Mich1993

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Date	Title	Body
1 week 4 hours ago	Thomas won't stay at nickle.	I don't believe for a minute that Dymonte Thomas will stay at nickel.  I believe he's playing nickel to get better at coverage and because playing safety as a true freshman is too hard.  We have others that can play the nickel, but we don't have others that can grow into an all-american safety. We need Wilson/Thomas/Clark to fill the two safety spots next year and Hill, Dawson and maybe Stribling as back-ups further down the line.  It's a little tight, but if Wilson and Thomas can both play there won't be many snaps for anyone else for a few years.
1 week 23 hours ago	Miller-Kugler center battle will be a good one, later.	My read on our centers is that Miller is going to be just fine.  I think by the end of this year, Miller will be showing well in the UFRs and noone will be worried about who will play center in 2014.  Given that Miller and most likely Glasgow would be at least 'ok' at center (Burzynski might be ok too), I don't see any way that Kugler plays this year. In 2014 Kugler will likely push Miller, but I'm guessing Miller will be the starter at least at the beginning of the year.  He'll have started for a year and have an extra year in the system.  Plus, success at center is less about being a super athlete and more about technique, knowing who to block and getting the line calls right.  I can see Kugler getting a shot at playing guard if he doesn't win the center job. By 2015, we'll have two very good centers, and I can see Kugler being just too good to not be on the field.
1 week 4 days ago	Poggi=Van Bergen=Godin.	I see all three of these guys as being very similar, and I think that's just fine.  I also think with the current coaching, Poggi and Godin will reach senior Van Bergen much earlier in their careers (redshirt sophomore year?).  I'll take a senior Van Bergen level talent at 3T and another at 5T happily. I agree he looks like a high floor, medium ceiling kind of guy.  It's great to have players like this mixed in with boom/bust guys like Charlton (don't see him busting) and Hurst.
2 weeks 4 days ago	My worst as well.	I was at that game at the 1990 Rose Bowl against USC which was the worst loss.    Sitting through the Tennessee Outback Bowl was the least fun football game I've ever been to.
2 weeks 4 days ago	Hoke's current favorite at a position of "need".	I'm interested because he seems to be the current best available for Michigan at SLB which is a poistion of "need" in this class.  I use "need" because we have a starter there for the next two years, but after that we only have a couple potential players (McCray and Ferns).  Personally, I think Ferns can play either MLB or SLB.  With the depth chart at MLB/WLB being Bolden, Jenkins Stone, Ross, Poole, Gedeon and the depth chart at SLB being McCray, I see Ferns at SLB.  You'd like to have more than two players competing at a position, especially if one is redshirt freshman. Hope Winovich goes Blue.
3 weeks 2 days ago	Morris' competetiveness.	We need to factor in how competetive Morris is.  He's going to come in with the goal of beating out Gardner (not that it's going to happen).  I think by the end of fall camp that Morris will have shown enough that it will be clear that he will be a much better back-up as the season goes on.  I haven't done any research on this, but I don't think you redshirt your back-up QB.  Also, Morris is competetive enough that if he is the second best QB that he won't want to redshirt.  My guess is that Morris won't play in the CMU game to give the coaches a chance to see how things are going (Morris progress, Bellomy injury recovery and Cleary readiness), but he will play against Akron.  We are helped that other than against Notre Dame, we shouldn't need him to be very good to win until the PSU game in Mid-October.  That gives him an extra month and a half to learn the offense.  His arm is strong and accurate enough that Borges can put in a package that he can run successfully without knowing the whole offense.
4 weeks 5 days ago	No Wisconson or Nebraska.	I can't see how anyone is complaining about MSU/OSU on the road from a schedule difficulty point of view.  We don't play either Wisonsin or Nebraska (one of which would likely be on the road if we got MSU or OSU at home).  I think that more than makes up for the difficulty of having to go to E. Lansing an extra time.  By 2014, our superior talent will trump home vs. away.against MSU.  I agree it stinks from a home schedule standpoint.
5 weeks 1 day ago	My read...	My take on the lower rankings is that he has excellent size and speed but that he will need good coaching and some time to be ready to see the field.  My suspicion is the higher rated safeties are more likely to play sooner. I don't expect Hill to do much of anything on defense this year, but I'm very high on Hill's potential down the line.  I don't see how we won't end up with two very good safeties in a couple years since we only need two out of Hill, Thomas, Dawson, Wilson and Clark to pan out.
5 weeks 5 days ago	Surprised if Braden doesn't start.	I'd put Braden ahead of Glasgow, and if not he'll be the first guard off the bench.  Maybe if there was a long term injury he would switch back to tackle and be the alternate, but I would think you'd want to let him focus at guard.
6 weeks 2 days ago	We did not oversign!	This debate is ridiculous.  We were at 86 scholarships only if you count a suspended kicker who may be back and a 5th year that may not be renewed.  By the time we get to summer practice, we will probably be at 83 or less with regular attrition.  There was absolutely no reason for Ringer to be encourage to leave the team since there is/will be plenty of space. Also, I thought Ringer played almost as well in the spring game as Bolden and Jenkins-stone.  There is no gaurantee that he would stay at the bottom of the depth chart for the next three years.
7 weeks 21 hours ago	NHL network.	It's on NHL network now.  Don't know about a stream.
9 weeks 22 hours ago	Totally disagree.	I can easily see a scenario where Hardaway comes back, and we run the offense through him.  I think Hardaway was unable to showcase his skills this year because Burke was so awesome, and the entire offense ran through him every play.  Hardway could be that guy next year (obviously not like Burke was).  With all the complimentary players around him, I can see his stock going way up as a huge part of the offense on a very good team. I suppose you can make the case we could run the offense through Albrecht as a pure point guard or Walton could come in ready to be the focal point, but I like the idea of running the offense through Hardaway and give Albrecht and Walton a year of experience not having to be the primary focus.
9 weeks 2 days ago	Game changer.	I'm a big believer that with the team we have in place we will be plenty good enough to compete for Big Ten titles and BCS games year after year.  I believe that with the outstanding running game we will have once our OL matures that our current WRs are more than good enough to put up lots of points (think Wisconsin with better QBs and WRs).  That said, adding Drake Harris is a HUGE, HUGE deal!  He is the kind of player that turns close losses to Top 10 teams into wins.  Most of the recruits we have added (other than Green) over the last 6-9 months I've viewed mostly as continuing our high level talent.  The only thing we've really needed are truly elite RB, WR, more DL (I think Taco and Pipkins will fit the elite category) and CB.  With Green and Harris, we've checked the first two boxes.  If we can add McDowell and/or Hand plus Peppers that would be unbelievable awesome! Go Blue!
10 weeks 2 days ago	TEs missing blocks.	Looked to me like two of the running plays were blown when TEs missed blocks.  One was Williams and one was Funchess.  From the Borges interviews, it's clearly a point of emphasis, but they've got some more work to do before fall.
13 weeks 2 days ago	Great idea.	I love the idea for the height and weight.  It's not much harder to go to mgoblue.com for the info, but it would be great to be able have it right there when looking at the depth chart by class or two deep.  I don't think items 1,3 and 4 are needed.
13 weeks 3 days ago	Just a couple.	1.  Fiction.  I think Drake will look ok, but I think Hoke is pushing for Rawls or Hayes to step up.  I'll guess it is Rawls.  Touissant, Geen or Smith will start in Fall. 3.  Fact.  I see Kalis and Braden as most likely, especially with Bryant weighing in at 325.  Hopefully now that he can move around a bit he'll get his weight down over the summer.  Burzynski would be my best bet to beat one of them out. 10.  Looked like Robinson was with the starters (at least Gordon) in the practice video and Wilson running with the 2nd team.  This surprised me as I expect Gordon/Wilson to start.  Only a snippet from one practice, but likely ahead of Thomas/Clark.  Will be fun to watch.
13 weeks 5 days ago	My takeaway.	Sounds good about Cam Gordon, Pipkins, Ojemudia and Wormley. Sounds like Rawls and Hayes are being pushed to do more. Cam Gordon and Jake Ryan on the field at the same time sounds interesting.  Seems like that would be passing downs only with Ryan moving down to WDE.
16 weeks 5 days ago	Most likely at tackle.	I see Schofield at tackle in all scenarios except where Magnuson is one of the top 5 OL.  I don't see Magnuson playing guard.  This might be the case if Bryant isn't back healthy and Braden is behind Magnuson.  In this scenario, I would expect:  Lewan, Kalis, Miller/Burzynski, Schofield, Magnuson.  I think if Braden is one of the top 5 OL he'll play guard and Schofield will play OT.  His strength is run blocking. I think people are underestimating Burzynski.  He was the first (and only) OL off the bench, and to me he looked ok when he played.  Won't be the powerhouse run blocker we'd like but will know what he's doing and block the right guy.  I see him as the option if the young guys and Bryant aren't ready.  This being said, I expect Miller to start at center, and I don't see Miller and Burzynski both starting.  This makes center the most likely spot for Burzynski. Line I'd like to see:  Lewan, Kalis, Miller, Bryant, Schofield
20 weeks 3 days ago	Flexibility.	I see Shallman contributing at a number of positions and Borges using this flexibility to create mismatches. I see him as another Aaron Shea.
20 weeks 3 days ago	Prefer we don't assume Poggi to Alabama.	My count has us with 87 so far (with Poggi and Green). Depending on what's going on with Hagerup and the injured LBs, that seems like a reasonable number. Seems Hoke is expecting some attrition with the Smythe offer. I'm expecting a late pick-up as well, but I'm not excited about losing a couple players off the roster even if it's inevitable.
20 weeks 4 days ago	Not only. . .	So not only did we just land the #1 RB in the nation, but he'll be on campus by June and playing in the fall!  I am a big fan of Hoke's sign them early plan, but it is a bit of a tease to have to wait so long for guys like Shane Morris and Dymonte Thomas to hit campus. Hurrah!!!
22 weeks 4 days ago	LIke the flexibility.	As a 6th lineman, I like that he could play either guard spot or right tackle.  That flexibility should help him to get on the field down the road. He's not the OL that I was expecting today, but it works for me.  I suppose it's a little bonus that we take one from Nebraska.
22 weeks 6 days ago	At least one more win.	Huge change!  My expectation for next year was hoping to win at least our half of the Big Ten next year with an expectation we should win at least our half in 2014.  Taylor Lewan (and the awesome leadership he demonstrates) bumps me to thinking we are likley to win at least our half of the Big Ten. I see the biggest risks to next year as O-line, big step up for Devin Gardner, need healthy Blake Countess and need Jarrod Wilson or Marvin Robinson to be solid at safety.  If those four happen we could be excellent in 2013 instead of just pretty good.  Lewan returning dramatically raises both the floor on possible O-line performance and raises the possibility the O-line could be pretty darn good next year from zero to 50-50 or so.  Still risk with 3 new O-line starters, but it looks a whole lot better.
23 weeks 5 days ago	Deer in the headlights.	I think he'll be a tolerable back-up by next year. He was clearly frazzled early and hurt by the blitzing, not open receivers and dropped passes. After the mess, he looked decent on his last drive. He'll have another year of practice to get better. I do see an issue in that I see him more as a game manager than a playmaker. Given our lack of difference makers, we need a playmaker at qb in 2013. By 2014, the Oline is probably good enough he could hand off and make enough plays in the passing game in a pinch.
23 weeks 5 days ago	With you.	I see Burzynski as the safe option. I think he'd be at least as good as the guys who played this year (less power but fewer times blocking the wrong guy or air). I'm glad that if he doesn't start that whoever beats him out showed something rather than being the only option. I think the line will struggle early but improve ton throughout the year and be pretty good later in the year.
24 weeks 3 hours ago	Improvement throughout year.	I'm with you on the O-line improving throughout the year.  I see us being about as good next year as this year with a better record and ending the year on a high note.  I see our O-line, DBs, LBs, D-line and WRs all playing some young guys and getting much, much better as the year goes on. Like this year a toss-up on whether we go to the Big Ten championship game and great optimism heading into 2014.
24 weeks 4 hours ago	Funchess too talented.	I see Funchess breaking out big next year.  This year with Gardner, I think Borges was avoiding throwing over the middle to limit turnovers.  Gardner needs work on not telegraphing passes, and I think that's why he didn't go over the middle to Funchess.  Next year, our biggest weapons ourside of Gardner are Gallon and Funchess.  Borges will set up the offense to maximize their production.
24 weeks 6 days ago	Doesn't say he will start.	No where in the article does he say he will start.  My guess is he was asked if Norfleet was going to play CB, and he said yes.  What's he supposed to say, "He's 5th on the depth chart, and if he has to play we're doomed".  I highly doubt he's ahead of Richardson or Hollowell, but I can see where he'd play if we had to put in a 5th CB because of injury, someone being tired or some prevent defense with tons of dbs.
26 weeks 4 days ago	Not encouraging about center.	Hmmm.  Not a lot of enthusiasm for Miller at center, Bars not playing center, complementing Glasgow.  Not what I was hoping to hear about the center position.  Fortunately, we've got 9 more months to pull tiny tidbits from Hoke on who will play center and how worried we should be.
26 weeks 4 days ago	Hoke's recruit.	Norfleet was signed last year by Hoke.  At the time, I seem to recall it was primarily to be a kick returner.

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