Recent Comments

Banner would have to count under the FB class size and roster size.

Mario also said he will be recruiting O'Brien and possibly others.

Feels he is more LB than DE. Currently 6'2 220

Someone commented that he is making a mistake committing to OSU and should commit to a school like Miami (FL).

Dunn disagrees, but is waiting until the NCAA makes a decision. Hears from coaches daily. He (Dunn) smiled and said he was committed to OSU. He is considering Michigan, PSU, and Miami (in addition to OSU).

I agree about not needing a "project 3 star recruit" however people care because

a) it seems like the coaches want a QB and we don't look good for higher rated guys like Kiel, Fuller hasn't scheduled a visit yet, and that leaves Mauk as potentially the only guy who has an offer and interest I believe

b) it's a random Wednesday with little news

c) Appleby camped at Michigan and was reported to want a Michigan offer, and most importantly

d) just the thought of the potential to steal another recruit from Danny Hope is absolutely too good to pass up based on the hilarity that would be sure to follow.

I am pretty sure this would still be illegal contact.

The article states:

"For those unfamiliar with the term, a push notification in it’s most general term is the sending data from a server to a device (ex: phone or computer). For most it’s very similar to receiving a text message on a phone."

That would violate the rules. 

It's not actually paying players, it would be adjusting the amount of money they get in their scholarship package.

Brown could be a possible EE guy. Not sure if it is 100 accurate or not.

Hopefully Tom (or someone else) can confirm or deny.

Allen Trieu just tweeted:

#Michigan fans, don't go far

http://twitter.com/#!/TrieuA/status/66920180059611136

EDIT: Damn, someone just beat me to it. 

great DL class. I love Brown's film that I have seen. A RS and 20/30 pounds, the sky is the limit for him. That doesn't even include any of the "longshots" that we still have chances with.

I really wish we could take a full 25 this year.

Tom (or anyone else with knowledge) is there anything new in regards to Running Back recruiting? It seems to be one of the positions that hasn't garnered much discussion early on.

http://twitter.com/BWIonRivals

2nd link confirming.

Other news in this link of relevance for Michigan:

* James Ross offered by USC.

* MA LB Camren Williams offered by BC.

*PA RB Greg Garmon offered by FSU.

They are a similar service, yes. Still relatively new, so they don't have team sites for everyone.

We have also made GA DE Jarontay Jones' top 7.

an FSU legacy. Everything that I have read says a FSU/Texas battle with FSU having an early lead.

go to Skyline, he went to Flower Mound (I believe).

Tennessee just lost their DL coach. Hopefully that helps with O'Brien.

Link:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/07/vols-suddenly-have-an-opening-for-dl-coach/

His offer list is legit. Heard it is an A&M/Texas battle at this point. Hopefully we can get him up for a visit, might be too tough to pull off on such short notice.

I disagree, having also seen Harris and the other Grand Rapids/West Michigan guys play in HS (Obi Ezeh, Rueben Riley, etc.), he was very good, maybe not the greatest, but very good. Now granted, I wasn't even in HS when Harris (and Riley) played HS ball, so that could have an impact on my evaluation. I didn't think Obi was good enough to go to Michigan on a scholarship, but to his credit he worked extremely hard to not only go to Michigan, but to play early.

I don't give the article too much weight. It only listed the thoughts of a couple coaches, with only one having sent guys to Michigan (or anywhere else, according to one of the other posters). I would have been much more interested to here from coaches in Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, etc. 

Name calling isn't very classy or mature. I don't know about you, but we Michigan fans try to be classy, mature, and respectful of opposing viewpoints.

Learn how to spell. For someone who talks about class, you sure do like to assume stuff about other people, and judge their values without knowing anything about them. You're also doing a poor job of trying to prove your "point" (if you can even call it that).

Not qualifying academically is not the same as being a bad apple. Every coach and every school targets guys who may be borderline, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. If I recall, no one (not even his HS coach) was aware of Feagin's past until after it happened. So, Feagin and Dorsey were two questionable character prospects RR got while at Michigan. I am quite sure that every coach has had similar results or worse. Carr went after bad apples as well, so I don't get the whole "Michigan we hold athletes to higher standards" in the way that you are using it. It looks to me like you just want to find fault with RR.

Is there something wrong with that?

Thank you kind sir.

Not sure about our interest, but he has visited Texas A&M, Utah, and Arkansas. 

Link:

http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=8&c=1&nid=4901303

Not sure how accurate it is, I believe several people have said that DA was just messing with people (again).

Sorry. Just trying to inform my fellow MGoBloggers.

Saw that too. No, he wasn't always a DE, I believe he just got changed from MLB to DE. Not sure what his best position would be. Doran Grant got downgraded from a 5* to a 4*.

What is everyone's feelings about Fisher and the chances he re-commits? If he goes elsewhere, is it Sparty or somewhere else?

Why? It was expected that Crawford would eventually leave after the RR firing. I am not getting too down unless this weekend is terrible for the recruits (which I doubt).

I was going to be pissed, until I saw your name/avatar. 

The Shredder will never win, you might as well give up.

Doran Grant dropped to a 4* (from a 5*) in the Scout re-rankings.

I disagree, especially in regard to Ezeh/Demens and Lucien. Most of us knew that Obi struggled and wasn't playing well but few (if any) were sure that Demens would be better. I disagree about Lucien whole-heartedly. I like Lucien and hoped he would be Blue, but if Hoke/the offensive staff doesn't see Lucien as a WR in this offense, he needs to not offer him, at least at WR. Why would you offer someone you don't think will be successful, it is a waste of a scholarship and everyone's time.

Are you sure you don't mean Jake Fisher (or Tony Posada)? Jake Miller has said he is solid.

It appears that LA DB Floyd Raven now has a Michigan offer, according to Scout.

http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=8&c=1&nid=4257540

Rivals ranks him higher:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/player-Floyd-Raven-98602

can play both TE or LB. I am fairly certain that Michigan is recruiting him for the TE position.

Reebok will no longer be the NFL's uniform provider, Nike will be (starting in 2012).

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/sports/football/13nike.html

Coaching Qualifications: 2 Years (1 HS), Limited defensive responsibility. Held numerous conversations about different defensive schemes & philosophies with qualified defensive coach(es).

Considering the following factors, this would be my defense:

- No Floyd, Woolfolk, Jones

-Bunch of freshman

- No spring/off-season to install

- All personnel who is looking like a red-shirt (Ash, Furman, etc.) will remain that way.

Base: 4-2-5

Why? Provides versatility, somewhat close to what we run/ran so the transition wouldn't be too difficult, considering it is mid-season. Takes advantage of available bodies, talent.

SDE: Ryan Van Bergen, Greg Banks/Craig Roh

DT: Greg Banks, Adam Patterson/Renaldo Sagesse, Ryan Van Bergen

NT: Mike Martin, Renaldo Sagesse/Quinton Washington,  Adam Patterson

WDE: Craig Roh, Jibreel Black, JB Fitzgerald, Steve Watson

Why? 

The most difficult part of this is depth, which could be why we use a 3-man front so much (as others have noted on this site before. Craig Roh gets put back on the line where he has been more effective. Martin is an obvious choice. Banks/Van Bergen could switch, but I trust RVB more on the outside than I do Banks. Black has played up and down this year, struggling in the run game more so than in the pass game, which is understandable given his youth; this is why he is only listed as a WDE. Sagesse/Washington battles for back-up DT, I would hope Washington wins, so I could use Sagesse more at DT. Patterson would be able to use his athleticism at DT more than at NT, so he is the back-up at DT. Banks and Roh are the only two that I think could do a decent job at SDE, so I would put them in and put in Black at WDE or Patterson/Sagesse in at DT. It isn't that I don't like a 3-man front, when you have the personnel to use it, but Banks is clearly over matched at the DE spot, a 4-man front gives him help, while allowing Roh to move to his more natural position. The obvious downside is lack of depth.

Mike LB: Kenny Demens, Obi Ezeh/Isaiah Bell/JB Fitzgerald

Will LB: Jonas Mouton, Brandon Herron/JB Fitzgerald/Kevin Leach

Why?

Demens, for the most part, has been effective at stopping the run, while struggling vs. the pass. Obi struggles at everything. I haven't seen Bell, but my hope would be that he could win the back-up spot. Mouton has the athleticism necessary for the Will, unfortunately he has been up and down all year (mostly down). He is still most likely the best option, unless Fitzgerald surprises. Demens main focus is stop the run, he will be pulled on obvious pass downs (more on this later).

CB: James Rogers/Cullen Christian

CB: Terrence Talbott/Courtney Avery

FS: Marvin Robinson/Ray Vinopal/Cameron Gordon/Carvin Johnson/James Rogers

SS/Rover (strong-side always): Jordan Kovacs/Marvin Robinson, Cam Gordon

Wolverine (weak-side always): Thomas Gordon/Carvin Johnson/Marvin Robinson, Cam Gordon/Brandin Hawthorne, Floyd Simmons

Why?

Free Safety: Wide open competition, I don't care who starts, just someone competent who can cover deep without a) getting beat routinely, b) taking bad angles in coverage and coming up vs. the run, and c) support run. Any plays made would be a bonus. Corners: We have no one else. I will change the coverage though (more later). SS/Rover: Gives Marvin another chance to start get time. Kovacs is solid vs. the run, bad vs. the pass. Cam Gordon closer to the line. Run responsibilities are outside contain, with the goal to turn it inside to the DL, Demens, and Mouton, and clean-up. Pass responsibilities will mainly be short (more later) Wolverine: Another chance for Marvin to see the field. Thomas Gordon and Carvin Johnson have played solid at the hybrid position, despite being freshman and a bit undersized. Run responsibilities are outside contain and clean-up. Pass responsibilities will be detailed later.

Goal line Defense:

Rogers/Christian                Banks-Q. Wash-Martin-Sagesse-RVB                       Talbott/Avery

                                   M. Robinson              Demens           Mouton         T. Gordon/C. Johnson

Nickel Defense:

Rogers/Christian                           Roh-RVB-Martin-Black                              Talbott/Avery

                                                        Mouton           Bell/M. Robinson

                               M.Robinson/T. Gordon                                 T. Gordon/C. Johnson

                                                       M. Robinson/Vinopal/C. Johnson

Strategy vs. the run:

Force everything inside to the DL and Demens/Mouton. The SS/Rover & Wolverine will take a read-step just like linebackers. In the event a runner gets outside, the responsibility falls on the SS/Rover & Wolverine, with backside pursuit from the LB's. FS main goal is to prevent deep, so his responsibility in the run game is minimal, if he has to keep making tackles, that means the front 6 & hybrids did't do their job.

Strategy vs. the pass:

This will be limited due to the experience of the secondary. Will be a mix of man and zone. 

Man Defense: Press Coverage and regular man (about 6 yards off). 

DL: Rush passer

Corners: Man

FS: Deep Coverage Only

LB: Man or Blitz [Depends on opposing offense and what defense were in (base vs. nickel)]

Hybrids: Man or Blitz [Depends on opposing offense and what defense were in (base vs. nickel)]

Zone Defense: Cover 1, 2, 3

Cover 1: FS Deep

Cover 2: FS & Wolverine Deep; Corners Flats; SS/Rover & Will have curls Middle has middle.

Cover 3: FS, Strong-side corner and Wolverine Deep; SS/Rover & weak-side corner have flats; LB's have curls. Short/medium middle is vulnerable.

Miscellaneous:

* Always rush at least 4.

* FS is always deep.

* Blitz a lot. Mainly Mouton and from the hybrid positions.

Why?

The secondary is clearly the biggest weakness, pressure will help them. Mouton and the hybrids have the athleticism needed to create pressure and can disguise it. Don't want too many (if any) secondary blitzed because of the youth. Give the FS one responsibility only, that is his only job, he should be able to do it.

Projected Results:

The defense will still struggle, especially given the depth on the DL and youth in the secondary, but this should be an improvement. The defense should go from terrible to average, maybe slightly below-average.