Zach Charbonnet Big 10 Freshman of the week
LINK: Michigan RB Zach Charbonnet named Big 10 Freshman of the Week
Where would we be without Charbonnet. I actually am still pretty positive about Michigan's chances this year, given how different Army is, and given that I expect to see 3-4 starters back in uniform and on the field by Wisconsin. (Runyan, DPJ, Jeter, and maybe Dwumfour.)
September 9th, 2019 at 11:36 AM ^
Jeter was on the field, just not sure how much he played and where hes at from a physically ready to play standpoint....
September 9th, 2019 at 11:44 AM ^
I think I saw him get plowed into the end zone on one of Army's TD. I remember just seeing Jeter on a jersey.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Yeah, I know Jeter played. As to where he's at, I don't think he's 100% yet, and I think he didn't end up on the stat sheet yet. Hoping it is good he saw the field, but I think he needs a couple more weeks to round into form, I'm ok with that. I think (like Magnus) that Jeter will be critical to the year. We're going to need him and Dwumfour to make it through the season. We'll also need for the two freshmen (Mazi Smith, Chris Hinton,) to start to get some playing time reps.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
Zach is a talented young man. Not sure if we should be getting him 30 carries a game. Looking forward to seeing him develop as the season goes on.
September 9th, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
How do the RBs practice? Does Jay Harbaugh hand the RBs the ball then have them run into a brick wall for an hour?
September 9th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
Some would say he's a glimmer of hope.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
+1 I got a laugh out of it. Love mgoblog snark.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
I agree, with all points here. All the sloppy execution and turnovers are very much correctable. Time to put our team through turnover boot camp. I saw multiple posts over social media saying they need to make each player who fumbled hold onto the ball for 24 hours on campus to emphasize ball security. I am all for this, its time for big boy football in 2 weeks and I expect to see some improvement. We will see just how good Wisky really is at high noon in 2 weeks.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
darnell jefferson style.
i think i remember willie taggart doing that last year, making fumblers carry the rock around campus
September 9th, 2019 at 1:31 PM ^
September 9th, 2019 at 9:59 PM ^
You say correctable, I say indicative.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
When you say you are positive about Michigan's chances, what are you positive about? A national championship? A conference championship? A road win against a ranked team? Avoiding a 5 loss season?
September 9th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
I'm confident we will be playing for a chance to go to the B1G Title Game on Thanksgiving Weekend this year.
September 9th, 2019 at 12:04 PM ^
If DPJ, Runyan, Dwumfour, and Jeter all come back, I have a positive outlook on the regular season. Of course, we'll know a lot more about the season after the Wisconsin game. But if Michigan can beat Wisconsin, I'm positive about our chances to win against the bulk of the schedule. I think we'll be able to play even against ND and win, given our home field advantage.
However, I am very wary about making any predictions about OSU. Let's just say that I've been burned, and am definitely not going to predict a win against them until we actually do it.
So right now, I'm positive about our chances at an 11 - 1 regular season record, with a loss to OSU, meaning no Big 10 championship and no playoff berth. (And for those who say that's not good enough, well, yeah, it's not. But right now, I think OSU is still ahead of us in the athletic talent category and depth category.)
If Michigan ended up with 12 - 1, their only loss being to OSU, I'd be disappointed, but be ok with it. I'd consider that positive, and improvement.
September 9th, 2019 at 1:39 PM ^
Hell I'd look at that as on overwhelming success I picked UM to go 9-3 and lose to UW, PSU, and OSU. I almost picked them 8-4 and that was before the season started when the hype train was going.
It would suck if they lose to OSU but holly hell if they win 11 straight I'm happy as a clam. They play 7 ranked teams, two away, and that would mean beating 2/3 rivals.
September 9th, 2019 at 8:35 PM ^
I would not be happy at all going 11-1 with the loss to ohio.
That would just be another disappointing season.
September 9th, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^
I'd be okay with 12-1 too.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:46 AM ^
I’m happy for Charbonnet but I would be happier if he never has to have a game like that ever again. Turner needs to step up in his pass protection and Michigan needs a game plan with Shea running or throwing more often. It’s early, but if he continues a workload like that, I can see him ending up injured and worn out early in his NFL career (similar to Fournette).
September 9th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
It's a well documented fact that running backs burn out pretty quickly. I sincerely hope ZC never see's 30 carries like that, again. Thirty times between the tackles... Not one flare pass. Not one toss. Not one towards the corner. Thirty times between the tackles...
I don't recall Bo ever running anyone through the tackles, in one game, that many times. His running game was pretty diverse, actually...
September 10th, 2019 at 12:17 AM ^
IIRC, the second or third play of the game was an attempted swing to Charbonnet, but it was incomplete. It looked like Shea threw it poorly, but Zach may have run the wrong route.
September 9th, 2019 at 2:35 PM ^
This! It won’t take until his NFL career to see the effects of 33 carries a game by a freshman. By “protecting” the QB until they are healthy we are just increasing the chances of having a tired/ineffective/injured ZC by the 9th or 10th game.
True depth means having someone you are completely comfortable with and trust to play in tight spots. We don’t have that at either the QB or RB spots.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
Congratulations to the young man! Well deserved.
September 9th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
Army defense isn’t different at all. Our D handled the option fine. Our O was the problem.
Hopefully Shea heals up and things come together.
September 9th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
Elijah Collins went for 192 on 17 carries and didn’t win this honor? Hate to see it.
September 9th, 2019 at 1:09 PM ^
Collins looked good - nice vision, pretty strong, and fast. First speed MSU has had in the backfield in a long time.
He is a redshirt fresh. Maybe you have to be true fresh to win?
September 9th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
I love Charbonnet. He's as good as advertised, which is a pleasant surprise from some former highly rated RBs. However, DT is a huge problem. I'll be curious to see if we can deal with Wiscy's running game. I know we have the offensive talent to outscore people, but I question if we'll put it together this year.
September 9th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
His 3 TDs got him the award, otherwise that freshman RB for MSU would have won it, he had 192 yards on 17 carries.
September 9th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
I've loved how the RBs - particularly Charbonnet - have run the ball. OL hasn't quite gotten it together for whatever reason. But our OL was mediocre to bad early last season and by midseason was starting to cruise. Hopefully we see the same because if we do, Charbonnet is going to easily surpass 1,000 yards and get some conference honors.
September 9th, 2019 at 12:48 PM ^
So is the story that the coaches were protecting Shane's health by running our freshman RB into a stacked box 33 times?
September 9th, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^
I don't think it is a matter of protecting Shea as much as his inability to physically do it. He seemed to be grimacing on a run play.
September 9th, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^
I saw the same thing, and I think that the whole offense would have been different if Shea could have actually run (or thrown, as he was in some pain when he was throwing long, as well). But, this begs the question for me - if we have been hearing all of fall camp that Shea and Dylan are 1a and 1b, and that both are good enough to start, why not just start Dylan against what should have been, on paper, an overmatched defense. Why risk having Shea either strain his oblique (or further bruise himself, depending on which of the reports are true). Football is a contact sport, even if you are not going to run our QB.
If Shea really was banged up, why not start Dylan and the have Shea dressed as a "break glass in case of emergency" option??
September 9th, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
Just think if he had some holes.
September 9th, 2019 at 2:02 PM ^
If you rewatch Zach's 3rd touchdown run, he's hit at the line of scrimmage by 2 unblocked defenders with a head of steam. He stonewalls them, hugs the block of another player (and I mean HUG, he basically was up the blocker's ass) and stretches out over the endzone while keeping his knees off the ground. That's ridiculous. And he's only played 2 games of football at the college D1 level.
He's gonna be a stud.
September 9th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Shea just got beat out for Big Ten Senior of the week.
September 9th, 2019 at 4:21 PM ^
It really was quite the showing for Charbonnet. Nice to see him pick up some accolades so early in his career here.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
Awesome player.
Don't like to see him pounded like that either tho...