How much will Derrick Green Improve Next Season?

Offensive line will have to give him opportunities but I think Nussy (he's probably not a fan of that nickname) will greatly impact his improvement as well. There will be NO MOAR 30 for 30s coming out of AA.

I thought Green looked a lot better from the beginning of the year to the end, and I think the same thing about DeVeon Smith...which is why I think all the talk about firing Fred Jackson was stupid. But anyway, Green isn't a guy who can create on his own (and unfortunately we don't have a guy like that), so he's going to produce very little if the offensive line can't step up.

Behind the offensive line we will have, Deveon Smith is by far the better option.  Green needs to improve tremendously.  For how big he is, and the trunks of his legs, he goes down like Justin Fargas.

He needs to lay the wood, not go down on first contact.

Deveon Smith probably is what he is.  Definitely a lower ceiling type guy, but the kid leaves it on the field.  He definitely can break tackles and truck a few defenders.  He has pretty good accelleration but just lacks the top end speed.

FWIW, i never cared much for Green's high school footage.  Never saw why he was a 5*.

And no, Green did not steal by grandmas milk - nothing against him.  Just laying it on the table.

What i personally am excited to see is Drake Johnson, if back healthy.  Talk had him as the clear #2 RB and possible #1 RB before his injury.  Hope he is back healthy.  I would really like to see what he can do.

"we'll see."

Depends a whole lot on the offensive line.  Unless it performs better than last year (with notable departures), I think you could Vulcan-meld Barry Sanders, Jim Brown and Adrain Peterson and still have a pretty rough go of it.   I hope that coaching + experience + improved strength gets us there.  If we have competence along the line, he looked to me like he was coming on pretty nicely at the end of the year.  If he devoted himself to the Stauskas/LeVert "get strong" program, and comes back with a bit less, but better weight, he could very well run for 1,000 yards.

as Kevin Grady was in his 2nd year.

and how hard he works in the off season.

A lot.

So much, man.

Like, you have no idea.

Literally.

much

a lot of people seem down on our RB's.. but we have a handful. and I think at least 2 of them can be very special if the o-line does it's job. Nuss can make a difference as well..

Either way.. the run game can't get any worse. But majority of these linemen and RB's are so young.. hopefully it just gets better with time and the new coordinator.

He seems to be saying the right things in this article. Hopefully he does follow through.

Link

Worst case scenario, he'll only be this good:

 

Green will be a year older and stronger.  So will all of the young players who were pressed into duty on the OL.  The running game will be fine.

He will improve by four.

Magnus how can you judge Drake Johnson when no one has actually seen him play in a live college game?  Have you been to practices and know something we dont?  Now after a serious injury like that im not sure how he will play but I believe he could be perfect for our offense.  I mean hes 6'1 and around 220 lbs and the fastest running back on the team.  As far as Derrick Green,  we all saw him improve once he lost some weight and i think he needs to lose another 5 lbs or so.  Playing at around 225.  I agree with Magnus that hes not the type of runningback who can create things on his own.  The o-line must get some type of consistent push at the snap or were in trouble.  If we were playing today I would start Deveon Smith.  It was really frustrating he didnt get more snaps last year.

36.5% book it

I expect Derrick Green, Deveon Smith, and Drake Johnson will all improve in 2014, because the interior line will improve in 2014.  However, I won't be surprised if two running backs break 1000 yards in 2015.  That is the year our o-line will come of age and it will be glorious to run over Ohio and Sparty d-lines.  Damien Harris, you should take note... 2015 is the year the U. of Michigan o-line becomes elite.

I would love to see a true 1000 yard rusher again....

We had a less than effecient OL, an OC that had a difficult time adjusting to the game at hand and unless we had great OL and superior backs, i.e., Hart, Morris and a couple of others, most of our RBs under Fred's tutelage have not really become greater than average until they've been in the program for a couple of years.                                         ^I'd like to see him play no bigger than 218 to 220 in order to get to the second level at a faster pace.  But I do think if the OC is able to adjust to the game as he sees the defensive game plan unfurl and with expected improvement of the OL, then not only Green but the entire offense should perform at a level we saw in our first two games of last season where we scored 100 points, one against a team with far more experience and blue chippers than we had on ours.'  Additionally, the increase in our defensive experience, especially in the backfield and at lber should give us far more opportunities to move the ball because we should be much more capable of keeping teams who have no business matching us score for score of limiting them to considerablen more three and outs.  If these things aren't realized, look for a meeting not unlike the one between RR and Brandon to occur immediately post season. 

I think DeVeon Smith should be the guy and I think once august rolls around he will be the guy. I just feel as if Smith offers the whole package while Green is a one trick pony so to speak

We need all contributors on hand.  I personally would like to see Green and Smith tandem.  I think Green is the starter, Smith off the bench with some fresh legs and that uncanny ability not to go down.  Think of the 4th Q when the DL and LBs are getting tired and you have to group tackle and horse Smith to the ground.  Tired * 2.

The high point for me was CMU last season when we ran the ball like 9 straight times down the field.  I was so very happy.  Obviously its against a lower caliber defense.  But get 50% of that back which I feel is within reason and we are going to be balanced again on offense.

The team is going to continue to improve even more over the next 2 years as these RBs and OL become seniors.  It looks like Hoke is able to reload, that's very important.  I hope the '15 class shapes up to be solid as well.