From Denarded re: saturday's scrimmage
From Denarded in the "There Are" thread. Now the 2nd individual calling out Fitz as standing out at RB.
Since there's not much recruiting updates I did catch a little bit of Michigan's scrimmage saturday a couple of info.
- Fitz and Shaw looked great, Shaw was running with a ton of rage, while Fitz probably had the best day out of all the runningbacks, hopefully they can stay healthy because they were forces.
- Rawls did not play, has a bum shoulder, but nothing serious, should be back this week.
- Desmond Morgan was playing WLB with the 1s, maybe a sleeper to start?
- Carvin had a big knee brace and was playing with the 2s. T-Gordon was with the ones next to Kovacs.
- Brink was starting at SDE, RVB has moved inside now.
- When Taylor Lewan pulls he is a very scary man, him and Shaw put poor Courtney Avery off his feet one play.
- J.T. Floyd lit up Koger on a tight end screen.
- Hawthorne made an interception yesterday off Gardner, while Carvin picked off Denard, but other than that the QBs looked solid.
- Did not see much of McColgan at Fullback, rather Steve Watson I believe is playing a little H-Back.
- Gallon looked like the most impressive wide out.
- Roy had a couple drops, hopefully that won't translate to the field again.
- Wile was making field goals effortlessly, looked like a veteran out there.
- The D was HITTING, man the helmets were cracking out there.
- All in all it was great to see the winged helmets on 12 days away!!
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:50 AM ^
Gallon looked like the most impressive wide out.
UH OH!
J/K I always liked Gallon despite his lack of size (sarcasm from older post).
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
I like Gallon as long as I don't here back deep for Michigan before his name.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^
Agreed, but he was very young. I am not really comfortable with any underclassmen out there in that position... which is why I hear more and more about Countess and Morgan possibly getting big minutes this year it makes me SMH a little bit.
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
Some kids just have a knack for fielding and returning punts. Experience helps, but the goods ones seem to be OK from the start. Hopefully we finally have a good one.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
Breaston was pretty awesome as a freshman!
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:51 AM ^
No word on Big Will?
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:56 AM ^
One has to assume that if he is correct about Brink starting at SDE and RVB moving inside, it doesn't look good for Big Will. I really hope he's wrong about this.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
You, me and probably just about everyone else. I really hope BWC can be a big time contributor this year. If not, it's not looking good for him for the next two years.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
Do you really think Brink is going to be a starter of any kind? It's pretty amazing how gullible people are.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
I was very skeptical myself when I started hearing his name, figuring it was typical coaching motivational stuff that often happens during training camp. However, the longer his name keeps being mentioned by the coaches, the greater the chances he'll get significant PT, if not start. Maybe he'll start against WMU, and the staff will evaluate things from there.
I agree that gullibility is a trait of most fanbases including our own, but sometimes the improbable does happen... and be ready to celebrate it when it does.
Look at it this way—every championship team needs bust-their-ass role players who keep a fire lit under everybody else by virtue of their work ethic and spirit. Maybe Brink is one of them for this team right now.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
Isn't that what Kovacs is for?
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
to the real deal.
I think we need to move on from Kovacs the walk on, to Kovacs the smart, gritty (if you must), 3rd year returning starter.
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
Kovacs is the Novak of football.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
I don't know if this Brink situation is the same, but do you remember all the hype about Moundros getting time with the 1s last year at MLB? When it came to actual game time he got very little at MLB and mostly faded towards the end of the year.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:24 PM ^
I want Michigan's bust-their-ass role players to see the field every play . . . on special teams.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:58 PM ^
"BWC isn't a football player."
Come back in about six weeks(for your 2nd post), and we can re-evaluate this statement. Considering that we didn't even have a correct position for him in last year's defense, I think you may be jumping the gun.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
Do you really think Brady Hoke is going to be a serious contender for the Michigan coaching job of any kind? It's pretty amazing how gullible people are.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
not taken command, it doesn't necessarily mean that Brink is less shitty. Perhaps I'm being optimistic, but if Brink is playing like a madman, and he's beating Big Will, I'm willing to hold the anxiety down for now.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
RVB will with Brink taking RVB's place at SDE. Brink was talked about again tonight on the BTN preview will BWC was not.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
I was waiting on some news about the scrimmage
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
hmmmmm, that would seem to be bad news about Big Will and Black
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:03 AM ^
Agreed; still hoping Will can be a contributing part of the rotation, but just may never make the leap to clear cut #1 DT. I think Black still has a lot of upside as his issues are not technique related but rather it sounds like he is still short of the weight goal they set for him.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:53 AM ^
Why Black? He is a rush end. Roh plays that spot.
Look, the DL is the easiest to figure out (in order of best odds to start):
Martin - named a starter by Hoke
RVB - packed on some serious weight this offseason, is closer to a DT weight than a DE weight. Could easiely shift inside.
Roh - added the weight, doing well, had a sickness which held him back in camp for a few days. Will start barring a setback / Black just killing it throughout the rest of camp.
Black - plays behind Roh. Will spell him from time to time.
Brink - plays hard - walk on - we'll see.
BWC - Cut the weight, still having issues with consistency / technique (pad level)
The rest...
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
a report that they were also giving Black repetitions at SDE in place of VanBergen. Our best 4 linemen might be Black, VanBergen, Martin and Roh, in which case VanBergen might be playing a lot of DT. Its not my preferred position for him but if it gives us our best defense, you have to go with it.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
Man, hope there's a reason BIg Will is not getting mentioned other than he's riding the pine cause he can't cut it. Moving RVB inside and starting a walk-pn is not ideal. Panic button?
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:02 AM ^
The best players will see the field and if he performs better than BWC then put him on the field..By all accounts he has been a monster on defense so far
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^
I feel like in the age of recruitniks and Jason Stark minor league talent evaluation gospels, people are so adverse to having someone on the field that wasn't as higly rated 4 years ago.
If he is beating out BWC and Black, it may very well be b/c his skill, technique and work ethic are best for the position instead of the assumed lack of those things from the other suitors.August 22nd, 2011 at 9:22 AM ^
Of course that could be. How likely is it, though? People are always right to worry when guys who have been in the program for awhile are getting beat out by a freshman walk-on they know next to nothing about.
Just the fact that we would be moving RVB is cause for concern.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:27 AM ^
Obviously, without any real word from the coaching staff and/or any actual visuals of his performance there is concern. I was responding to the specific quote "Panic button?". There is a difference between concern and panic.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
Agreed.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
Brink isn't a freshman though, he is a redshirt sophmore, so really he is in the same class as BWC. I do worry about him only weighing 264 lbs, thats too skinny for a DT.
I'm also hoping we can retire the panic button, Will Heininger says "even somebody that doesn't watch football will be able to notice that our defense is better this year" and I have no doubt that it will be.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
"Donnie, I wouldn't have bet on it, but you made it. You never quit. But I'm sure you recognize now that this is a big man's game, and you're just too small." — Bo Schembechler
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
Is the name coinidence? Or has "the greatest player" Bo ever coached been among us all this time, and I didn't relize it?
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
I loved reading it the first time, and loved reading it again. You can't underestimate heart, desire, and toughness. If that's what Brinks brings, and if BWC doesn't have enough of those, well, then I want Brinks to play, and BWC shouldn't play.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
and learning how to play low, with leverage, is a difficult thing to do for anyone who doesn't have it naturally. Maybe you just have that ability or you don't. BWC's a big kid and a great athlete for his size, but it just may be that it's tough to find a position on the field for him given the lack of that skill.
By all accounts he worked this offseason, he lost the weight and came in the way the coaches wanted him to - this shows heart, desire, and toughness.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
1973. Donnie didn't have to line up against 300 + monsters. I am all for toughness and heart. However, if Michigan is starting a 264 lb DT, that is going to be scary.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:26 PM ^
I believe in the scrimmage they were having RVB move down to DT and Brink was playing DE. RVB is 290 which isn't that small for a DT and Brink is a 265lb DE with that lineup. If I had to guess BWC will still start at DT but they are working on different combos for when he needs a break so they can have the best players in at the same time.
August 22nd, 2011 at 6:32 PM ^
That must have been a great series of articles. Sorry I missed them.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:13 PM ^
VanBergen is moving inside and Brink will play SDE.
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
The NFL has a ton of players that were not highly recruited in college. Look at any roster and see all the small schools listed.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
Always a fun activity to see the alma mater of a variety of teams in the playoffs or Super Bowl...stunning at all the Wake Forest and Duke players on SB teams...
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
Green Bay Packer Clay Matthews (I believe). Some guys develop late, some don't develop. If Brink is bringing it, let's unleash him. I know BWC has been working hard, but maybe he needs a bigger push.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:52 PM ^
He wasn't suspended by the NFL for steroids or anything:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=clay+matthews+steroids&gbv=2&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw
Bad example.
A good example of a late bloomer would be someone like Johnny Knox - Div 2 college to the pros
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
I don't think Clay Matthews was suspended by the NFL for steroid use. Do you really think Nike would sign him to a deal if that was the case?
I think he's a great example. Former USC walk-on to NFL first round pick to defensive rookie of the year and defensive player of the year. I'd take that progression out of Brink!
Unfortunately, likely a pipe dream. It's happened before though.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^
Since when does hoping we don't have to start a freshman walk-on on the D-line = having something against walk-ons?
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
Well good thing we don't have to start a freshman walk-on, Brink is going into his Junior year (RS SO). This was not a comment on who I would rather see start, because that would not be Brink in a normal situation.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:29 AM ^
Maybe we're reading this the wrong way. Mattison said he wanted 6 "starters" on the d-line. So maybe Big Will is good to go and brink is getting extra time with the 1's to get ready for the season because he is a freshman?
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
Brink is a RS sophmore
Probably time to see this for what it appears to be - BWC isn't there yet. The hype arc this year tracks remarkably similar to last. And when they're moving guys around in order to put better production at that position, the conclusions are obvious.