Balas thinks Dax is more likely to play than not.

Submitted by JamieH on December 28th, 2021 at 8:03 PM

Since this is coming from the Fort, let me plug their $1 for the year deal--it was a no-brainer for me.

https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/join/?plan=annual

Anyway Balas says the word on the ground in Miami is that the coaches are hopeful that Dax will be available for the game, and it is more likely that he will be than won't be.   Sounds like they are waiting for him to clear some COVID tests before joining the squad. 

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MaizeBlueA2

December 29th, 2021 at 10:48 PM ^

And twice on Saturdays. Self promoting Sam is the worst.

He can be on point, and I don't hate the guy...but man, if he doesn't give you a bullshit burger before you finally get a little nugget of info. And then he will tell you for a week about how HE gave you said nugget.

He's exhausting. I don't even read 247 because of him. I just look at their database, which is the best in the business. 

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49957

Malarkey

December 28th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^

Supposedly he was symptomatic this weekend

Seems unlikely they’re letting him anywhere near the team for practice this week, regardless of his vax status or negative tests 

 

Complete guess but Best case seems to be that he’s possibly available in an emergency role if we get behind early (yay)

Joined: 08/10/2020

MGoPoints: 7556

UMfan21

December 28th, 2021 at 9:25 PM ^

Not to mention other symptoms that can linger such as fatigue and "brain fog".  A coworker (double vaxxed) got symptomatic covid and he had these two symptoms for weeks.  Granted, he is not a 20 something athlete, but he is late 40s, former college athlete, and works out daily.

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 51224

WayOfTheRoad

December 28th, 2021 at 8:38 PM ^

Almost certainly this. They won't have him on hand in an emergency basis. He will play or he won't. He's not a Freshman or a guy that has missed a ton of time lately. If safe to play he will play, if not he won't. There isn't a ton of middle ground these days and especially with Covid. If it isn't announced before the game we'll all know when the team takes the field. If he has shoulder pads on, he's playing. If he doesn't he obviously isn't.

If he plays, he plays. If he doesn't and Michigan happens to get by UGA he'll be available in the NCG.

Joined: 06/26/2017

MGoPoints: 7609

Malarkey

December 28th, 2021 at 10:32 PM ^

I would assume they wouldn’t want a recently infected person to expose the team to a highly infectious virus so would keep him out of practice till gameday—which isn’t ideal without practicing all week

Literally have NO idea how you thought the implication was to punish Dax for getting Covid…

 

Seriously though you gotta take it easy on me—I’m in shambles over here…blowing an opportunity on a message board that I use 20 times a year

Joined: 08/10/2020

MGoPoints: 7556

whidbeywolverine

December 28th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^

I see D. Hill's presence against their star TE as pretty damn important to winning this game, and I believe Dax can participate in defensive meetings by Zoom, stay in shape on his own, fly to Miami Friday morning and do a negative test on Thursday in Ann Arborand Friday in Miami, then warm up and play as long as he remains effective, which I think will be the entire game.

The risk of bringing him along for practice week, and then having more positives was too great.  good call by the med staff.  Please be negative Dax, we need you!!!

Joined: 04/04/2009

MGoPoints: 1265

WayOfTheRoad

December 28th, 2021 at 8:45 PM ^

I think it's more his athleticism on the edges and when he comes up in Nickel that we'd miss. Their TE is going to get his regardless of who is playing because we don't have anyone in that secondary that can cover him consistently. Covering a TE of any caliber can be done by a few guys on the team but only Dax can drop deep as a Safety or come up in the slot and run with anyone UGA has. We can't replace that. We can replace someone poorly-moderately covering their stud TE.

Joined: 06/26/2017

MGoPoints: 7609

Jordan2323

December 28th, 2021 at 10:19 PM ^

I wholeheartedly agree. I said in a other recent thread about early thoughts on the game that the tight end position for Georgia is one that scares the hell out of me. Iowa had great success with their tight end and they don’t have a Bowers. Ross is good at tackling and run support but he’s not good in pass coverage. You have a young guy in Colson as well so one could see where Dax would be very important in this game. I would say he would be absolutely crucial in the red zone. Against both Ohio St and Iowa we did a good job in the red zone. 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48914

Midukman

December 29th, 2021 at 7:26 AM ^

The TE is only as good as the guy getting him the ball. If we rattle the Stetson man from the opening bell, like we did Iowa, then Bowers is a non factor. Bama was in Georgia’s face without sending blitzes every down and I expect us to do the same. Just gotta survive the initial onslaught of runs they’re gonna throw at us to establish dominance in the trenches. That scares me more than Bowers, simply because Georgia has some great backs. 

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906

Bambi

December 28th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^

Other rumors have said that he's expected to fly down and join the team tomorrow or Thursday. Nothing guaranteed but signs point to him playing as of now.

Joined: 10/12/2013

MGoPoints: 23158

Bo Harbaugh

December 29th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^

1) I’m guessing you haven’t been to Georgia or Florida recently.  Or on the flip side, you haven’t been up north.  
Covid deniers are everywhere down south and masks remain optional in almost all public settings, whereas they are mostly mandatory in northern cities. 
This is not a political post, simply an observation of how Covid is viewed in different geographies.

2) I’d never want any athlete to be put at risk due to lack of testing or worse, faking medical results.  It was a joke about how SEC is win at all costs. 

3) If my innocuous internet post made you cringe, I do indeed worry how you deal with actual offensive content in the real world. 

Joined: 08/03/2019

MGoPoints: 38618

jbuch002

December 28th, 2021 at 9:04 PM ^

Here's the scenario that M probably faced with Dax:

He was either noted to have or reported he had COVID symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, etc which I am sure all the players know to report any symptoms on a long list of them).

Let's say this report was received from Hill 24h prior to M's departure to Miami. He was probably tested when he reported symptoms and the result was likely negative (incubation period). Typically, a good testing protocol is days 1, 3, 5 using a PCR test on day 5. Experts are learning that Omicron, in particular, Delta to a lesser extent will produce a positive rapid AB result in 2d. That's because in vitro and in vivo viral growth is much faster than Delta, Delta faster than Alpha.

If he tests negative on day 5 and he is judged fit to play by medical staff, even mild URI symptoms would not preclude him from playing, he'll be in Miami in plenty of time to Play on Friday night.

M needs him to play for all the reasons in the posts pertaining to that above.

Joined: 08/19/2009

MGoPoints: 530

Arb lover

December 28th, 2021 at 9:44 PM ^

There's a better rumor out there that was posted earlier but I hope it dies for strategic reasons. I think the entire board should be absolutely convinced that Dax won't play, so as to do our part and throw Georgia a psychological  planning curve.

Just be pumped game time if #30 is on the field.

Joined: 11/26/2017

MGoPoints: 6915

Midukman

December 29th, 2021 at 8:42 AM ^

They won’t get that curve thrown at them. Georgia considers us to be the Arkansas of the big 10. I’m surprised they’re even watching any film of us. I mean they’re the sec with all that speed and a stocked cupboard full of 5 star talent. Meanwhile we’re a bunch of slow cow patties who can only beat OSU in a blizzard and almost lost to Rutgers after getting crushed by sparty. I mean why the hell are we even showing up when we can just concede to the sec dominance! Please beat that Georgia ass. I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life!

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906