
I also expect Cullen to be the Freshman play of the year for us, he may night start from week 1, but he will see the field and earn a starting job by mid-season, suring up our d-backfield.
Who steps up next year?
Everyone!
Justin Turner
I don't think he will be Charles Woodson or Marlin Jackson his freshman year but I expect him to be a solid contributor in place of Donovan Warren. This being the case is probably one of the biggest needs for the entire team this upcoming season.
I think we'll see a lot from
I think we'll see a lot from Denard besides the occasional "wildcat" (I know it's not actually a wildcat, but w/e). We need players like him on the field as much as possible. All it takes is one small mistake by a defense and he's in for a TD.
One of the QBs needs to take
One of the QBs needs to take a solid step forward, and Forcier has the shortest distance to go. If the team can stop being a random turnover generator, Michigan will be much improved.
On D, I think the shortest distance to competency is for Will Campbell to become a terror next to Martin. A really solid defensive line that can stuff the run and get to the QB can allow teams to play really safe everywhere else and still have a solid defense. A great example, unfortunately, was USC vs Jon Navarre's Rose Bowl team. They spent the entire game rushing four, and were able to sit back and make Michigan play excellent offense to succeed vice giving them chunks of yards off of blown coverages.
Mouton & Martin
We really need our D-Line & Linebacking core to be solid this year. That will help our young secondary quite a bit. A good defense starts in the trenches applying pressure on the QB and having the linebackers being able to step up and stuff the run.
This will take a lot of pressure off our secondary, that will take sometime in the beginning of the season to find some chemistry.
Mouton I see as a Crable type that has good size and athleticism. He needs to make an impact this year and limit stupid mistakes.
Martin is a guy that I like a lot. He has a huge motor and can be a destructive force. I see some BG in him but he needs to play hard on every play. Sometimes he goes through strectches in a game where he goes unnoticed.
I like the depth that we have added over the last couple years but my main concern is inexperience. I think given one more year we will have a solid defense but at this point RR doesn't have that luxury. The Defense itself will make or break our season. Lets hope we see some nice surprises from the incoming freshman.
Go Blue!
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft; on the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing.” Bo
I really want to see the
I really want to see the Seniors step up - Ezeh, and Patterson.
Cat-based Photoshop, Interwebs==WOWIE!
Talk about a pro-active attack of irreverence! Man, aniticipating the snark and being a bit self deprecating--now THAT does not smack of Michigan Elitism--although in a reverse psychological way--it really does.
I'm waiting to see which one of these guys steps up, and out onto the dance floor wearing wild, nylon pantaloons while he tries to storm the competition on "Dancing With the Stars"--and I think Anthony Lalota has the potential to tango his way to the championship.
The only thing that really matters is sex.
Will Campbell
I had the opportunity to play basketball with Will Campbell a couple of weeks ago. The kid is huge, physical and surprisingly quick. He has the ability to move around people very fluidly and has a surprising burst of speed. He is a fantastic athlete. I wouldn't be surprised if he really stepped it up next year and was able to start full time by the end of the season.
Dreads = Rocket Boosters
Comforting: he's quick and
Comforting: he's quick and still large
NOT comforting: he's playing hoops. Our Dline is depending on those ankles.
I don't know why, but this
I don't know why, but this made me laugh much more than I should have in the library.
junior hemingway and darryl
junior hemingway and darryl stonum
Go Blue!
Roy Roundtree
Will be considered one of the best WRs in the Big Ten after next season
Sorry Brah
Already is
Bell, Gallon, MRob
I have a feeling these three will contribute this year.
The Man Himself
Jordan Kovacs, baby. Jordan fuckin' Kovacs.
"Treat people like you like to be treated, and don't do meth. That's my honor code."
ha. jfk.
ha. jfk.
YES
Behold, a new acronym is born. Kovacs is henceforth referred to as JFK.
"Treat people like you like to be treated, and don't do meth. That's my honor code."
How can he be referred to as JFK
when we have a quarterback by the name of Jack Kennedy???
In this world there are opinions that exist and then there is truth. My opinions happen to be true.
I am really hopeful that
I am really hopeful that Gerg's magic touch/hair will work on Obi and Mouton like it did on Stevie Brown last year. If those two step up and have really good seasons our defense will improve tremendously.
Obi and Shaw
I think Obi, with proper coaching this year, will really step up. We saw his potential early and, even as a freshman, was good at making plays when he was in the right area. I know last year he may have missed some tackles but I think a lot of that was getting himself out of position. I see he being coached up and being a solid MLB in the big 10.
Shaw I believe will because many are over looking him. I know not everyone on this board is, as some people above commented on him, but being he is our most experienced RB it has to get to him that he isn't being talked about more, and hopefully that can really motivate him through next year and beyond. I think he can be a really good back for us, and with a little work on balance (and core strength addition thanks to several years of working out) I think he will step up next year.
Very boring and understated DTs
Greg Banks and Adam Patterson are going to play big roles in our defensive improvement. Depth AND productivity can happen here. It always seems to be the guy(s) youre not counting on to make you better always pop up in November.
jack kennedy stepping up to fill the shoes of C.O.N.E