Let's Stop with the Glasgow / Miller "Panic"
A constant issue I read in articles in print and online is the supposed "panic" we're supposed to have regarding the center position battle. This is my argument in favor of not panicking.
First off, it's August 14th. If you're worried about something like this, get a hobby. Let's talk again on September 1st when we have to data to analyze.
Second, there are certainly untold examples of walk-ons pushing starters that are harbingers of doom (think back to 2008-10). Likewise, there are plenty of situations where walk-ons (not preferred walk-ons like Glasgow) turn into NFL players. The "walk-on challenging the scholarship player" is not a storyline worth worrying about.
Third, your reason not to worry proves itself when you look at this particular position battle. When Glasgow entered the recruiting process, there is a specific reason he only garnered preferred walk-on offers from Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota and NIU (his parents were team doctors at NIU and Kill offered him in the latter two places as a PWO, and maybe the question should be why didn't other Big Ten schools offer this kid once the big boys showed PWO interest?). He only played one year of high school football. He was all-state that year. However, he had previously played basketball (I could insert talk about footwork here) and switched over late.
SO what do we know? He's a great athlete, he started playing late, the programs offering him probably were playing poker, hoping to get a guy into a program without committing a scholarship to him. He's now in his 3rd year in the program (same as Miller), he's played in one game fewer than Miller (5 v. 6), and is sufficiently developed and ready to play.
And don't forget one more thing. He was on scholarship last year and I suspect this year as well. Evidently, this guy is proving his worth.
So my message to you all - get rid of the "walk-on" talk, and don't worry. If Glasgow is playing, choose to view it as him developing in his third year of the program, and beating out a solid alternative, and pretend this is what Jordan Kovacs's career development would've looked like had the program had solid (hell, any) roster alternatives in 2009 and 2010.
I'm now going to watch a replay of the 73-yard rushing TD Berkley Edwards pulled off in last Saturday's scrimmage at TCF Bank Stadium.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
This post is pretty condescending and offers "point counter point" to an issue of panic that is apparently going on in your head more than in any post or article.
This is Michigan and Hoke is a fair coach. The best player will start, work his tail off, and have someone behind him chomping at the bit to take his spot.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
I don't think it bodes particularly well for the center position. We can write essays and a PhD thesis on why we shouldn't worry, but typically when a position is up-for-grabs this late (especially one that was already assumed to be a soft spot) it means nobody is that good there.
I'm going to guess that a lot of our offensive play calling will focus on covering up the center position's deficienies (at least early in the year, maybe all year)
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August 14th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
Walk-ons are walk-ons for a reason. And Glasgow is at least a couple of inches above the ideal height for a guy playing center.
I would compare this to the situations that we have had in the past where scholarship players have been rumored to not be separating themsleves from walk-ons. Examples: Threet vs Sheridan, Mark Moundros being in the mix to play LB in 2010. Technically, you should never panic, but the tea leaves are reading pretty bad on this one.
Even everyone's favorite Michigan walk-on, Jordan Kovacs, was a symptom of a major talent dearth when he started as a freshman.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:21 PM ^
All of those examples were under RR. Hoke has shown a tendency to hype up walk-ons in the preseason, only to go with the scholarship player instead, and it rarely has turned out poorly. Nathan Brink is the biggest examples of a walk on hyped up under Hoke, and not only did he not see much playing time, but the 2011 defensive line turned out just fine.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:44 PM ^
You're right about Brink, but I don't remember him getting talked up as a competitor to the guys who ended up starting. The center position has been giving off bad vibes since the spring. It isn't just what Hoke is saying (which is mostly coachspeak that doesn't offer a lot of valuable information one way or the other.)
August 14th, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^
Here's one example. http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/walk-brink-competing-well-bwc
I remember a couple pressers where Hoke was really pushing Brink as a plausible starter alternative. As I recall, something along the lines of "MIchigan fans will be very happy with Brink's performance this season".
I would feel better about this whole thing if our OL seemed to get coached up to competence the way DL has been, but I think the skill sets and physical requirements are just different.
August 15th, 2013 at 12:47 AM ^
But IIRC, he got hurt, and then more hurt, and then was hurt to the point where he couldn't play football anymore. Take that FWIW.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 1:31 PM ^
General Internet message board posting style tip: don't lead off your OP by insulting the readers and telling them to get a hobby. Especially if you're ironically undermining your own exhortation by obsessively posting about the thing you're telling people not to obsess about.
Separate point: if you're not worried about production at the center position this year, you're crazy. We had a near-identical situation last year: Barnum v. Mealer competing for the spot (actually I think Barnum was thought to be a clear leader, and Mealer starting was more of a surprise). I think Mealer was a walk-on, or at least not 'highly-touted,' neither were experienced at the position, and lo and behold, we couldn't run the ball between the tackles. Granted we're dealing with two entirely different players, so generalizing is probably unfair, but I would argue the center position is the second most important after QB, and having a huge question mark there is pretty disconcerting after what we saw last year.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^
Second, the last time I remember being told not to panic was after the 2009 football season. Then Woolfolk got injured, giving us real reason to panic. So... thanks for provoking my post-traumatic stress disorder, dick.
August 14th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
If we can already panic over 2015 in state recruiting, why not 2013 actual football?
August 14th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
What's not to like about Graham Glasgow who is 6' 6" and 303 lbs? If he's outplaying Miller and gets the starting nod Michigan's offensive line is going to be scarey huge. Kalis will be the "smurf."
August 14th, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
Any walk-on pressing for playing time = good
August 14th, 2013 at 2:11 PM ^
Why do we even bother with scholarship players?
August 14th, 2013 at 2:06 PM ^
my blood pressure a little.
August 14th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
if I had any.
August 14th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^
1. Clay Matthews
2. Jordy Nelson
3. Brandon Burlsworth
4. Karl Mecklenburg
5. Louis Oliver
6. Aeneas Williams
7. Darren Woodson
8. Andre Wadsworth
9. Scott Fujita
10. Santana Moss
11. Gary Brackett
12. Colt Brennan
13. Logan Mankins
To name a few
August 14th, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 5:25 PM ^
I could give you a list 1000x bigger made up of walk-ons who only saw the field due to a lack of depth, and were awful. This sort of ancedotal argument is the same one that people say to defend the "recruiting rankings are useless" view, and it's ridiculous.
August 14th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^
You should have been doing it for months, with a slight break for "Yay Lewan is returning" then back to panic. Because if you're going to worry you should worry that the line has 3 new starters; if you're expecting redshirt freshman Kalis to be senior Hutchinson you'd headed for disappointment. This line is going to struggle some, especially early.
August 14th, 2013 at 7:30 PM ^
I calmly disagree with all three points. See you here post ND. Crow will taste sweet.
Besides the exchange the real performance is going to be a product of teamwork. Whoever snaps will have plenty of other guys who have his back. It's not going to all be on one person's shoulders.
August 14th, 2013 at 9:10 PM ^
August 14th, 2013 at 11:55 PM ^
August 15th, 2013 at 2:44 AM ^
set more realistic expectations for this team. Many have said this is the year we need to win a B1G championship. I think another four loss season is more likely with an overall improvement by season end. We just have too many young talented players without much experience. I think 2016 is the year we explode on to the scene. But I'll be happy watching this group of young players develop even though we will probably lose to ND, NU, MSU and PSU. But we should beat NE and OSU at home. I guess many will not be happy with an 8-4 record but I think Hoke and company does have this team on not only a B1G championship track but a NC track. We just need to patient and wait and watch this team develop!
October 3rd, 2013 at 1:49 AM ^
Can we panic now?