Calvin anderson announces tonight at 9 central 10pm eastern

Submitted by goblue85 on
What are chances with him?? Any late word with say Webb? Umbig11???

UMFoster

February 28th, 2018 at 8:12 AM ^

That it is better than any other OT on Michigans roster.

 

I'm assuming he was told that he would be drafted, but it would be later so he wants to come back and get better to push himself into one of the top rounds.

UMFoster

February 28th, 2018 at 8:10 AM ^

This has to be a joke.

-Newsome still isn't cleared to play.  Almost had his leg amputated. Hasn't played football in 2 years.  I'm pulling for him, but to say he is better than Calvin Anderson when he hasn't played a snap in 2 years is a stretch.

 

-JBB's pass blocking last year was not good.  He was a decent run blocker, but got beat A LOT.  Not to mention there are rumors that he might not even be back next year.

 

-Hudson is a RS freshman DL who switched over to OT last year.  Yes, he might be good in the future, but the kid hasn't played a single snap of college football.

 

Anderson would step in and be the best OT on the team.

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^

We are not thin. Our roster is inexperienced.  Anybody could start over him.

You have no idea what we have in Stueber, Filiaga, Hudson, Honigford. You have no idea what another year does for JBB and to a more hopeful extent, Ulizio & Runyan.  Any of those guys could start.  You have no idea how somebody might progress in a year's time.

Anderson just finished 4 years at one of the worst FBS programs in the country.  Rice won 1 game last year. They're terrible.  He was a no-name 2-star who wasn't recruited by anybody.  If Michigan signed him out of high school, the stargazers here would have killed themselves.  His PFF score is good I hear.  Is that weighted for quality of competition? Because Rice's schedule was comical.  Playing Stanford one time is a far cry from the weekly test he'd have here.  And he's never once gone through a B1G season. You have no idea if he'll hold up at that speed for 15 weeks.

I'm not saying he's bad.  I'll take him in a heartbeat because more options are better than less options.  I'm saying this Grad Transfer recruitment has this board unnecessarily gassed up about a guy who very possibly might not even play here. If you wanna know where I'm coming from, go read the Wayne Lyons transfer post about whether he's going to start or play nickel here. 

 

CLion

February 27th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^

We clearly are thin. That's why we've been looking for a transfer. We have zero proven options for two spots and a couple guys who don't look like they're exactly on a hot track for either position. Without Newsome, we're running pretty low on options at LT.

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 4:03 PM ^

"Thin" and "Inexperienced" are not synonymous. Otherwise your post would make sense.  We are not low on options.

The MGoBlog Depth Chart by Class lists 7 Tackles for this season. That's not counting debatable options like Bredeson & Filiaga.  That's not thin.  It's unproven. The fact that it's unproven means the staff want Anderson to join the fold (and so do I!).

I just don't understand how, when or why the board has turned him into Orlando Pace.

CLion

February 27th, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^

They are related and yes we are thin and inexperienced at OL, especially at LT options. If you want include Ulizio, e.g., as someone in your headcount, fine, I don't. I've also seen little evidence to get me excited about Runyan in general or JBB holding up to the pass rush. That's asking a lot out of your "inexperienced."

In reply to by CLion

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 4:22 PM ^

And what evidence have you seen that Anderson is better than Ulizio?

I'll answer for you since I'm leaving. You have none. You have a hope and a boner that Anderson instantly becomes the best tackle we have and it's rooted in nothing.  Ulizio was twice the recruit Anderson was, and I'll bet Ulizio could start at Rice in a heartbeat. They'd take him right now and he'd probably excel against the bottom of the barrel competition that is Rice's schedule.

 

BigBlue02

February 27th, 2018 at 5:22 PM ^

The way you’re coming off is pretty awful, but I actually agree with your premise. I want this kid to join us in Ann Arbor, but a 2 Star nobody that excelled at Rice isn’t the savior this board makes him out to be.

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^

But you never know. Like when you were convinced it was O'Korn over Speight as the starting QB in '16 all through Fall ball and then, to your surprise, days before the opener you shared that Speight actually won the job. And for that matter, neither you nor Brian nor anybody else had Ulizio emerging from the fray as the starter last year. So I guess our hunches aren't worth a whole lot even weeks from the opener, let alone in February.

xtramelanin

February 27th, 2018 at 8:12 PM ^

who would start in front of those guys in the fall. or, if there is a general 'basket' of starters at that position, who would be in that 'basket' that might start before those guys? 

 

skegemogpoint

February 27th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^

Great question, let's think on it for a moment. The fact that UM fans were so excited about the possibility of a grad transfer from Rice speaks volumes about our problem at LT.  Almost anyone with experience would be preferable to a kid trying to make a courageous comeback from a life threatening injury and another guy who has never taken a snap at LT.  Curious to know who you think would start in front of Anderson?

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 4:18 PM ^

Here's a link to Nick Baumgardner's breakdown who has done way more analysis than I have or ever will.  He concludes that Anderson has suitors because of his unpolished athleticism and upper body strength.  He played mostly zone schemes and struggled with technique but could get away with it against that level of competition.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2018/01/26/calvin-anderson-michigan-football/1068577001/

What if he just is what he is? What if he's maxed out? What if his bad habits are ingrained beyond correction?  How good will he be when the guy on the other side is a 5-star and not some walk-on from UTEP, or Old Dominion, or North Texas? Big Ten defensive ends might very well eat him alive right there on the field.

They also might not but this forum, as usual, has no time for reality checks. 

Quailman

February 27th, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^

Okay man, we get it.

You're right, he could not be great like Wayne Lyons. Or he could be awesome, like Jake Rudock. 

You said we dont know what we have with Filiaga, Steuber, Honingford, et al. They could be great, they could be in over their heads as well.

Anderson is physcially developed and experienced, and is a known quantity, unlike the RSFr. Its not a surprise that people on the board might think thats a good addition to have on the team. 

If he is who he is, and is maxed out, then he's an average to above-average OL with experience who can add to the competition, push the young guys, and be there if needed. Thats also not a bad thing to have, and he's only at UM for a year so it doesnt affect recruiting or anyone's spot at all. 

CLion

February 27th, 2018 at 4:20 PM ^

No, let's flip the question around and say, if Anderson joined the team, where would Vegas rank him in likelihood to start at tackle compared to the others?

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^

Anderson would be the overwhelming favorite because Vegas sets odds based on betting, not their feelings. Michigan fans are wacko about Anderson and would bet him to death, driving down his odds and driving up everybody else. 

Hope this helped.

CLion

February 27th, 2018 at 6:19 PM ^

No you're just being disingenous and making straw man arguments. No one is claiming Anderson is a savior or even a guaranteed starter. However, regardless of what you seem to think, tackle is a major concern for the team so an experienced tackle who at least grades out well would be a nice plus, and likely odds favorite to start at one of the tackles.

In reply to by CLion

Pepto Bismol

February 27th, 2018 at 8:30 PM ^

Guy, that's exactly what everybody is saying. Scroll up. That's what drew me into this in the first place. People are asking left and right who on our roster could possibly start over Anderson. Thats because they've already decided he's the starter. I've said the whole time that we don't have established starting Tackles and I'd love to have him. Again, scroll up. I already said that. I simply take exception to those who think he's default the best OT we have without ever seeing him play a down at LOLRice, and acting like the half-dozen 4-star tackles on our roster are scrap-heap nobodies. That's my issue. You hopped in and tried to redefine the word "thin". That's my only disagreement with you. Beyond that, I don't see whatever you think was a straw man. You asked me a hypothetical and I answered. That's not a straw man, but then again, you're struggling with "thin", so whatever.

Kevin13

February 28th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^

points and I can see where you are coming from. Like that you would like to see him here to add depth if nothing else and looking at the position we do need more depth and experience.

I'm not over the top on Anderson, but I have to admit the chance of getting him does excite me as he would be competing for a position we need upgraded.

Looking at our  OT depth chart, by class we have JBB as a Senior. He is serviceable and does a decent job on the right side but has plenty of things to work on, enough so that I don't think he will ever be much more then just serviceable and started a lot last year, because we basically had no other options.

Then Jrs. we have Newsome, who I love and I'm really pulling for but anyone who thinks he will be back this year playing anywhere near the level he did before injury is flat out kidding themselves. It's not going to happen. He will probably be a feel good story who maybe gets into a game as a gesture.  Then we have Ulizio and Runyon who really should be guards but have been pushed to play tackle again because we have few options.

Behind all of them we no one who has played a down of college football.  Maybe we have the next Orlando Pace somewhere in there, but right now it's kind of scary to think we could face ND with JBB at one tackle and the other tackle making their first college start.

Now Anderson is a guy who has at least 2 years of starting experience and I think was all conference last year.  You have Michigan and Texas and I beleive UCLA after him, so they have all seen something that they think he could bring and possibly help them next season as he only has one season left. He has the size and long arms to play the position.

You have said any of our players could improve since last year and rightfully so, but so could Anderson working with our coaches. I would feel great getting him and throwing him into the competition and I think just his experinece alone would put him over the top and into the starting role next year and upgrading our OT play.

Pepto Bismol

February 28th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^

Honestly. Good post. I think you've got an illogical statement there at the end, but it's clear that those who want to put their life savings on a Rice grad transfer to save the day are going to do it regardless. Let's close with a final thought and then I gotta stop this. See how this feels:

Would you rather have a former unrecruited 2-star Rice grad transfer start at Viper next year, or would you rather have Jordan Anthony?  Would you rather start a EMU grad transfer at TE next year or Mustapha Muhammad?  Would you rather have Oliver Martin at WR or a grad transfer from... whatever. Idaho. I don't care.

At some point, talent trumps experience. You guys have no idea how talented Calvin Anderson is, whether he can pick up this offense, connect with our coaches.  Is he Jake Rudock or John O'Korn? You have no idea. I have no idea. Given the uncertainty at the tackle position, of course I'm rolling the dice and hoping he comes up Rudock.

But it could be an O'Korn, in which case, I'd rather play Speight. Or Malzone. Or Garrett Moores. Or a Freshman. Or a walk-on... etc.

It might not work out. He might not be any good at all. He might poop his pants and fall down the first time he sees a Notre Dame defensive end moving 5-times faster than the last time he battled the friggin' North Texas Mean Green... in which case you and I and UMFoster will be happy to put JBB or Ulizio or anybody else in there instead.

The same way everybody loooovvvved O'Korn. They loved his experience!. They loved his mobility! They loved practice reports of his cannon arm!  They loved him right up until he entered an actual football game and sucked balls all over the field against Indiana.

I don't know why that's impossible to consider - that our starting tackles might already be here. I mean, I do know. Seems too powerful for some to admit.

So it goes. Good talk, friends. Go Blue.