Fitz Toussaint Appreciation Thread

Submitted by glewe on

Kid has worked his tail off, but hasn't been able to succeed on the field, and now he's out for an ambiguous (possibly just Hoke saving face) injury. Thanks for your hard work on and off the field. I'm sorry to say that I do not think you were ever destined to succeed in this offensive scheme.

Go ahead and criticize his work on the field as much as you want, but he has worked his butt off for Michigan and done incredibly things here in the past. He takes care of his daughter and gives a shit ton to and for Michigan. He's got real character, passion, and dedication. Glad he's here at Michigan. Three games left!

So here's to Fitz. Thanks.

glewe

November 16th, 2013 at 11:35 PM ^

However, his full quote tells a little differently...

"Fitz had been out most of the week, he did some things on a couple days, but it just wasn't enough," Hoke said. "A little bit injury-related, but a lot of it, too, was 'you've got to practice.' You've got to practice and get timing. And we just didn't think he had enough."

So it's not just the injury. Yes, he may still be our tailback. But he lost PT for things other than injury.

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/11/michigan_starts_derrick_green.html

In reply to by M-Wolverine

glewe

November 16th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^

I guess we're reading the quote a little differently, and I dunno. You're seeing, "He didn't get enough practice [quantitatively]." I'm seeing, "He didn't get enough practice and timing [qualitatively]."

Perhaps mine is the problematic reading. Such is the problem of coach speak!

Muttley

November 17th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^

"Our collective O-Line play sucks and so we're going with the big, cloud-of-dust backs over the smaller home-run potential back."  Of which there hasn't been any of late.

It's a shame that what Fitz brings to the table is of little value when the O-Line is getting massacred.

In reply to by M-Wolverine

somewittyname

November 17th, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^

What if Gallon missed some practice, or Gardner, or Lewan, or Ryan, or Clark? Do you think they wouldn't play? Seems like Hoke would have phrased things differently if he simply wanted to say Fitz couldn't play because of injury.

Swazi

November 17th, 2013 at 1:58 AM ^

I honestly don't believe Brady.  This is coach speak so he doesn't say "Well Fitz has sucked almost all year so we're going to yank him".

Hoke respects his upperclassmen.  He is very Paterno like in his loyalty to them.  But Green and Smith are clearly showng they are better than Fitz right now.

Muttley

November 17th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^

when blocking is poor.  If this was a video game, I would have hit the "swap Green/Smith for Fitz mid-play" button on their big runs.  Fitz might turn those into TDs.

Unfortunately, we've had three games in which the RBs average about 1 yard per carry (when you exclude the sacks).  Green didn't do much better in those games.  But a big back that can get a yard or two extra by moving the pile instead of being stopped dead in his tracks can lead to 3rd and 5 instead of 3rd and 8.  And the odds of converting a 3rd and 5 are better than the odds of converting a 3rd and 8.

It's a shame that what Fitz brings to the table can't be utilized with this level of O-Line play,

Firstbase

November 17th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^

...I have to disagree, too. There's no crying or, thank goodness, equity in football. Objectively putting the best talent on the field is requisite or the integrity and credibility of the game and the coaches are lost.

IMHO, Fitz is serviceable, but in more of a backup role vis-a-vis the other backs on the roster.

At this point in the season, I'd rather see "the gods of thunder" (Green and Smith) on the field gaining experience for next season.

 

gwkrlghl

November 16th, 2013 at 11:38 PM ^

but have to say, the freshmen looked good today. No clue if that's more indicative of them or of Northwestern. Certainly sucks to lose time to some freshmen after putting in work for 4 years

BILG

November 16th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^

Who wouldn't be running in this joke of an offensive scheme.  If the O-line could create holes he would be a good option.  As it is, our freshman backs are just bigger and stronger...so they can just fall forward for positive yardage instead of getting slammed for a two yard loss.  The whole thing is pathetic, but it's kind of the way things are playing out, unfortunately for Fitz.

aiglick

November 16th, 2013 at 11:45 PM ^

Good on Fitz for making it back. Hasn't always worked out but he does give his all like so many other players do.

While I get frustrated with the coaches too they also work hard even if some of their decisions are rightly questioned.

I am definitely feeling a bit more positive right now but that could possibly be because I was lucky to be at the game today with so many of my friends from Michigan.

I still question the coaches but for now we still have some season left. Let's see what the off season brings and hope that our program can continue to keep winning and continue to do it the right way.

Edit: referring to him working hard to make it back to playing this season. I know he didn't play today.

MGJS SuperKick Party

November 16th, 2013 at 11:52 PM ^

Agreed. He is big enough to fall forward when he is hit. That is something we don't have enough of when Fitz is in the game.

While I appreciate everything Fitz has done, I think the way the freshman played today should officially close that chapter of Michigan. I believe being loyal to seniors is important, but you need to put the best players in the game

fukkyt

November 16th, 2013 at 11:57 PM ^

I dont think this game is conclusive that Green & Smith are better than Toussaint at this juncture.  This is Northwestern who is 0-6 in the Big Ten.  It is not like Green & Smith did it against MSU.  I think we shd stick with Toussaint but give more carries to the freshmen.  After all, Toussaint has put his all on the field every single time!

bluesalt

November 17th, 2013 at 1:57 AM ^

He was great in 2011 behind an okay, but not great by Michigan standards, o-line. I doubt Wheatley, Biakabutuka, A-Train, or perry could have done much better the past two years, especially coming off that injury. Kid competed every week. Get over yourself.

white_pony_rocks

November 17th, 2013 at 12:47 AM ^

yes, because football is a game where its more important to make players feel good and reward them for being in the system a long time instead of trying to win games by putting your best players on the field.  if fitz regains his starting job when healthy hoke cares less about winning games than making his players feel good

Mocha Cub

November 17th, 2013 at 8:19 AM ^

He wasn't injured anymore than the normal dinged up type of stuff from getting knocked around in a game. He's saying he's injured to save face. Fitz's time is most likely done as a starter or someone who sees significant playing time. If he was hurt to where he wouldn't play, then why dress him? He was there in case anyone with a heartbeat was hurt and no one was left to play.

jdub55

November 17th, 2013 at 12:07 AM ^

I love Fitz and have been a big supporter, 2011 he looked like the best back we have had in a long while. But honestly, the last 2 years he hasn't really given us anything. I don't know if it was the suspention did some mental stuff or some injuries but he hasn't looked the same even taking into account  the terrible O lines we have had.

It was kinda driving me mad that the coaches have been using him exclusively this year at runningback. I think he was second in the big ten in carries before this week and had 5 times as many carries as all our other running backs combined. Especially strange considering he is coming off a major injury, has taken a beating and doesn't really fit what we are trying to do with the zone stretch.

We really should have been doing a committee all year, I think it would have really helped the running game in a few of those games. I mean has Rawls been hurt? He looked like our best back the first game. Were the freshmen that unprepared? They seemed fine today.

robpollard

November 17th, 2013 at 3:13 AM ^

2012:

MSU (12-10 W) - 10 carries / 52 yards

Minnesota (35-13 W) - 13 carries / 70 yards

Northwestern (38-31 W) - 18 carries / 92 yards

2013:

ND (41-30 W) - 22 carries / 71 yards, plus 1 rec for 31 yards

UConn (24-21 W) - 24 carries / 120 yards, 2 TDs

Indiana (63-47 W) - 32 carries / 151 yards, 4 TDs

Yep. It's like he hasn't even been here.

Meanwhile, go look at Derrick Green's stat line before this game - 10/23, 3/1, 6/21, 8/11, etc. Should we have given up on Green b/c he was posting multiple games where he did nothing, and also was bad at blitz pickups?

Look - Fitz has not been good in multiple games this year running the ball (though a good deal of that has been our bad OL), and he has struggled tremedously in blitz pickups. And I definitely think Green and Smith should get a good percentage, and perhaps the majority of the carries going forward, as we should be looking to develop for next year as much as for this year at this point, as we are out of the B1G race..

But my goodness - with Smith & Green, we racked up a massive 9 pts in regulation. It's not like a rushing problems are fixed.