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casey hughes

Belated Hello: Casey Hughes Comment Count

Brian

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This one slipped through the cracks as Ace and I discussed the greatest arthropods in the history of baking: Michigan's picked up a frankly bizarre grad transfer, Casey Hughes. Hughes isn't bizarre. Hughes is probably a nice young man. But the circumstances that would take a starting cornerback for Utah and deposit him on a Michigan roster that returns three starter-quality CBs and Ambry Thomas are hard to fathom.

And it does appear that Hughes was one of Utah's preferred starting CBs when healthy. Opponent blogs usually have a clear—and sometimes jaundiced—eye towards guys who have just left the roster, and this was Block U's take on Hughes's spot:

After playing mostly on special teams to start his career, Hughes, one of the fastest players on the team, earned a starting cornerback role in 2017 following the departures of four starters in the secondary. Hughes, a North Las Vegas, Nev. native, recorded 35 tackles and one pass breakup and had two forced fumbles against the Arizona Wildcats that helped Utah secure that win in Tucson, Ariz.

Injuries limited Hughes to end the 2017 season. He missed the game against the Washington Huskies and had to leave the game against the Colorado Buffaloes due to injury, which also kept him out of the Heart of Dallas Bowl win over the West Virginia Mountaineers. Hughes also would have likely been facing stiff competition for playing time as a senior from Jaylon Johnson and Julian Blackmon, a second-team All-Pac-12 selection and Heart of Dallas Bowl MVP.

Hughes was part of an excellent secondary; Utah finished 14th in pass defense to S&P+ despite a pass rush that ranked 94th nationally. His stats are pretty nondescript, but that's often a good thing with cornerbacks. A lack of PBUs is maybe a concern. Michigan's CBs had some pretty absurd tackle/PBU ratios this year:

  • Lavert Hill: 20 tackles, 7 PBUs
  • David Long: 17.5 tackles, 6 PBUs
  • Brandon Watson: 15.5 tackles, 5 PBUs
  • Hughes: 30 tackles, 1 PBU.

Also it does not appear that Pro Football Focus or NFL draftniks had Hughes high on their radar. It's safe to assume that Long and Hill are, or will be, so it's hard to see much playing time open up at the spot Hughes started at last year.

Safety? I'm dubious. Michigan's safety play was okay to good last year and returns both starters and a couple of freshmen who got playing time. For Hughes to get playing time there he'd have to beat those guys out. His best bet might be if Michigan is looking for a slot fade specialist. If he is one, great. Maybe you can see one in here:

But the name that comes most readily to mind is Wayne Lyons.

Comments

Ziff72

January 24th, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^

Just a few things. 

Our defensive back numbers are in line with other top teams.

Last year part of the issue in practice is that there were not enough defensive backs.   Much of the insider buzz we were sold about the passing game and the WR was because they were going against walk ons in practice.   Harbaugh wants people challenged in every rep.   If he never plays but amps up the pressure in practice it's a good thing.  

If guys do get injured would you like to have an experieinced guy available or are you good with a true freshmen playing in a big game?

Stick to trusting the coaches.  

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 9823

dragonchild

January 24th, 2018 at 2:23 PM ^

Not all grad transfers are hole-filling rentals.  Not that I think it's particularly likely, but is there an academic side to the story?  Not sure what his next move is on that front but he's not a "we ain't here to play school" sort, at least at a glance:

The sociology major was a three-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection.

So, try this on for size and try not to laugh.  A fella who's as much using football to get an education as going to school to play football, gets his degree and sees something he likes in Michigan's academic programs.  But he's not done with football either, so he reaches out to our AD and pursues a grad transfer.  Harbaugh and Brown look at the guy's tape, figure he's not a waste of space and go, "Sure."  I mean, there's evidence he's legit good.

But if he wanted PT he wouldn't have even had to leave Utah, let alone join a team that already has good CBs.  As far as Michigan's concerned I think this guy just might be a student who was allowed onto the football team, not the other way around.  I mean, it's possible.

Joined: 10/13/2011

MGoPoints: 60699

AC1997

January 24th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^

I'm confused in general with what the coaches are doing with roster management.  Regardless of whether you think our DBs were great, mediocre, or awful, the fact remains that we return the entire 2-deep at both CB and S.  Then we bring in a recruiting class with FIVE more DBs, fully 25% of the class itself.  And now we bring in a senior transfer?  I don't understand.  

Whether Hughes is better than Watson/Thomas as the nickel or somehow makes a position switch as a senior with a totally new system and takes time from Metellus/Kinnel is only part of the question.  The rest of it is why we have 17 roster spots allocated to 4.5 positions in the lineup when we're more desperate for depth at WR, OL, and DT.  

Maybe there's a flight risk with someone in the secondary.  Maybe Hughes is a stud that we had to take.  I'm not sure.....but it seems odd to me.  I wish him the best and think he'll be a great person to have on the roster....I just wish he was a left-tackle. 

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13785

Ziff72

January 24th, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^

We have the same defensive back numbers as OSU and Alabama.

We are a couple of injuries away from freshmen starting again.  Why not bring in a guy?

We need bodies for practice.   WR need to be going against legit guys not guys from the Chem Lab. 

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 9823

gobluedave

January 24th, 2018 at 1:57 PM ^

Maybe after watching our safties get torched all year trying to cover slots they decided to make an adjustment and play some extra cb's in passing situations. but after watching the stubbornness of this season why would they?

Joined: 08/08/2010

MGoPoints: -99999014

Steve-a-wolverine-o

January 24th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^

If the guy is fast and can tackle, would he be an asset even if just used for special teams? (I’m not saying he won’t play defense, but maybe there is a backup plan for giving him a scholarship if he isn’t a defensive contributor.). Let’s assume the coaches think there are spots open on the roster for next year but don’t have a freshman they like enough to burn a spot and can get that back for the next cycle. But I’m dummm so probably wrong.

Joined: 06/24/2015

MGoPoints: 1668

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

January 24th, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^

The secondary is thin at safety - guess one of the two most important groups for special teams. Hughes can play situational downs and special teams to protect one of the starters and save redshirts on true frosh. His speed will really help with kick/punt coverage teams, he tackles well and his experience will help any ST. Whittingham is a good ST coach as well.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18051

SeattleChris

January 24th, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^

Looks like a solid tackler and a pretty decent cover guy. As others have said if he can bolster our issues on slot fades and saftey/nickel coverage or is a better backup CB than Watson, then its ++, if not, coming from Utah which is a very well-coached team, I'm sure he'll add depth and competitiion which is a net positive.

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 281

Lawyer12

January 24th, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^

Here is an absurd thought; maybe he actually wanted to attend grad school at Michigan and is only secondarily concerned with football.

No, no, I’m sorry. That was a stupid thought. Impossible.

Joined: 12/17/2012

MGoPoints: 3066