TheWolverine.com follows up on their Spring Revelations (Defense) article with a Spring Revelations (Offense) article chronicling their take on the standout offensive performers of spring practice. This article is not behind their paywall.
- Most Improved: Denard Robinson and Taylor Lewan
- Breakout Starter in 2010: Patrick Omameh
- Could Be Starting By Oct. 1: Fitzgerald Toussaint
- Freshmen Expected To Contribute In 2010: Stephen Hopkins and Jerald Robinson
- MVPs: Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson
Click on the link for the full analysis, but here are some thoughts:
- QB analysis: Denard's performance in the spring made all the headlines, but Tate didn't regress, so the starting QB battle is not settled. The authors sure hedged their bets by predicting that either Tate or DRob would be the season's offensive MVP.
- No one is sold on the RBs. Who will emerge from the group of Michael Shaw, Mike Cox, Vincent Smith, Fitzgerald Toussaint, and Stephen Hopkins as the featured back or will this season devolve into RB by committee? Since no clear cut leader has emerged, it's easy to fall back on the latter as the answer.
- RS Fr Taylor Lewan and RS So Patrick Omameh are expected to pace the OL this year. The team's ultimate level of success may be riding on their young shoulders.
- Speaking of young shoulders, all of the players featured in this article are RS Sophomores, Sophomores, RS Freshmen and Freshmen. That alone should give us all pause about Michigan's chances in 2010.
- Position battles are so wide open for QB, RB, WR, Slot and TE that a platoon approach doesn't seem out of the question for every skill position. Is this an indication of tremendous depth or of insufficient talent? How important is it that a leader emerge at these positions during summer camp?
The problem with platoons is they breed fumbles -- the reason you use only two primary backs is you want the QB to be comfortable handling the ball around them. If you have three or four running backs cycling in and out, all of different heights, quickness, and feel for the ball, it's a recipe for fumbled exchanges. Especially with two QBs.
[Note: The coaches know this. I realize this is not something they don't know. They know the risk. Thus, if they do appear to be using a platoon at the beginning of the season, it's because they've got a bunch of young players and they are genuinely trying to find the best performers.]