Uh... Exit Kekoa Crawford, Too
[Marc-Gregor Campredon]
It has been pointed out to me that we never officially bon voyaged Kekoa Crawford, who like Kareem Walker was in the Schrodinger transfer box for a few months here. There is still no official announcement but like Tyrone Wheatley Jr he is also not on the roster, so that's good enough.
Crawford came in with a fair amount of hype, just outside of the top 100 on most recruiting sites, and was expected to emerge into a starter last year. He did, sort of, but after a bunch of drops and bad routes he receded into the background even after Tarik Black's injury. Michigan started throwing fades at Eddie McDoom. That's how bad it was.
Crawford's disappointing year has apparently resulted in his departure from the program, which may have happened as far back as spring. He was conspicuously absent from press conference discussions when not one but two walk-ons (Nate Schoenle and Jake McCurry) were drawing mention. Whether that meant he wasn't participating or had just been passed is unknown. Given last year you can't rule out the latter.
Crawford's departure probably impacts the two-deep, which is set to have some combination of the three second-year players (Black, DPJ, and Nico Collins) who are certainly outside guys but doesn't have a certain #4. It could be fellow 2017 recruit Oliver Martin; it could be one of the walk-ons. That's not a ton of depth. Grant Perry and McDoom are slots and slots only. Maybe Zach Gentry could pick up some WR snaps?
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:34 PM ^
I'm just sitting here waiting for everyone's favorite roster overreaction post
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^
You know, at some point Harbaugh might want to hire someone who can count when it comes to roster management. There are 16 DBs on scholarship and now just 7 WRs. I know that the DBs have one more position to fill, but that ratio still doesn't make a ton of sense.
***EDIT***
You know, since the voting isn't working, instead of being lazy and just hitting a button that does nothing, perhaps people could start conversing instead. It might actually get this place back to what is used to be when people actually shared their opinions and had conversations instead of trolled for votes.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
He also landed the best WR haul in memory at that position just a year ago so I'm not too concerned.. not to mention he's got this transfer along with Amhir Mitchell's, and Brad Hawkins is now on defense. And Hoke did a horrible job recruiting the position too, leaving the cupboard quite empty when he arrived.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
Hey look! We have an Edit button now! Mgoblog 3.0 really coming together.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
I was amazed too.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
The cupboard being empty seems like a hell of a reason to bump the numbers up. I also didn't say anything negative about last year's class of WR. Just that the ratio of two positions that require a lot of bodies seems flawed.
I dont think we need to bump the numbers up, at first it may seem lopsided. But taking 4 WRs (Johnson, Mitchell, McDoom, Crawford) then 5 WRs (DPJ, Black, Collins, Martin, Hawkins) in back to back classes seriously hurt recruiting in the 2018 class. I don't think taking more WRs is the answer. 4 and 5 star guys want to feel like they are going to get the ball, having less WRs actually helps recruiting.
Also as many have noted you actually need more DBs, since you generally have twice as many on the field and DB is more physically taxing than WR. Corners get tired faster than WRs because they constantly have to follow the WR around and the WRs generally get that extra gear when they feel like they have a chance to get the ball.
One year of elite recruiting a position isn't good enough. Freshman wide receivers are bad. If DPJ and Tarik Black are great and leave for the NFL we are still fucked after next year because in the last two classes we have no great receiving recruits. And god forbid there are injuries too. Winning a championship isn't just about having elite starters, its about having elite depth. That is why the blue chip ratio matters, its why Michigan has better title odds than michigan state and wisconsin.
19 recruiting is far from over. It's possible Harbaugh has a trick or two in mind for the incoming class.
Need to have some of that talent make an impact though.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
Every contributing WR other than Perry will be here at least another 2 years, and we rarely use more than 2 WRs at once (Harbaugh likes to use RBs and TEs in his "spread" formations). We have some upperclassman DBs, our base defense uses 5 DBs, and we sometimes use 6.
It makes perfect sense that we have roughly 2x as many rostered DBs as WRs.
I can't get the search function to work, so I can't find the post that examined all the lineups, but I'm remembering it differently than you. I thought it was only 5 DBs as the majority if you counted the Viper spot, which I and the Depth Chart by Class don't. And that snaps were still weighted a bit towards 3 WR over 2 WR.
4.5 DBs on the field every snap on defense (Viper being half S/half LB).
2 WRs on the field most snaps on offense. Sometimes 3, but that 3rd can be supplemented by RBs/WR types and Flex TEs. Seems we've gotten lucky with the Schoenle and McCurrys too, which gives us a cushion.
Lucky with the walk-ons? Those guys haven't actually done anything except garner practice hype.
August 6th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
Light production, but something. Schoenle had 4 catches for 41 yards last season, compared to Collins 3 catches for 27 yards. RS Freshman Walk-on vs. Scholarship Freshman, but still. Schoenle has proven to be a fine 5th/6th receiver, which exceeds expectation of any walk-on imo. McCurry, tbd.
The complaint is that we only have 7 scholarship receivers. I would say Schoenle has strengthened our WR depth, which is lucky/unexpected.
I agree it seems a little lopsided at first glance. Does anyone have any numbers on other rosters? I tried to look over MSU's roster quickly but I don't know which players are walk-ons or scholarship, other than the obvious ones.
First thing that came to my mind on why JH might go this route is he offsets the numbers with the TE group more than most schools.
I understood the lack of going after a lot of WRs last class but hope they can get a couple more this class (they are in on some top guys) since it seems unlikely all four from 2016 complete their eligibility here.
Let me help you out.
A minimum of 4 DBs are on the field, often 5. They cover not just WRs, but TEs. So their numbers should be compared to all receivers, not just WRs.
Even then, Michigan never plays 5 WR/TEs at once. It's often 4, often 3. Being weighted a bit towards DBs makes sense then, doesn't it?
There are 16 DBs and 13 receivers and two more receivers departed after the roster was filled. There is also a returning walkon who got snaps at WR and an incoming player listed at athlete who may play in the slot.
Exactly, who looks at this roster and says we need more offensive pass catchers?
DPJ, Black, Collins, Perry, Martin, McDoom, Evans, McKeon, Gentry, Eubanks... At most 5 of those guys can play at once. Likely 4, or 3 if Higdon and a FB are on the field. Even with Wheatley and Crawford gone, I'm not sure there's enough snaps to go around... Not to mention 6 OL and freshmen you want to get snaps.
edit: because I can
There are always at least 4 DBs on the field and sometimes 5. We often use two TEs or a fullback, meaning there are only 2 WR on the field at times. And as some have said, some of our TEs or RBs can split out as WRs so we definitely need more DBs, by a large margin. That’s also a more physical position so risk of injury is higher.
you say you want conversation, but you start out with a dumb remark as if you are the only smart one in the room and question the head coaches ability to manage a roster. so my question to you, mister conversation, would be what are your qualifications for recognizing and fixing roster imbalances?
Then it devolves into,this pissant snarky shit from 3000+ pointers. “Mr conversation” - did you have nice hearty chuckle at the keyboard after that one? You really crack yourself up sometimes ey Mr Snarky? (Cool, huh?)
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
This one caught me off guard because it was another exit post. It took a second or two before I realized that I knew he was gone a couple months ago.
I had a very similar "What in the heck?!" moment at first as well, which was quickly followed up with "Oh yeah, this happened a while ago." I am disappointed in the news, however, because I remember the hype surrounding him when he entered the program.
August 4th, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
I remember the hype surrounding him when he entered the program
The production of 90% of recruits never match the hype that surrounds them.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:44 PM ^
It's surprising that we haven't heard where he is going. It's late to catch on with a P5 team, so maybe he's going the same JC route as Walker. Or maybe he's moving on with his life.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^
Shame to see him go. Hope he does well elsewhere.
Kudos on the Schrodinger's reference. Smartest blog out there (or at least the only one I consistently read).
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
This surprises me. I mean I knew about it months ago but him transferring in general. I had high hopes when he committed. And even though they brought in a monster WR class 2 years ago he would still have the most experience out of the outside guys. He was a willing blocker. Just seems like he would not have lost enough snaps to warrant a transfer.
Best of luck to him.
August 3rd, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
Not just Gentry, a healthy Eubanks is a better deep threat than Crawford. There are plenty of parts to provide matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
Additionally, there was something posted here that indicated Eubanks may be the best blocking TE on the roster. If he keeps his speed after bulking up it will be amazing to have a blocking TE who doesn't indicate run when he's on the field.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Eubanks play this season.
I can just see a double TE formation with him and Gentry. Moving them around pre-snap would cause more problems.
I find it extremely hard to believe he is a better blocker than McKeon - i personally really like McKeon as our #1 TE. He has the best hands and can block the best. Gentry gets the nod as a strict big play TE, but McKeon is Jake Butt 2.0
Don't forget fades to McDoom.
Not having much WR coaching probably hurt him.
I hear there's a WR Coach with both SEC and B1G experience available...
Lol.... I can’t give this a thumbs up (wife beater isn’t something to upvote) but I did chuckle.
I think Schoenle and McCurry are going to contribute and fans will be pleased. There are plenty of pieces and Gentry and McKeon both lined up in receiver positions last year, as did Eubanks.
I loved that wide-receiver class with him McDoom and Nate Johnson when they signed. Shows how much i know.
You are nowhere near alone. But I wish we could archive posts like these in an accessible folder to show anybody who stresses about recruiting. It's such a crapshoot.
Now that the dust has settled and we see who is back on the roster and who isn't, what size of recruiting class are we looking at for 2019 assuming no one else leaves the team during the season?
All 3 of these recent farewells were expected (although UMBig11 didn't divulge the identity of TW when he told us there was a 3rd departure looming). I believe it puts us at 21-23.
Does Brad Hawkins move back to WR? I haven't paid much attention to roster attrition so I'm assuming he's still on the roster.
Partridge said Hawkins was their best safety over the last four practices. I don't know what significance that holds, but it sounds like he's making progress after getting moved around.
Doesn't sounds like it. He is currently at the "rover" safety position and was graded out as the best Safety the last 4 practices of camp AFTER being injured for a big chunk of camp. I don't think they want to remove him from Safety. Besides, the staff likely knew about Crawford at this time and did not move him, so I would be shocked if it happens.
Edit(!): Props to Mr. Miggle. Beat me to the punch.
"Not a ton of depth" is not a phrase I expected to hear about our receiving corps after the 2017 haul came in. Stay healthy, dudes.
Yet another west coast player to burn out and leave... Doesn't seem too productive for the staff to spend time on west coast when they all transfer back.. Asiasi and now Crawford....
And another thought...now that Wheatley is leaving,maybe we should cut back on the legacies too..not one has done well... Runyan might be the first .
Plus that Brady guy. He never amounted to much either.
This may be too controversial of a hot take but here goes. I think it's too early to give up on Hutchinson.
Yet another and yet he's only the 2nd? Lol OK dude. Also, IIRC Asiasi had some family issue.
I guess we’ll just have to make do and limp along with Black, DPJ, and Collins on the outside.
Wish he had been able to stick it out just because of the name - Kekoa!
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