This Week's Obsession: 2020 Will Thank You
[Eric Upchurch]
The question:
Which freshmen do you NOT want to see burn their redshirts on Saturday?
The responses:
BiSB: The blindingly obvious answer is Brandon Peters, so I'm assuming we won't spend much time on him.
As far as players who might actually play, I'll go with Josh Uche. Sure, Michigan needs to develop linebacker depth in a big damn hurry. And sure, Uche is a crazy athlete and has serious upside as an outside linebacker or weakside end. But he's skinny. Really skinny. He's listed at 6'3", 217 pounds. Remember how we all thought James Ross was too small as a freshman? He was 6'1", 225 pounds. But if Michigan wants some depth at SAM behind Peppers that brings some of the same pass rush and above-average athleticism, Uche might be it. He might be a fun toy to bring unholy brimstone off the edge, but I think an apprenticeship/eat-all-the-sandwiches year would be more valuable.
[Ace is typing]
[Hit THE JUMP to see who wants to redshirt Rashan Gary.]
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Brian: The answer here is always going to be a raw player with high upside who isn't needed next year. Sean McKeon fits the bill. McKeon is an extremely athletic tight end with four guys ahead of him on the depth chart. He enrolled early and there's been considerable talk about him playing, so this isn't me making the bold call that Nick Eubanks should redshirt. He could play. He shouldn't.
He wouldn't help this year, he won't be in the top three next year—don't forget about Zach Gentry—and you might really want that fifth year down the road.
Note that much of my usual redshirt zealotry does not apply this year because Michigan needs a ton of answers for 2017. I will not complain about any DBs or LBs playing. I'd like to get one of the WRs a redshirt but won't stress if it doesn't happen.
[Ace stops typing. Starts typing again]
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David: I would be happy if Michael Onwenu is able to redshirt, especially given the chatter about OL injuries/competition...and the fact the Bredeson will most likely play, this season.
[Bill Rapai]
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Ace: [starts over]
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Seth: I'm generally in favor of ALL THE REDSHIRTS but this year is special in that:
1. It's a peak year. When you have Lewis and Peppers and Wormley and Butt and Gary and all these other guys on campus at the same time you can mortgage some future to maximize the now.
2. Michigan is going to be very young next year with two huge classes between two small ones so some spacing out will be necessary. They don't need to have 58 freshman next year.
3. A lot of these guys are going to start next year. If Devin Gil or Josh Metellus looks like the 2nd or 3rd linebacker/safety in 2017, might as well get him as much experience as possible.
I'd really don't want to see any more DL than Gary though. The forgettable Ron Johnson may be forgotten about for now. Kemp is probably much further along but there are few guys who can do what he can who already took redshirts. And Dwumfour is a guy you unwrap in a few years.
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[Aaron Bills]
Ace: The players I feel strongly about that aren’t obvious redshirts have already been covered, so I’ll mention a guy I’m genuinely torn on. LaVert Hill has a very good chance of starting in 2017, and for that reason there’s a good chance he sees the field this year. It’s reasonable to get him out there in garbage time this year so he’s more comfortable when he’s called upon to play a much bigger role next year.
At the same time, he’s not David Long; he’s got a lot to work on, especially in getting more consistent from snap to snap, before he’s ready to see significant time on the field. There’s a part of me that really wouldn’t mind seeing Long and Hill get a year of separation so Michigan isn't facing the same situation they’re going to face in 2017: replacing both starting corners at once. I’m not sure how much value garbage-time snaps against this slate of non-conference opponents (or, like, Rutgers) is going to provide over simply practicing against Michigan’s elite group of receivers this year. While Long is a guy who seems destined for the NFL in four years at most, Hill isn’t an NFL prototype; I could see us really wishing he had a fifth year if it takes him a little while to work out some of the issues he had in high school.
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Adam: I think we're pretty unanimous in that there's no Dymonte Thomas-level freakout coming if someone isn't redshirted this year, but it'd be nice to get one on Carlo Kemp. If he spends the year bulking up he could move to Anchor (SDE), which is a boon to the depth chart. Next year that position will feature Rashan Gary, Lawrence Marshall, and maaaaybe Shelton Johnson (he's listed at 212 lbs on the roster) with no current commits slated to step in there. A redshirt gives Kemp time to learn another new position (he bounced between DL and LB in spring) and spaces guys out on the depth chart so that Michigan has an experienced starter for two seasons post-Gary.
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Seth: Hill is a good answer Ace but one thing to consider is for the moment at least Michigan is the only non-spread team in its division and isn't itself a spread team. Nickel snaps in garbage time against all those slot bugs would be valuable experience for him next year.
Washington exists or Michigan would have no choice, but even so I can't think of the last time Michigan's 6th corner got a redshirt, and my memory extends back to when split backs was a common formation. So I agree with you but I don't think it is likely.
Ace: There’s another reason I think they can redshirt him: while your memory extends back to when pro-style was the norm, those defenses didn’t have safeties or linebackers you could put in man coverage and feel comfortable. That’s not the case with this team. I’d rather see Kinnel out there as an extra DB in a dime package.
Brian: Yeah, Michigan's got six guys who are CB enough: Lewis, Clark, Stribling, Peppers, Long, and Watson.
BiSB: And for the extra DB-type objects, you still have Kinnel and Khaleke Hudson (who no one wants to see redshirt).
Ace: I also don’t see Hill as much of a nickel. He didn’t stand out to me in run support. I think he’s destined for the outside. Where Michigan has plenty of depth this year.
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BiSB: So, Rashan Gary plays, yes? And we're good with that?
: Defensive linemen need seasoning. If there's injuries maybe but I'd wait till the Big Ten season to see if he's even needed.
: Yeah. In fact every freshman should redshirt to adjust to college life and focus on their academics. Oh right, nobody but Penn State cares about academics.
: Verily, the brah should sit, brah.
: I will concur with this assessment as part of my diabolical plot to convince Michigan to sit this biological freak when they play their biggest rival. And it will work too, or my name's not Wes Lunt, the Half-Mike Gundy Half-Hyperintelligent Duck That Secretly Runs Illinois!
: A redshirt would help him…: MOVE OVER TERRY BRO I'M THE STARTER. I beat Ohio State brooooooo!!!! Also who you calling "brah" spray-tan Jersey Brah? Little sister gonna get murdered in the REAL Big House, which is WAAAAYY taller than their Little $ister House. See what I did there bro? That's a dollah sign instead of an 'S' AND I called them little sister. That's why I'm the starter. 12-0 Go Green!
: I say play him. The more receivers they give me the better.
: Dude, he's not even on your team.
: He's wearing a #3. They don't let guys wear #3 on defense.
: Oh by all means play him. Then I'll lead us through the playo—
September 1st, 2016 at 12:09 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 12:12 PM ^
I wouldn't mind if Peters played. With McCaffrey coming in there is still long-term depth and I say give the kid some snaps to make the competition for next year that much stronger
September 1st, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
Is Peters a true FR or redhisrt FR? Because I have a hard time believeing that a true FR will have enough of a grasp of the playbook to make playing him worth much.....especially over guys we need to have prepped for next year.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
but I don't want him to be playing in meaningful games, but if he came in mop up time to get a sense for game speed etc, I would be totally ok with it if it betters the competition next year knowing that we have a pipeline of QBs
September 1st, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
I think you're taking some things for granted, and I hope that that is warranted. But it is not hard to imagine scenarios where heading into the 2020 season we are extremely sad that Peters' eligibility is up.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
Wouldn't the guys ahead of him benefit more from that exposure, though? We need J'OK, Shane, Malzone, etc to have some game experience in case they are ever needed. Or do you thinking Peters is going to leap frog all those guys next year - which is possible, I suppose.
September 1st, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
O'Korn is going to play meaningful snaps, I don't care who's listed as starter, this competition will continue to psu, maybe even Wiscy.
I'm on record already as being for getting Peters snaps this year to get ready to compete for the job in '17. As for Shane, Malzone - I don't consider those guys ahead of Peters.
The real competition will be between Peters & McCaffrey beginning in '18 - that's the one I cannot wait to see the winner of!!!
1st rd pick type substances battling it out from that year on, as long as the JH era reigns... and by JH I do mean Jay Harbaugh ;-)
September 1st, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^
Probably true but I hope not. I hope Wilton excels from the get-go and we develop the one QB. If you have two QBs, you have none.
September 1st, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^
NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 1st, 2016 at 5:12 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
Cant grasp the playbook?
Some of them can.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^
More like "chuck it up in Braylon's general vicinity". That year, the definition of a well-thrown ball was one where you could say "Braylon can work with that".
September 1st, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 2:52 PM ^
Current playbook for true freshman could be "throw 10 yards past line of scrimmage to same side of the field as Jake Butt, enjoy first down".
September 1st, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
reshp1 isn't far from the serious truth here. The Carr era playbook wasn't complex at all, featuring repetition of the same running plays over and over with a handful of different pass calls. Harbaugh's scheme isn't impossible but it is rather more complex.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:49 PM ^
Jason Avant, Steve Breston, Tim Massaquoi,Tyler Eckert & Mike Hart combined to catch 133 passes from Henne for 1,316 yards and 11 TDs. I will grant you that Braylon was far and away the Alpha-Dog that year but we had a pretty damn good recieving corps and Henne used them all.
September 1st, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
Oh, I totally agree. The point I was trying to make wasn't that there was only one receiver, but that playbook complexity was something the Carr era eschewed, with a (mostly unstated, probably my error here) hint that having those receivers to throw to makes life a lot easier for a QB. Edwards could obviously bail Henne out a lot, and did, but all of the talent mattered. Relying on talent to outplay the opponent was, after all, a Carr tenet.
September 1st, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^
We were lucky with Henne....and he was only playing due to injury to Matt Gutierrez. He wasn't slated to start until Matt's shoulder gave up.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:35 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^
about that allowing him to surpass the others. It would be most significant if he was already expected to be the starter in 2017. The extra experience would then be valuable for the team, not just for Peters.
I wouldn't like to see Peters burn his redshirt early in the season. If he does play, that should mean the coaches think he will have a big role in 2017. To me, that would mean he's either up to #2 on the depth chart or would already be the starter except for his lack of experience.
September 1st, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
If he looks like he'll unseat the guys in front of him, then I agree. By all means, play him. I don't think that'll be the case though. The guy I responded to was saying he should play just to heat up the competition next year, and there's nothing to lose with McCaffrey on deck.
My point is mostly that having Speight/O'Korn and Peters not contributing much extra next year is a lot more of a sure thing than not needing a 5th year Peters because McCaffrey will be ready to step in.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
BISB your content completely made my day, and i'm in no way surprised by this.
September 1st, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
Your content makes my day too, Seth
September 1st, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
And the innumerable pics and funny quotes. Love it.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:22 PM ^
correct me if i am wrong, but can't a kid declare after 3 years in college, RS or not?
Kids like Gary, i would be surprised if he stays longer than 3 years anyways... even if he stays 4, he's not staying 5, so what's the point of a RS if he's ready to play now?
If this staff is going to recruit and develop talent like we think it will, there shouldn't be too much of an issue
qb seems to be the one position that you can/want to spread things out a bit more..
September 1st, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
Yep. Peppers, since he took an injury redshirt, has three years of eligibility remaining (including the coming season) but he's also eligible to enter the draft after this year.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
thanks...yeah,and don't remind me about Peppers!
just doesn't feel like he's been here long enough...I hope this team does something special, cause if this is the last year we get to have him in the maize and blue, it would be awesome to send him out in the right way
September 1st, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
And along the lines as well. Would be nice to have a line with a few 23 yr old guys who have grown up in the system their whole careers....wishful thinking most likely.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
With the way Harbaugh recruits and develops, I don't know how much benefit there is to redshirting most of his recruits. If they have the upside to be decent NFL draft picks, they are unlikely to stay more than 4 years. If they end up not being good enough to get interest from the NFL, they likely won't be starters and will transfer(grad or regular). The only guys that would really benefit are those who aren't highly desired by the NFL either due to position(fullbacks, H-backs, guards) or measureables(tweener types or those who are great technically but lacking athletically).
September 1st, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
Don't redshirt if guys are ready to see the field. However, there are caveats.
- Linemen. There are exceptions. Gary. Cole. Bredeson come to mind. Not many others. However, for the most part, OL could use an extra year working on strength, weight, and technique. So can many DL guys (Shelton Johnson?)
- Nature of the position. IIRC, it helps safeties, linemen, QB, linebackers to have a year of redshirting. I also know that RB you play more as a freshman. WR and CB, it just depends. Perry got burned as a freshman. It took a good while for Darboh and Chesson to come up to speed.
- Current depth. If you have a lot of solid depth at a position, I'm not sure the value of burning a redshirt, just to get someone's feet wet in garbage time.
- Future depth. Conversely, sometimes you have to get someone on the field because you can see a lack of future depth.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^
Obviously a little more to it, but even if they don't contribute meaningfully, the playing time will better prepare them to see significant time the next year. Perry could have sat last year and I doubt he would have been missed much, but he's much better this year because of it. And even if you have a ton of depth, if you are prety sure the guy is going ot the NFL after 3 or 4 years, it's a wasted development opportunity. I believe Auburn had a 5 star OL they redshirted and Malzhan voiced his regrets about redshirting him after he went pro in 3 years and only started for 2.
September 1st, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^
1. The players should have some say in the matter. We won't usually hear it, but the coaches will.
2. Recruiting. Playing freshmen helps in recruiting. Recruits often comment on watching freshmen get a chance to contribute. Coaches even promise (gasp!) some kids that they won't have to redshirt.
3. Above all, you're trying to win now. You play the players that can help you win this year. If kids have shown enough in practice, they've earned the right to play. Not just true for freshmen, obviously. It's part of running a meritocracy.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
Does this:
"Michigan is the only non-spread team in its division"
mean that there's been some new offensive installed in East Lansing, or is it more disrespekt!?
September 1st, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
I think their eyes are crossing after the content deluge this week. Each successive post has more of those types of little errors. I'm sure it'll clear up when they get back to their normal schedule.
If it doesn't, I'm more than happy to do some pro-bono editing for them.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^
I think what Seth is trying to say is that MSU isn't so much a "team" as a loose collection of individuals.
September 1st, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
Similar to the Wildings. They roam free in that vast wastland north of The Wall - a place we call "East Lansing."
September 1st, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
For recruiting purposes, I feel we shouldn't redshirt any.
Playing time for freshmen is a selling point to the kinds of top classes this staff can bring in.
(I recognize I am assuming here that we GET all those freshmen who CAN play early and graduate in four years.)
I also hating seeing the ugly miscontrued ungranted fifth-year "forcing out" stories in the media, which cannot exist if no one reshirts, and no Swenson-style "pulling scholly" stories, because there can't be any of those when we have the room to take 30 every year.
Plus there will be offseason MGoBlog content announcing transfers of the bottom layers of the depth chart/meritocracy.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^
I really wonder how much pushing out there is of 5th year guys vs them just wanting a chance to start in college and having that Michigan degree. The coaches are very clear with players about where they stand on the depth chart, and if you're 3rd string or worse, being a starter at Toledo is enticing.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:58 PM ^
No recruit is going to get excited by seeing a guy 6th on the depth chart get 50 snaps over the season rather than redshirt. That isn't "immediate playing time" that will be a selling point.
And no fifth-year senior is going to be "forced out" in a way that looks bad. The guys who are in line to see playing time will be invited to stay. And the guys who aren't will have a Michigan degree in hand, and are usually thrilled at the opportunity to go light it up for a smaller team for a year.
September 1st, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
No mention of Asiasi? I just don't see the point of not redshirting a TE this year. With the number of blocky-catchy types on the roster right now, what real good would it serve to play him? And getting a year of seperation between him and Wheatley helps down the road, right?
September 1st, 2016 at 12:41 PM ^
September 1st, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
And we also apparently have 6 OL that are going to play this year. If we need a heavy set, why not just the 6th OL instead of burning a redshirt?
September 1st, 2016 at 12:49 PM ^
With all that we've heard about him out of camp, I doubt he's a 5 year guy, probably gone after 4 as a top drafted TE.
September 1st, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^
Jumbo sets with 6 OL are yet a different animal in Harbaugh's offense. Wheatley/Asiasi still have some credible threat as receivers, a 6th OL doesn't
September 1st, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
Based on the reports/leaks, it sounds like Asiasi may be ahead of Wheatley on the depth chart ATM. The Harbaugh Rule of Meritocracy dictate that whoever gives us the best chance to win NOW should play. The only question is, is the Rule the only factor in play?
September 1st, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
I find Ace's argument to redshirt Hill persuasive. Particularly the value of staggering when they leave (assuming Long lasts four years). Barring an injury, I will be moderately disappointed if Hill sees the field.
Unless Peters is so brilliant that he's seriously pushing for the starting job this year, redshirting him is a no-brainer. People argue that some garbage snaps will have some value, but that value is pretty limited. It's nothing compared to another year of preparation and learning the playbook, and garbage time is by definition not a rigorous experience for the players on the field.
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