Michigan 1st Practice Reports Open Thread

Submitted by Leaders And Best on

Open thread to post interesting nuggets coming out from Team 133's first practice.

From Chris Balas, Stephen Nesbitt, Sam Webb, & Wolverine Nation twitter:

Roy Roundtree: Amara Darboh was the most impressive freshman today

Will Campbell weighed in today at 310 lbs. Hoke would be surprised if he didn't play well this year.

Gardner did take snaps at wide receiver today.

Jibreel Black returned bigger. Both Black and Roh impressed in offseason conditioning.

Ricardo Miller will play TE and WR.

Fitz Toussaint and Frank Clark did not participate in first practice today.

Denard untied the shoelaces on the mannequin sporting his Cowboys Classic jersey:

WolvinLA2

August 6th, 2012 at 6:55 PM ^

I wouldn't put too much weight on the Roundtree comment.  He was probably going to say a receiver, and there are only two to pick from.  All that really tells us is that Darboh looked better than Chesson, or Roundtree likes him better.

Balrog_of_Morgoth

August 7th, 2012 at 12:13 AM ^

"As early as the 1850s a Harvard senior, Benjamin H. Hall, observed in his book A Collection of College Words and Customs that "In Germany, a student in the gymnasium, and before entering the university, is called a Frosch, -- a frog."Although the American use of the word frosh is not solidly attested until 1915, its similarity in sound, sense, and social milieu to Frosch argues strongly for a German origin."

This is taken from this article:

http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97feb/wordimp/wordimp.htm

San Diego Mick

August 7th, 2012 at 3:22 AM ^

both these guys are going to be studs. Darboh has dealt with things none of us had to deal with before he came to America, it only made him stronger.

Chesson, is fast as hell and wait till he puts on more weight/muscle and he's got really nice height, i'm tellin' you guys, this Hoke Era is going to be one of the best ever at U-M.

NeilGoBlue

August 6th, 2012 at 7:20 PM ^

For what it's worth. I had a conversation with coach Mallory this spring, and the freshman he was most excited about was Darboh.  He said that unsolicited.  

Mallory recruited Darboh, so I wasn't sure how much validity to give it and one practice does not a career make.. but so far so good...

Wolverine Devotee

August 6th, 2012 at 7:01 PM ^

Interesting note on R.Miller.

That almost assures Brandon Moore will be on the field with a freshman starting in packages where there are two TEs. Look for it to be Funchess IMO.

WolvinLA2

August 6th, 2012 at 7:19 PM ^

I'm not saying either of those guys are going to be stars, but they've run the offense at TE in the spring (and looked OK) and have college athlete bodies.  Might they get beaten out by a freshman?  Sure.  But to right them off completely in favor of guys one practice in is premature.

UMaD

August 6th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^

It's great if they can do something else, but their primary job is to block. TEs last year had about 3 balls thrown their collective way per game.  That's with Koger, a very good receiving threat, playing most downs. This year that number will likely drop even lower.

As a blocking position, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a hard working walk-on emerge. 

It would be surprising it's a freshman though Williams' experience at tackle may help him.

 

Frito Bandito

August 6th, 2012 at 7:47 PM ^

Paskorz looked like a stiff donkey this spring. A stiff donkey who had never played TE and couldn't catch. Eddins looked more natural and equipted to handle TE than him. I still expect to see Moore followed by the two frosh. Maybe Ricardo sparingly but I wouldn't count on it.

WolvinLA2

August 6th, 2012 at 7:55 PM ^

I get what you're saying, but AJ Williams didn't even run a route last year, and Funchess is about 20lb away from being a small-ish TE.  And neither of them have played against college football players before.  Annointing them at this point is tough to do.

Frito Bandito

August 6th, 2012 at 8:08 PM ^

I see him getting a lot of reps out of a two tight end set split out with Moore at home. He's never going to be a traditional TE. We've always figured him to be more Hernandez than Gronk. I'm sure that's what the coaches had in mind when they were recruiting the kid. I can't remember having a tight end this athletic and I can't wait to see him killing linebackers and splitting cover two for 6.

Blazefire

August 6th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^

He didn't do as much practice in the spring either, which was a result of his performing so well last year. As punishment, Hoke may have put him onto conditioning more.

unWavering

August 6th, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^

Against my better judgement, I am starting to get real excited to see Big Will play up to the level we all thought he would when he committed.  If Hoke says he will play well, by gosh, I believe it.  Fergodsakes.

LSAClassOf2000

August 6th, 2012 at 7:29 PM ^

Pulled from a tweet  from our own TomVH - (Link)

Per the article, Hoke chose to sit them, but he also says that it isn't an indication, one way or the other, of their availability in Arlington on the 1st.