Harbs is not dishonest. Probably the furthest from it if you got to know him even a bit.
Harbs is psychotically driven to have this program at "the top"
A big part of this is the push to fill a class in year one before the season had happened and the brand became even more prominent.
Slow playing and even turning away some commits was not invented with Harbaugh. Every coach at MIchigan preceeding him did it. Beleive me.
Even Hoke expected a pretty big commitment by the player post commitement. You can't just commit and then sit back and not visit, call, communicate, participate etc.
It is an emotional process and it is hard not to be enfatuated with "the best" offer and potentially ignore signs.
For those who think Harbs is getting slimy - you are reacting to probably 25% of the information that (could) be available.
The lengths some of you go to be infuriated by somethng (YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ACTUAL FACTS ON) is dumbfounding.
Staff can obviously not ever say anything or present their side due to NCAA.
Harbaugh is exponentially competitive but he is not the kind of guy nor his staff that would leave a kid hanging.
I am willing to bet there was much more communication to this player than just a call this week saying we are changing our minds.
Trust me, I am very empathetic last minute scenarios in recruiting. I do not see our staff working in this manner. They will be honest and up front and probably brutally so (to a recruit and parents).
We have an indoor facility - other than comfort of fans during spring game it doesn't matter.
Earlier the better as well - longer time to come back from any injuries sustained. Longer time to evaluate spring performance and build plans for fall. Also this year will give a better window to work with what could be several 5th year decisions.
"This is a results business" Abject turd. Life is a results business and you appear to not having many because of the fact you are dumping on a player who gave his all for the last 4 years. Terrible, pathetic, and sad. You represent the truly despicable side of fandom.
Bet you beat your chest and tell everyone how great "your" team is when they win. Kinda like you had something to do with any results on the field.
Unfortunately is starting to throw wild punches in order to get attention as an analyst since the B 10 Network is ratcheting down significantly his role. ... He absolutely understands the perspective of a player and his X's and O's are legitimate. Locked outta Schem now where he had access with Brady .
Doesn't have the TV presence to be on camera. Will get more "outrageous" as he is heard less.
Always snicker at these observations "based on the workout videos posted - said athlete has incredible work ethic". That is not work ethic. Doing stuff in front of a camera is not work ethic. Many teams get kids who post a lot of stuff and go to many events yet struggle when they have to really work out of eye of the public.
Regarding Viramontes (sp). His film shows a very athletic and sold duel threat QB at that level. It shows some LB although looking at many of the teams' film he didn't seem to be a starter (understand completely if he is the star QB). Don't see anything that would say he could definately be a safety nor fullback. A kid that plays that much QB probably wants to be a QB. Kids also say alot of stuff during the recruiting process and their decisions are often in flux.
Looks like a good QB for someone if thats the set direction he wants to go IMO. He is an outlier in terms of the types of QB's the roster is gaining (body type, build, etc)
Actually found Seth's response pretty damn solid. Kudos.
Now I'm glad you personally reminded about what the players know and what they can take. My son plays on the team and I have a bit more insight into the feedback when the players hear this stuff.
You would probably be first in line if Joe was signing autographs to get one from him. He was obviously good enough to get a full ride and play pretty well at this level for a number of seasons now. But yeah, he's bad.
And I'm sure this arguement has been offered before but at the risk of getting shelled ...
The ease and flipancy in which Brian, Seth mock players at times for Michigan is odd. Absolutely understand that players can perform poorly and rise and fall on the depth chart often throughout the season but Seth's mocking of the RB's especially on PSU's site is poor. It's poor here too. The reveiw of Bolden yesterday being summarized as "Bolden is bad" is in the same vain.
I think an incredible charity would be in the spring for these two to raise donations to actually play linebacker and running back in a full conctact scrimmage against Michigan. I would contribute and would relish the UFR.
Analyze, provide insight and editorialize - all fine and good. Remember that reading about football and asking those who have played to help analyze is not the same as actually having played it at this level. Constantly offering yourself up to pretty serious injury on virtually every play has its character merits as well.
I venture that that S and/or B would take one shot from a OL and promptly void their bowels. Finding a slight gap from your (on the field) perspective and running through it is much harder than a bird's eye view and saying "shoulda cut back".
Not saying that the analysis is incorrect "had a bad game", "has struggled this year" seem more than fair. "is bad" "cold never find a hole" etc is the domain of frustrated broadway performers turned musical critics.
Those who still can't help but take shots at Rudock even in this thread. Insufferable. None of you have zip, zero, nada ability to understand the position other than UFR's and Jake is serving the role the team desparately needed for this season. The team is winning.
Rudock is an asset. Is he flawless? No. Is he the best thing for this team, this season as decided upon by Harbaugh? Yes.
In 99% of the cases decisions on depth are based on MUCH more than one game, situational performances. Remember, Wheatley has been drilling, teaching, critiquing, and observing all of these guys since January.
Drake was hurt against CMU when he was side-swiped on kickoff and just fell "wrong". It had nothing to do with stride, rotation, all that jazz.
Drake had surgery
Drake went about 15 months and then re-injured what would still probably be not a 100% strong/healed reconstruction.
While there are a myriad of pre-conditions that lend themselves to ACL injuries, most is just plain ol' crappy luch mechanically in a certain situation.
Everything, and I mean everything is susceptible to change with Coach Harbaugh. My guess is that they will but last year at this time we had already been given details. I can see an arguement for not doing it this year to control what could be a bit of a circus (albeit for exciting reasons)
can we stop putting so much merit on workout/training snippets. Other than the kid is athletic and shows the ability to be a self-starter that's all those really mean. Training is good and we want the guys to show up ready to go but... there is so much more to being able to get on the field at the Big House than working out in pleasant and sometimes elite environments.
Training when an athlete gets to college is a significantly different proposition. Injuries, classes, sub-zero temps, exams, out the night befores.., S&C coaches that aren't paid by your parents to train you but rather break you down and build you up, plus doing about 300+ days a year for years.... are all things that really can start to separate kids. HS training is good but not a definate success indicator for getting into a full time D1 regimen/program
Absolutely understand why the Opening and other things exist nowadays but they are so dang artificial that much if not all doesn't mean anything. 7 v 7 does not always translate into "Tom Brady", there is not a single coach in the NCAA who cares what a SPARQ score is, most good D-line guys will win on a no pads, 1v1 drill against a linemen rushing a tackling dummy.
how many posters formed an opinion about Harbaugh before actually listening to the interview which is available via the interweb.
It wasn't that bad - there are times where Harbaugh speaks to players like this. Cowherd seemed to ask ok questions and Harbaugh was "minimalist" in his answers but not rude. Actually some of Harbaugh's responses were concise and honest rather than time filler.
For Cowherd to tweet that kids shouldn't go there was infantile and actually a bit ... cowerdly since Harbaugh couldn't respond. Also, it isn't for Harbaugh to divulge his strategy to convince kids to accept offers. The answer he could give is pretty standard.
This table is silly Seth. What perhaps would Speight's speed vs a good comparison like Hackenburg? Does it matter if WS is "slow" but a good QB ?
This discussion about speed for a bunch of really smart guys who run this blog is lacking everything except for "he looks fast" "he got beat".
Speed is relative in a game by game basis. Is a back like Smith for instance who isn't going to win the 200 in the Olympics perfect for the 5 - 15 yard game?
We all agree Peppers is a rocket but let's just say for sake of arguement that he was not able to master the mental aspect of the game. A fast player reading stuff poorly is probably worse than an average player that sees/reacts quickly alo kovacs.
Been through this process with my son. You can not put too much stock into what the "analysts" are saying. In actuality, they usually have just a slightly better sense than your common sense does.
Kids these days know what they are saying and know how to play the game with the myriad of recruting folks who call them. Also, kids these days are... uhh.... kids. Many are very susceptible to the last coach they spoke with or most fond of the last visit. We were all that way as well.
While many saw this young man as a better chance for Michigan, they have absolutley no idea what is really going on and (who) is contacting the players to influence them. There definately are shenanigans out there and it can be enticing.
Finally, it's a nice pitch to a Michigan (the State) kid to be unique and play for someone like Bama. I can see Saban pitching that and can see it resonating. Not all kids from the state want to go to school close to home.
To wrap it up, he may not have changed his mind at the last minute. He may have changed his mind while watching vines on his phone on the way to the announcement. He may have had his mind changed for him. All are possible, none are out of the ordinary. It's recruiting. You will lose more than you will ever win.
Peppers IMO will be outstanding, he absolutely has the wind at his back
If Dukes had even tried to do something then Peppers would not have made that play and been burned. That play was Dukes not making a key block. Also if that had been a set up or very aggressive play action to the RB then Peppers may have been caught quite flat footed.
Again, Peppers should be a staple for us but on that play it was a bit of a gift.
I'm sure this LB has been on the radar for a considerable time. The writer forgets that NCAA recently finished the spring evaluation period and Bama has actual spring football. Any member of the staff could have gone down and watched him back in May. Didn't need a camp to do this.
Is not that Bama will set up in Sandusky, OH. They can pretty much get attention anywhere nationally if they so choose.
The biggest part here is that the SEC will eat their own young. Those rules were put in place to keep Bama from doing camps in Georgia; Florida not doing camps near Auburn, etc.
Majority of their work will be in the back yard of their conference/division competition unless of course most of the nation's population suddenly moves up to the rust belt.
and.. what would be learned by speaking with witnesses who were already given a voice in the police reports? Would they say somethng new? Their emotions don't change the fact that the charges were plead down and agreed to.
None of this hurts Clark if he is able to stay, work, and hopefully stay on the straight and narrow - is there a clause that you can be drafted by the NFL after a conviction at this level but only at certain rounds?
None of this hurts the witnesses
The victim accepted the situation so how does this hurt her afterwards (cue civil suit...)
NFL football is about winning and short of having Stalin on a team who is actively purging the ranks - they are allowed to hire who they want if they are legally available. They may also do something positive with all of this which is something you won't consider
You captured my reaction pretty well. The problem with taking a stance like this is that you probably have not been consistent in applying it in all situations. If Clark got a shot to work for the Cleveland Police Department or Enterprise Rental in a new hire role - would Ace have written this article?
What Clark did was bad. No disagreement.
The legal system came to a conclusion that enables him to have the job he just got offered
Chris is a great guy and was a big part of the process obviously with the entire current team. Don't think it's appropriate for folks who don't know him, haven't had him work on your or your kid's behalf, and spend time with over the years to comment that he had problems or was not good for the job.
No surprise that Harbaugh moves on with his own picks. Doesn't mean Chris isn't/wasn't good. Means Harbaugh is the man now and is building his system as he sees fit.
Having gone through this with my son - I can tell you giving all of the flexibility to the prospect would be a mistake. Just as susceptible to abuse as giving all of the power to the school (which we are closer too on the continuum).
Many schools' staffs are ligitimate and honest and enabling prospects complete flexibility puts all of their efforts and sometimes limited budgets at risk.
With that being said, there should be additional rules that allow for options for the player after he signs (within a reasonable time) that give him a chance to move on if for instance his recruiter and position coach leaves.
Agree that oversigning and what seems to be statistically significant rates of medical redshirts and such to enable room are really what a player (and his parents/guardians) are most concerned about.
you don't understand how this works. He isn't the #1 TE bet for the year unless the head coach says he is "the number on TE on the board" which he can't... As you have seen already hopefully is that Harbaugh moves people around, brings in 5th year talent and more importantly, he will have TE talent behind him and in front this player. Perhaps Harbaugh feels that with whatever projection he has for depth for this position it is worth a calculated risk.
Yeah, trust the coach and sit back and see what happens before you eat your own young
with what outsiders think of this fanbase at times... Pretty sure Harbaugh's decisions are based more on very experienced "eyes" and insight into athlete's potential then your primordial requirements of 1. has to have offers already 2. must have stars.
This offer is an outlier and I think this coach has the pedigree to be trusted.
Unless you are actually better at all of this than Harbaugh then I stand corrected.
Give you some actual information here - perhaps it will modify your stance..
Playbooks WERE limited. Defense worked with a little bit more flexibility as to what they could run (actual knowledge). Both offenses with the exception of what, 3 trick plays total (2 for Maize and one for Blue?) ran about 6 different plays either left or right. Watch the replay... The offense has significantly more installed than what was run during the game (actual fact).
Several players played both ways during the spring and knew what the offenses were going to run to a pretty accurate degree. Nothing wrong with that but it gives guys a step or two which can look pretty signficant in terms of play impact.
Execution - when you have OL "1's" split between two squads then you are going to have execution problems if for nothing more than lack of familiarization.
I can tell you that the defense believes the offense has made great strides and there were multiple sessions this spring where the offense won the day decidely against our defense.
Now, progress is needed at every position and group but hate to spoil your day and tell you everything is not as piss poor as you want it to be..
Barwis had a couple of things on the wall but I'm guessing this change was because of the last office holder? Never saw it (from the inside) in recent years. Like the change and approach.
Your premise that only a run of this many yards was basically the only effective run (if I am correct) seems superficial. Watched this game again almost entirely with my eye on the defense but I say a fair, heck, good number of runs that were 3 , 4, and up to 9 yards and there were some penalties too that called things back.
I hope you aren't saying that a run is only good if it is long... I'll take 3 yards a run every time all the way to the national championship.
Assuming you may be a Catholic Central grad because of your avatar? Get off of Shane's back. Fine to make objective comments but your campaign against Morris is unseemly.
None of the players are "awful" - some may not be able to crack the starting lineup or struggle, but the worst players at this level are still pretty darn good athletes.
Nothing regarding Drake but hamstrings. Everything is a tear actually. There are just grades : 1. sore limp quick recovery 2: worse, some bruising weeks recovery 3: significant tissue displacement and big time bruising. It also depends upon where it is. More proximal the more troublesome.
There is a window for recovery and risk for re-injury that can be fairly large depending upon what happened. Many athletes get them often but what we are hearing maybe for Drake seems to point to something structural perhaps. Hope he ok.
As a parent I know that there are specific rules you agree to to attend these practices. For someone to come in and agree to them then to turn around and post such a write-up for his own blog/rag is piss poor. I'm sure it's a risk that the coaches are aware of in this day and age but it is dispicable nonetheless. I think press has had one or two "in practice" availability sessions and the staff are aware of their presence and run practice accordingly. If you go as a guest of a family member or as a coach/guest and then turn around and write this all up then I hope you are eventually found out and banned from this opportunity.
Regarding his observations - single point perspectives of drills and unit/team unit sessions are fraught with signficant sample size bias.... There are always bumps and bruizes that keep players out of some or all of these sessions at different times and the staff plugs in individuals constantly. Also, there are usually concurrent units/teams running and some often are over in Osterbahn (sp) while a group is in Glick.
In your zeal and desire to support this staff and team and learn about them please don't enable ratfinks.
And fandom of Brian notwithstanding.... this type of absolute grave dancing is really quite vulgar.
I am not a fan of what Brandon did, especially towards the end of his tenure, and I have learned more since to really shake my head but... The guy has saved companies (through tough and sometimes unpopular to the non-corporate masses) and also been a factor in many more careers than the ones he also may have affected as AD.
The snark about "there's a parable about that" is childish... Yeah, I know he gave literally millions to a great cause but, you know, that isn't that good.
Too corporate of an AD we have all learned and that is far to one end of the best AD continuum. Definately rubbed some people the wrong way, definately had supporters in other areas. Took enough heat publically as did his family.
This just veered too far and the follow up really is more like an a slightly more nuanced P.O.S. reiteration.
Why an editor didn't head this off at the pass. It started out "ok" but after about a paragraph you could tell it was a pass too high over the middle of the field - wasn't going to end well. I would contend that there are students at UofM who are from Michigan who are exactly like this... it isn't a NoCal thing. It is an affluence thing.
There isn't anything wrong with affluence either - I know many people who are wealthy beyond my wildest dreams and are humble, caring, empathetic folks. They do stuff and go places - but you wouldn't know because it isn't a part of their own opinion of themselves.
I have hired what seemed to be great execs and after time their combination of personality traits and skills that gained them success actually became a hinderence to their ability to do well in a new posting. Brandon had/has an ego and a set way in which he wants to do things... kind of like Brian?
Bad fit, lets move on graciously. I am really hoping I see a FAILURE post on Neville Chamberlain which is long overdue on this site
He was not the right man for the job. Did not really do a good job by what seem to be the expectations of the position around Ann Arbor which is completely acceptable.
But "p.o.s. human being" ? What descriptions do you hold for people like, I don't know, the nice people of ISIS, drug lords, worst politicians?
This same group said Auburn would need several years to turn around after Chizik left...
The narrative that a first year quarterback is incapable of having a good season is tiring. A fair number of examples lately - perhaps a good one is Obrien paired with Hackenburg...
Believe we can knock of MSU this coming season. OSU is a crap shoot, but hey had we not lost Drake Johnson we were right with them again this year (with our poor talent..... cough, cough)
Within three seasons we will have at one where we beat both OSU/MSU in the same year. Within the next two seasons we beat MSU at least once. Allowing for a crazy game, we beat OSU once as well. After three it returns to a consistent 2 horse race every year in the East.
You do realize that a many of the injuries occorred during practice either in Glick or outside. Stretching your conclusion a bit to say it is because of the game field surface. Of the injuries that I know of that happened in a game they were because of contact/collision
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He will be coming in for summer classes this month so his communication definately has to stop then with recruits.
May be of service here given the mild winter and the long term forcasts saying that we will most likely have a warm spring too.
It's different. Like it. Maybe some fireworks?
Harbs is not dishonest. Probably the furthest from it if you got to know him even a bit.
Harbs is psychotically driven to have this program at "the top"
A big part of this is the push to fill a class in year one before the season had happened and the brand became even more prominent.
Slow playing and even turning away some commits was not invented with Harbaugh. Every coach at MIchigan preceeding him did it. Beleive me.
Even Hoke expected a pretty big commitment by the player post commitement. You can't just commit and then sit back and not visit, call, communicate, participate etc.
It is an emotional process and it is hard not to be enfatuated with "the best" offer and potentially ignore signs.
For those who think Harbs is getting slimy - you are reacting to probably 25% of the information that (could) be available.
The lengths some of you go to be infuriated by somethng (YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ACTUAL FACTS ON) is dumbfounding.
Staff can obviously not ever say anything or present their side due to NCAA.
Harbaugh is exponentially competitive but he is not the kind of guy nor his staff that would leave a kid hanging.
I am willing to bet there was much more communication to this player than just a call this week saying we are changing our minds.
Trust me, I am very empathetic last minute scenarios in recruiting. I do not see our staff working in this manner. They will be honest and up front and probably brutally so (to a recruit and parents).
We have an indoor facility - other than comfort of fans during spring game it doesn't matter.
Earlier the better as well - longer time to come back from any injuries sustained. Longer time to evaluate spring performance and build plans for fall. Also this year will give a better window to work with what could be several 5th year decisions.
"This is a results business" Abject turd. Life is a results business and you appear to not having many because of the fact you are dumping on a player who gave his all for the last 4 years. Terrible, pathetic, and sad. You represent the truly despicable side of fandom.
Bet you beat your chest and tell everyone how great "your" team is when they win. Kinda like you had something to do with any results on the field.
Unfortunately is starting to throw wild punches in order to get attention as an analyst since the B 10 Network is ratcheting down significantly his role. ... He absolutely understands the perspective of a player and his X's and O's are legitimate. Locked outta Schem now where he had access with Brady .
Doesn't have the TV presence to be on camera. Will get more "outrageous" as he is heard less.
Always snicker at these observations "based on the workout videos posted - said athlete has incredible work ethic". That is not work ethic. Doing stuff in front of a camera is not work ethic. Many teams get kids who post a lot of stuff and go to many events yet struggle when they have to really work out of eye of the public.
Regarding Viramontes (sp). His film shows a very athletic and sold duel threat QB at that level. It shows some LB although looking at many of the teams' film he didn't seem to be a starter (understand completely if he is the star QB). Don't see anything that would say he could definately be a safety nor fullback. A kid that plays that much QB probably wants to be a QB. Kids also say alot of stuff during the recruiting process and their decisions are often in flux.
Looks like a good QB for someone if thats the set direction he wants to go IMO. He is an outlier in terms of the types of QB's the roster is gaining (body type, build, etc)
Actually found Seth's response pretty damn solid. Kudos.
Now I'm glad you personally reminded about what the players know and what they can take. My son plays on the team and I have a bit more insight into the feedback when the players hear this stuff.
You would probably be first in line if Joe was signing autographs to get one from him. He was obviously good enough to get a full ride and play pretty well at this level for a number of seasons now. But yeah, he's bad.
And I'm sure this arguement has been offered before but at the risk of getting shelled ...
The ease and flipancy in which Brian, Seth mock players at times for Michigan is odd. Absolutely understand that players can perform poorly and rise and fall on the depth chart often throughout the season but Seth's mocking of the RB's especially on PSU's site is poor. It's poor here too. The reveiw of Bolden yesterday being summarized as "Bolden is bad" is in the same vain.
I think an incredible charity would be in the spring for these two to raise donations to actually play linebacker and running back in a full conctact scrimmage against Michigan. I would contribute and would relish the UFR.
Analyze, provide insight and editorialize - all fine and good. Remember that reading about football and asking those who have played to help analyze is not the same as actually having played it at this level. Constantly offering yourself up to pretty serious injury on virtually every play has its character merits as well.
I venture that that S and/or B would take one shot from a OL and promptly void their bowels. Finding a slight gap from your (on the field) perspective and running through it is much harder than a bird's eye view and saying "shoulda cut back".
Not saying that the analysis is incorrect "had a bad game", "has struggled this year" seem more than fair. "is bad" "cold never find a hole" etc is the domain of frustrated broadway performers turned musical critics.
With Mark Packer (sp).
Have insight into that and that's not why OSU took him.
Those who still can't help but take shots at Rudock even in this thread. Insufferable. None of you have zip, zero, nada ability to understand the position other than UFR's and Jake is serving the role the team desparately needed for this season. The team is winning.
Rudock is an asset. Is he flawless? No. Is he the best thing for this team, this season as decided upon by Harbaugh? Yes.
A team capture like this in front of Walmart would be very pleasing.
probably has a much better handle on this and ability to assess who plays and why.
In 99% of the cases decisions on depth are based on MUCH more than one game, situational performances. Remember, Wheatley has been drilling, teaching, critiquing, and observing all of these guys since January.
Drake was hurt against CMU when he was side-swiped on kickoff and just fell "wrong". It had nothing to do with stride, rotation, all that jazz.
Drake had surgery
Drake went about 15 months and then re-injured what would still probably be not a 100% strong/healed reconstruction.
While there are a myriad of pre-conditions that lend themselves to ACL injuries, most is just plain ol' crappy luch mechanically in a certain situation.
Everything, and I mean everything is susceptible to change with Coach Harbaugh. My guess is that they will but last year at this time we had already been given details. I can see an arguement for not doing it this year to control what could be a bit of a circus (albeit for exciting reasons)
Colors correct (for Adidas) - check
Look good at a distance of 25 to 100 yards (how fans see them) - check
Are grippy/sticky --- check
Can make a M - check
can we stop putting so much merit on workout/training snippets. Other than the kid is athletic and shows the ability to be a self-starter that's all those really mean. Training is good and we want the guys to show up ready to go but... there is so much more to being able to get on the field at the Big House than working out in pleasant and sometimes elite environments.
Training when an athlete gets to college is a significantly different proposition. Injuries, classes, sub-zero temps, exams, out the night befores.., S&C coaches that aren't paid by your parents to train you but rather break you down and build you up, plus doing about 300+ days a year for years.... are all things that really can start to separate kids. HS training is good but not a definate success indicator for getting into a full time D1 regimen/program
Absolutely understand why the Opening and other things exist nowadays but they are so dang artificial that much if not all doesn't mean anything. 7 v 7 does not always translate into "Tom Brady", there is not a single coach in the NCAA who cares what a SPARQ score is, most good D-line guys will win on a no pads, 1v1 drill against a linemen rushing a tackling dummy.
to help get it on track..."what can I do to help this..." Cowherd closed the door after that when he should have reset and had some fun.
Actually very much like that - good comparison.
how many posters formed an opinion about Harbaugh before actually listening to the interview which is available via the interweb.
It wasn't that bad - there are times where Harbaugh speaks to players like this. Cowherd seemed to ask ok questions and Harbaugh was "minimalist" in his answers but not rude. Actually some of Harbaugh's responses were concise and honest rather than time filler.
For Cowherd to tweet that kids shouldn't go there was infantile and actually a bit ... cowerdly since Harbaugh couldn't respond. Also, it isn't for Harbaugh to divulge his strategy to convince kids to accept offers. The answer he could give is pretty standard.
He certainly knows how H responds to poor questions... "I can't even believe you asked a follow up to that" : )
This table is silly Seth. What perhaps would Speight's speed vs a good comparison like Hackenburg? Does it matter if WS is "slow" but a good QB ?
This discussion about speed for a bunch of really smart guys who run this blog is lacking everything except for "he looks fast" "he got beat".
Speed is relative in a game by game basis. Is a back like Smith for instance who isn't going to win the 200 in the Olympics perfect for the 5 - 15 yard game?
We all agree Peppers is a rocket but let's just say for sake of arguement that he was not able to master the mental aspect of the game. A fast player reading stuff poorly is probably worse than an average player that sees/reacts quickly alo kovacs.
anything the "colonel" says regardless of perceived hypocracy by a player is also what Harbaugh wants or will allow them to do.
Been through this process with my son. You can not put too much stock into what the "analysts" are saying. In actuality, they usually have just a slightly better sense than your common sense does.
Kids these days know what they are saying and know how to play the game with the myriad of recruting folks who call them. Also, kids these days are... uhh.... kids. Many are very susceptible to the last coach they spoke with or most fond of the last visit. We were all that way as well.
While many saw this young man as a better chance for Michigan, they have absolutley no idea what is really going on and (who) is contacting the players to influence them. There definately are shenanigans out there and it can be enticing.
Finally, it's a nice pitch to a Michigan (the State) kid to be unique and play for someone like Bama. I can see Saban pitching that and can see it resonating. Not all kids from the state want to go to school close to home.
To wrap it up, he may not have changed his mind at the last minute. He may have changed his mind while watching vines on his phone on the way to the announcement. He may have had his mind changed for him. All are possible, none are out of the ordinary. It's recruiting. You will lose more than you will ever win.
Seth - love these reviews and...
Peppers IMO will be outstanding, he absolutely has the wind at his back
If Dukes had even tried to do something then Peppers would not have made that play and been burned. That play was Dukes not making a key block. Also if that had been a set up or very aggressive play action to the RB then Peppers may have been caught quite flat footed.
Again, Peppers should be a staple for us but on that play it was a bit of a gift.
I'm sure this LB has been on the radar for a considerable time. The writer forgets that NCAA recently finished the spring evaluation period and Bama has actual spring football. Any member of the staff could have gone down and watched him back in May. Didn't need a camp to do this.
Is not that Bama will set up in Sandusky, OH. They can pretty much get attention anywhere nationally if they so choose.
The biggest part here is that the SEC will eat their own young. Those rules were put in place to keep Bama from doing camps in Georgia; Florida not doing camps near Auburn, etc.
Majority of their work will be in the back yard of their conference/division competition unless of course most of the nation's population suddenly moves up to the rust belt.
and.. what would be learned by speaking with witnesses who were already given a voice in the police reports? Would they say somethng new? Their emotions don't change the fact that the charges were plead down and agreed to.
None of this hurts Clark if he is able to stay, work, and hopefully stay on the straight and narrow - is there a clause that you can be drafted by the NFL after a conviction at this level but only at certain rounds?
None of this hurts the witnesses
The victim accepted the situation so how does this hurt her afterwards (cue civil suit...)
NFL football is about winning and short of having Stalin on a team who is actively purging the ranks - they are allowed to hire who they want if they are legally available. They may also do something positive with all of this which is something you won't consider
You captured my reaction pretty well. The problem with taking a stance like this is that you probably have not been consistent in applying it in all situations. If Clark got a shot to work for the Cleveland Police Department or Enterprise Rental in a new hire role - would Ace have written this article?
What Clark did was bad. No disagreement.
The legal system came to a conclusion that enables him to have the job he just got offered
Chris is a great guy and was a big part of the process obviously with the entire current team. Don't think it's appropriate for folks who don't know him, haven't had him work on your or your kid's behalf, and spend time with over the years to comment that he had problems or was not good for the job.
No surprise that Harbaugh moves on with his own picks. Doesn't mean Chris isn't/wasn't good. Means Harbaugh is the man now and is building his system as he sees fit.
Having gone through this with my son - I can tell you giving all of the flexibility to the prospect would be a mistake. Just as susceptible to abuse as giving all of the power to the school (which we are closer too on the continuum).
Many schools' staffs are ligitimate and honest and enabling prospects complete flexibility puts all of their efforts and sometimes limited budgets at risk.
With that being said, there should be additional rules that allow for options for the player after he signs (within a reasonable time) that give him a chance to move on if for instance his recruiter and position coach leaves.
Agree that oversigning and what seems to be statistically significant rates of medical redshirts and such to enable room are really what a player (and his parents/guardians) are most concerned about.
you don't understand how this works. He isn't the #1 TE bet for the year unless the head coach says he is "the number on TE on the board" which he can't... As you have seen already hopefully is that Harbaugh moves people around, brings in 5th year talent and more importantly, he will have TE talent behind him and in front this player. Perhaps Harbaugh feels that with whatever projection he has for depth for this position it is worth a calculated risk.
Yeah, trust the coach and sit back and see what happens before you eat your own young
I can point out numerous players on this team as well as standouts at MSU, OSU, etc who did not start early in their years in highschool.
with what outsiders think of this fanbase at times... Pretty sure Harbaugh's decisions are based more on very experienced "eyes" and insight into athlete's potential then your primordial requirements of 1. has to have offers already 2. must have stars.
This offer is an outlier and I think this coach has the pedigree to be trusted.
Unless you are actually better at all of this than Harbaugh then I stand corrected.
Give you some actual information here - perhaps it will modify your stance..
Playbooks WERE limited. Defense worked with a little bit more flexibility as to what they could run (actual knowledge). Both offenses with the exception of what, 3 trick plays total (2 for Maize and one for Blue?) ran about 6 different plays either left or right. Watch the replay... The offense has significantly more installed than what was run during the game (actual fact).
Several players played both ways during the spring and knew what the offenses were going to run to a pretty accurate degree. Nothing wrong with that but it gives guys a step or two which can look pretty signficant in terms of play impact.
Execution - when you have OL "1's" split between two squads then you are going to have execution problems if for nothing more than lack of familiarization.
I can tell you that the defense believes the offense has made great strides and there were multiple sessions this spring where the offense won the day decidely against our defense.
Now, progress is needed at every position and group but hate to spoil your day and tell you everything is not as piss poor as you want it to be..
Barwis had a couple of things on the wall but I'm guessing this change was because of the last office holder? Never saw it (from the inside) in recent years. Like the change and approach.
Your premise that only a run of this many yards was basically the only effective run (if I am correct) seems superficial. Watched this game again almost entirely with my eye on the defense but I say a fair, heck, good number of runs that were 3 , 4, and up to 9 yards and there were some penalties too that called things back.
I hope you aren't saying that a run is only good if it is long... I'll take 3 yards a run every time all the way to the national championship.
Assuming you may be a Catholic Central grad because of your avatar? Get off of Shane's back. Fine to make objective comments but your campaign against Morris is unseemly.
None of the players are "awful" - some may not be able to crack the starting lineup or struggle, but the worst players at this level are still pretty darn good athletes.
Nothing regarding Drake but hamstrings. Everything is a tear actually. There are just grades : 1. sore limp quick recovery 2: worse, some bruising weeks recovery 3: significant tissue displacement and big time bruising. It also depends upon where it is. More proximal the more troublesome.
There is a window for recovery and risk for re-injury that can be fairly large depending upon what happened. Many athletes get them often but what we are hearing maybe for Drake seems to point to something structural perhaps. Hope he ok.
As a parent I know that there are specific rules you agree to to attend these practices. For someone to come in and agree to them then to turn around and post such a write-up for his own blog/rag is piss poor. I'm sure it's a risk that the coaches are aware of in this day and age but it is dispicable nonetheless. I think press has had one or two "in practice" availability sessions and the staff are aware of their presence and run practice accordingly. If you go as a guest of a family member or as a coach/guest and then turn around and write this all up then I hope you are eventually found out and banned from this opportunity.
Regarding his observations - single point perspectives of drills and unit/team unit sessions are fraught with signficant sample size bias.... There are always bumps and bruizes that keep players out of some or all of these sessions at different times and the staff plugs in individuals constantly. Also, there are usually concurrent units/teams running and some often are over in Osterbahn (sp) while a group is in Glick.
In your zeal and desire to support this staff and team and learn about them please don't enable ratfinks.
Do you conclude the QB's are taking even snaps based off of an edited highlight video? The conclusions folks draw from these snippets are creative.
And fandom of Brian notwithstanding.... this type of absolute grave dancing is really quite vulgar.
I am not a fan of what Brandon did, especially towards the end of his tenure, and I have learned more since to really shake my head but... The guy has saved companies (through tough and sometimes unpopular to the non-corporate masses) and also been a factor in many more careers than the ones he also may have affected as AD.
The snark about "there's a parable about that" is childish... Yeah, I know he gave literally millions to a great cause but, you know, that isn't that good.
Too corporate of an AD we have all learned and that is far to one end of the best AD continuum. Definately rubbed some people the wrong way, definately had supporters in other areas. Took enough heat publically as did his family.
This just veered too far and the follow up really is more like an a slightly more nuanced P.O.S. reiteration.
Why an editor didn't head this off at the pass. It started out "ok" but after about a paragraph you could tell it was a pass too high over the middle of the field - wasn't going to end well. I would contend that there are students at UofM who are from Michigan who are exactly like this... it isn't a NoCal thing. It is an affluence thing.
There isn't anything wrong with affluence either - I know many people who are wealthy beyond my wildest dreams and are humble, caring, empathetic folks. They do stuff and go places - but you wouldn't know because it isn't a part of their own opinion of themselves.
I have hired what seemed to be great execs and after time their combination of personality traits and skills that gained them success actually became a hinderence to their ability to do well in a new posting. Brandon had/has an ego and a set way in which he wants to do things... kind of like Brian?
Bad fit, lets move on graciously. I am really hoping I see a FAILURE post on Neville Chamberlain which is long overdue on this site
He was not the right man for the job. Did not really do a good job by what seem to be the expectations of the position around Ann Arbor which is completely acceptable.
But "p.o.s. human being" ? What descriptions do you hold for people like, I don't know, the nice people of ISIS, drug lords, worst politicians?
This same group said Auburn would need several years to turn around after Chizik left...
The narrative that a first year quarterback is incapable of having a good season is tiring. A fair number of examples lately - perhaps a good one is Obrien paired with Hackenburg...
Believe we can knock of MSU this coming season. OSU is a crap shoot, but hey had we not lost Drake Johnson we were right with them again this year (with our poor talent..... cough, cough)
Within three seasons we will have at one where we beat both OSU/MSU in the same year. Within the next two seasons we beat MSU at least once. Allowing for a crazy game, we beat OSU once as well. After three it returns to a consistent 2 horse race every year in the East.
You do realize that a many of the injuries occorred during practice either in Glick or outside. Stretching your conclusion a bit to say it is because of the game field surface. Of the injuries that I know of that happened in a game they were because of contact/collision