Instant Impact Freshmen
Lately a lot of freshmen have been making immediate or solid impacts for their respective teams, and I was wondering about us.
From the 2009 class, who do you think will make an impact? It may only be a few touches a game, or maybe starting full time.
Obviously Forcier has been a subject of immense discussion, but maybe Vincent Smith? I like him as a speedy/third down guy. Toussaint? Gallon?
Defensively Roh needs bulk and more technique but he could see action. Cambell also. Your thoughts?
January 9th, 2009 at 4:02 PM ^
Forcier, Gallon.
Others will probably have a small contribution or redshirt.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^
Forcier and Campbell pretty obviously. At least one of these RBs, Toussaint or Jones or Smith, will get in there because RR seems to like to rotate them pretty heavily. Vincent Smith is an early enrollee, so I like his chances of the three the best, unless one of the other is too and I missed it. Gallon is a maybe at best, because he's basically Martavious Odoms and Odoms is halfway decent himself. And Gibbons, since Lopata's gone.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^
With three seniors and Michael Shaw returning, I sincerely doubt that any freshman running back is going to contribute. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if both Smith and Toussaint redshirt.
People who will make an impact as freshmen:
Turner
Forcier
Campbell
Roh
January 9th, 2009 at 4:09 PM ^
Tate for sure. I think he starts from day 1. He passing ability is head and shoulders above Threet. Thats what I like about Tate, he can hit open receivers.
Will Campbell will play early. I honestly don't know what kind of impact he will have. But with no depth at Dline, he is sure to play early. How much he plays depends on his progress.
Gallon will get a look at the slot. He needs to learn the routes, and make people miss IN SPACE.
Secrest Out
January 9th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
what about Ike bell?
January 9th, 2009 at 4:21 PM ^
Good call on Gibbons. Forgot about him. Placekicking is sometimes a bizarre adventure at Michigan.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
what about redshirted freshmen from last year's class? T Rob will be healthy along with roundtree and all the RS lineman could fill a backup roll
January 9th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
I have the highest hopes for Forcier, but come on already. He is by no means a lock to beat out Threet. Comparing a high school video highlight tape to an injured freshman qb playing alongside other freshmen is ridiculous. I imagine Threet was pretty accurate in high school given you know like the scholarship and 4 star ranking and all. I hope Tate wins the job but he's got a long way to go. Everyone said that last year when ther was way more opportunity freshman don't play for a reason.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
I'd like to see Cox get some carries so he can be the heir apparent in the RB Rage spot to go along with all of our fast, tiny RBs.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^
Forcier, Cambell....hard to say who else until class is complete.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:09 PM ^
the usual suspects...
1) forcier (although not as much as everyone thinks)
2) campbell
3) gallon (if he gets in academically)
4) gibbons
5) turner (definitely, no question)
6) and wait, my wild card.. Mike Jones (coming in early, need major help at safety/LB).
7) touissaint
overall, although this class is shaping up to be a pretty good one i don't think we'll see 1/2 the class get on the field just cause we were shitty last year. A LOT of these guys need to be developed further before they see the field.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:10 PM ^
True freshman contributors:
1- JT Turner (CB depth chart scares me)
2- Super Otter (science damn you, DT depth chart also scares me)
3- Forcier (not higher because of Threet)
4- Gallon (kick returner?)
Death Roh looked like a beast in the UA game, but he is also around 230 lbs. He needs 30-40 lbs to play DE. Early enrolling would help the cause, but a look at that list I don't see instant impact. Vince Smith is listed at 5-7, 159 lbs. on rivals, who can be generous at times. Does he stay at RB? To me he seems like a slot-dot sort. I don't see his impact right away, even with the early enrolling. Hawthorne is 30 lbs. too light,. Lalota is experience starved. Maybe Mike Jones surprises us? I think he is enrolling early.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:03 PM ^
If for no other reason, the position he plays.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:45 PM ^
The two I'd say with absolute certainty are Campbell, Gibbons, and Turner, because I can't see a way around not playing them.
I imagine we'll see see Forcier play QB at some point, and Gallon will probably get PT, but that's a crowded position at this point (I imagine he'd shuffle with Odoms, Robinson, and Feagin). I think we'll see some of LaLota, and we're going to need at least a 3rd DT behind Campbell and Martin, and Sagesse isn't a known quantity - so I think Graves or Jones would have a chance.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
Your first grade math teacher just rolled over in her grave.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
lol....good catch Magnus, I missed that at first........Chitown those Sparty's and Bucknuts will jump all over you for that one!
January 10th, 2009 at 10:08 AM ^
Gah, that's what I get for typing the sentence, then just tossing Gibbons in there for shits and giggles.
I'm going to go back to watching Snow White and the 9 Dwarves.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:26 AM ^
The two that I think will have an impact are Gallon, Campbell, Forcier, Beaver(if he was with us), and a couple of other decommits. Just sayin.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:05 AM ^
First of all, the level of competition Tate played against in High School is alot better than the competition Threet played against. I know Threet has a year of eligibility under his belt. I expect RR to treat Forcier alot like Tressel did with TP; until he gets some experience. FACE IT THREET CANNOT EXCELL IN RICHRODS OFFENSE! Teric Jones might be playing slot instead of running back. I have not seen Feagin play slot but i don't see him being better than Gallon or T.Rob
January 10th, 2009 at 12:15 AM ^
For Threet's sake, if Forcier truly is better I would prefer RR treat him like Lloyd did Henne and just start him. He will have the entire offense coming back to speed up the learning curve for one. Also, I wouldn't want to see a returning starter get benched for a frosh midseason (e.g. Boeks/TP).
January 10th, 2009 at 10:12 AM ^
Well, this argument is essentially saying that Forcier is better than a Steven Threet that steps off a time-machine from 2007. That's probably (maybe?) true.
But, luckily for us, Tate isn't competing against the Steven Threet that is fresh out of playing a lower level of high school football. He's competing against 2009 Steven Threet - who has played a full season of BCS Conference NCAA football, and spent two years practicing against college atheletes.
So, while 2009 Forcier may be better than 2007 Threet, that's not the match-up we're getting.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:02 AM ^
I have to believe a 2009 Threet vs. Forcier spring will produce an exponentially better qb than 2008 Threet vs. Sheridan.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:11 AM ^
Exactly, the outcome of the competition between 2009 Threet, Forcier, and maybe a mystery freshman will almost certainly yield a better result that the competition between 2008 Threet and Nick Sheridan.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:09 AM ^
alot = zero words
a lot = two words
Two is better than zero in almost all cases (except STD's), so let's aim for two.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:10 AM ^
You have ALOT of time on your hands
January 10th, 2009 at 12:12 AM ^
*keels over and dies*
January 10th, 2009 at 2:50 AM ^
Forcier is the obvious answer here, I think. He can talk the talk and sounds like the most motivated guy in the world, but can he be a leader on the field? I sure hope so.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:47 AM ^
finally seen a video of vincent smith, and holy shit.. that kids fast as hell
http://mgoblog.com/content/hello-vincent-smith
January 11th, 2009 at 6:55 AM ^
Great - then you can play.