December 3rd, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
Most excellent! The interior OL will remain in good hands...
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
Dare I say we may have a very good offense line next year
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^
Mayfield or Steuber at RT is the only question mark on OL now.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
What about the new guys coming in? No one's job is secure. Most of all hoping Danielson Ike will commit.
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
I sure hope we don't have to start a true freshman at OT.
December 3rd, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
I like Ike too but he needs to spend some time reshaping his body before he is ready.
December 3rd, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^
Rumler!
December 3rd, 2018 at 8:16 PM ^
If Rumler really does go to center, how soon would it be? Meaning, where would it put Cesar Ruiz? RG? Or would Ruiz stay at center for 1 or 2 more years? If so, would Rumler get plugged in developing first at RG?
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^
I think the insider-ish scuttle is Mayfield at LT, Runyan at RT.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
I think it's a bit early for anyone to be doing anything more than projecting at this point, but that would probably make sense, just based upon Mayfield's ceiling.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
Mayfield will be ready to start? You sure? 2 deep yeah maybe. But start?
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
Seems like the staff wanted to secure his RS, which IMO means the difference between him & Steuber was not significant. However, as the younger player, and with another offseason to get stronger I don't think that means the tackle positions are locked down. I wouldn't be surprised to see Mayfield start as our LT and move Runyan to RT and Steuber be the first tackle off the bench...or any combination thereof.
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
Mayfield start at LT? I don't know man. Maybe next year. I can see 2 deep this year at some place on the line.
December 4th, 2018 at 1:24 AM ^
You were the guy talking about starting true freshmen just a couple posts above.
December 4th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
Yeah, it's possible.
But I was talking about Mayfield. I don't know why you can't see that. You made what I said into something else. Why?
My point about Mayfield: if he was near to being a starter he would have been playing instead of Stuber.
December 4th, 2018 at 6:57 PM ^
We've been waiting how many years to say this? 7-8?
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
Dare, dare!
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
This is very on-brand for you.
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
In my country, the Jagger moves got you....
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:03 PM ^
O Line next year is going to feast
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
They're going to have a crucible of a schedule to face. Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn St, Notre Dame, Michigan St, Ohio St. Hope the hold up through that and make it strong to Ohio St.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
Everyone said that this year, too, and aside from ND and OSU, we held up just fine. As I see it:
Wisconsin is what they always are - a well-coached team that is largely made up of middle-end talent and a dominant bell cow RB. We will be the more talented team when we play them, by a large amount. Harbaugh has won almost every single game in which we were the more talented team.
For Iowa, repeat what I just said about Wisconsin, only minus the RB.
Penn State is stocked with talent, but will be breaking in a new QB and may even be breaking in a new coach. If not, then they will be coached by Franklin, which, hahahahaha.
ND - yes, agree. I have no idea who returns / departs from their team, but they are a huge match-up.
Sparty - we've broken through with them and they no longer scare me, other than the potential for cheap shot injury
OSU - /curlsupintofetalposition
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:16 PM ^
MSU could bounce back and be legit good next year. I think they get back most of a very good defense. Presumably they will have Lewerke back and several very good receivers, and you have to believe they will at least fix the running game to be respectable. They will be highly motivated when they play Michigan.
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
Good god, Lewerke still has eligibility? MSU always seems to have a 4 year starter at QB.
December 3rd, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
I know some sparties that read their boards a lot and have concluded that their 1 CB Layne is gonna leave early and that Williams (DT or DE iirc) might follow suit. They think Willikes might even leave. If they even 2 of those 3 including starting safety Willis (SR this year), those are some big loses to make up for them.
December 3rd, 2018 at 6:51 PM ^
I don't think they held up fine at the end of the season. Indiana was closer than expected. And they were outclassed against Ohio St, getting a lot of injuries. Kinda wondering how they will look at the end of next season. That schedule next season might be the toughest schedule I've ever seen for any NCAA team in my life.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
This is great to hear. He seems like a great leader and I would think he will be a team captain next year as well.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
Bueno! Bueno! Bueno! Thank you Mr Bredeson
Based on absolutely nothing... I think the chances are greater than most people do that D. Bush comes back.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:10 PM ^
Many reports have Bush as being a first-rounder...and potentially Top-20.
In the eyes of the NFL, he has nothing left to prove in College.
Whether Bush himself feels the same way, is ultimately the question.
I personally doubt he is back, but remain hopeful.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
I remain hopeful that Bush leaves...football is a brutal sport and there's no need to do it for free if the NFL is willing to pay for your services. Go make us proud in the big leagues!
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^
Hurray for Devin Bush coming back! I consider you to be an "insider," so I'll quote you for my new Michigan sports blog.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:29 PM ^
And you just made that two sources, Marvin. Practically set in stone now.
(clears throat)
Per multiple sources, Devin Bush Jr. to return for his Senior season. Don Brown still seeking message board assistance for help dealing with mesh.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
Not trying to be a dick, but what would make you think that there is a good chance Bush comes back? I know you said based on absolutely nothing, but just confused how one would come to that conclusion.
Like others have mentioned, Bush would be crazy to return to Michigan unless for some reason he grades out of the 1st round which hasn’t happened yet.
I believe at least one of Hill/Long should return; if not both.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
I said 'greater than most'. Most people think there's about 0% chance he comes back. There's a lot of room north of that. I'm up there. I realize Bush is projected to go higher than Chase(after his junior year), but think there's a chance Bush goes the Winovich route and comes back.
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^
In football there isn't a first/second round "cliff" like there is in basketball and contract size is market based, not set on a rookie scale.
So in football, the guys getting drafted top 5 usually make at least twice as much as guys drafted in the 20-30 range on their rookie contracts. It would be unusual for an ILB to move into the top 5, and I agree that he probably can't help his stock further, but there is a ton of value to be had by going from late first round to early first round.
Again, it's not like basketball where the goal is to get into the first round. There's a lot of marginal value to moving up in the first round in football.
There's also personal reasons to come back. Unfinished business. It happens with first rounders (see the Clemson D Line, Jake Long, etc). And you have to think these Michigan players want another crack at ND and OSU at home in a season in which the offense should be really, really good. Hopefully, that's reason enough for a lot of these guys to come back. I don't have a lot of hope that Bush will come back (because again, he's about as high as is reasonable for his position), but hopefully one or both of the corners do come back.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:37 PM ^
If he's a projected first round pick, he needs to declare. He'd have nothing left to prove, as far as the league was concerned.
The only reason he'd stay is if he felt a personal calling to do so. Like one of those "I can't leave w/o beating OSU or winning the Big Ten" kind of things. Would be admirable to say the least, and exciting for the fans, but definitely a risk on his part. Minus a few inches of height, he has everything you look for in today's NFL linebacker.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
Those who stay will be Champions. Bravo Ben
December 3rd, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^
except Chase, and everyone else since 2004
December 4th, 2018 at 7:53 AM ^
Not true! Co-division champions! Woo-hoo!!
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:10 PM ^
Nice! I'm sure we're all hoping we can keep all of our underclassmen. Bush and Gary should go pro, but everyone else could benefit from more seasoning. Hopefully Hill and/or Long stay.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
If Bush does not go pro, it would be the worse career decision he is likely to ever make in his life.
He attends UM, and by definition is too smart not to declare for the draft.
Trust he enjoyed his student life at UM.
Thanks for the amazing on-field effort and wishing him the best throughout his life.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
Don't get me wrong - I would go pro. But if staying at Michigan to complete his degree before entering the NFL is the worst decision he ever makes in his life, he'll live an incredible life.
December 3rd, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
most of these guys take classes during the summer and are on track to graduate in 3
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
EXCELLENT!
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
Two time captain? When's the last time that happened? (@ WD)
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
Bredeson says he assumes Shea Patterson will be back next year. Has high hopes for the offense. Peach Bowl matters ... Says they are tired of losing last game.
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) December 3, 2018
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^
In a contrarian sense, I believe it actually helps us that the defense will not be assumed to be as good next year as this year.
It keeps the defense from being a crutch for the offense.
No more assuming the defense can hold the opposition to 10 first half points while the offense fiddles around with field goals and empty ball control drives.
It's time for the offense to reach its potential and go out and win games on its own. It has the horses to do it now.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:23 PM ^
A similar looking/snail pace offense in 2019 will be a terrible waste of talent and will be the final nail in the coffin for me regarding JH and his ability to use his talent effectively.