Da Fino

October 10th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^

Great to hear that he'll be back - very good news.  Tru Wilson is filling in nicely with Evans is out. And a case could be made that he should remain the #2 since he brings a similar running style and seems to be a better blocker than Evans (albeit with a smaller sample size).  

GoBlueInNYC

October 10th, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^

Are their running styles that similar? I know Wilson's on the smaller side, but I don't think of him as a shifty big-play threat like I think of Evans as being. I guess I've kind of thought of Wilson as more Higdon-lite.

Regardless, I do kind of feel like Wilson needs plenty of snaps this weekend, as he does seem to be the best be pass protection out of any of the RBs.

1VaBlue1

October 10th, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^

My take as well.  Wilson is a great blocker, but he's less than Higdon through the line, and two steps behind Evans in the open field.  I almost expect Wilson to be caught from behind, unlike the other two.  I don't mean that in a bad way - he's a really good RB.  Just not as good as Higdon or Evans - especially open field Evans.

And yeah, he needs plenty of snaps.  You know, honestly, I think the team would fare well if both Higdon and Evans were out, because more snaps for both Wilson and Mason.  The current RB group is quite talented!

stephenrjking

October 10th, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^

Higdon is already quite a good blocker. Wilson does not have a similar running style to Evans at all. Evans is not blazing fast, but he's very elusive, and in the open field he is incredibly dangerous. 

When Evans is on the field Michigan doesn't have good blocking from his position, but he basically demands the attention of a linebacker or defensive back when he leaks out of the backfield. What he provides is different from what Wilson provides, and to some extent different from what Higdon provides as well. He's the second guy. 

Wolverine In Iowa 68

October 10th, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^

I could have sworn I read something this morning that said Gary was likely for Saturday, and Dwumfour not so much, but I can't find it again.  Can't even remember what site I saw it on.

 

EDIT:  Found it,  In this article about Chase, Balas states that Gary is expected back, but Dwumfour is banged up, I read that as he's not likely.

https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-wolverines-football-chase-winovich-wants-wisconsin-to-test-him

 

lawlright

October 10th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^

Sure would be nice to know what happened to Dwumfour. Injuries and lack of updates in CFB drive me nuts, especially in this case. Dwumfour looked like he was never touched on the play, yet had to be taken off on a cart on the field. I'm not sure what I think is an acceptable announcement of player injury, but just knowing that his career is or isn't in jeopardy should be an acceptable announcement. Non-contact injuries like that could have been anything to a blown out knee/achilles to a strained/sprained ankle. I guess my point is I'm not asking for details as much as knowing that his overall health and return are likely... Seems like not too much to ask for.

The other thing that is dumb is I watch probably every Monday presser from Harbaugh and the writers never ask, which seems like a simple question to me, "Is <injured player> practicing this week?". Wouldn't that be simple enough of a question for Harbaugh not to give his Brady Hoke-like answer of "he's working through something" and "I'm not a doctor" with his HurrDurr trollface. Every single football player that's went through camp and started/played significantly through 6 games is "working through something" but if they aren't practicing they aren't playing.

Drives me batty... but anyway /endrant

 

EGD

October 10th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^

Kemp is the player I most want to know will be in the lineup Saturday.  As good as Gary is, if he can't go we can count on Paye and Hutchinson.  If Dwumfour is out but we have Kemp, then with him and Marshall we still have two solid 3Ts we can rotate.  

But if Kemp is out then we are probably going to need Dwumfour to play on running downs, and I think Wisconsin could take advantage of that--especially if he's not 100%.  A healthy Kemp enables us to play him and Marshall on standard downs and then bring in Dwumfour (if available) in passing situations.  

stephenrjking

October 10th, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^

Kemp is more important for Wisconsin than Dwumfour. We want everyone healthy we can get, but Kemp is more of an every-down DL at this point, whereas Dwumfour is better in passing downs. Wisconsin will want to run the ball down our throats, and Kemp is a guy that can answer that.

Solomon would be huge, of course. 

1VaBlue1

October 10th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^

I would like to see Evans get some toss sweeps and quick flare passes to get him outside quickly.  Let him use that elusiveness in space - while a LB tries to keep up and forcing the safeties to think a little more.  He won't do much through the middle against Wisconsin's DL and LBs.  But get him out in space?  Yes, please...

NCBlue22

October 10th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^

Time for a well-timed wheel route!  M ran a play against Notre Dame, beginning of 2nd half I believe, where Evans ran a wheel that was covered but Shea hit Nico on a post for a long gain.  Like to see that again.