Worried about Hemingway?
Is anyone else concerned if Hemingway is in fact "doubtful" and not "questionable" for this weeks game? Kid had a huge week last week and is either our #1 or #2 receiving option (it seems).
Was it just a coincidence that our passing game went to garbage after he was hurt last week? I mean, there was definitely a function of "kill the clock" in the fourth quarter, but what about the other plays when we were trying to drive and score?
I am willing to bet that if he does not play and our passing game struggles, that will be what kills us against ND.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:09 PM ^
Everything I have read suggests that Junior will not go this weekend. And I have read a lot.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
balls.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
...but would feel better having him.
I think having Minor back will help. Trucking him up the middle hopefully plays more to ND's weakness (weak D-line) than Hemingway, who took advantage of Western's weak secondary last week.
I think we have enough threatening weaponry (Koger, Odoms, Grady, and sure-handed Greg Matthews) that we'll be okay in the receiving department.
I'm more worried about whether or not Booboo is 100% to be honest.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
Cissoko is my main concern as well. There isn't a huge dropoff between receivers or runningbacks, but only our 1st string cornerbacks are looking competent right now.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:26 PM ^
If a functioning Cissoko can make it through the ND game, then I will be perfectly happy. Get the young kids from the secondary some experience in the Eastern and Indiana games and find out who can play.
September 12th, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
Missing at least TWO major pieces of our starters may hurt us today unfortunately. When dealing with injuries, PSU has got to love their schedule = Cupcakes you can beat with your JV Team.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
Tate spent a lot less time in the ball game in the second half, whenever Denard was in, he was running it, and whenever Sheridan or Cone come in, you know there will not be a passing game. The coaches were trying to get experience to other players as the win solidified. I think Brian said Tate hit 11 receivers in the game. That is likely to happen again and behind Hemingway you have a herd of receivers ready to compete for a starting spot in the future.
I wouldn't worry too much about the passing game.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
While I see your point, I disagree slightly.
After Hemingway's last reception, Tate went 2 for 4 for 14 yards in the third quarter. The biggest play the offense was able to muster was a 12 yard run by Shaw. We didn't score. The only positive is we had 3 first downs and would have had a TD had there not been a penalty on the offense. Also, Tate hit Koger on his only pass for 20 yards in the fourth quarter.
Hemingway had over 100 yards and 2 TDs. If you think losing that production is not a cause for some concern, you are crazy. While I think the passing game will still be solid, without Hemingway it cannot be exceptional like it was against Western.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:56 PM ^
Stonum has gone from stud to dud it seems, and noone else has stepped up to the plate either; until I see someone who can spread the field like Hemingway does, I see that as a cause for concern. I think we need to be able to use all the weapons at our disposal to spread out the ND defenders.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^
I don't disagree with your statement but I would change the wording a bit. I don't think Stonum s a dud ... he's a true sophomore. Last year was not what we expected but his being a freshman and having threet and sheridan throw the ball can explain some of that. I know he is not the stud we were hoping for but he has time to come into his own. He has the physical skills I just don't know if the mental capacity is there. I don't know though.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
that junior might actually play tomorrow. but as i always say, we'll see
September 11th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
I just don't see how a guy goes from saying "I could have played in the 2nd half" to out after a week to heal up. So, despite all the signs to the contrary since that quote, I'm still hopeful.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:43 PM ^
If you've ever sprained an ankle playing sports you know that you might be able to tough it out for awhile on adrenaline but after that baby swells up the next day and starts to really hurt you aren't doing anything. Hopefully it was a mild sprain. We'll see.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
if he doesn't play but the running game will be what ultimately kills us if that fails. But, no.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
I think there's plenty of targets for Tate. I would like to see the Defense be 100%
September 11th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
I wouldn't blame the passing downturn in the second half on Hemingway leaving. Yes, he may be our best receiver, but it's more likely the fact that we played Cone (0 for 2) and Sheridan (WMU for 2).
Forcier's stats by quarter:
1st: 3 for 5 2 TDs
2nd: 5 for 8 1 TD
3rd: 4 for 6
4th: 1 for 1
Pretty consistent.
Denard's:
1st: 1 for 2
2nd: 1 for 1 1 Rushing TD
3rd: none
4th: 0 for 1
First half, Tate and Denard passed and ran and we scored points. Third quarter, we had two drives. The first one chewed up some yardage till Sheridan threw the INT in the endzone, the second one didn't go very far. By the fourth quarter we were pretty much content to run for 4 yards an attempt all day and let the Cone play some. The only pass Forcier threw in the 4th was the Kroger catch. So, it's not so much that the passing game dropped off as the play calling eased up.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
I can see Kroger giving Weiss headaches all day!
Perhaps we can move Woolfork back to CB.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
but are you referring to TE Kevin Koger, #86?
Or is this a Weis-eats-all grocery chain reference?
September 11th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
but it looks like you missed the joke.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:08 PM ^
like a John Navarre sideline pass.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:19 PM ^
Don't worry; Tacopants caught it.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^
Definitely sarcasm there brah. It is funny though that you missed the woolfork mention while correcting the Kroger.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^
I didn't read the orignal post carefully enough. I read Woolfork as a spelling error, which I try to ignore. But about half the M fans I know refer to #86 as Kroger, so I thought that should be commented upon.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
Nice analysis. The only thing that is skewing the Tate numbers are:
4 for 6 in the third quarter turns into 2 for 4 without Hemingway (aka 2 for 2 with Hemingway) and the 1 for 1 in the fourth was the circus catch by Koger.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
True. I admit it's a small sample to work with. At best, Hemingway leaving happened at the same time Michigan really started dialing things back, so it's hard to say. If Sheridan hadn't taken over that drive in the third, and if Forcier had thrown 8 passes in the forth, and we still got shutout in the second half, then I'd be concerned. As is, not so much. If Michigan had kept its starters in like a SEC team (see: Tennessee and Florida starters turning 30+ point leads into 50+ point leads in the second half) I feel we'd have scored AT LEAST 14 points in the second half and nobody would be talking about a "dropoff", and we wouldn't have to listen to the dimwits who scan the box score and say "WMU beat michigan in the second half, UM sucks!".
September 11th, 2009 at 4:35 PM ^
I was terrified at first, okay, maybe not terrified, but still. However, like some others have said, our run game should carry us in this game so at least we have MinorRAGE back.
As long as Minor and Cissoko are good to go there is no real reason to panic.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:37 PM ^
Maybe this can be Stonum's coming out party ala Mario Manningham? I know Stonum seems to be a lost cause at times, but he obviously has all the physical tools. Perhaps playing ND and seeing an opening for him on the depth chart that he didn't have to earn will make him step up his game. Here's hoping!
September 11th, 2009 at 4:43 PM ^
I am more worried about Hemingway as a player than him being active for this game. This is the second time he was injured already in his college career. Granted, two times is not indicative of a problem. However it is cause for concern. Some guys just have unfortunate luck (see McGuffie).
Hemingway seems like he has the potential to be one of the next great receivers to come out of Michigan and I would hate to see that potential taken by injury.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
I would not be surprised to see Denard getting some of those Hemingway snaps. RR showed last week he will put Denard and Tate on the field at the same time.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^
but putting Denard in for a run/end around what have you is different than Hemingway on the outside being a deep threat
September 11th, 2009 at 5:09 PM ^
True enough unless RR puts Denard in the game on the outside to be a deep threat. Unreasonable?
EDIT. or a bubble screen or anything else RR might have in mind
September 11th, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
good point, I guess I just worry about 1. a QB running deep routes 2. if he really has been at nothing but QB he hasn't learned said routes. But man I do want to see at least one awesome TD run out of him per game haha
September 11th, 2009 at 5:23 PM ^
seeing as denard is a QB and hemingway is a WR. denard doesn't even know the playbook as a QB why would he all of a sudden try to learn the responsibilities of playing WR? no way
September 11th, 2009 at 5:32 PM ^
Agreed. I don't see how our running QB can make up for (or even relate to) our best deep threat in the passing game.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
Denard's first play was not at QB. You do not have to know the entire playbook to run a post pattern. I would hazard a guess, if Denard is lined up wide on one side of the field and Mathews on t'other, ND is much more concerned about Denard.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:50 PM ^
I don't buy this argument at all. Denard is a home run threat on the ground. Tate isn't going to throw a ball 40 yards in the air, have him catch it, and score a TD. Hemingway did this in game 1.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:07 PM ^
It is a question of when not if. You must have missed the Wr/CB camp video of Denard blowing by Corners and catching long passes.
I was of the same opinion as you until the first game. Denard is on a different level talent wise and RR is going to exploit it one way or another. If Tate is going to get most of the snaps at QB then RR is going to use Denard somewhere else.
RR said Denard is too good to redshirt, I don't think any of us would argue with that. The equation is different than I first
thought. Denard is not the X factor, he is the X squared or X cubed factor.
It is going to be a blast enjoying Denard's 3 years in AA.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
i doubt you see denard playing wr tomorrow. he's never played it before so i don't think you want him starting against notre dame, especially when we have other receivers to put out there.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
Good enough. At some point this year you are going to see Denard running a fly pattern. Tis but a question of time.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:50 PM ^
I am worried.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^
Hemingway and Tate seem to click well. Granted Hemingway isn't the only one who knows how to catch but having a talented pair on the field that play well together is always a plus. If Koger doesn't play I'll be extra worried
September 11th, 2009 at 5:14 PM ^
Tate clicked with Roundtree in the Spring Game. Seems to me the kid clicks with anyone who can catch a ball.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^
Does anyone know who got the most practice reps at WR on the first team this week after Matthews? I haven't heard any reports. You would think we would know by now who would be starting if Junior can't make it.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^
in general.
Michigan is comparatively deep at WR and RB, but it sucks that Minor has been so brittle, and that Hemingway has had such bad luck.
What I do like is that other players with mettle are available like Stonum, Odoms, Mathews, Grady and Koger to pick up the slack and make some plays. And they have experience.
But in general Michigan has not been fortunate on the injury front over the past 5 years, and preliminary indication is that despite Barwisian conditioning, injuries are likely to become a big problem this year for the Wolverines, particularly on the defensive line and the defensive secondary.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
Dangit, I thought this was going to be a "Everyone relax, we'll be okay" type of post.
September 12th, 2009 at 1:37 AM ^
Take this for what it's worth, but I talked to one of my boys today (who's on the team) who said Hemingway is out. I'm hoping something changes before tomorrow afternoon, but I was really disappointed to hear this. Don't really have anyone else to really stretch the field like JH.