WTKA Roundtable 4/19/2018: The One Without Craig Comment Count

Seth

WTKA cover 2018-04-19

Things discussed:

  • Liverpool vs Man U: Meh. It’s a friendly in a World Cup year so they won’t have their best players and won’t care.
  • Shea’s eligibility: Usually the NCAA doesn’t get discovery from a court case but they have it now. If everything goes according to plan it’s Sam’s strong gut feeling that Patterson is a one and done.
  • Sam’s mea culpa: Joe Milton is definitely in the conversation for QB1 in 2019.
  • Football 2018 schedule might be toughest in the country: Crossovers are Wisconsin plus Northwestern and Nebraska on the road.
  • Big Ten West preview: Purdue breakout but Wisconsin still wins the West. Problem with Badgers is Hornibrook throws well into tight windows, will have a pile of All-American linebackers like always.
  • Big Ten East preview: McSorley is a luck guy too because he wins a lot of 50/50 throws but he’s also straight up good—how much does losing Joe Moorhead hurt? MSU: Inviting Reschke back after dude dropped an N-bomb because when you’re already the most despicable athletic department in the country what’s one more locker room distraction? LJ Scott stayed (?!?!?) because he fumbled a lot, but Madre London grad transferred. Maryland: Offense was Texas-beating good until they were playing 5’6” guys and The Bortenschlager.
  • Sam’s mea culpa on Castleton after THIS.
  • Next year C rotation is 60% Teske, 25% Davis, 15% Castleton.
  • X or Z? His dad calls him X. He’s your starter but don’t want him to get 35 minutes a game.
  • Moe a mid-2nd rounder right now. Long term stretch bench guy.

You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream on Podbean.

Segment two is here. Segment three is here.

THE USUAL LINKS

    The one time I want to talk about soccer and you’re peeing in my Cheerios.

    Comments

    O S Who

    April 20th, 2018 at 7:45 AM ^

    I didn’t listen to the podcast - just read the summary, but let’s see Patterson actually perform before we worry about him going pro

    DeepBlueC

    April 20th, 2018 at 7:55 AM ^

    anybody's prediction about a Michigan QB leaving early for the NFL proved out?  Patterson hasn't played a snap against real competition for us, and isn't even eligible to play yet, so Sam may be a wee bit premature.  How about we wait and see how he does with shaky tackles protecting his flanks before we crown him as a star?

    Would be very surprised if Davis is playing 25% of the minutes by the time Big Ten play rolls around.  Castleton is far more athletic right out of the gate, and once he gets his feet under him, he will grab most of the minutes at backup C.  I suspect having Johns as the only big out there will even be a better lineup than one with Davis.  Talent and athleticism overtake experience pretty quickly in college bball.  Just ask Matt Vogrich.

     

    True Blue Grit

    April 20th, 2018 at 8:31 AM ^

    get the gist of what Sam was saying.  He prefaced it by saying IF Patterson has any kind of good year as QB, he will be likely be out of here.  But I agree.  Let's take one step at a time and worry about things like that when we have to.

    I also agree about Castleton.  Especially if he come in and provides some offense right away while Davis is struggling to find the basket.  

    MGoStrength

    April 20th, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^

    But, he hasn't shown that level of play yet from the highlights I've seen to be jumping to the NFL next year. But, if he does that's great for UM. The QB cupboard will hardly be bare in 2019 with Peters in his 4th year, McCaffrey in his 3rd, and Milton in his second. I like those options.

    MNWolverine2

    April 20th, 2018 at 9:18 AM ^

    It's not based on performance.  Patterson is looking to get to the NFL as soon as possible.  Whether he's a 1st or 5th round pick, he doesn't care.  If he starts the entire season this year, he will be off to the NFL, just not interested in 2 more years of college.

    Champeen

    April 20th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^

    Sam needs to pump the brakes on Milton.He sounds ridiculous.

    If how far/tight of a spiral/velocity you throw a ball in practice is the criteria - sure Milton will contend for Heismans. the other 95% of being a QB needs a ton of work, and no, he will no be in serioius talks to start next year unless one of Peters/McCaffery leave.

    Hail-Storm

    April 20th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^

    When Brady beat out Henson, it wasn't because Brady had a better arm or fast release. He won because he was better at staying in the pocket and going through his progressions.  Henson was amazing his Junior year, but he go happy feet in the pocket and would tuck to early in his freshman and sophmore years.

    This is similar to safetey.  Doesn't matter what type of athlete you are if you can't read the play and react.  Kovacs was brilliant as a safety because he was so smart in reading the play.  

    My big hope for Milton is that he gets that confidence in the pocket and can take advantage of his strong arm by getting through his progressions.  Having an offensive line will go a long way here. 

    Gulogulo37

    April 20th, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^

    Anyone else having problems listening to the audio on WTKA's site? It's always been a terrible site. Now it just says to go to Audioboom on their site, but if I click the links it says I don't have permission to listen.

    1VaBlue1

    April 20th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^

    I listen to it through my iPhone, and the only problem I have is that Brian is a soft talker.  He all but whispers sometimes, and is always much softer than everyone else.  So I have to turn it up very loud to hear him, then Sam blows out my eardrums.  I wish that some better leveling could be had, or that Brian would just speak up.

    He's a MAN, Dammit!!!  He's 40!!!  (Or however old he is...)

    CLord

    April 20th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^

    This year we should have the weapons and coaching to be an elite team, but yeah of course, we have the toughest schedule in the country.....

    I'll prognosticate we lose 2 extra games this year than we otherwise would were our schedule merely mortal, and JH will take undeserved heat afterwards when no one remembers the schedule and just focuses on Ws and Ls...

    DeepBlueC

    April 20th, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^

    This year it's the schedule. What will it be next year..too many guys leaving early?

    If you aspire to be an elite program, you can't make excuses forever. At some point, you just have to win, and not wait for that one year every decade where absolutely everything lines up perfectly.

    bronxblue

    April 20th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^

    I am not looking forward to this place having to come to grips with the fact that a pretty good QB from Ole Miss ISN'T the next coming of Tom Brady and Drew Henson with a hint of Drew Brees and Lamar Jackson sprinkled in.

    Mark my words:  Brandon Peters will get a start this year and it won't be because Patterson is ineligible/injured.  He'll just be better.

    WayOfTheRoad

    April 20th, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^

    I don't think Peters starts a game over an eligible and healthy Patterson. That said, I don't get the 1&done Patterson talk as he doesn't look or play like an NFL QB to me. I think he's overrated in that regard but underrated as far as our current QB situation goes. We need him this year. Bad.

    That said, besides a really good deep ball I'm notnsure what he offers an NFL team atm. He's not a big, durable guy so his mobility isn't seen as a great positive. He doesn't have a huge arm but he can throw a football with some zip. Ok. He isn't terribly accurate and if not eligible he'll have about a season of CFB (in a hyperspread system) under his belt. Nothing he did at OM was "OMG he's going to be the top pick one day" stuff. A ton of no-read quick throws and "just make something happen" plays where he'd sit in the pocket for 5-7 seconds, move right, move left, spin back right and run for his life for 2-10 yards. Nothing he did or was asked to do screamed "NFL QB".

    Crush it in a year under Harbaugh? Possibly. Ok. As of the last we saw of him? Not an NFL QB to me.

    bronxblue

    April 20th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^

    I like Sam, but he's definitely looking at Michigan through maize-colored glasses.  Which is fine - that's his job, in part, as part of WTKA.  But there are WAY too many people who just assume a guy who lit up South Alabama and some directional Tennessee school but who struggled mightly against any good defense he saw is going to step right into a new offense on a new team and be significantly better than the guys who have been there for years.

    When I read these practice breakdowns, I always remind myself that the vast majority of people talking to the media work for the team in some capacity.  Yes, there are SOURCES and all that, but few people are going to be brutally honest because it isn't worth the grief and potential loss of access.  So yeah, I'm sure Patterson looks fine out there running with the 2's and running a limited playbook against defenses that he's seen for weeks and aren't going to try to mess with him all that much, and I hope I'm wrong and he's just a genius and figures out this offense immediately and spectacularly.  But all last year we heard that Peters was fighting for the starting spot through camp, then he rather clearly was #3 when the season started and looked like, well, a first-year starter when he got on the field.  A good first-year player, but no second coming.  

    My expectations remains that Patterson will see playing time along with Peters, and one will emerge as the starter as the year ends.  My guess is Patterson wins out because he's a bit better of an athlete, but I'd have liked to see him in spring ball and see how much of his improvisation was warranted and how much was it a guy bugging out and throwing on the run against vanilla defenses.  

    outsidethebox

    April 21st, 2018 at 6:54 AM ^

    Soccer fans should be exicted at the opportunity to see Liverpool vs Man U. The ten worst players for both Liverpool and Man U will be better than the ten best US players-ever. 

    Davis might be the surprise/break-through player next year.