Who is the starting RB on this team?
In my mind is the most important spring battle, but also the least talked about. Last year the RBs were below average. Michigan's offense got a lot of credit but we never developed a solid run-game from the TBs to complement Denard's runs. I think it really hurt our spread sometimes when defenses could focus in on Denard.
It seems like Shaw and Hopkins fit the best in this new system, along with maybe Fitzgerald if he can stay healthy. I really don't see Vincent Smith getting a bulk of carries in this offense. Nor do I see a freshman coming in to make an immediate impact. Hayes and possibly Rawls will be very very good down the road, but I am not sure if they can play right away. I could be wrong, of course. SDSU had a big time frosh RB, but it's a different league here.
This should be a very interesting position battle, esepcially with the conversion from the spread to the Gulf Coast. And remember that SDSU's offense really opened up this year with the addition of that Freshman RB.
If it's Shaw, Hopkins, and Fitzgerald, who gets the edge? Is it more by committee or does someone seize that job?
EDIT: Consensus is ..... it is WIDE open.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
Shaw will be the starter, Hopkins will be the third down/goal line guy, and Smith will come in for 3 or 4 carries a game, just to be fresh legs. As for Toussaint, I'm not sold, he wasn't very consistent, but that was most likely a result of him being banged up. Toussaint needs to prove himself, it seems.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Toussaint for the win!
January 20th, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
I hope we have someone emerge in this new offense, because that is exactly what was missing the last 3 years.
Someone was always hurt, or no one emerged as an every down back.
That is what fucked RR's system from ever really taking off. Instead of having a Devine/Slaton option at RB, we were forced to use Denard way too much.
Hopefully someone emerges and has a break out year.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
who can consistently get more than one yard on first down and hold on to the ball.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
Soooooo.....not Vincent Smith then?
January 20th, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^
Toussaint! He had 8 carries and 87 yards! He was just always hurt. Hopefully he can rehabilitate this spring.
January 21st, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
... like 60 of those yards came on one carry against bowling green.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
Vincent Smith will surprise.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
Especially after another year to recover from his ACL tear. They say it takes two (years) to really get back. I still can't believe he played last year as effectively as he did, I mean, given that he suffered his injury so late in the prior year vs. OSU...
But yeah, I agree, don't sleep on Smith. I like all our backs in one way or another, and can't wait to see what happens.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
we had one first team all american RB, might as well let him keep up the good work...Denard for heisman!
January 20th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
continued trolling for Cox. You've been wrong about him from day 1 but STILL won't let it go.
Also, I hope Cox never plays a down of football after dancing on RR's grave and publicly calling him DickRod after he was fired. I've never said a personally-negative thing about a current UM player but honestly, fuck that guy.
My money is on Shaw. Senior, speedy, willing to break tackles, no big fumbling issue.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
What was I wrong about? I said I thought he might be Michigan's starter/leading rusher this year, and yeah, I was wrong about that.
Just because he didn't start doesn't mean that he wasn't better than the starter. Unless you're somehow convinced that Vincent Smith is a stud.
That being said, I agree that Cox was a little immature when Rodriguez left. He could have handled it like more of an adult. But I also think he was getting a raw deal, and I don't think one comment from any player would make me wish that player "never plays a down of football." Let's keep things in perspective.
January 20th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^
What was I wrong about .... I was wrong about that.
I think you answered the question for yourself there Magnus.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
I'll take Shaw. He attacked the holes and he can do a little bit of everything. Plus he has lost zero fumbles in his career.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
think it could be one of these three guys,Shaw,Hopkins or Toussaint.GO BLUE!!!
January 20th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
January 20th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
January 20th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
My guess would be Shaw at RB and Hopkins at FB since he's proven to be a fairly good blocker. If Hoke/Borges adapt the offensive system to include a 3 WR instead of a FB then I'd see Shaw/Hopkins/Cox splitting carries.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
I think hopkins will have a breakout year. He won't be starting, i think that goes to shaw. But hopkins and fitz will split time equally after him.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
it will be between shaw, fitz and Hopkins. I really loved what i saw from Hops this year. My one concern is can he catch out of the back field which is a staple of Borges scheme?
Hail to the Victors Valiant!
January 20th, 2011 at 9:24 PM ^
i hope it s fitz touissaint, he seems to be the most complete back if he can stay healthy, at 6-0 and 187 , shaw seems tohave a recievers body. i think i heard fred jackson say fitz reminded him of chris perry. i think.
January 20th, 2011 at 11:02 PM ^
Comparing someone to Chris Perry is a pretty poor endorsement from Fred Jackson. An average endorsement would compare Touissant to Barry Sanders, except shifty, powerful, and fast. I'm not sure what a good one would sound like.
January 20th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
This either means Michigan truly is becoming Notre Dame or Michigan's running back will be divine without having Noel Devine on the roster.
January 20th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
I'd like to see more Cox and Hopkins and less of Smith. FT has yet to prove himself, so I'm looking forward to see him injury free for once. I'm guessing this will be rushing offense by committee again tho.
January 20th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
that's a tough question. I think Fitz will definitely be the small/shifty back of the bunch. I think Cox and Shaw will fight over the power back roll if Cox can keep it together. Unfortunately, I think Hopkins gets the short end of the stick next season. Smith will be last on the depth chart, IMO.
I keep watching Fitz's high school reel and....wow. He's blowing people away, granted its in high school, but the seperation he gets is just phenomenal
January 20th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
That should mean we have a stable of backs that we can rotate in and out. So it may be less important to know who the starter is, but who will get the crunch time carries.
The good thing for Toussaint and Cox is that they're all starting with a clean slate with the new coaching staff, with obvious feedback from Fred Jackson.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
who can make it through fall drills without busting his collarbone or tweaking a hammy or spraining his ankle or blowing out a knee. He may not be the most talented RB, but given the ridiculous attrition we've had over the last three years, that might be the most we can hope for.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^
What has coach Hoke been talking about from the minute he got here? Toughness. Physicality. That means Cox or Hopkins to me. Cox is faster, and more fluid in and out of cuts. Cox is the starter, Hopkins is the short yardage back. Let the others rotate in from time to time, and see who emerges as the #2 guy. I think Fitz wins the "change of pace" back and will be a nice burst of speed to keep opposing teams on their toes.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
Mike Cox will start at RB in the Fall.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
We have votes for 5 RBs in this thread! Someone will have to step up. We have quotes from both Fitz and Cox stating in the old regime they were hoping the coaches would trust them to play. They each had reasons they didn't play.
I'm just glad Denard won't have to carry the load in the Red Zone. Btw Cox, Shaw, Fitz, and Hopkins someone will rise up as the go to back when we need it. It's the official no excuses year for these 4 backs.
January 21st, 2011 at 6:24 AM ^
It will be a fresh start for all concerned and the speed in which they master the new offense plus the willingness to block and the ability to catch a ball out of the backfield without putting them on the carpet may be part of the decision Coach Hoke has to make. ************* ********** come on down.
January 21st, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
Shaw showed some real good toughness this year when he wasn't injured. Key point being when he wasn't injured.
That being said, I would like to see us use our bigger backs this year like Fitz, Hopkins and Cox.
Smith should be in as a third-down back and in special situations. I appreciate his toughness and effort, but we need someone who will break tackles consistently.
January 26th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
of the bigger backs getting more carries this season.
January 26th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
Fitz Toussaint > all others.
January 31st, 2011 at 9:05 AM ^
The reason Smith played is because he put in effort. I cant remember which game it was but he blocked a guy twice his size and got a concussion because of it. You can not argue with that