Shea!! Please be true!

D-Caff/Milton controversy if Patterson returns.

Patterson returning would be nice. Realy nice.

one section in the sparty article is entitled (yes, in bold type) "who's going to be a dawg this year?"

to which i say...nothing.  except - yeeesh.

I'm going to allow myself the stupidity of already looking at next year because Michigan has a game coming up this week where both teams would just be better off having a bye.

QB: Year 2 Shea >> Year 1 Shea

RB: Probably the most interesting group to me. I think Evans is a good back, but I given that he still doesn't have much of a role on this team I don't think he'll be getting anything other than a plurality of the carries next year. Turner might be ready as an option, but I think the real hope here is that Charbonnet is the real deal at the one position a true freshman can really take over from day one.

Blocky/Catchy: I don't think Gentry has done enough to go pro, but if he gets a 3rd round grade I wouldn't be shocked if he left early. There's plenty of depth there anyway and the one thing really missing is probably an excellent blocker at this position, which he doesn't bring. Overall the group is probably a tick better next year with Gentry back and about even without him.

WR: Everyone back but Perry. I wonder if we see a little more of DPJ in the slot or if Oliver Martin is the one getting almost all the reps there. This group should be the most improved of any unit next year pending health and Shea's return.

O-Line: I don't know how much better this group can really get. Not having a pair of maulers on the right side may hurt. Maybe they would be able to do a little more in the screen game which could play into Evan's strengths if they are more athletic at both tackle spots next year. Could see Runyan moving over to RT if Mayfield breaks out or sticking at LT if Stueber is the better option. Losing Hudson is still confounding and sucks.
 

DE: There's enough bodies here to not have production drop off a cliff, but obviously this group won't be as good as this year. Paye and Hutchinson are good, but like honorable mention All-B1G at best for next year. I don't think Uche can be an every down player, but he will continue to be a terror on passing downs. I'm pretty much writing off Villain ever being a factor, but I hope I'm wrong. Hopefully one of the redshirt or true freshman can play a handful of snaps a game and not get blown off the ball.

DT: Hopefully Soloman is healthy and starts a true break out next year. Dwumfour beefs up a little and is able to hold up on standard downs better. Kemp seems like probably just a steady player that won't give you much more than he has this year. Jeter can hopefully hold up against the run and give you scattered snaps throughout the game. Probably more likely to see Paye bump down and get a few snaps inside than anyone else really cracking the rotation. This is a group where you hope there is solid improvement next year over this year, but I'm thinking it will probably be about the same level of play.

LB: When you lose an All-American obviously things are about to get worse, but there's enough bodies here to get you to 2016 level LB play most likely. Ross can play either spot and Gil seems fine. I don't think Hudson is leaving early at this point. I'd hope Jordan Anthony or Cam McGrone start to push from behind here, but even if they don't this won't be a trouble spot.

CB: I hope both Long and Hill don't leave early because then you have to find an entirely new group of corners. Though what the defense asks of them is not super complicated so it's really just a matter of being athletic enough and then picking the right times to get a little grabby. Ambry Thomas I have full faith in and then you hope one or two guys surface from the rest of the young guys. St-Juste is nearly in Villain territory, but I won't completely discount his chances just yet.

S: Looking at probably similar levels of play next year with Metellus taking a small step forward and Hawkins probably being about on Kinnel's level. Then you just wait to see how long it takes for Dax Hill to start stealing snaps.

Special Teams: Probably remains at this exact level next year, but you know, #collegekickers

Either way this is a pre-season top 10 type of team. I think everyone in the country will rightly give Don Brown the benefit of the doubt going into next year no matter how many starters are back. I think it's probably more of a top 10-15 defense than top 5 like this year, but it won't be noticeable against bad teams. If Shea comes back the offense could legitimately be one of the best in the country. Even if the run game takes a step back you'd be able to pass to set up the run against just about anyone in the country and running back by committee should work just fine even if no one is able to establish themselves as THE guy. Without Patterson the offense may sputter a bit, but it isn't until week 4 that they'll be tested so it shouldn't cost the team any wins.

MSU's basketball program soaks up all the Sparty respekt leaving none for the poor, slighted football team. But the football team is compensated in shoulder chips, so I guess it all works out. 

A long time reader of MGoBlog, I've gone back and forth for well over a month on creating this account to hit send. I happen to be close to the football program (administratively), but I'm not going to act like I'm in Schembechler or on that staff. First off, I have no injury info - I have no idea why the Michigan media and fanbase has been so rabid about injuries and depth charts over the course of the Harbaugh era, but we really don’t get that info. Not even in staff meetings is that info shared - all kinds of issues with sharing a kids private info and with gambling becoming more prevalent, it's even more of a reason not to share any injury info. You all HAVE to let that stuff go.

Sure Harbaugh and a few coaches know, but that’s it. And what’s the incentive of sharing injury info or why is it any of our business? The coaches work with who the trainers say are available, it’s pretty simple. The depth chart stuff we have some access to, but again, there is zero upside to sharing...the entitlement of some folks is annoying.

Second, don’t believe everything you read on here...things change all the time in Schembechler Hall. Have you never felt a little sick, planned to be out only to feel better later in the week? Have you ever been fine and then all of a sudden felt terrible? Some fans act like injury reports only move from OUT to AVAILABLE. No, they’re a lot more fluid, trying to keep track of how 115 kids feel every day is daunting and unnecessary. Let the trainers do that, it’s part of their jobs.

NOTE: Most of this post (including above) was written post-Wisconsin game. At the time, everyone was all pissed about not knowing Gary's status to the point where his mom had to respond (so embarrassing).

I’m responding to this poster in particular (post-PSU...I have no idea who that poster was anymore or what thread it was in) because the PERCEIVED arrogance is overwhelming. “It doesn’t sit well with me?” Well who the F are you?! Why should Harbaugh care how YOU feel or what sits well with you? Then I realized, like Harbaugh - who is often misinterpreted, I’m probably misinterpreting your post. And THAT is what happens on here over and over. Harbaugh is not a great public speaker and doesn’t typically enjoy talking to the media...his answer was basically the standard coachspeak of “you need to go as (the player)” that we hear all the time. Lesson for everyone, take what you hear in a presser with a grain of salt unless you know for a FACT Harbaugh is happy go lucky, which is rare. A lot of head coaches see media as the enemy, they intentionally try to keep info away from them - some (Meyer/Dantonio) more than others (Harbaugh/Franklin).

As for Gary, he injured his shoulder forever ago...do you all not remember freaking out about Tarik Black being hurt before the season, then it was OMG GARY! OMG HIGDON! Well, Rashan elected to play through his injury, but yes...he was really hurt! How do some of you all go through that much emotion and worry before the season and just forget about it all once he misses a game? He’s been playing hurt all year and now, yes, like many NFL players or high level prospects...he’s thinking about his future. That does NOT mean the only route is the Bosa route. It just means he’s going to listen and rest until he’s 100% and then GATA. He loves this team and did you not see him crying after games last year - he wants a piece of what's about to come.

Stop speculating on the games, he’s not going to play PSU and OSU and sit the others, #1, he’s from Jersey, #2, he’ll sit if he’s injured...not to save himself for the Buckeyes. No one, including Rashan knows when he’s going to be 100%, but MSU wasn’t it. Let it go. (post-PSU...the bye week was obviously the goal and all is well!)

Speaking of speculation, yes, Hudson caught us ALL by surprise...but understand, we love to talk about college and we don’t want to pay the players and student this and student that. What if he has normal college student reasons for leaving? Again, only the coaches know why...but I remember in college a friend who seemingly loved college transferred because his girlfriend broke up with him, he became depressed and didn’t want to see her every damn day. Not saying that’s what happen, I AM NOT SPECULATING. My point is, why does it always have to be football reasons (grades and playing time)? - if he’s a normal college kid, why doesn’t he get the benefit of the doubt to transfer for reasons normal college kids transfer?

And lastly, before my update...one that I actually started BEFORE MSU, but elected not to share since I’ve been a lurker for so long...a reminder that players and parents read the stuff you post on here. Rashan’s mom was hurt/pissed that so many people were talking badly about her son and if you think that doesn’t piss off the coaches - it does, so now even less (injury info) will come out. Again, they don’t owe anything, it is not their job to share information just because it is craved at fanatic levels. Does Nick Saban share crazy amounts of info? No. Winning is what matters. Please be responsible in your speculation. (post-PSU...Harbaugh definitely stopped commenting with exception to McCaffrey and I bet a dollar he will not give week-to-week updates).

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Anyway, here’s some info to hopefully help with the speculation (should you choose to believe it).

1. Milton has NOT passed Peters, stop it right there (remember this was post Wisconsin - but it’s still true). Peters is 2b right behind McCaffrey’s 2a. Milton played because it was a blowout and he gets 4 free games. Harbaugh has been frustrated they haven’t been able to play him sooner. The B1G is tough and it’s going to be tough to get him 4 games this season, hopefully more will go like Saturday and you’ll see Milton 3 more times. (post-PSU, again, Peters is the backup now, period - there was all of this speculation at the time because Milton played vs. Wisconsin and Peters didn't).

2. Along those lines, yes, Brandon is on track to graduate early so he could transfer as a redshirt soph. and play 2 years. He’s NOT redshirting this year, he can’t, he already took his redshirt his freshman year. Basically here is what happened…

3. Peters was the #2 QB, he wasn’t 100% early in the year and when we needed a backup, Dylan HAD to play because he was the one who practiced and game-planned as the #2 QB. Well, he obviously played well and by the time Brandon was healthy there was no reason to move him ahead of McCaffrey. We see this happen all the time in sports - it drives me nuts that people think Peters isn’t improved or capable (he is BOTH). Tru Wilson is the #3 because Turner was hurt at the beginning of the year, exact same thing happened. I guess no one cares about Turner because Tru has a cool name and isn’t the QB. But it's literally the exact same situation.

4. The plan was always for Patterson to come for ONE year and then go pro, after this season Peters and McCaffrey would battle for the starting spot and it was assumed that if Dylan won in the spring, Brandon would leave. Milton showed up and inserted himself into the competition, but I don’t think he would’ve beat out either player. He’s still raw and needs one more year ala James Hudson this year on the OL (post-PSU...oops!). Huge upside though.

5. Patterson is playing better and this still could come to form, but Shea really loves this team and I think he’s embracing being a leader - personally, I think unless he has a MONSTER 2nd half of the season, he comes back next year (post-PSU...and this is why I'm posting now, because it's out there). If that happens, Peters likely transfers and McCaffrey is your #2, Milton is your #3 for 2019.

6. Chris Evans is progressing but still not 100% (post-PSU he's much better now than when I originally wrote this), that’s why even though he was playing, he wasn’t running the ball much early on. We need him badly, Karan needs his boy back to help carry some of the load. (Post MSU - this bye week is HUGE for Chris! People forget that he was 1B going into the season - a co-starter with a heap of praise).

7. At WR, for the second year in a row we sorely miss Tarik Black at the WR position (he’s coming back!!!). He’s the most complete WR we have. I actually believe we should move DPJ to the slot next year after Perry leaves so Black, DPJ, and Collins can all play together (post-PSU...we actually saw a glimpse of this in the PSU game!). DPJ is tough, runs great routes, and would MURDER people with the slot fade route. Oliver Martin would come in as the 2nd inside/slot guy. Need to see more from Grant Perry, that said, last week (now 2-3 weeks ago - now 5-6 weeks ago) I read a poster say that he preferred Bell over Perry because “Shea has a better connection with him” or something to that effect. Some folks really need to think and stop being so reactionary. Bell has 3 catches on the year, I believe only one, the big one was from Patterson. Perry has like 5 times that, all from Patterson. WTF are you talking about?! One play and now Ronnie Bell is better than Grant Perry? Yeesh. (This still holds true)

8. Higdon has said repeated “we have the best OL in the country.” I believe we have the best OL COACH in the country, but he’s working his magic with this group. I wanted to post something in the preseason when everyone was getting pissy about John and Juwan starting over Jalen and James. Warriner knows what he’s doing and who should be playing. Now those guys have some chemistry, they’re not sharing reps like they were in fall camp, and now we’re rolling. I still think we need to run right with Mason as a lead blocker more. Together, that right side can be Jake Long dominant, it takes two of them, but Long is the best OL ever...so that’s okay.

9. On DL, we missed Gary big time against Wisconsin, Taylor doesn’t go over 100 if Gary plays...his run stopping his so underrated. (Here’s where I stopped after Wisconsin...the rest is during the post-MSU)

10. Enough on Gary, thanks to Miss Jennifer for setting the record straight. Winovich is playing like a first round talent. So far, this is why you come back for one more year - think of all of the guys on this team who can get a 5th year next year...that said, Uche and Paye, jeez...talk about most improved. Those guys can’t be blocked and they’re speed is benefiting from the attention Chase is getting. Rashan, a bigger body, was always a step late early this year. Those guys are OWNING single man blocking. I expect more of the same. When Gary gets back, they’re really going to be unleashed - like Taco late in the year a few years back.

11. At LB, Bush is such a leader and a captain. Think about this defense as a whole, it doesn’t have Chase’s personality, it has Bush’s...who has some Chase in him, but isn’t full Chase, because no one should ever go full Chase. I actually think that’s why he didn’t get all the votes to be captain, his schtick can feel like a schtick to some and not vibe with some. Let’s be honest, if he played for OSU our fans would hate him, but damn, you’d have to respect him. Bush will be hated by MSU, but in the locker room, everyone loves that man. I hope he comes back just because I think he’ll leave as the best LB in school history. I don’t have millions waiting for me in April. It'll be a matter of money vs. his legacy, does he want to be up there with the Woodson and Long's? If not, we have to wish the man well, he's one hell of a player.

12. Our CBs are blankets, the starters are still trying to hit their full potential but MAN, Brandon Watson (another 5th year) has made up the difference and some. When the coaches talking about getting the young guys some practice, this was a group they want to focus on during the bye week. We have to get those young guys some first team practice reps and then they can get into the game rotation...Ambry did this last year.

13. Ambry, JKP, Sims, Gray are all names that may pop up this week. Aidan Hutchinson, Jordan Anthony and Cam are a few others.

14. On special teams we have to figure out the kicking game, I think we all know that there will be a camp battle this week...we’re back to fall camp. We’ll see who comes out on top. (post-PSU...still TBD, Nordin isn't right, kickers, man)

15. Lastly, the notes about the closeness of this team are all true, this has been the tightest team of the Harbaugh era. A lot of it is because the defense trusts the offense. Speight and O’Korn just weren’t trusted by many - especially on the D, Shea coming in has infused life, but Brandon, Dylan, and Joe have earned trust as well. I think it says something that Chase brought Shea under his wing from day one - as leaders, they have a trust that is special/unique. The mood is completely different and is the reason why I've always felt that this was the year. Never know what's going to happen in that last game of the regular season, but this is our best shot under Harbaugh - no question. You could've said that 2 years ago when that class joined up with the one before it. Last year got them all experience, this year is about the championships (plural). 

Post-PSU: I'm still a little concerned about posting so I will not be following-up in the near future. I'm interested to see how these next two weeks play out. Do we go vanilla and win 28-7, 35-7 type games where starters are playing until a late TD in the 4th? Or do we continue to build momentum and come out and try to blow these teams out and starters can sit the 4th? I know Brian likes vanilla and not showing anything, I wouldn't mind it, but with a QB who's still building chemistry, I really think we have to work on some things...we already know we can hand it to Higdon and Evans 40 times and win. I'd like to see us continue to grow Shea as a passer, JMO.

Go Blue!

osu game - i bet haskins keeps the ball 4-5 times against us.

Isn't McCaffery eligible for a medical redshirt this season?  Or does the injury have to happen in the first 4 games?

Shea coming back would be awesome with a capital A.  He's had a fine season but I feel like he's been gradually easing his way through things and building up his confidence and trust with his receiving targets/OL (and perhaps, the coaching staff).  If he's back a year from now, look out.  Shea throwing to upperclass Black/DPJ/Collins/Gentry would be fun.

Mark Stoops should be on the market pretty soon