Which player will benefit the most from Nuss?

Submitted by MGrether on

As we welcome the Age of Nuss, which current player on the roster do you think will benefit the most from him?

My vote: Dennis Norfleet

Yes, Nuss will have a field day with the likes of Gardner, Morris, Chesson and our big TE/WR hybrids... but no one was being overlooked more then Norfleet in last years offense. I can see Nuss finding creative ways of getting Norfleet out into space to create a conundrum for the defense, especially with his electrifying speed. 

Who is your pick and why?

MGoBoard

Mr. Yost

January 11th, 2014 at 9:30 AM ^

Makes sense. He'll have to come along as a true WR though. Which isn't impossible, but we haven't see that as much.

For my money it'll be Chesson on screens with Funch and Darboh (and/or Butt) blocking...or Funchess on the screens. This doesn't tip your hand "SCREEN" every time Norfleet is in the game.

He'd have to take over Dileo's role as a true slot WR. If you think that can happen, then I see where you're going.

For my money, I think Funchess, Darboh and Chesson will be your primary WRs with 1 other guy from 2012 and 1 other guy from 2013 rounding out the group.

Because I think Butt is going to be on the field for the bulk of the snaps and then we have so many #2 TE/H-Back/FB type players that they're going to get snaps as well.

Personally, I don't see Norfleet's role changing that much...but we'll see. I can't wait for Spring Practice just to see who is where and what we're doing.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Mr. Yost

January 11th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^

And I kind of hinted at that combo, but I agree.

I think both will be great in that regard which will be good because it won't tip our hand one way or the other.

I also can't wait to see Darboh. Not in the screen game, but I think he's going to be a great outside WR for Michigan. I think not having him last year was a bigger blow than many realize. Not saying it changes the outcome of games, but we could've definitely used him.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Princetonwolverine

January 11th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^

Okay I'll take the bait.

The first play should be......

A run up the middle for a TD with every defensive player being pancaked. Nothing less will be acceptable.

Joined: 10/10/2010

MGoPoints: 14174

aiglick

January 11th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^

One of Nussmeier's strengths according to Brian is that he's flexible. When he first entered coaching he was in the CFL and with MSU when they were more of a spread team. So he's got some experience with spreading the field out. I think he's definitely been a lot more pro style, which is increasingly becoming a misnomer, throughout his career but that doesn't mean he can't use the players on his roster. As long as he uses constraints and keeps defenses guessing and outsmarts the opposing DC more often then not I'm good with whatever he does. I don't think it's a prerequisite for us to be a spread team but I do think we have to get away from the idea that we are going to out talent everyone going forward. If we want to be a national power again we will need talent but we will need to develop that talent and be smart in how we use that talent in the game plan.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 21563

jethro34

January 11th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^

I'm really interested to see how this works out with Norfleet. Multiple people have mentioned him as a major beneficiary, mostly because Borges refused to use him effectively, but I don't see any Bama comparable that suggests he will be used often. Ironically, the closest comparable Bama had to Norfleet would be Dee Hart (in terms of size and speed comparisons) and he never recorded a reception. If statistics tell a story, his usage was strictly as a runner and only a couple times per game at that. So while I would love to see Nuss take advantage of what he has in Fleet, I'm sadly not seeing evidence. Personally I think (or maybe hope) it's the linemen. If he can call and design plays that utilize where their strengths are as blockers, their confidence and stock could increase while they develop in other areas. Better line play then benefits the entire offense.

Joined: 01/28/2011

MGoPoints: 2366

MGrether

January 11th, 2014 at 9:20 AM ^

In looking not just at Bama, but also at his Washington film, I saw a lot of screen, wheel and crossing routes that would fit someone like 'Fleet. In the Polk highlight film there were a lot of plays that looked like 'Fleet could mimic as well.

I guess that is what excites me about Nuss is that his Washington film looks vastly different from his 'Bama film, and both were record setting in their own rights. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1523

Eskimoan

January 11th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

I think Smith was our most explosive runner last year when he got the chance , and with improved line play, I believe he and Green will be a two headed monster

Joined: 12/11/2011

MGoPoints: 7643

Tagg

January 11th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^

I say that because what ever Al was doing last year wasn't working anyone really but especially Devin save for the Ohio State game. That poor kid got hammered every week so I think Nussmeier will help him out a lot.

Joined: 09/02/2008

MGoPoints: 897

Blarvey

January 11th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^

Jake Butt - I think he is on the field a lot more and gets more looks over the middle and on stuff like delayed seams.

Overall I think he may bring a shot of confidence to everyone, which is probably bigger than any individual leap.

Joined: 11/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3473

Magnus

January 11th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^

From a production standpoint, Nussmeier's tight ends (aside from Austin Sefarian-Jenkins) haven't done a whole lot more than what Butt did in 2013. If Butt had played the entire season in 2013 instead of slowly working his way into the lineup, he would have been right on par with almost anything that Nussmeier's tight ends have done.

In that sense, I don't think Butt will "benefit" from Nussmeier's hiring, because I think he would have been just as productive under Al Borges.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166230

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 11th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^

I can tell you who I WANT to impacted most: the entire OL and TEs, specifically learning how to block. We're going on two years if them not knowing how to block...this needs to be addressed and quickly for any offense to be good.

Joined: 12/29/2010

MGoPoints: 40902

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

January 11th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^

Nuss recruited him at Bama and even mentioned him yesterday. He has to be wondering how Green's talent was so muted in the UM offense. He will clearly focus on developing the inside zone and running downhill from the 1-back set. It's coaching semantics, but Nuss stated his vision yesterday of "tough, physical and explosive". Green has the highest ceiling to achieve that vision - although Smith will match the first 2 aspects immediately - and I would expect Nuss to flat out challenge Green to become the feature back.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18078

Swayze Howell Sheen

January 11th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^

DG DG DG DG DG!

I can't believe more people aren't saying Devin Gardner. 

And then, Shane Morris. 

If this is not true, we'll soon be hearing the same complaints about Nuss that we did about poor old Al.

 

 

Joined: 10/05/2008

MGoPoints: 47232

M.Go.Blue

January 11th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

a player who could benefit as much as anyone else is someone who is fresh on campus. It seems to me like Nuss is comfortable with screens, and though I love the Bayou Sliding Place Kick Holder Dileo, he wasn't the fastest, or quickest. We do however have a freshman on campus with dizzy feet by the name of Freddy Canteen. He has the opportunity to come in and start slot receiver from day one, and he has the athletic ability to make the first guy miss. Hell Nuss might convince G.Matt to let him take the new Ferrari (Jabril Peppers) for a spin.

Joined: 01/12/2011

MGoPoints: 462

Mr Miggle

January 11th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^

Canteen's most praised attribute in every scouting report is his route running. I would think that makes him better suited to playing one of the outside spots. He may well be effective in the slot, and might end up there because of where our other receivers best fit, but I don't think it's his natural position. Funchess and Chesson both seem like good targets for WR screens. We're going to have a very interesting competition at receiver in 2014.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47769

Magnus

January 11th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^

I disagree on Chesson, even though I like him as a player. Chesson has good speed, but he's more of a straight-line player, which isn't the quality you really want in a screen guy. Now Funchess is too, but he's so big that people are going to have a tough time bringing him down when he runs straight into them...so they go low on him, and he jumps over them.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166230

Mr Miggle

January 11th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^

I'll go with the obvious answer. We can hope that a lot of players are going to thrive in the new offense, but Morris should also benefit from his expertise as a QB coach. It's a nice bonus that he's left-handed. I hope the change is good for Gardner too, but going through another transition has its drawbacks.

 

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47769

nappa18

January 11th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^

Of course it's no big deal and it could have been a "typo". Apparently not though. No need to jump all over this poster but it's still true that if you post on this board you should spell the players' names correctly.

Joined: 07/08/2011

MGoPoints: 2762

MgoRayO3313

January 11th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

Under Borges he seemed to get one play outside of special teams. The toss jet sweep. The play looked amazing initially against teams like ND, but by the end if the year had been scouted thoroughly and never had much of a counter.

The play itself is great because if dropped it is a forward pass and therefore incomplete. It was a solid change of pace but became one of the best examples to me at least as to why Al had to go. By the end of the season (I understand in the BBWs bowl it was a watered down offense) but that play had ne'er changed and still had no effective counter play.

Nortfleet can and should be utilized in certain roles. How about a screen game? I know, revolutionary concept, right?

Joined: 11/05/2011

MGoPoints: 1558

MGoblu8

January 11th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^

Ah, which player? 1. Gardner. During his recruitment, I remember reading that after working very hard in the offseason prior to his senior year to improve mechanics and footwork, but by the end of the season many of his old habits had crept back into his game. I think we've seen that he's capable of great things, but really looks rough when pressured and was really sliding as the year progressed (until OSU of course). Hopefully, a renewed energy and more effective blocking can keep him upright and healthy and let him shine for more of the year.he got his ass kicked this year. No QB can succeed like that. 2. Green. If Gardner is more effective, then Green will be and vice versa. When I imagined Green in our offense, I pictured Bama's RBs. While it didn't work out that way this year, there is no one better to help realize that than Nuss.

Joined: 08/19/2010

MGoPoints: 7373

gwkrlghl

January 11th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^

I'm no expert, but it sounds like Nuss' philosophy is going to line up better with what Funk is comfortable with which will hopefuly translate to a quicker learning rate for our young OL

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 72

champswest

January 11th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^

Please, someone explain to me why a left handed QB will benefit more from a left handed OC than a right handed QB will? I am a left handed golfer and I have never found this way of thinking to be true when it comes to coaching, instruction or training.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 25921

akim

January 11th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

seeing as how almost all QBs are right handed I imagine there is some nuance in alignment and rollouts that favor a certain direction.  If there are any advantages in that or in any other areas that right handed QBs haven't experienced in their career then that would be added benefit to talk to someone who has been there before.

Joined: 12/30/2010

MGoPoints: 530

Avon Barksdale

January 11th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^

Justice Hayes. 4th year guy, consensus four star, a Junior, can catch screens, seems to fit a zone blocking scheme well with his agility (if he stays at RB), blocking improved. He's a guy to keep an eye on.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859