I only watched the first four minutes, and maybe I was seeing things, but Najee Harris' junior tape is not exclusively Najee Harris highlights... I saw handoffs for a #2 and a #3, both in dark jerseys (admiteddly they have similar builds, so maybe he changed numbers), but also carries for a #11, and someone who's number I couldn't make out because his hair was so long...
.. Okay got up to minute 10, and it stops happening for the most part, but then you start to notice that they reuse some of the highlights, either from the same angle or a different one. There's also a few plays of his team on defense, where he doesn't really do much.
I could be crazy/wrong, but it looked as if St. Juste was getting beat with some consistency to the inside, particularly on slants. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that you can't be as physical when you're not wearing pads, but if I had his length, I'd do whatever I could to force guys to the sideline, then use my size to jump routes (as he evidenced he could do on a few plays).
Isn't Tyree Kinnel an HSP as well? I thought he was going to fill Peppers' role when he (likely) departs for the NFL. Wouldn't one of them, or someone, have to play the safety position more like Dymonte Thomas/Jarrod Wilson?
Or could you role with two HSPs (Kinnel and Hudson), a free safety (??), two boundary CBs (Stribling and Watson), and then six in the box? Someone put my brain on the right track.
Maybe he's not top notch in coverage, but with Don Brown implementing a blitz heavy defense and bringing back the SAM position more as it was in Jake Ryan's hey day, I totally see Lasater finding himself a role, at least in certain packages.
I bet it's a dog fight between Harbaugh and Brown over whether he plays FB or SAM, though.
I'm looking forward to reading these posts, noticing the similarities between the ones from this year and last year, and being thankful for the lack of attrition.
It was inane that Gardner wasn't getting enough reps to be put in at QB against Nebraska. Yeah, he was talented as a WR, but going from Denard to Devin and losing a decent wideout seems way more advantageous than going from Denard to someone that forces you to completely change your offense cause he is a QB with a completely different skill set.
Good write up, Seth. But Ed Reed didn't get drafted until 2002, and the Ravens won their Super Bowl in 2000, so he wasn't on that defesively stalwart team.
I kind of see him like Eric Ebron, but not as beefy. Woulda been AWESOME to see them wait a year to grab a flex TE and land on Funchess around pick 20-25. Oh well.
The defensive turnover numbers are pretty impressive, IMO. The past two years have felt as though the defense really isn't always making the biggest plays, or just getting turnovers, and of course they aren't averaging 3 a game. But I was surprised to find that maybe the defense's big play ability was just overshadowed by the offense's propensity to give the ball away.
I know he's been hurt, and of course he's a junior with just one more year of eligibility after this season, but it seems that his injury has significantly hindered the pass defense. He's consistent, even if he isn't making big plays. But anyone else they put back there isn't nearly as strong as he is.
Heard Schlissel was introducing a holocaust survivor who was about to speak at Rackem at the same time the protestors walked over to his house. Oof, awkward timing.
That hockey video is spot on perfect. Obviously there are several who despise the fighting of hockey, but I think it makes the game what it is. Kind of sad to see that most of the clips were from at least 10 years ago, it just doesn't feel like the NHL has the same personalities that it used to have. But whoever compiled those clips knows how to put a smile on a hockey fan's face.
I'm surprised they didn't throw out the 1-3-1 zone D a little more. The first time i remember seeing it was with about 13 minutes left. That was understandable, since they had manned up pretty well the entire game and Arizona wasn't shooting well. But that first possession, if I remember correctly, in the 1-3-1 forced a turnover.
And then they just stopped running it. I saw it for maybe a few more possessions the rest of the way, and thought it drew some pretty good results, and I'm surprised they didn't go back to it a bit more near the end when Arizona's one on one ability took control, especially with those freakishly talented forwards.
Anyone have any reason why they wouldn't bring out the 1-3-1 more, as I don't know much about basketball?
I'm curious as to which offense shows up for Michigan and Borges. Are we going to see another OSU game where all the tricks come out and the offense flies down the field? I imagine it'd be even more potent considering DG will have had a month to rest his broken...everything. Fingers crossed that there aren't any plays or formations where I consequently audibly groan. For some reason, I have no expectation that we'll be pleased at all, but maybe that's a defense mechanism.
Jeez, his WRs are open deep everytime. Granted, he throws the deep ball pretty accurately, but either his WRs are great or the secondaries he's playing against are pretty weak.
I thought he made some great reads, though, on the option. Especially loved that little shovel pass on the triple option. Not the most explosive but looks pretty smart.
BOB thinks the place kicker is the most improved player on the team. Christian Hackenberg is a true freshman. Spiking the football is no longer a thing - it's now called clocking the ball.
I've learned I need to mute these men unless I wanna hear the same fact over and over.
I think I'm more afraid of Northwestern at this point, seeing as we play them on the road and Brady Hoke is Unbeatable Home Coach, even against OSU (1-0, big whoop, right?). NU also didn't have Venric Mark until this past game, so I'd assume he's still getting his short but quick legs under him, and only lost to OSU because of a few ridiculous, unbelievable plays.
So is the fear level on OSU higher simply because it'd feel better to lose to Northwestern?
Maybe I've played too much NCAA Football video games, but would Michigan ever considering lining up with Gardner, Toussaint and Norfleet in the backfield in a shotgun or pistol formation and run some type of inverted veer or zone read option. As mentioned many times on MGoBlog, it seems obvious that every time Norfleet is on the field, he's going to get the ball on a sweep or a screen. Wouldn't this present the opportunity to use him as a decoy?
I faintly remember Denard being used in a similar way last year after Gardner took over as the QB. Just putting Denard in motion set a defense off and opened up space for everybody else. Other than the fact that Norfleet is not Denard, I'm surprised we haven't seen at least some of this so far through four games.
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I'm going to eat my shoes if they score 23 or more points on us, as is projected by the chart above.
Am I going crazy?!?
I only watched the first four minutes, and maybe I was seeing things, but Najee Harris' junior tape is not exclusively Najee Harris highlights... I saw handoffs for a #2 and a #3, both in dark jerseys (admiteddly they have similar builds, so maybe he changed numbers), but also carries for a #11, and someone who's number I couldn't make out because his hair was so long...
.. Okay got up to minute 10, and it stops happening for the most part, but then you start to notice that they reuse some of the highlights, either from the same angle or a different one. There's also a few plays of his team on defense, where he doesn't really do much.
TL;DR - Great player, horrible editor.
Didn't know that about 7on7. Excellent. Exciting future Wolverine regardless.
I could be crazy/wrong, but it looked as if St. Juste was getting beat with some consistency to the inside, particularly on slants. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that you can't be as physical when you're not wearing pads, but if I had his length, I'd do whatever I could to force guys to the sideline, then use my size to jump routes (as he evidenced he could do on a few plays).
Isn't Tyree Kinnel an HSP as well? I thought he was going to fill Peppers' role when he (likely) departs for the NFL. Wouldn't one of them, or someone, have to play the safety position more like Dymonte Thomas/Jarrod Wilson?
Or could you role with two HSPs (Kinnel and Hudson), a free safety (??), two boundary CBs (Stribling and Watson), and then six in the box? Someone put my brain on the right track.
Maybe he's not top notch in coverage, but with Don Brown implementing a blitz heavy defense and bringing back the SAM position more as it was in Jake Ryan's hey day, I totally see Lasater finding himself a role, at least in certain packages.
I bet it's a dog fight between Harbaugh and Brown over whether he plays FB or SAM, though.
Good write up, Seth. But Ed Reed didn't get drafted until 2002, and the Ravens won their Super Bowl in 2000, so he wasn't on that defesively stalwart team.
The defensive turnover numbers are pretty impressive, IMO. The past two years have felt as though the defense really isn't always making the biggest plays, or just getting turnovers, and of course they aren't averaging 3 a game. But I was surprised to find that maybe the defense's big play ability was just overshadowed by the offense's propensity to give the ball away.
I know he's been hurt, and of course he's a junior with just one more year of eligibility after this season, but it seems that his injury has significantly hindered the pass defense. He's consistent, even if he isn't making big plays. But anyone else they put back there isn't nearly as strong as he is.
Heard Schlissel was introducing a holocaust survivor who was about to speak at Rackem at the same time the protestors walked over to his house. Oof, awkward timing.
That hockey video is spot on perfect. Obviously there are several who despise the fighting of hockey, but I think it makes the game what it is. Kind of sad to see that most of the clips were from at least 10 years ago, it just doesn't feel like the NHL has the same personalities that it used to have. But whoever compiled those clips knows how to put a smile on a hockey fan's face.
I'm surprised they didn't throw out the 1-3-1 zone D a little more. The first time i remember seeing it was with about 13 minutes left. That was understandable, since they had manned up pretty well the entire game and Arizona wasn't shooting well. But that first possession, if I remember correctly, in the 1-3-1 forced a turnover.
And then they just stopped running it. I saw it for maybe a few more possessions the rest of the way, and thought it drew some pretty good results, and I'm surprised they didn't go back to it a bit more near the end when Arizona's one on one ability took control, especially with those freakishly talented forwards.
Anyone have any reason why they wouldn't bring out the 1-3-1 more, as I don't know much about basketball?
I'm curious as to which offense shows up for Michigan and Borges. Are we going to see another OSU game where all the tricks come out and the offense flies down the field? I imagine it'd be even more potent considering DG will have had a month to rest his broken...everything. Fingers crossed that there aren't any plays or formations where I consequently audibly groan. For some reason, I have no expectation that we'll be pleased at all, but maybe that's a defense mechanism.
He certainly can run, catch, break tackles, intercept, force fumbles, return kicks, etc..
Is it possible he can also call the offensive plays, as well? The Fire Borges campaign could be over if they just give the reins to Jabrill...
Just listening to Dick Vitale talk about Spike Albrecht like that makes me smile even more.
Jeez, his WRs are open deep everytime. Granted, he throws the deep ball pretty accurately, but either his WRs are great or the secondaries he's playing against are pretty weak.
I thought he made some great reads, though, on the option. Especially loved that little shovel pass on the triple option. Not the most explosive but looks pretty smart.
BOB thinks the place kicker is the most improved player on the team. Christian Hackenberg is a true freshman. Spiking the football is no longer a thing - it's now called clocking the ball.
I've learned I need to mute these men unless I wanna hear the same fact over and over.
I think I'm more afraid of Northwestern at this point, seeing as we play them on the road and Brady Hoke is Unbeatable Home Coach, even against OSU (1-0, big whoop, right?). NU also didn't have Venric Mark until this past game, so I'd assume he's still getting his short but quick legs under him, and only lost to OSU because of a few ridiculous, unbelievable plays.
So is the fear level on OSU higher simply because it'd feel better to lose to Northwestern?
Maybe I've played too much NCAA Football video games, but would Michigan ever considering lining up with Gardner, Toussaint and Norfleet in the backfield in a shotgun or pistol formation and run some type of inverted veer or zone read option. As mentioned many times on MGoBlog, it seems obvious that every time Norfleet is on the field, he's going to get the ball on a sweep or a screen. Wouldn't this present the opportunity to use him as a decoy?
I faintly remember Denard being used in a similar way last year after Gardner took over as the QB. Just putting Denard in motion set a defense off and opened up space for everybody else. Other than the fact that Norfleet is not Denard, I'm surprised we haven't seen at least some of this so far through four games.