BRIAN: insider bits(!)
I have acquired some insider bits from a few different sources of late. I will put them here. None of these have been confirmed by a second source, but all are credible. (Obviously.) Take them in the spirit of insidery message board info.
1. Michigan is in good shape for 2014 GR Christian OL Tommy Doles.
2. Gardner is basically a WR at this point. Faith in Bellomy is high, at least for any hypothetical week in which Denard gets dinged. Gardner is expected to compete at QB next year and a longer-term injury would force M to re-evaluate.
3. Borges won't overhaul the offense until Denard is gone, and after that it does sound like a highly multiple offense with tight ends all over and formations switching willy-nilly.
4. Norfleet is "making people look foolish" on kick returns and everyone is very high on him. He's fast, too. Needs 10-15 pounds before he's a serious every-carry threat; once he gets that he will be a real contender for feature back carries. [Srs. I didn't make this up.]
5. Darboh and Chesson will be hard to keep off the field, especially Darboh. Jerald Robinson is "good" but it sounds like the two freshmen are in the process of passing him. This is both good and bad, IME.
6. Rawls is pretty good, and is more than Fred Jackson uber-hype. Fitz is still on another level. Once he's cleared he'll be the man.
7. IL CB Parrker Westphal is going to take his time; don't expect anything quick in that department.
8. The DL is "legit." Campbell is "the real deal." I know, this would be wonderful and is hard to believe, but this is just me playing careful stenographer.
9. Michigan has so many different fronts now that their base set as announced (Roh-QW-Campbell-Black) probably won't even get a plurality of the snaps. Michigan will get some snaps from Ash.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^
Glad to hear about Norfleet; I think upsetting Alabama is gonna require some big special team plays.
Gah....why can't it be Saturday?!?!?!?!
August 31st, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
Dennis Norfleet got him the ESS EEE CEE speed.
What now Nick Saban?
August 31st, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
That was such a special treat that I feel like Brian is either a) heavily medicated or b) not Brian.
Either way, thanks and giddy up!
September 1st, 2012 at 10:01 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^
Please be true on DL. If Gardner also pans, out and Funchess can play by B1G season, the sky's the limit for this team.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^
Based on what I saw last night, no. The only kickoffs I saw returned were either ill-advised returns from 8 yards deep or due to squib kick.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^
September 1st, 2012 at 12:00 AM ^
You think you what? I don't demand proper spelling by any means, but this IS a Michigan board... you didn't "seen" anything.
In other news - Insider bits from Brian! Holy hot piss!
September 1st, 2012 at 12:48 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
Yippppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
all this stuff be true. Except #7. I don't care if that's true or false
August 31st, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
Tidbits from Brian = pure Colombian cocaine. Thanks for the fix. Especially pleased to hear 'bout BWC, Norfleet and Darboh.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
Awesome stuff! Can't believe you blessed us with this information. Just curious, but are your sources usually overly excited or often critical of the hype? Just trying to balance my emotions and not get too high right now.
OH SCREW IT! BEAT BAMA! 27-24 Michigan! BWWAHAHAHAHAHA
August 31st, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
Can I dream of the following first three drives?
1. KO return TD by Norfleet.
2. Sack by BWC to kill 1st Bama drive.
3. QB oh noes from DR to DG for 70 yd TD.
August 31st, 2012 at 7:19 PM ^
By kill, I mean put out of game, not injure badly. Something similar to Branch > Morelli vs Penn State in 2007 would be nice.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
I kid, I kid. This is like a maraschino cherry on top of the sundae of this week's content.
Particularly glad to hear that Norfleet is turning heads on returns. Maybe this will take special teams to rarefied (for us, lately) meh+ territory?
August 31st, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:19 PM ^
2.) I have heard some rumblings that Gardner is instantly our best WR and "elite" when he plays the position. The staff obviously needed to feel comfortable with Bellomy in order to allow this to occur in the first place.
4.) Norfleet was a great late pickup by Hoke last year. Wouldn't it be something if he was our version of Sproles? I hope he takes the opening kickoff to the house, would really give the team a boost.
6.) I've heard similar reports regarding Rawls and Fitz. Fitz has the advantage in terms of wiggle and vision with the latter Rawls will only improve in with game experience. I believe that Rawls will be fine in this game because of his power which will give us more positive gains even if he isn't as explosive.
8.) I'm not sure what to think about the DL situation. I've heard conflicting reports to this opinion about Campbell. I know he will be solid against out B1G schedule, but against an OL like Bama I'm not sure.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
... not very odd.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^
2) those are just rumblings and not even close to reality.
4) I am extremely anxious to see me some NORTH FLEET
August 31st, 2012 at 6:19 PM ^
anyone have advice on the best mobile app/site to get up-to-the-minute CFB scores and PbP?
I am set for M - MgoBlog and WTKA on I-Heart - but will be unfortunately on a jobsite most of the day tomorrow prior to our game and hope to know as soon as OSU, PSU, and ND lose (wishful thinking).
Thanks in advance. Go Blue!!
August 31st, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
As an app. Though I prefer CBS sports as a site...
August 31st, 2012 at 6:30 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^
I've used CBS site a lot before but not on a mobile. May try the ESPN app as well.
August 31st, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^
In addition to ESPN ScoreCenter there's also a dedicated ESPN CFB app. It doesn't work remarkably better or anything, but it does give you the ability to flag certain games to be displayed on one panel, and gives you scores, last play, and time updates live for each. Still buggy and laggy, but decent.
August 31st, 2012 at 7:30 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^
Oh no, our kick coverage is going to suck.
/s
August 31st, 2012 at 6:25 PM ^
Norfleet: +1 for the star gazers that were BEGGING the staff to take Norfleet after he dominated the 7v7 circuit. I'm just happy that Vince Smith, Gallon, Dileo and Norfleet may have given this staff the confidence in the little guys.
Offense Post-Denard: IMO it'll look a lot like the Patriots offense with some wildcat/spread option type stuff sprinkled in
Darboh: Heard he's currently fringe 2-deep (not counting the slot guys)
DL: I've got a boner from Brian's comments. YESSSS!!!
DL pt 2: Yup still there.
DL pt 3: Yup...jk, but continuing with the line...I think "multiple" is the word to describe them. I think "versitle" is another. I'm going to enjoy watching Mattison use them all to their strengths.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:30 PM ^
Good stuff. I'm especially excited to see Gardner at WR, someone with his athleticism needs to be on the field. I wouldn't be surprised to see him make a few throws from there this season either.
Also, fantastic news about Norfleet after all the suffering on special teams over the past few years.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^
Cool update, thanks Brian. We have reasons to be optimistic. If Denard can throw, Michigan can win. Punt returns might be exciting for Michigan in a good way.
Is there a pop quiz on Saturday for all this week’s material . . . say around 8:00 ET?
August 31st, 2012 at 6:39 PM ^
4, 8, 9
Did you learn of these before your prediction of 22-15? If not, do you think that would change the outcome?
August 31st, 2012 at 7:31 PM ^
in the hour or so since he posted the prediction, so the assumption is yes.
Since it's all good news, though, it would change my prediction from 10-4 to 11-3. Especially the DL bit.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:27 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
Sources or GTFO. This isn't Nam. There are rules.
Signed:
September 1st, 2012 at 12:02 AM ^
Why does Western Michigan Goalie Dude care?
August 31st, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:51 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:56 PM ^
I hope Dennis Northville decides to take out every kick, no matter where he catches it. Even if it's out of bounds.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
Wonderful stuff! Thanks for reporting this.
August 31st, 2012 at 7:04 PM ^
Is this the "highlights" of what they told you (i.e., did they also share pessimistic info) or everything?
August 31st, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^