Unverified Voracity Goes One On One Comment Count

Brian

Yes. Fun. Annual best CTK is just four minutes of the Michigan drill:


Countdown to Kickoff 2013: Day 21 - The... by mgovideo

Notables:

  • Lewan buries Keith Heitzman on the first rep; Heitzman comes back and does much better against Schofield on the next one. Not entirely unexpected.
  • Rawls absolutely runs over Ross Douglas on a rep, causing both guys to pop up and jut chests at each other threateningly.
  • Washington looks good on both his reps, though he gave some ground on #1.
  • Ross sheds very well on his single rep, as does Jarrod Wilson. Wormley does not and immediately gets a coach in his face repeating "escape, escape, escape" to him.
  • A rather large-looking Mike McCray has interesting reps separated by 30 seconds or so. On the first one, Kyle Bosch drives him way out of the frame. On the second, he dumps Blake Bars to the ground and makes a tackle.
  • Taco stands up Jake Butt, RB darts by, Mattison exclaims "HE WENT OUTSIDE THE CONE" in an effort to claim that one for the D.
  • Strobel does a good job against walk-on Erik Gunderson.
  • Jeremy Jackson locks up Richardson and waltzes him downfeld. Not a huge surprise, but an indicator as to why it's going to be hard for Richardson to get on the field this year.
  • Pipkins wins a rep against Glasgow with authority.

Omar comin'? Frank Clark gets the CTK treatment:


Countdown to Kickoff 2013: Day 22 - Frank Clark by mgovideo

Clark says he'd be competitive with Devin Gardner in a 40 yard dash… but not Denard. He says he 268, not 277, but a CTK a few days later they say he's 274. I dunno, pick one.

Also available: Aaron Wellman may get results, but does he sound like a gravel truck? Maybe a little. Jeremy Jackson's Day 18 is mostly a look into weirdass Navy Seal exercises like "kick a pole and wiggle forward on your butt" and "rub sand on your head." Jake Ryan is running and whatnot.

Hail Brady. Oh man Michigan's head coach has the same opinion on uniformz as sane people do:

"(The uniform issue is) bigger than it should be," Hoke said Monday during a radio interview with FoxSports' Jay Mohr. "But we’re traditional, and we have such a great tradition and legacies, we’re going to be staying pretty much standard.” …

“We had one uniform we wore once that we won’t wear again,” he said. "It’s something that you’re always trying to have that excitement with your kids, and that’s part of it."

Is that the ghost number outfit, the No Rain bumblebee one, or… actually the Sugar Bowl uniforms were hardly different from the usual and fine.

The times, they have changed. Ohio State picks up a 2015 PG commit from AJ Harris, a 5'8" kid who I'd never heard of. A quick check of the UMHoops page for him reveals nothing but a lot of scouting from various AAU tournaments, so that's why: no one had mentioned him in connection with a Michigan offer. This is interesting for a couple reasons:

  1. It likely removes OSU from the Jalen Brunson chase, but Harris is a AAU teammate of Luke Kennard.
  2. Harris's commitment was "shocking" because as of two weeks ago he said Michigan was at the top and he wanted to be Trey Burke.

Harris told Eleven Warriors that "it's true, I did want to hear from Michigan," but Michigan is focused on a half-dozen high profile targets. So… Ohio point guard picks Ohio State because Michigan showed no interest. Remember when the basketball program was 1-6 in the Big Ten? No? I don't either.

Meanwhile in silly things said on the internet:

What could make it sweeter? Beating out Michigan for a prospect that two weeks ago wanted to emulate Trey Burke.

To beat the man, the man has to be in the ring, or at least cognizant of the fact there is a ring.

Booker and Johnson do things. Elsewhere in basketball recruiting news—we are downshifting from occasional roundups as football season starts—Devin Booker releases a top five of Michigan, Kentucky, Michigan State, Missouri, and Florida. The latter two are not reputed to be strong contenders, especially Florida. Booker told Scout that he's set up officials with the other four schools and pull the trigger "whenever I feel whatever schools is right for me" and that he's not even sure he'll visit Florida.

You are rooting for Indiana decommit (and Kentucky legacy) James Blackmon to pick the Wildcats, as they seem to be the biggest threat at the moment. Indiana blog Inside The Hall thinks Blackmon is all but locked up for the Wildcats, so we've got that going for us. The primary way things could go pear-shaped if Blackmon takes Kentucky off the table is if Michigan gets a commit from Trevon Bluiett and Booker looks at Stauskas/Irvin/LeVert/Bluiett as a higher hill to climb than Michigan State's roster.

Also, Ypsi PF Jaylen Johnson, who recently took a visit to Michigan, is profiled by the Louisville paper:

“I love his activity,” Meyer said. “He’s athletic, he’s long, and he’s so active. He’s such an aggressive rebounder, one of those who is always fighting for position early. I love his feel for the game as a rebounder.”

Meyer thinks Johnson will end up at Louisville, so expect him to cut Louisville from his list immediately. YES I AM STILL BITTER.

Finally, touted 2015 PF Carlton Bragg plans a visit:

We talked about it a little,” Graves said. “I think Carlton would be a three, stretch four because he has the jumper to be 6-9 just like a forward that runs the floor, like a hybrid. We haven’t talked x’s and o’s but they can see him in their system, especially with the three’s that they shoot.”

Bragg is open at the moment; Ohio State will be a major player.

They were almost ready to throw in the towel last year. On the OL, that is. Apparently the debate as to whether to redshirt Kyle Kalis was being had within the walls of Schembechler Hall as well as without:

"It sucked," the redshirt freshman offensive lineman said Sunday. "It sucked. So many times, I was close to going in, but they didn't want to burn my redshirt.

"Everyone wants to play, and it sucks (when you don't get to). And I was mad about it."

So many times I was like "why aren't they playing Kalis." At least we know now there was much debate about it.

Prepare for WJC departures. The United States of Hockey handicaps the National Junior Evaluation Camp field, which includes four Michigan forwards. Chris Peters projects that Compher ("One of the better centers for most of the camp… really strong when playing a bottom-six role and playing an aggressive, grinding two-way style") and Copp ("A prime candidate to play the fourth-line shutdown role the U.S. will so badly need to succeed") will make the roster, while Motte and Nieves are question marks. Nieves's evaluation is pretty much the thing:

Nieves is one of those guys where if he finds that missing piece to his game, he could be really good. With size, speed and some truly remarkable puck skills, he’s got a lot of the tools going for him. He just couldn’t seem to finish the play out with the right decision or buy himself time when he needed it. That led to poor shots or turnovers and that’s going to be tough to do at the WJC level. The speed and skills are there, but I think he needs some more work.

Right now he's Milan Gajic, a guy who looks like he's got every skill you could want but doesn't put it together to blow up. He's got some more time to break out of that rut.

Meanwhile, Motte is sounding like something not very much like the midget puck wizard I'd assumed he would be:

Motte showed good quickness and some skill in a solid camp performance. He had some good two-way play and worked really well when playing with Compher and Fasching in the middle parts of the camp.

He might grab a lower-rung spot, especially if the brass thinks his long familiarity with Compher would make a good pairing.

Are they related to Wiz Khalifa? I don't know what this means.

For Gallon, there’s an added bonus there: He and Gardner are extremely tight. “Closer than Phineas and Ferb,” as Gallon puts it.

I am old.

Etc.: Big Ten building spree reaches 1.5 billion dollars. No M-OSU night games on the docket according to Jim Delany. Chengelis wants to futz with the tunnel. Michael Bradley profiled. Penn State fans no likey Hoke after the Wangler decommitment. Moeller and Lou Holtz break down The Catch.

Ondre Pipkins is ready to eat… metaphorically. The center battle should be decided this week.

Comments

tinapolley

August 13th, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^

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PurpleStuff

August 13th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^

I think Ash is a guy who got lost in the shuffle in part because he was hurt all of last year.  He played in the Sugar Bowl, appeared early in the season, contracted a boo-boo, then basically disappeared until the bowl game.  Since he wasn't starting or expected to do much by fans I think folks didn't notice his absence but I imagine he was banged up for most of 2012.  He's still a 4-star guy with plenty of size just going into his junior year.  Wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot more of him going forward than most folks expect.

WolvinLA2

August 13th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^

I'll take it a step further - Phineas and Ferb is awesome. I think it's hilarious. Actual conversation between my wife and me:

WifeinLA: what are you watching?

Me: We're watching Phineas and Ferb.

Her: Charlie went down for a nap 45 minutes ago, and that show's only half an hour long.

Me: Really? Than can I have a beer?

Her: Hope that couch is comfortable.

mGrowOld

August 13th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^

 

"It sucked," the redshirt freshman offensive lineman said Sunday. "It sucked. So many times, I was close to going in, but they didn't want to burn my redshirt.

"Everyone wants to play, and it sucks (when you don't get to). And I was mad about it."

I'm thrilled our coaches had the foresight and guts to hold him out even when the pressure to burn the redshirt must've been intense.  I can't see where his presence would've made THAT much of a difference in our record.

Just ask William Campbell if he'd like to have that 5th year in the program instead of burning his redshirt for no apparent reason as a true Freshman.

PurpleStuff

August 13th, 2013 at 4:19 PM ^

Glad Kalis kept his redshirt, and if we're going to play the hindsight game, Campbell is probably the guy who should have been starting at guard in 2011 and 2012. 

As for burned redshirts, I think Mike Martin could have adequately filled Campbell's role on D if he hadn't lost his 5th year. Craig Roh is another guy who I think is underappreciated and who under normal circumstances would be coming back after two straight seasons as an HM all-conference selection for his senior year.  Hopefully we aren't similarly regretting not getting an extra year from guys like Clark, Pipkins, Ojemudia, etc. down the road.

 

PurpleStuff

August 13th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^

Just pointing out that you almost always want to maintain a guy's eligibility because the tradeoff is stacked in favor of the extra year.  Year 5 of Roh and Martin would have been a lot more valuable than Year 1 was (especially considering the record of those teams).  Similarly, Jake Ryan (like possibly Kalis, and Martin/Roh as you mentioned) probably deserved a place on the field as a true freshman, but I'm glad his eligibility isn't up after this year (time flies).  On the flip side, as exciting as the fumbled snap TD was, it would be nice to have Denard back for another year.

It may be tough some times, but I'd hope any Michigan staff errs on the side of not letting anybody see the field as a true freshman unless they are going to make a super-duper, difference making impact on the field.

 

triangle_M

August 13th, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^

I'd argue that the lower tier performers should see duty on special team and wherever they can make a difference.  I guess it all depends on how many firm handshakes you want to give the fifth years and what the coaches feel that these kids ceilings are.  Maybe that comes across as calculating but recruiting like Hoke and company are, I don't see how turning everyone into fifth year seniors is an advantage at this point.    When the ranks are filled with 4 and 5 star guys it may make more sense.

M-Wolverine

August 14th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^

Players want to play, and know who deserves to play. Now if it's close between a younger guy and an older guy, or it's just garbage time minutes, that's one thing. But if the guy really is the number 2 by a long shot, he deserves to play, and the players know this. If you're starting guys way worse just to save someone for later you're being fair to that player, or to the current team that wants to win as much as it can too. And that's bad for team morale.

In a case like Kalis, he might have been a little bit better, but the experience equalized a lot of the talent, so no big deal. If Green really is the #2 running back you don't keep him on the bench because he could be a monster his senior year. Does back up running back make a super duper difference? I don't know.

Zone Left

August 13th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

I want to know how much Clark was hang cleaning. It looked like a paperweight for him--he wasn't even catching it with his shoulders. Maybe it was a warmup.

CRex

August 13th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

Penn State's fanbase has been pissed off ever since they joined the B1G and instead of Paterno becoming the third great name in B1G coaching, Paterno became the guy who struggled to get by Iowa every year.

So whenever some slight comes up, that one second Carr had put on the clock (never mind Paterno had two seconds put on early in the game), the fact we took Douglas and Wangler from them, etc, they'll nurse that grudge for years.  Plus of course post giant child rape coverup, they're extra bitchy.  Frankly right now there don't seem to be too many rational PSU fans out there, the sane ones are lying low for obvious reasons, leaving the crazies to have a nice echo chamber.  

triangle_M

August 13th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

I work with several PSU alumni.  They all think Paterno and the program got jobbed - which, whatever, I'm not going to argue that one - anyone who payed attention to those Paterno/Sandusky threads knows where I stood on the whole thing.   They are also quite ashamed of it all. 

As far as the fringe on BSD, it seems that everyone else in the B1G wants to forget about Sandusky but they are still holding a grudge.  Must be difficult still clinging to the idea that your program's storied past isn't sullied by pandering to a serial child rapist. 

M-Wolverine

August 13th, 2013 at 3:16 PM ^

They'd be really pissed about Trey Burke if they cared about basketball at all.

(Which is why making fun of OSU getting a moderately rated PG from Ohio who didn't have an offer from the rival school too close to deja vu to get too much glee out of it.)

M-Wolverine

August 13th, 2013 at 3:35 PM ^

it’s easy for us 30-somethings to say this now. However, how was he supposed to know that HypoHoke* was going to offer once he realized Wangler was actually good?

* – HypoHoke refers to Hypocrite Hoke, not Hippopotamus Hoke.

I like to think of it as "hyp-MO-Tize" Hoke, because no player can say no.

 

And shout ouuuuutttttttt-

hypocrisy

I like how Hoke won’t let his committed players visit other schools but has no problem having committed players visit his school. Now I know he is legacy so it is no surprise they offered, but it just seems like a double standard that u hold an 18 yr old to this standard but u aren’t going to do the same. I know it isn’t the same but it still stinks of hypocrisy.

jtothep

Any idea what mgo's hot take on this phenomenon is?

 

jtothetweet 

"Life is life. It's about the people you choose to have around you."-- Quentin Wright, 4x All-American, 3x Finalist, 2x National Champion

Cari Greene

well, Seth apologized to me as soon as they offered him.

 

"Broadcast/journalism was my first degree. Being awesome was the second."--Matt McGloin

Managing Editor for Black Shoe Diaries

jtothep

Haha. I'm glad you all have made a friendship out of that project.

I should’ve specified mgocook in my open wondering…

jtothetweet 

"Life is life. It's about the people you choose to have around you."-- Quentin Wright, 4x All-American, 3x Finalist, 2x National Champion

letsgopsu

he feels superior and entitled

just like always

Never be sorry, Seth.

wile_e8

August 13th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^

My favorite part is the people that suggest Hoke would never had offered if it wasn't for PSU giving him attention and showing that he was a worthy prospect. Yes, legacy recruit, brother already on the team, one of the top players in the state, was totally overlooked until Penn St. gave him attention. That's the ticket.

M-Wolverine

August 13th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^

They had a legacy commit who de-committed from Maryland and that was understandable.

I don't know why the "if you're visiting other schools you're not really committed" thing is so hard for them to figure out. I mean, isn't Wangler an example of why a guy who is taking visits shouldn't be considered committed anymore? It's really easy to figure out.

charblue.

August 13th, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^

I like Chengelis' tunnel wall of recognition idea, though there is a museum and team photographs of all the players in Schembechler Hall. But heck, the tunnel idea is pretty good. I'm sure Brandon will find a way to monetize it into a licensed product. 

If attitude means anything about how you feel a season should go, then I feel really good about this one mainly because the players seem so prepared mentally and physically. So far, so good reading the comments about Pipkins endurance improvements under a new body imaging campaign, the development of the Gallon-Gardner friendship, No. 10's maturity as a contributor and potential big-time B1G star this year, and The Drill, which looked like a Hollywood version of how football is practiced. That was one efficient and fun capsule of internal mayhem rarely ever produced for our benefit. Bottle it. 

Whether Kalis was anxious to perform last year and didn't like not playing, it ought to translate this year into real time commitment into seeing why not playing him was wise or not. At this point, it seems like the best choice was made given how everything turned out.  

CRex

August 13th, 2013 at 2:07 PM ^

I think the decision not to burn the Kalis redshirt last year was the smart one.  Even if you toss in Kalis, you still have significant issues with the other guard and the center.  Better to try to coach up some kind of chemistry with what you have than committing your top recruits in a scattergun style.  You run the risk of Kalis getting frustrated and 2013 being the year the coaches struggle to correct mental issues that evolved during 2012 as opposed to his breakout year.

What is interesting this year is if you burn the Kugler redshirt or that of another interior linemen should one of Braden, Miller, Kalis struggle.  If the other two play well, replacing the third might be worth it.  

Gulo Gulo Luscus

August 13th, 2013 at 2:15 PM ^

Fantastic real football content, yet perhaps the most revealing part of the write-up:

actually the Sugar Bowl uniforms were hardly different from the usual and fine.

Tacit approval of uniformz... say it ain't so, Brian.  GTFOML.

*Full disclosure: I'm not particularly anti-uniformz