Maize N Brew piece on D Line - In case you're not pumped enough already
"Michigan’s group of tight-knit defensive linemen demonstrate character and work ethic - on and off the field."
I think the hype for this year's version of Rashan Gary has reached Jabrill levels and rightfully so. My guess is most of us also read Maize n Brew but in case you don't or haven't read the piece on Gary and the D Line and how Mattison is recruiting studs with character, it's pretty cool.
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2017/7/5/15919626/family-line-michigan-wolve…
The season can't start soon enough.
GO BLUE!!
Mattison and the Michigan staff have assembled a D-line of choirboys who can take your head off."We're going to win with character, but we're also going to win with cruelty." -Jim Harbaugh
After reading Seth's piece in HTTV on Don Brown, these guys are going to be like parts of a Swiss Army knife - deployed with their different skills as he needs. I just loved the defensive preview and the character piece on Mo Hurst. Great group of guys, which some will become dudes as the year unfolds.
I take your point and agree. But I hope it's not one of those Swiss Army knifes that has a toothpick, tweezers, and a corkscrew - none of which ever get used for their ostensibly-intended purpose. I hope it's more like a Leatherman Titanium TTi Multitool, where each part can do some real damage or get some real work done.
Anywho ... yeah. I'm really looking forward to watching this group wreak havoc by the time the B1G season starts!
Leathermans are great, but I've opened dozens of wine bottles at parties over the years with the corkscrew on my SA knife.
Many have been amused over the years about what the corkscrew says about the Swiss Army. Zut alors, we must repel the invasion from Italy - but first, some Chardonnay sounds terrific!
Properly held and wielded, the corskscrew is also fine for removing eyeballs at close quarters. They make a satisfying, cork-like "pop" when you liberate them from the orbital cavity.
Well, your avatar checks out.
Thank goodness the Swiss remain neutral.
I have the smallest one that has everything i need. The model name has changed over time. Now called the Climber.
Tweezers made a great roach clip!
Scissors to cut sewing thread in the dorm; duct tape & hangnails on camping trips.
Knife used to carve a wood plug for a popped rivet leak on an canoe trip.
Corkscrew used on every canoe/ kayak/ camping trip.
You'll used the toothpick more later in life when your gums receed. You are not packing disposable toothpicks on a camping trip.
Can and bottle openers are by far the most used.
Can't recall ever using the small knife or awl.
However, I do keep a leatherman in the console of my car.
I never understood why a Swiss Army knife would have a toothpick. Recycling a toothpick is tremendously gross.
Something something resin something something screen something something pipe.
Weed's not my thing, but bong and pipe maintenance is what I recall folks using the toothpick and tweezers for (while Don was over to the side of the party opening another bottle of wine for the other guests). So maybe Michigan's players are a Leatherman, while Hugh Freeze's Ole Miss players are a Swiss Army Knife.
Ahhh, thank you for the enlightenment.
You must have a cheap knock off and not an original!
But maybe Rambo's hunting knife would be more appropriate.
7 inch blade. wiresaw, matches, and a compass
Rashan "Blade" Gary, Maurice "Wiresaw" Hurst, Bryan "Matches" Mone, and Chase "Compass" Winovich.
I read that as "matches malone", aka the name batman uses to infiltrate the criminal underworld from time to time.
Quick thought: To a different degree, Mattison was to Hoke as Greg Frey was to RichRod.
Quick thought: I always assumed a good D-line coach like Hoke would be better at identifying a good O-line coach, not like Funk. You'd think if your game of chess is one you always win, you need a better opponent.
I think the problem was that Hoke was more of a Checkers guy.
Well it's kind of easy to win when YOU NEVER MOVE YOUR BACK ROW!
PFF agrees with your assessment on Taco - listed as a weakness was that he got lost in the wash sometimes allowing the QB to escape. Chase Winovich is probably worse in this regard because of he plays like a rocket. We'll see how that translates this year because he was mostly called in to be a rocket on passing downs. That will change this year as he will be tasked with more snaps. That is unknown for now and anyone's guess as to how it plays out.
The biggest criticism on Chris Wormley was his pass rushing. Rashan Gary is an upgrade here. He is going to be so much fun to watch this year.
The NT and 3-Tech will need help from new blood. Mone will be all that if he stays healthy and lives up to the coaches reports of how awesome he is. Glasgow will definately be missed because the veteran depth after Mone just isn't there. Solomon could be an immediate help and it sounds like Gary is working with him which is awesome. Hurst will be Hurst and he will be about as fun to watch as Gary. Spelling him at 3-Tech will probably be a combination of Dwumfour and Gary.
The athleticism of some of these guys, coupled with Seth's write up in HTTV about Don Brown and how he uses velocity, just has me ready to watch these guys in action.
Have to disagree with your assessment of Taco Charlton's play, at least for last year. If you look at the games he missed and compare them with the ones after he returned, you'll see that his pass rush didn't allow the big QB runs that were allowed by his understudy.
I think Jeter and Solomon will be the most ready at the start of the season but dont ignore Vilain. He's an athletic beast. Either way this D-Line haul is going to be stellar. Solomon, Jeter, Hudson, Vilain and then Irving Bey who was an Army All American and seems to have good character from what ive read.
Flipping Donovan Jeter could very well end up being the biggest move of 2017s recruiting. Right up there with landing Solomon
I think our defense will be equal to, or possibly better, than last year. Don Brown has a documented history of improved YoY results regardless of talent & he has never had talent like this to work with.
I had to save that picture.
I changed the script to "Rashan Gary eyeing the quarterback before the snap" and sent it to my co-UM football watching buddy..
but I just love the quote by Harbaugh regarding Rashan:
“It would be a sin to just be good when you were sent to be great like he is."
JH has a manner of expression at times which is almost biblical.
I believe Chris Evans introduced that quote to Harbaugh last fall camp
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If our offense is better than last year......we will win a lot of games. Maybe all of them.
This is the thing for me. Our defense last year was super. I doubt this year's defense will be that good - but I do think it wil be an excellent, top-10 defense.
But the offense. Ugh. This year hinges on it. Specifically, on the OL and Speight. I'm concerned. And I'm really tired of being concerned about the OL.
The D line will be fine for as long as the current coaching staff is here.
It's the O line that has to get it going.
That group really has to step it up this season. It's the only position group on the team that hasn't seen any growth since Harbaugh arrived. It has to happen this year.
...the problem is that we won't have a second string DL like we did last year. But that's only really going to be an issue against a small number of teams. Hurst and Gary are going to be an upstoppable combination when they are in.
That tells me that a lot of players will see action. Even more fuel for the fire for the 2018 campaign! :)
I think the starting front four could be better than it was last year. But overall, I don't think the DL will be as good as it was last year simply due to depth concerns. There is almost no one who has played any meaningful snaps behind Gary, Mone, Hurst and Winovich. Last year, Michigan ran a line that was 8-9 guys deep, all of whom could contribute anywhere from a good to elite level. They were always fresh. That's likely not the case this year.
Help is definitely on the way, but if any one of the starters get hurt, the defense is in seriously deep trouble unless the freshmen grow up fast. Hell, we need them to grow up fast anyway. The starters have all got to be spelled at some point. We've got some stupid talented freshmen in guys like Vilain and Solomon, but they're still just freshmen.
I'm particularly worried about Mone. He has all the potential in the world and has shown flashes of dominance, but he has spent much of his career injured. Hopefully this is the year he gets past all of that.
Great test of how Mattison has them prepared will come at the JerryDome. A well-oiled D-Line could really be the deciding factor in that game if the FL O-line is not similarly prepared. And, here's hoping that great pass rush prevents PSU from snaring all of the jump balls that they are going to have to throw up, or from keeping them from being thrown in the first place.