Karan Higdon at Senior Bowl practice buzz
I've heard some great things about Karan Higdon this week and how he impressed people who were at the Senior Bowl practices. He showed that he can catch, block and run routes which is something that he wasn't asked to do much at Michigan. Stock is on the upswing for Higdon. He's still a day 3 pick but could sneak into tailend of day 3 due to production, violent running style and big play potential.
Quote from Jeff Risdon who was there had something good to say about Higdon:
"What stood out about the 5-9, 203-pound Wolverine was his work in the passing game in Mobile. That was not something he got much of a chance to show during his time at Michigan, but Higdon looked great catching the ball, protecting the QB and blowing past coverage on wheel routes"
January 26th, 2019 at 3:31 PM ^
They were both exhibitions.
January 26th, 2019 at 3:32 PM ^
The point of the senior bowl is to showcase in front of scouts and NFL people in practices which are more important than the bowl game. They already know what he is as a RB but he showed things that he wasn't asked to do at Michigan which is beneficial to his draft stock.
January 26th, 2019 at 5:28 PM ^
I heard a rumor that it isn’t impossible to play in both games, thus not giving up on your team and also showing off your skills for the senior bowl. I know it’s crazy to play all your games and not sit them out, but players do it all the time. I’ll look into it, but I’m pretty sure showing off his receiving skills at the senior bowl and playing in our actual bowl game are not mutually exclusive
January 26th, 2019 at 9:32 PM ^
The bowl game is almost an essentially an exhibition game and he doesn't want to risk getting hurt like Jaylon Smith or Jake Butt which would kill his draft stock and prevented him from prepping for the draft season. I get his decision which is a 100% business decision
January 26th, 2019 at 11:05 PM ^
So what was the difference between the bowl game and the MSU or OSU game? If you say that the other two games help us win the B10, then you’ve just created an argument that, since OSU is always the last game of the year, if we aren’t playing them with a chance to win the B10, you’re fine with anyone sitting it out. I could even question, if we aren’t going to make the playoffs, why would we even care about winning the B10? In the past, we want to win so we can go to the Rose Bowl, which now is just an exhibition, so why do we care if someone like Higdon plays a couple games against cupcakes, then sits out all other games to save himself for the NFL. Also, if Higdon is so worried about injuring himself playing in that one game, football probably isn’t for him. He should play golf or another non contact sport
January 27th, 2019 at 6:18 AM ^
Bowl game doesn't do much for the team except for a win/loss record at the end of the year while MSU/OSU game are regular season that counts towards a conference record and playoff push. You need both MSU/OSU games to put on game tape for the scouts and NFL personnel people to make an evaluation and playing against top tier competition gives them a good idea of what they're capable of in the next level. Playing against cupcakes won't do it for them. NFL don't care if they skip the bowl game but they do care if you skip the regular season game.
Higdon would not sit out if Michigan is playing in the playoff.
January 27th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^
Bowl game is 3 plus weeks of film, weights, and practice to play Florida and do it the Harbaugh way (which may be excellent for most people.) If you are banged up, then you can rest and prepare for the pro scouts if you think your trajectory is different that that required by the Michigan football program. It is more than one game, it is a month or so. (That said, I would play.)
Or maybe his agent gave him advance in time for Christmas. It is much more than one game.
January 27th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
No, but by skipping the bowl game he gives himself an extra month to work on individual skills like catching the ball, conditioning, footwork, speed, and agility. Things that he can then showcase in this setting.
January 27th, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
So beneficial that he might be taken toward the end of the third day? Arguably you are better off as an undrafted free agent, where you might get a look from multiple teams.
January 26th, 2019 at 5:28 PM ^
The Peach Bowl is very much an exhibition.
January 26th, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
Wish him luck. He turned out to be better than I originally thought, and it's good to hear he's showing some solid hands. He's still probably not a "feature" back, but that term really doesn't apply to the NFL anymore. I figure he'll carve out a spot on a roster if he can block.
It does crack me up when these guys show up at combines and all of a sudden they've shrunk and inch or two and lost or gained a couple of pounds (whichever seems more realistic).
January 26th, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^
I am still pissed at our so-called captain for sitting out
January 26th, 2019 at 5:06 PM ^
He's a smart man. Michigan education. Taking the safer path and a chance for fame and glory. I don't hate him for, what looks like, a really good decision to skip the bowl game.
January 27th, 2019 at 8:57 PM ^
A great man once said "the team the team the team." As a Michigan captain Karan's decision was "me me me."
January 26th, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
Higdon showed this season that’s he’s a terrific blocker, a real growth in his game over last year. It’s not too much of a surprise. Less seen is his passing game work, obviously.
But this is the kind of stuff that happens at the senior bowl, and why he and others play there and not in their bowl games. The goal of the senior bowl is to make an impression on NFL teams. The goal of bowl games is to win the game.
NFL coaches run the teams, the drills are set up for pro scouts, everything. The actual game is much less likely to get one injured because they’re not going to run you into the line 20 times. It’s set up to show off pro skills. And the week of practice is more important than the game.
January 26th, 2019 at 4:05 PM ^
Ada boy Pep.
January 26th, 2019 at 4:22 PM ^
Sounds like a Patriot RB.
January 26th, 2019 at 5:15 PM ^
I picture him in a chiefs uniform but I also think he would excel as a replacement for free agent mark ingram for the saints, who seemed to be used more in between the tackles
January 26th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Is he going to wear a Michigan helmet during the game? Or neutral white?
January 26th, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^
The game is going on right now...and he's wearing the Michigan helmet.
January 26th, 2019 at 6:37 PM ^
As he should be.
January 26th, 2019 at 4:27 PM ^
I hope Karan gets a fat contract and comes to AA and slap all these "hurr durr didnt play bowl game" idiots with a big stack of hundreds.
January 26th, 2019 at 6:29 PM ^
As opposed to the guys who do play in the bowl games and still get fat contracts?
January 26th, 2019 at 9:33 PM ^
As opposed to Jake Butt who lost potential earnings by getting hurt in his final game of his career?
January 27th, 2019 at 7:27 AM ^
And yet still got a "fat contract" and said himself he would still play if he the chance to do it all over
January 27th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
And that’s fine. The point is that it’s Jake Butt’s decision to make in that instance. Just as it is Karan Higdon’s decision to make here.
I’m not going to criticize someone else’s choices on what they feel benefits them and their families the most when there is that much money on the line.
Jake Butt felt his best option was to play in the bowl. Fine. Higdon felt his best option was to prepare for the Senior Bowl. Fine. It’s really that simple.
January 27th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
Didn't Jake collect on an insurance policy as well?
January 26th, 2019 at 9:48 PM ^
I don't make any comments about who does or doesn't play, but if Karan wants to slap me in the hand with a stack of Benjamin's, I'll definitely extend it.
January 26th, 2019 at 4:33 PM ^
someday our coaches will discover wheel routes and bubble screens.....someday.
January 26th, 2019 at 7:43 PM ^
You shut your whore mouth! :)
January 26th, 2019 at 9:51 PM ^
I recall a number of bubble/WR type screens, but I also recall that the receivers didn't necessarily sustain their blocks that well. I expect that to improve and I hope to see more of it with Gattis.
January 27th, 2019 at 10:09 AM ^
I mean half of our passing plays this year were essentially bubble screens...
January 26th, 2019 at 4:34 PM ^
I'm so sick of this entire discussion. "But scouts will be there...practices and drills". Whatever. This game is a joke and he's getting limited carries and certainly nothing to change any perceptions from his previous film.
However, he certainly could have been a team captain and completed the season with his team. There was an opportunity to put up decent numbers (100+ & 1 or 2 TDs) against a top 10 SEC team.
But yeah, exhibition game. What a joke.
Meanwhile, the Duke QB just rushed in a short yardage TD for the North. Great decision, Higdon. Neg away.
January 26th, 2019 at 6:36 PM ^
Yeah, you don't get it. It actually does change the perception from film. That's the point. You don't have to like it, but it's fact.
January 26th, 2019 at 7:01 PM ^
Yep. You don’t get it. “The game,” isn’t where the benefit is. It’s the extra month of preparation solely on individual skills and development and the week of practices in front of NFL scouts.
January 26th, 2019 at 8:24 PM ^
Reality is he doesn't "get it" because the benefit to Higdon is not what concerns him or fans like him.
January 26th, 2019 at 4:50 PM ^
what are these "wheel routes" they speak of?
January 26th, 2019 at 6:38 PM ^
Rewatch the Orange Bowl against FSU - Dalvin Cook ran a few wheel routes.
January 26th, 2019 at 7:46 PM ^
A great unsolved mystery. Maybe why UM can't defend it very well against good teams.
January 26th, 2019 at 5:23 PM ^
Good thing he didn't play in the Peach Bowl so he can protect his career.
Good thing he's playing in the Senior Bowl so he can protect his career.
Am I doing this right?
January 27th, 2019 at 12:26 AM ^
Good one Mineral King.
January 26th, 2019 at 5:34 PM ^
WHO THE FUCK CARES?
January 26th, 2019 at 6:11 PM ^
Spring over-hype in the winter? Well I never...
January 26th, 2019 at 6:35 PM ^
lost interest in him..he let the team down..THERE I said it
January 26th, 2019 at 9:36 PM ^
I'm with you. Shouldn't play in this game if you didn't play in the Bowl game. Pretty disingenuous
January 26th, 2019 at 6:54 PM ^
I’ll be that guy and ask if anything else surfaced re: Karan and his family leaving the program on sour terms with the coaches? I really hate to think that emotions played a major role in sitting out the bowl after grinding for four whole years for the program.
January 26th, 2019 at 9:08 PM ^
Absolutely correct. There was some bad blood at the end.
January 26th, 2019 at 9:58 PM ^
Who’s to blame for that breakdown in the relationship?
January 27th, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
I saw in a Facebook post Karan Sr said it "was a slap in the face" that other players received offensive awards at the banquet instead of Karan Jr.
I don't know if Karan Jr felt as slighted as Karan Sr about this but if so it certainly makes him sound more like a me guy rather than a team guy.
January 26th, 2019 at 8:10 PM ^
I realize this probably means I'm way too selfish, but I can't stand reading:
"Higdon looked great catching the ball, protecting the QB..."
After this season. It's too soon.