Who/what has pleasantly surprised you this season?

Submitted by ypsituckyboy on

On MGoRadio and one of the posts the other day, Brian noted how pleasantly surprised he's been by the receiving corps this year. I remember back in the summer how our WR group was a huge question mark and people were pretty worried that they'd hold us back. However, they've really come on in the last few games and have been the prime reason we've won these last couple, it seems.

With that in mind, who/what have been the most pleasant surprises on the team this year?

I'm going to go with Jedd Fisch. He was one of the few hires that most people on the board didn't know much about but he's been outstanding. There have been very few head scratching calls in a row and I don't recall a game this year where the fans could spot a bad coaching/play-calling job. I really hope we can keep him around for a few more years, although I'm not optimistic that'll happen given his ambitions.

PurpleStuff

November 25th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^

The optimism about the d-line was really fueld by a belief in Hoke's recruiting and name recognition rather than actual production.  We lost our top 3 guys in TFL (Ryan, Clark, and Beyer) from 2014 as well.

The guys on this year's team have made huge leaps across the board.  Wormley went from 5 TFL to 12.  Henry from 5.5 to 10.  Glasgow from 4 to 5 (in three fewer games).  Ojemudia went from 7.5 to 6 (but in 6 fewer games).  Charlton from 5.5 to 7.5.  Hurst from 1 to 6.5.  And Jenkins-Stone went from 0 to 5.

To have that many guys lift their production by that much isn't something you can realistically expect coming into a season.

But the answer to the original question is Chesson.  He had been on campus three years and scored one TD.  He has 10 this year.  His longest reception a year ago was for 28 yards.  This year he has a reception for over 60, a rush for over 60 (Hoke only gave him the ball for 2 carries when he was here when clearly he is a huge weapon on reverses and end-arounds), and he's run back a kickoff for a TD.

Mr Miggle

November 25th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^

We assumed Peppers would fill one of those spots very well and Lyons would take the other. I think the 3rd CB in nickel packages was the biggest concern. Maybe whether we had a Buck that would fit Durkin's scheme. That's not much to worry about.

reshp1

November 25th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

This is the one for me too. You look at the staff and their extensive track records and he's the one that sort of sticks out as someone you kind of cock an eyebrow at their experience. I guess you lump Jaybaugh in there too. Both have really done very well with their position groups. 

I sort of expected Baxter to get the special teams to solid, and the disaster notwithstanding, the punt performance has been consistently great ever since the first delay punt O'neill pinned at the 2.

riverrat

November 25th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^

The play calling has been a surprise, for its general inventiveness and the way that the coaches don't keep beating their heads against stacked boxes. 

I'm curious how this three-headed monster works, especially upon hearing the troubles that tOSU apparently had last week...

LSAClassOf2000

November 25th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^

There are a few things I could probably name that stand out, but this is also one of them. The fact that the playcalling is intelligent and has led to  these nice, methodical drives on offense and to a defense that can change its face and adjust to whatever is in front of it has been a nice surprise. Add to that the fact that the adjustments throughout the game are directed and the staff has turned weakness into strength through some of the playcalling, and you have to say that the overall playcalling has been very fun to watch overall. 

mGrowOld

November 25th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^

Has been a pleasant surprise to me.

My only really unpleasant surprise has been our continued inability to consistently run the ball and our RBs apparent reluctance to run towards anything other than the ass of the nearest offensive lineman.

PurpleStuff

November 25th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^

I don't know if the second-half struggles in the run game have much to do with the blocking.  Teams are really loading up the box to stop the run and a lot of our passing success has come from heavy looking formations. 

Teams are making a tradeoff and getting burned by screens, end-arounds, and (now) downfield throws for big chunks of yardage on a regular basis.  As long as they're downing the poison on a regular basis, does it really matter what flavor they pick?

I actually wouldn't be surprised to see Smith have a big day on Saturday, as OSU is a team that is more likely to play us straight up, protect against big plays, and assume they can win on talent.

stephenrjking

November 25th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^

Kalis still has a lot of time. I think we'll remember him fondly before he's gone.

I really am disappointed that Green hasn't worked it out. He still has a year to find a way to be productive, and he's shown flashes of impressive physical attributes... But with two staffs and three years it hasn't happened yet. And, yeah, at some point it's not the coaching. Some guys just don't emerge the way we expect them to.

That's one of the things that is so delightful about Jabrill Peppers, who has been absolutely everything we could have hoped.

gwkrlghl

November 25th, 2015 at 3:07 PM ^

I feel like the wide open fullback dive is the Harbaugh equivalent to Richrod's "zone-read PA to the wide open guy flying down the slot" where you just make the face below because you just RPS +3'd their asses and it was beautiful

Brian Griese

November 25th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^

I wasn't sure who, other than Butt, would contribute in that regard.  Chesson has been the biggest surprise IMO.  Darboh, the backup TE's and the occasional Peppers sighting have been great.  

Zarniwoop

November 25th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^

Ryan Glasgow.  He's a big-time player. I'm just crushed that he got hurt. He is a dominator and I fully expect him to play in the NFL when he's done.

Delano Hill. Bit player forever, suddenly a solid to very good defender. Ditto Jeremy Clark. Coaching

Sione Houma.  He's turned into one of the more dependable and important players on the offense.

Jehi Chesson. I hate to think where we'd be without him.  Just so valuable as a blocker, the fastest guy on the field, and now - a dependable receiving threat.

stephenrjking

November 25th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

Jim Harbaugh's humility. We've long known that he has been a loose cannon in the past. He has at least two legendary not-so-polite postgame handshakes. He has, in the past, taken shots at Michigan's academics. He has, in the past, gotten under people's skin. 

And I was fine with that, because he's a winner and everything he does is about winning. So if that means he instantly becomes the most hated man in the Big Ten, so be it.

But from his opening press conference and Chrisler appearance, he has refused to engage in trash talk (EDIT: and the shoutout to Zuniga was outstanding). To bad-mouth other programs. To make guarantees. To take subtext shots at other coaches.

And, rather than just establish a football empire, he has embraced his role as a community figure. Selfies with fans, visits with Chad Carr, get-togethers with non-revenue sports teams, sneaking into the Grave Walk... all of it awesome. And he has, from all appearances, been a great guy, too. He took a vacation with his wife. He supports his coaches' families. He has never to this point chewed out a player and embarrassed him publicly, despite his fearsome reputation. 

I thought we'd get a brilliant coach that made us roll our eyes in loving exasperation once a month. Instead, Jim Harbaugh hasn't put a foot wrong in the last year. 

And we're winning football games all the same.

Eastern Wolverine

November 25th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^

There's been far less "collateral damage" than I assumed would be the case with Harbaugh as head coach. Your points illustrate how he continues to grow and evolve into a better coach and person even in his 50's. JH handles himself so well in so many different situations, and it is not easy! Watching him throw beautiful 40 yard passes during warm-ups last weekend caused me to reflect on what a talented, multifaceted professional and person he really is. You just can't ask for anything more of a football coach. I'll stop gushing but it's honestly so true, particularly this season.

uncleFred

November 25th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^

There is no institution that Harbaugh respects or loves more than the University of Michigan and its football program. Other than his parents, there is no person whose legacy and reputaion is more important than Bo's. 

As great a coach as he proved to be before he got here. As much as he committed himself to the success of those players and programs, at some level those were jobs. Way stations on the path to his life long goal. To coach and lead this program, instill Bo's values into young men, and represent what he believes is the greatest University on earth, one he credits with making him the man he is and shaping the values by which he leads his life every day. 

Yes he's a little crazy and more than a bit quirky, but he'd never embarrass Michigan, its football program, or taint the responsibility he shouldered when he took up Bo's mantle. Period.  

 

Reader71

November 25th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^

Very well put, and I would argue 100% accurate. What sets M apart from most other programs is that Bo always are you aware that you were doing it for the guys that came before you. And this is an extension of that.

But I will say that I had my worries (still do, frankly) about that Harbaugh temper. This is a man who once broke his throwing hand punching Jim Kelly for saying something he didn't like. I'm that sort of guy myself, and not proud of it. Maybe its me projecting onto him, but I always worry about guys with short fuses at the top of the organization. That said, he's been a perfect head football coach so far.

Mr. Yost

November 25th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^

Great question...

 

Fisch for sure.

De'Veon dragging men and tossing them aside was a little unexpected...he's always been a power back, but some of this is ridiculous.

I'm surprised in a negative way that Kalis isn't better than he is (same with Bolden)...

Not surprised at all by the DL - if anyone watched last year they could see it, we just put them in poor positions time and time again.

Jeremy Clark at CB was a positive surprise.

Kenny Allen has been a pleasant surprise! Wilton Speight was a pleasant surprise as well. Poggi was a surprise, especially early in the year.

 

I'd say (top positive surprises)

  1. J. Fisch
  2. K. Allen
  3. J. Clark

I'd say ("top" negative surprises)

  1. K. Kalis
  2. J. Bolden
  3. P. Kugler (Dawson is the backup C) / W. Shallman (Seems like a Harbaugh match made in Heaven) / Backup LBs haven't pushed for more time

Steves_Wolverines

November 25th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^

1. Special Teams

2. WR's

3. QB Play

4. "GIF-ability" of the team

On the other end of the spectrum, what I'm not pleasantly surprised with:

1. Officiating

2. Officiating

3. Officiating

4. Officiating

Wolverine In Iowa

November 25th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^

Personnel:  Lewis - way better than anyone thought

QB/receiving corps - Rudock; Darboh/Chesson/Butt

Defensive line - how good have they been?

O'Neill - has done so much to give us good field position

Allen - way more consistent and reliable than I predicted

Staff:  Everyone - lol, specifically special teams and offensive playcalling

Mr. Yost

November 25th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^

There was news last year about Lewis being a lockdown corner and that hype went crazy over the offseason. IMO, he's exactly what I thought he'd be...Leon Hall 2.0 with a chance to be better.

The defensive line was awesome last year when Gardner wasn't turning the ball over and putting them with a short field for the 4th time in one game. The exception is Glasgow, no one expected him to be an All-American 3/4 of the way through the season.

And the entire staff? We have Harbaugh and he hired the best coaches in America...we all knew that going in. The only coaches anyone was even REMOTELY skeptical about were Jedd Fisch, Jay Harbaugh and Mike Zordich. So maybe they've been a surprise...but Baxter was considered one of the best in the business. Mattison is widely considered the best DL coach, the best RB coach. Drevno's OL experience. Jackson...etc.

I suppose I understand Baxter just because no one thought his UNIT would be this good (Allen and O'Neill as you've mentioned and our KR/PR has also been stellar). Just not sure you can say the entire staff.

I'd be disappointed in Durkin or Wheatley if the defense and RBs weren't this good.

MaximusBlue

November 25th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^

Think about where we were a year ago. You could make a good argument that we could've been undefeated going into this week. Crazy thing with 2 losses we're still in the hunt so to speak. What a difference a year makes.

FauxMo

November 25th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^

Biggest Pleasant Surprise: Our passing game overall, and especially WRs.

Biggest Disappointment: Our running game. It seems like every team in America can find some 2* gem to become at least an 80 to 120 ypg type of back, but we cannot. Frustrating...

Mmmm Hmmm

November 25th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^

The team's resilience. It is fun to root for a team that responds late in games, even if some of the responses have been so late as to impact the fan base's collective heart health.




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