Which player will benefit the most from Nuss?
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?
January 11th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
I posted about this topic on TTB a couple days ago:
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2014/01/who-should-be-happysad-about…
January 11th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
Definitely Shane and Devin, but Shane the most because he'll get three years to develop. Jake Locker, AJ Mcarron, Price, and didn't Stanton play for him at MSU?
That is some good QB play
Obviously I think every offensive player will benefit
January 11th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
This board loves the supposed underulilized 'electifying' player, some guy mostly sitting on the bench, whose potential is just waiting to be released by some coach with a special eye for talent, who probably faced the same situation (cue flashback scene). It's the underdog story. It's fans creating their own source of hope. It's a meme based more in movies than real life. Norfleet is just the current incarnation of this meme.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
I'm hoping the O-line will benefit from this, but in the immediate future, I think the QB's are the group that benefits the most.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
Do you think Nuss will keep trying to make Devin a TE or realize the potential he has as an outside receiver and keep him out there? If Jake Butt develops well this offseason as well as AJ Williams do we have enough TEs for his offense that there is more incentive to keep Funchess split out?
January 11th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
Bunting may play THIS year. I see him at least playing as much as Butt did early in the year, which was solid for a true freshman. Then AJ Williams as you mentioned and Jordan Paskorz could return as a RS Senior.
Also Shallman and Hill. Both are H-Back types and Nussmeier uses that type of player instead of a FB (Kerridge and Souma).
I don't see any need to move Funchess back inside, we've got plenty of flexibility there and it's not like blocking was ever his strongsuit as a TE.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
Who's had the most mythical/cult-like hype over the years?
A. Mike Barwis
B. Dennis Norfleet
C. Doug Nussmeier
January 11th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
Both of those guys would fit.
Even moreso than Turner, Cissoko and Dorsey.
Maybe I should've just left it at Nussmeier vs. Barwis for now. Barwis is who I was thinking of when I thought of the question. This hype for an admin/coach definitely hasn't happened since him.
There's no way but down. Hopefully the coming months allow people to settle down and realize it's still a lot of the same players that have to develop and get better.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
Antonio Bass?
January 11th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
At lifting clinics e would give some of our HS guys nicknames while lifting that they absolutely loved. Some guys still go by those nicknames several yeas later. Great guy, especially around young athletes who have never trained as hard as he is willing to push them. I found it amusing because for most it was a real eye-opener.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
I know I was already cheating when u mentioned two guys but a third will be Devin Funchess (and a fourth Jake Butt) the initial, being an outstanding athlete and playmaker for his size. I see him being an all-American if coach Nuss, staff, and teammates can get him to catch both easy and difficult passes on a consistent basis.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^
In addition to those players already on the roster, I am also thinking that Nuss has contacts on the west coast and in the souih due to his two recent stints as OC. I would love to see some southern talent show up at Michigan. The south is a very fertile area for recruting which I wished Michigan tapped more than they do now.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
... but definitely Gardner.
The kid deserves it after all he's been through; he bleeds blue and now I think it's time for him to get his just due.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
Green and Smith will benifit the most. We will have a rb combo like lacy and yeldon, and this year Henry and yeldon. Nuss loves his tandems
January 11th, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
The Team, The Team and The Team.
January 12th, 2014 at 2:18 AM ^
I'd give you some points, had I the power.
January 11th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
This might be, as someone said, the obvious answer. (I'm good at those)
My hope is that development in the QB position will not only benefit Gardner as a player - the team will be in a place where we have a good backup QB at the ready. Then DG won't feel like he has to play with a broken foot to not let the team down.
January 11th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
Devin and Shane obviously. Nussmeier should really help Devin in particularly prep for the NFL and become a more polished passer.
The entire OL will improve, particularly in their ability to handle schemes and blitzes.
Deveon Smith will emerge as the feature power back under Nuss.
January 11th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
I was going to say Gardner, but I have to say its going to be our running backs.
January 11th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
Because Funchess started his career as a tight end does not make him a "WR/TE hybrid." He's just a wide receiver. Period.
January 11th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
The DEFENSE...
...they won't be put on the field with a short field so often and the number of negative plays/turnovers should drop.
January 11th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
I think that's where it has to start. Any OC coaching D1 can dream up the basic running and passing plays.
It seemed like past OL play was "confused" a bit by maybe a scheme change from zone blocking to isolations and mix in the revolving door of trying out different players and perhaps some unreported injuries. My thinking may be oversimplified but if we can select 5 Guys and a basic scheme and stick with this, then we practice over and over against all sorts of defensive alignments we can get some basic production going.
After that I believe things will fall into place. The skills are certainly there for Nuss to keep defenses off balance...which should be the basic goals.
I am personally a fan of using TEs as additional receivers but its also a conundrum in losing a pass blocker. Ideally an offense has an array of plays to keep the defense off balance. Screens and wheels and TE routes are cool with me, when the defense has to start cheating (field position) to stop those, then its time to air one out.
Just to summarize simply, in '13 we could never put that stake in the ground and force a defense to stop a certain type of play until the point where we could take advantage of the way they were forced to adjust. The hype was originally on downhill running, but when the rocket boosters sputtered out on the launchpad there was nothing to fill the void. So back to the start of my post... I think if Nuss can establish that basic OL expertise then it all opens up from there.
January 11th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
Devin, Funchess, Green.
January 11th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
This year: Gardner
Long term: Morris.
Don't know how you could go with a position other than QB. A lot o players will benefit, but a QB will the most as Nuss is OC/QB coach.
EDIT: Didn't see the post above me. That guy is smart though.
January 11th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
Every underperforming position group of our offense, and the players within those position groups, will benefit the most. Bringing in a new OC will obviously cure all that ails UM's offense.
January 11th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
January 11th, 2014 at 6:40 PM ^
Gonna go with Shane Morris. Kid looked sharp. Can't wait to see how he'll look after a couple years of Nussmeier's tutelage.
January 11th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
Having a competent offense will dramatically help DG. Next year, Michigan will improve like Mattison did in his first year. DG will be the beneficiary. We already know DG is a hard worker and very ambitious. Nuss just might help him become an NFL prospect.
Afterward, Nuss will be huge for Shane Morris. Like Stanton and others, Nuss will held Morris achieve his potential.
It will be fun to watch.
January 12th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
For how easily he goes down. If the hope is he can be used on swing passes, end arounds, screens, trick plays, etc. that get 1st downs, then I'm right there with you. If the expectation is that those plays result in long TDs I don't know. I'm not ready to say he's capable of being like Steve Breaston yet.