This doesn't have anything to do with the NCAA, does it? I could be wrong, but I think this is just the Heisman Trust giving out a silly trophy and a replica.
I think he has done a great job, given the circumstances. The team he has now sets a pretty good floor. The next step is either proving he can find hidden gems like Beilein did, or proving he can recruit legitimate NBA talent (or both, I suppose). It will take several years of recruiting to get an answer on that
Tough shotmaker, nice handle, good athlete, good shooter. Super productive HS player - when I really got into his tape over the weekend I was shocked he’s only a 3-star
I have no problem with Jace staying if he wants. However, couldn't he leave without being in the portal? He started college in 2020, so I'm assuming he'll be a grad transfer. The portal and portal windows don't apply to grad transfers, do they?
Yeah, I was using him more as an example. He's by far the most talented QB in the portal, and he's probably not even an upgrade for us (when factoring in experience, not having years in our system, etc). Meanwhile, SEC teams were throwing money at him as soon as he entered. The odds of a better option popping up in the portal, and then landing that option with all the competition, seems unlikely at this point.
I don't recall Orji nearly throwing an interception. If he did, it wasn't on his opening drive.
Ohio State loaded the box two years ago, and Donovan started getting about 80 yards a carry. Penn State loaded the box last year, and we blocked it up. Washington tried bringing an extra guy in the box. It's nothing new. And we beat it with long runs more than we did with long passes. Michigan, sometimes frustratingly, chose to run into stacked boxes (even with JJ at QB). If anything, he was used to bail the offense out on 3&Long moreso than keeping defenses honest with deep throws. Luckily, he was by far the best at the nation at that. What JJ didn't do, was run when defenses were ignoring him to crash down on our RBs. With a run-threat QB, it helps our numbers in the run block game (fewer defenders running free bc you have an extra blocker on QB runs, and someone has to account for possible QB pulls on handoffs).
I think Orji is getting the job. That's what most the chatter has been all along. He didn't do anything in the spring game to hurt that assumption. Orji and Warren each got one drive against defensive units with actual starters on the field -- Orji got a TD, Warren got a FG. Neither one of them were throwing balls in defenders' chests. I think it was a positive for the QB1 and QB2 spots.
As for Tuttle, I'd love for him to be in the mix, but I've heard at least one insider mention the possibility of Tommy John surgery.
Lastly, right now the portal really isn't an option (obviously could change if more entered). There's only one player who is better (HS Rankings wise) than what we have, and that's Jaden Rashada from ASU (former Miami commit & Florida commit that sparked the NIL fiasco in Gainesville).
Top Portal QB Options (and portal rank):
Jaden Rashada (ASU, 4*)
Timmy McClain (UCF, 3*)
Nick Evers (Wisc, 3*)
Jacurri Brown (Miami FL, 3*)
Collin Schlee (UCLA, 3*)
Dematrius Davis (ASU, 3*)
Jacolby Criswell (Ark, 3*)
Cooper Legas (UtSt, 3*)
Jeff Sims (Neb, 3*)
Rashada already has visits set up with Georgia and multiple other SEC schools. It doesn't seem like he's a likely target. You're left with a bunch of guys who might not even be as good as Orji/Warren/Tuttle and won't have the benefit of being in the offense multiple seasons.
I know this site has mostly shot down Wolf as a 4, but others have a different opinion. Ant Wright thinks he'll play some 4, and 247's Davis Moseley said he expects him to.
I just don't think there's much out there. OSU was giving out blank checks and ended up with a guy who might not even beat out Devin Brown. Notre Dame fans are jacked up over a guy who completed 57.6% last year with 3 TDs and 3 INTs in 7 games.
But defenses didn't have to worry about JJ running. How many UFRs did we go through with Brian pointing out the free yards left on the field by not having JJ-runs turned on? Also, it's not like Orji can't throw at all. I thought the best pass of the day (in terms of things that are repeatable within the framework of the offense) was Orji's absolute dot to O'Leary on an out-breaking route.
But you have better numbers at the point of attack . Michigan is going to want to run the ball with Warren or Orji at QB. Teams will stack the box against either one. Teams stacked boxes with JJ in. You can have (maybe) average non-run threat QB throwing to (hopefully) average WRs to beat that, or you can do what I'm guessing Sherrone will do -- use the run-threat QB and a bunch of shifts and motions to find his best opportunities to block em up. One LB or S messes up, and it's a foot race for Donovan. Take care of the ball and play defense.
The offensive identity of the team since the post-COVID turnaround has been built around the offensive line. In reality, it doesn't matter who we have at QB & WR if the OL is below average. With all new starters (and several of them hurt), I was pleasantly surprised by the line play. Obviously, it hard to make anything of the "push" when Graham and Grant are on opposite teams and barely playing -- but there was some push -- which is better than seeing zero push. Above all, I was happy with how clean the blocking was. There weren't a lot of free runners and missed assignments. There were some great blitz pick-ups by backs. It just looked really clean for a bunch of new guys, split between two squads, with multiple starters hurt. Obviously there are going to be situations where an upperclassman like Guy torches a frosh tackle, but at first glance it looked like guys knew where they were supposed to be and who they were supposed to be blocking. That's a great sign in spring.
I don't think it'll be built around him running, but built around the threat of him running. If they don't respect it, we'll take it (unlike with JJ). And if they do respect it, then that just a little more room for Donovan to slip through, or a couple yards of space to flip it to Loveland/Klein/Bredeson if LBs are zeroed in on Orji/Don. And in the process, maybe you get a couple unscripted plays like the scrambles he had today.
I don't think Orji is going to run the ball as many times as Denard did or anything like that. But he's going to run it enough to make the defense respect it, and that will help the OL, run lanes, and play action game immensely.
The difference between last year's plan and this year's plan, is that our 6th best OL last year might've been our best OL this year. Even with JJ and a good OL, we got put behind the chains often. JJ was by far the best QB in the country in converting those 3rd and long situations. In my opinion, you don't want to use that same game plan with a completely rebuilt OL, no Corum, and Davis Warren at QB.
If Warren was a plus QB or we had a plus OL, I would agree. The odds are we won't have an OL like we did in '21, '22, or '23. There's just too much turnover to expect that, and we didn't bring in the same caliber of transfers that we did in the past two years to plug holes. That makes it hard to envision a Cade type season with Warren -- he just won't have the OL and WR talent to make it possible.
With Orji, it helps the OL and the backs. It basically takes at least one defender out of the play bc they have to account for him, whether it's a LB, S, or just the backside edge staying wide. That gives Donovan and the backs more lanes. Defenses will certainly stuff the box, but that's when Orji will have to hit the quick throws opened up by the run threat, the motions, the shifts, and so on. Those are the throws that play to our strength, which is Loveland/Bredeson/Klein. He did that on the opening drive today and kept converting first downs. I thought it was promising. It really reminded me of the game plan against Alabama that just put the LBs in hell -- and he was doing it today without QB runs being on. Most importantly, no turnovers or throws to a defenders chest (like Denegal was doing).
Probably bc Sherrone's mind doesn't have that thing that Harbaugh's does, where he watches a run up the middle for 1 yard and immediately begins asking himself how General Patton would respond or whether or not the offensive linemen he recruited drank enough milk as children.
Warren looking ready was my biggest takeaway. I think the most dangerous version of this team (as the roster stands today) is Orji starting and not being bubble-wrapped like JJ was, because there are solid option(s) behind him with Warren (and Tuttle, if healthy).
Considering the offense will probably be built around the run game and Orji's threat as a runner, I think it's hard to gauge his impact in a practice/game that they clearly weren't going to call any designed QB runs/reads.
I was actually encouraged by Orji's passing. My fear was Orji coming out and looking like Denegal looked. He didn't though. He missed some layups (maybe nerves early, especially the flip to Bredeson to start), but he ended up really zipping some throws too.
He's going to be a problem for teams if he's a serviceable blocker. The plays where he blocked and released were mismatch nightmares -- he's so easy to find in that void right behind the DL. Even if a LB does stay home, I don't know that it matters with the height and reach.
TWill was also playing in the Big Ten, so maybe a little tougher opposition. Again, not shitting on either guy -- it's just interesting how an incoming guy is perceived vs an outgoing guy. Personally, I'd take either or both. Solid role players.
Exactly. Despite Warren looking solid, I think Orji is running away with the job if he can just hit those quick passes. The biggest thing Orji brings is the ability to open lanes for Donovan and the other backs by making the defense account for his legs. It's going to be a lot of pre-snap shifts and motions, read option, and a bunch of quick passes to backs/TEs. I don't think it was a fluke that Bredeson got multiple targets early in the game. They're going to make everyone a threat to catch a short/quick pass. I'm expecting something like the offense against Alabama, but with QB runs.
I think Johnell is the obvious path to a tournament caliber team, but a guy like Wolf with multiple years is probably more important for May building a program. Assuming Goldin is in, this sets a very high floor for the frontcourt for the next two years and gives May time to find some young bigs for the future.
I won't say this often, but shout out to FOX. That was a fun broadcast. Much better than the BTN coverage of previous spring games. Can't ask for a better crew for a spring game than Woodson, Klatt, Butt, Benetti, and Taft.
Feels like they're giving Denegal a chance to stay in the QB competition in this 2H, and he's playing his way out of the mix. Lots of dumb/dangerous throws.
I like Tuttle, but I saw some insider chatter that he's got a throwing arm injury that doesn't sound great. Something ranging from elbow "soreness" to possible Tommy John surgery.
It's also possible he's in at a point of the game that makes it easier to look good. Our starters on D made life hell on Milroe and Penix just a few moths ago.
I've seen at least one insider say that it's likely that Moore will be cleared to play at some point this season (whether it's late regular season, or post season), but it's not a guarantee that he'd play. It's a decision he'd have to make -- risking reinjury (or a new injury) vs just preparing for the 2025 draft.
Personally, I think they gave him the "season-ending" designation to take the pressure off him. There's no rule that says he has to stay out just because they said it was season-ending, so now if he decides to return it's just all positive news -- rather than initially saying he "could" return, and then having the fans/media constantly asking about his status and pushing him to return.
I think the ship sailed on the former (they were aiming a little higher in the winter) and now in the spring portal they're basically just looking for bodies to fill out a depth chart. An impact WR would be a miracle at this point.
I mean, the guy's motto is "SMASH, SMASH, SMASH". I'm not expecting much of a change.
Also, Harbaugh offenses looked different under Gattis/Pep/Drevno/Fisch than it did with Moore at OL and OC -- so it may have been Moore influencing Harbaugh to some degree.
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And let's not forget Keon Sabb as well.
We did lose the entire defensive coaching staff from when he was recruited.
Looks like Kentucky was high on his list before. Maybe Kentucky is throwing money at Michigan guys again.
Take Notre Dame with you.
This doesn't have anything to do with the NCAA, does it? I could be wrong, but I think this is just the Heisman Trust giving out a silly trophy and a replica.
Warde would hang himself before he sullied the good name of the NCAA by hanging the banners.
I mean, if he's on the team, then the coach should probably try to make him better. I'm not sure why you'd have an issue with that.
I think he has done a great job, given the circumstances. The team he has now sets a pretty good floor. The next step is either proving he can find hidden gems like Beilein did, or proving he can recruit legitimate NBA talent (or both, I suppose). It will take several years of recruiting to get an answer on that
I have no problem with Jace staying if he wants. However, couldn't he leave without being in the portal? He started college in 2020, so I'm assuming he'll be a grad transfer. The portal and portal windows don't apply to grad transfers, do they?
Yeah, I was using him more as an example. He's by far the most talented QB in the portal, and he's probably not even an upgrade for us (when factoring in experience, not having years in our system, etc). Meanwhile, SEC teams were throwing money at him as soon as he entered. The odds of a better option popping up in the portal, and then landing that option with all the competition, seems unlikely at this point.
I think he's only gotten 1 undergrad transfer, FWIW. There are others on the target board though.
I don't recall Orji nearly throwing an interception. If he did, it wasn't on his opening drive.
Ohio State loaded the box two years ago, and Donovan started getting about 80 yards a carry. Penn State loaded the box last year, and we blocked it up. Washington tried bringing an extra guy in the box. It's nothing new. And we beat it with long runs more than we did with long passes. Michigan, sometimes frustratingly, chose to run into stacked boxes (even with JJ at QB). If anything, he was used to bail the offense out on 3&Long moreso than keeping defenses honest with deep throws. Luckily, he was by far the best at the nation at that. What JJ didn't do, was run when defenses were ignoring him to crash down on our RBs. With a run-threat QB, it helps our numbers in the run block game (fewer defenders running free bc you have an extra blocker on QB runs, and someone has to account for possible QB pulls on handoffs).
I think Orji is getting the job. That's what most the chatter has been all along. He didn't do anything in the spring game to hurt that assumption. Orji and Warren each got one drive against defensive units with actual starters on the field -- Orji got a TD, Warren got a FG. Neither one of them were throwing balls in defenders' chests. I think it was a positive for the QB1 and QB2 spots.
As for Tuttle, I'd love for him to be in the mix, but I've heard at least one insider mention the possibility of Tommy John surgery.
Lastly, right now the portal really isn't an option (obviously could change if more entered). There's only one player who is better (HS Rankings wise) than what we have, and that's Jaden Rashada from ASU (former Miami commit & Florida commit that sparked the NIL fiasco in Gainesville).
Top Portal QB Options (and portal rank):
Rashada already has visits set up with Georgia and multiple other SEC schools. It doesn't seem like he's a likely target. You're left with a bunch of guys who might not even be as good as Orji/Warren/Tuttle and won't have the benefit of being in the offense multiple seasons.
Not sure if it means anything but the order Alford went when talking about players behind Donovan was Mullings, Dunlap, Hall Cabana.
I know this site has mostly shot down Wolf as a 4, but others have a different opinion. Ant Wright thinks he'll play some 4, and 247's Davis Moseley said he expects him to.
I just don't think there's much out there. OSU was giving out blank checks and ended up with a guy who might not even beat out Devin Brown. Notre Dame fans are jacked up over a guy who completed 57.6% last year with 3 TDs and 3 INTs in 7 games.
But defenses didn't have to worry about JJ running. How many UFRs did we go through with Brian pointing out the free yards left on the field by not having JJ-runs turned on? Also, it's not like Orji can't throw at all. I thought the best pass of the day (in terms of things that are repeatable within the framework of the offense) was Orji's absolute dot to O'Leary on an out-breaking route.
Just did a rewatch. On Orji's opening TD drive, the defense included Will Johnson, Grant, Stewart, Guy, Hausmann, Hood, Hill.
But you have better numbers at the point of attack . Michigan is going to want to run the ball with Warren or Orji at QB. Teams will stack the box against either one. Teams stacked boxes with JJ in. You can have (maybe) average non-run threat QB throwing to (hopefully) average WRs to beat that, or you can do what I'm guessing Sherrone will do -- use the run-threat QB and a bunch of shifts and motions to find his best opportunities to block em up. One LB or S messes up, and it's a foot race for Donovan. Take care of the ball and play defense.
The offensive identity of the team since the post-COVID turnaround has been built around the offensive line. In reality, it doesn't matter who we have at QB & WR if the OL is below average. With all new starters (and several of them hurt), I was pleasantly surprised by the line play. Obviously, it hard to make anything of the "push" when Graham and Grant are on opposite teams and barely playing -- but there was some push -- which is better than seeing zero push. Above all, I was happy with how clean the blocking was. There weren't a lot of free runners and missed assignments. There were some great blitz pick-ups by backs. It just looked really clean for a bunch of new guys, split between two squads, with multiple starters hurt. Obviously there are going to be situations where an upperclassman like Guy torches a frosh tackle, but at first glance it looked like guys knew where they were supposed to be and who they were supposed to be blocking. That's a great sign in spring.
Texas lost to a team we beat 34-13. That probably means nothing, but I like the way it sounds.
Remember when Ohio State stacked the box to stop the run?
I don't think it'll be built around him running, but built around the threat of him running. If they don't respect it, we'll take it (unlike with JJ). And if they do respect it, then that just a little more room for Donovan to slip through, or a couple yards of space to flip it to Loveland/Klein/Bredeson if LBs are zeroed in on Orji/Don. And in the process, maybe you get a couple unscripted plays like the scrambles he had today.
I don't think Orji is going to run the ball as many times as Denard did or anything like that. But he's going to run it enough to make the defense respect it, and that will help the OL, run lanes, and play action game immensely.
The difference between last year's plan and this year's plan, is that our 6th best OL last year might've been our best OL this year. Even with JJ and a good OL, we got put behind the chains often. JJ was by far the best QB in the country in converting those 3rd and long situations. In my opinion, you don't want to use that same game plan with a completely rebuilt OL, no Corum, and Davis Warren at QB.
If Warren was a plus QB or we had a plus OL, I would agree. The odds are we won't have an OL like we did in '21, '22, or '23. There's just too much turnover to expect that, and we didn't bring in the same caliber of transfers that we did in the past two years to plug holes. That makes it hard to envision a Cade type season with Warren -- he just won't have the OL and WR talent to make it possible.
With Orji, it helps the OL and the backs. It basically takes at least one defender out of the play bc they have to account for him, whether it's a LB, S, or just the backside edge staying wide. That gives Donovan and the backs more lanes. Defenses will certainly stuff the box, but that's when Orji will have to hit the quick throws opened up by the run threat, the motions, the shifts, and so on. Those are the throws that play to our strength, which is Loveland/Bredeson/Klein. He did that on the opening drive today and kept converting first downs. I thought it was promising. It really reminded me of the game plan against Alabama that just put the LBs in hell -- and he was doing it today without QB runs being on. Most importantly, no turnovers or throws to a defenders chest (like Denegal was doing).
Probably bc Sherrone's mind doesn't have that thing that Harbaugh's does, where he watches a run up the middle for 1 yard and immediately begins asking himself how General Patton would respond or whether or not the offensive linemen he recruited drank enough milk as children.
Warren looking ready was my biggest takeaway. I think the most dangerous version of this team (as the roster stands today) is Orji starting and not being bubble-wrapped like JJ was, because there are solid option(s) behind him with Warren (and Tuttle, if healthy).
Considering the offense will probably be built around the run game and Orji's threat as a runner, I think it's hard to gauge his impact in a practice/game that they clearly weren't going to call any designed QB runs/reads.
I was actually encouraged by Orji's passing. My fear was Orji coming out and looking like Denegal looked. He didn't though. He missed some layups (maybe nerves early, especially the flip to Bredeson to start), but he ended up really zipping some throws too.
He's going to be a problem for teams if he's a serviceable blocker. The plays where he blocked and released were mismatch nightmares -- he's so easy to find in that void right behind the DL. Even if a LB does stay home, I don't know that it matters with the height and reach.
TWill was also playing in the Big Ten, so maybe a little tougher opposition. Again, not shitting on either guy -- it's just interesting how an incoming guy is perceived vs an outgoing guy. Personally, I'd take either or both. Solid role players.
Orji's legs must've been feeling ok ...
Exactly. Despite Warren looking solid, I think Orji is running away with the job if he can just hit those quick passes. The biggest thing Orji brings is the ability to open lanes for Donovan and the other backs by making the defense account for his legs. It's going to be a lot of pre-snap shifts and motions, read option, and a bunch of quick passes to backs/TEs. I don't think it was a fluke that Bredeson got multiple targets early in the game. They're going to make everyone a threat to catch a short/quick pass. I'm expecting something like the offense against Alabama, but with QB runs.
He's got an impressive frame for a corner -- looks like he could grow into a Patrick Peterson type build.
I thought a lot of the DBs flashed. They looked physical. Waller, McBurrows, Berry, and Hill all made plays.
I think Johnell is the obvious path to a tournament caliber team, but a guy like Wolf with multiple years is probably more important for May building a program. Assuming Goldin is in, this sets a very high floor for the frontcourt for the next two years and gives May time to find some young bigs for the future.
What did Taft say? Something like "we're doing this again?". Lol
I won't say this often, but shout out to FOX. That was a fun broadcast. Much better than the BTN coverage of previous spring games. Can't ask for a better crew for a spring game than Woodson, Klatt, Butt, Benetti, and Taft.
Egbuka and QJ disagree
Feels like they're giving Denegal a chance to stay in the QB competition in this 2H, and he's playing his way out of the mix. Lots of dumb/dangerous throws.
I think MAAR was much better getting to the rack.
Not pooping on this guy, but just a comparison:
Kind of looks like a guard version of TWill, statistically.
Not great, Bob!
Can we get an updated coaches:players ratio? Are we at 1:1 yet?
I like Tuttle, but I saw some insider chatter that he's got a throwing arm injury that doesn't sound great. Something ranging from elbow "soreness" to possible Tommy John surgery.
It's also possible he's in at a point of the game that makes it easier to look good. Our starters on D made life hell on Milroe and Penix just a few moths ago.
I've seen at least one insider say that it's likely that Moore will be cleared to play at some point this season (whether it's late regular season, or post season), but it's not a guarantee that he'd play. It's a decision he'd have to make -- risking reinjury (or a new injury) vs just preparing for the 2025 draft.
Personally, I think they gave him the "season-ending" designation to take the pressure off him. There's no rule that says he has to stay out just because they said it was season-ending, so now if he decides to return it's just all positive news -- rather than initially saying he "could" return, and then having the fans/media constantly asking about his status and pushing him to return.
I think the ship sailed on the former (they were aiming a little higher in the winter) and now in the spring portal they're basically just looking for bodies to fill out a depth chart. An impact WR would be a miracle at this point.
I mean, the guy's motto is "SMASH, SMASH, SMASH". I'm not expecting much of a change.
Also, Harbaugh offenses looked different under Gattis/Pep/Drevno/Fisch than it did with Moore at OL and OC -- so it may have been Moore influencing Harbaugh to some degree.
WE GOT ONE