Would Aubrey Solomon and AJ Dillon have made a difference?

Submitted by UMVAFAN on December 4th, 2019 at 10:22 PM

Of all the talk about talent gaps against OSU, I think the three biggest areas of concern last Saturday were DT, RB, and Safety. In all three areas, there has been roster attrition and recruiting misses (both players rejecting Michigan and Michigan passing on players). That being said, two players that really stick out in my mind that could have made a big difference are A.J. Dillon and Aubrey Solomon. Dillon was recruited more as a LB than a RB before his recruitment softened and he went to BC, but if the coaches kept him in the fold and flipped him from offense to defense and back similar to how Haskins was handled, the team would have the elite running back that Michigan has missed since Mike Hart graduated. At DT, I know Solomon had injury problems and what seemed to be a falling out with the coaching staff, but he played well for Tennessee this year and would have made the Dobbins rushing attack a bit less dominant (and maybe James Hudson could have, too, if the coaching staff developed him, and if both Hudson and the coaches were more patient with each other). We needed more big bodies in the middle and it hurt the team. As for safety, the recruiting has been attrocius up until last year. Here's to hoping that Dax Hill and the incoming freshmen won't do their best MAC-level safety impression against OSU in years to come (Metellus-style).

Would Dillon and Solomon have made a difference in other people's view? 

UMVAFAN

December 4th, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^

If I was really into fan fiction, I'd talk about Najee Harris and use him as an example. Solomon was on the team and Dillon was basically told to look elsewhere. Both are good to great players that will play on Sundays in the future that the coaches mishandled in different ways. This isn't the type of fan fiction that Brian and Co. write about where Michigan bag men are helping Harbaugh sign #1 recruiting classes. Both of these players were reality if managed and/or evaluated better.

Joined: 10/15/2013

MGoPoints: 5013

OwenGoBlue

December 4th, 2019 at 11:00 PM ^

So just a little into fan fiction? Citations needed for:

  • Why Solomon left
  • Where Dillon was told he couldn't play offense/to look somewhere else
  • Why Hudson would be an effective DL today for Michigan after he willingly moved to OL as a freshman and is currently an OL at Cincinnati 

Joined: 04/03/2016

MGoPoints: 31529

UMVAFAN

December 4th, 2019 at 11:26 PM ^

There are no statements about why Solomon left, so no citations to offer. Sorry. But speculating on the impact he could have made if he stayed is not pipe dream fan fiction. Why he left is a great question and might explain some recruiting deficits at DT ( or maybe it was Tennessee bag men?)

Dillon on the other hand said he wanted to play offense, but the coaching staff would not guarantee him that. They said 90% chance of offense, 10% defense. If they really wanted him, they would have said 100% offense is okay. They didn't and he walked. His exit post highlights this.

And for Hudson, he was recruited to play defense, and I only mentioned the staff having patience with him and maybe developing him.  But the impatience could have been on Hudson's part. He wanted playing time and I don't know if he cared where he was playing - OT or DT.  Both him and Solomon seemed to have friction with coaches and maybe the team was better this year without them. But maybe not? 

I guess it is fan fiction, but it's interesting to think about and relevant given some of the talent gaps. This speaks to the coaches and their ability to evaluate, develop and retain talent. The retention part will be interesting in years to come with the transfer portal and an unprecedented level of player movement. Can the Alabamas, Clemsons and OSUs keep their talent locked down. Transfers Hurt Alabama this year, too.

Joined: 10/15/2013

MGoPoints: 5013

skegemogpoint

December 5th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^

In addition to Dillon, don't forget that UM lost a firmly committed David Reese, who turned into a 2 year starter at Florida at MLB.  Harbaugh wanted Reese as a FB and the kid wanted to play LB.  

As for Hudson, who knows? The kid is listed as an OT at Cincinnati but was a highly regarded DT coming out of H.S.  When he first committed to Kentucky, he was only considered as a DT.  Very difficult to say he "willingly moved" to OL.  Coaches may have said "if you want to see the field, you'll move..."

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 503

Ezekiels Creatures

December 4th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^

Dillon, I think yes.

Solomon, maybe,. but it didn't seem his heart was in Michigan. Probably would not.

Joined: 03/14/2019

MGoPoints: 28664

schreibee

December 5th, 2019 at 12:33 AM ^

Yeah, but did Chase Young ever say "Fuck ohio" on social media?

If he did, man that's the type of player i'd like to have on Michigan!

Instead we groveled to get one who said "fuck Michigan" and he turned around and shockingly blew our team off!

And he as only ever an ok player, in AA or Tenn.

Dillon, the staff straight blew it on by chasing Najee and ignoring him. COULD have had both maybe, but one was committed! They ended up with neither...

 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 21146

pescadero

December 5th, 2019 at 9:14 AM ^

So... almost the same stats as Kemp, and WAY better than any of our other interior DL?

 

Kemp: 40 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FR

Solomon: 27 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FR

Hinton: 9 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 FR

Dwumfour: 9 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 0 FR

Mason: 6 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 FR

 

Joined: 03/28/2013

MGoPoints: 12081

CHUKA

December 5th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^

Stats like these aren’t the biggest thing for a DT. A big part of their job is just taking the blocks off of the LBs, especially if we’re playing in a 3-4 or they’re the nose in a 4-3. Already saw a Chase Young comparison below, but different positions - different games.

Yes, it is clear that Solomon could’ve helped us out big time. He would be starting if he was here.

Joined: 10/22/2016

MGoPoints: 1082

TheDirtyD

December 5th, 2019 at 1:38 AM ^

Dillon no, the ACC sucks dick. I could have those stats running the ball in that conference. Solomon was awful for Tennessee this year. He gets blasted out on so many double Ben Mason is a better DT at this point. The staff bombed identifying DT's when recruiting a few years ago. James Hudson would be the starting RT this year if he stayed but he didn't. So thats a weak development topic. Dobbins is the best RB since AP left Oklahoma years ago. Safety sucked but any decent D line and perhaps the safetys arent caught looking the entire time trying to stop the run. The whole thing starts up front. It wasnt just the run game that sucked the entire offense the first 60% of the year couldn't move the ball on Pioneer high school every drive.

Joined: 07/18/2009

MGoPoints: 17916

rc15

December 5th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^

I'm actually flipped on those 2. DT was the biggest position of need against Wisconsin and OSU, I don't think Solomon gets pushed around.

Our RB's did really well this year. Does Dillon hit the proper hole on the 4th down play? Probably. But maybe Charbonnet does to... It was just a bad read, which every RB makes at some point.

Joined: 01/23/2015

MGoPoints: 12103

Couzen Rick's

December 4th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^

I will say part of Dillon's success at BC is the system. It feels like their RB is always good, including I think Andre Williams? RB that broke NCAA rushing record and got drafted by the Giants

Joined: 12/22/2014

MGoPoints: 15994

huffstet

December 6th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^

Dillon constantly faced 8 in the box, especially after brown went down. Others comparing him to De’veon Smith in the ACC is ludicrous.

Dillon is going to run a 4.5-ish 40 at 250 lbs. He’s a beast and Would have be an nfl talent at rb or lb.

Joined: 09/08/2008

MGoPoints: 291

Carpetbagger

December 4th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^

No. Solomon didn't make any difference at Tennessee why would he be any better here? Dillon's isn't any better than our guys either. He gets his numbers because he's all they've got.

Joined: 12/31/2010

MGoPoints: 6566

Beilein 4 Life

December 5th, 2019 at 10:03 AM ^

Against ND and Clemson, he averaged 4 yards per carry, had 120 yards total, and BC lost to both 99-14. He did have 35 carries for 235 yards against Syracuse and 34 carries for 223 yards against NC State. Don’t forget about his 32 carries for 150 yards against Rutgers, which they needed all of as they were only up 4 at halftime. Dillon was a workhorse, no doubt, but citing his stats for the year doesn’t actually tell us if he would do the same at an actual school with a good football program

Joined: 06/19/2018

MGoPoints: 4415

Harlans Haze

December 5th, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^

During the season, how many times did you watch the game and think "I wish we had Dillon instead of Charbonet, Haskins, Wilson? Their combined numbers were 283 carries for 1424 yards...5.0 a carry. That's marginally lower than Dillon on fewer carries. As it was, most fans wished there were more balls thrown to Collins rather than given to our RBs. The only RB I watched all year who made me say I wish he was on UM was Najee Harris, since he was so close to landing. I don't count Dobbins or Taylor since there was never a shot at them.

BTW, last year Higdon's numbers were 224 attempts for 1178, 5.3 ypc.

Dillon this year, 318 for 1685 to get get his 5.3 ypc

I've never given a 2nd thought to losing out on Dillon

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 2145

bacon1431

December 4th, 2019 at 10:30 PM ^

Hudson was an OL at Michigan, so he would have done nothing to stop Dobbins. 
 

And idk about Solomon himself, but the bigger issue with interior line is from a big DL haul in 2017, almost none of them are contributing. Solomon, Irving-Bey, Jeter, Malone-Hatcher, Paea, Vilain, Paye. Vilain has been hurt his whole career, most transferred out, Paea and Jeter have not made an impact. Paye is good. 

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 25285

bacon1431

December 5th, 2019 at 9:58 AM ^

I understand what he was initially recruited as. But the majority of his Michigan career was spent practicing OL. So he would not have helped the DL if he stayed unless he switched back. And he's listed as OT for Cincinnati, so I assume he's staying there. 

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 25285

Chadillac Grillz

December 4th, 2019 at 10:39 PM ^

Yes I do think every guy we can add to this roster can make a difference! all the talent that you can get is useful and helpful. I don't think they would have won the game against Ohio state with these guys but I think we've got to stop thinking is a program in terms of getting this guy or that guy... It's talent across the board all the sudden now maybe if you have for five more guys. An extra running back an extra safety the dominant defensive tackle that weighs 320 lb a tall shutdown corner and the quarterback with the skill set like Justin fields and now you add for five guys like that yes I can make a difference. I still think we need some kind of philosophy shift which I think we're seeing with our offense and maybe with our defense and we would have probably needed perfect execution to have a chance to win that game but yeah it's a bunch of little things that add up into one big gap between us and Ohio State... It's talent it's coaching it's philosophy it's scheme it's not being his physical upfront it's not wanting it as much it's a bunch of things where Ohio State is right now clearly Superior to Michigan. But you know what they say Rome wasn't built in a day...

Joined: 01/04/2010

MGoPoints: 2740

uminks

December 4th, 2019 at 10:49 PM ^

We have had good RB recruits in the last 5 years but they just seem to flame out. Charbonnet could not even find the holes against OSU and for that reason did not play much. I hope next year he improves but since the beginning of the season he has kind of went down hill after mid season. Haskins burst on the scene during the ND game but could not find the holes during the OSU game. Turner seem to disappear during the season. Wilson looks too small and usually just entered during garbage time. If Evans can keep his grades up, he may become the feature back?

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32049

uminks

December 4th, 2019 at 11:00 PM ^

I think Milton will be a better fit for this offense, much bigger, can throw a mile, all he needs to do is work on accuracy in the short and mid field passes.  An arm punt QB would have made our WR look like all stars this season.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32049