Mr. Yost

September 22nd, 2015 at 4:13 AM ^

Last week they not only kept Shane Morris' redshirt in tact, they also kept Grant Newsome's redshirt in tact by inserting Ben Pliska into the 2nd team OL.

Kerridge is still listed as the #1 FB despite his injury.

Khalid Hill has moved up to OR #2 TE while Tom Strobel is not listed at TE while playing at that position last week (Harbaugh says he's TE/DL)

Everything else is pretty much the same...I would expect this to hold true moving forward, the position battles are over. The backup TE spot is the only area where there's still a lot of movement. You can add RB, but we know the guys who are going to play - it's really about health, feel, and who is practicing the best on who plays behind Smith (and even Smith's number of carries as a starter). At TE it looks to be Butt/Bunting at one TE spot and Williams and Hill battling it out for the more blocking TE.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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Firch

September 22nd, 2015 at 7:49 AM ^

I can't remember the last time I saw someone so far along in their collegiate career take a redshirt when it wasn't somehow health related...I like it

Joined: 06/13/2011

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champswest

September 22nd, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^

but I don't think it is the best for UM this year. (1) Few around here think he is ever going to be the starter, so who needs more years of him at back-up? (2) he is getting all the #2 practice snaps (I presume) that could be going to Speight (who is actually playing). (3) JH can't use him in situations during a game (Jake is shaken up, they want a change of pace, let Jake watch for a series for coaching purposes, etc.). (4) Shane isn't getting any game experience. (5) Is there really any QB competition going on when you declare your #2 is getting a RS. (6) a RS would make more sense if we were getting outstanding play from our #1 guy, which we all agree we are not. What are the chances that we make it through a 13 game schedule without our QB missing a meaningful snap? I say slim to none. With our luck, it will happen late in the year and the RS will be burned with only a few game remaining. Now I will shut up about this whole red shirt thing for the rest of the season.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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AZBlue

September 22nd, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^

and is getting the #2 reps as Speight will ONLY be playing in mop-up time.

I actually think it is somewhat genius....keeps Shane motivated and feeling valued while keeping Wilton focussed by giving him the possibility to "Wally Pip" Shane if he kicks ass in his spot-duty. (Also gives him some film to send out when/if he decides to transfer.)

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 16692

charblue.

September 22nd, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^

participation hasn't been ruled out. It's just a way of preserving his future to benefit the program and his opportunity to become the eventual starter if he can. I have never been a big fan of Morris, but I do applaud the way Harbaugh is trying to boost his prospects without doing so in a way that negatively impacts other considerations, such as winning now. 

If you can't see that as the reason why this is the methodology being employed, I don't how else to explain it. Harbaugh is not saying that Morris won't be used this year. He's simply trying to make that happen for Shane's best interests without compromising team goals by complicating the question of his competing as the starter now. 

There is no guarantee that Morris will ever be the starter even if he's the nominal No. 2 guy. And if he were thrown into the starter role, well then, you get the actual litmus test of his ability now and going forward, as a practical matter. 

I just think that Harbaugh is sensitive to the kid's desires and needs of the team at this poibt, and I think this is an effective way of handling it, until an emergency arises. And at that point, it is up to Shane to deliver. 

Joined: 05/25/2010

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getsome

September 22nd, 2015 at 10:26 AM ^

it happens, its just more obvious here bc its a highly touted local QB.  no reason not to keep the option open by using morris to run out clocks in 4th quarters or hold kicks.  if coaches think he can improve enough to contribute down the road, thats great.  and if not he can go elsewhere and still play.

im not exactly sure how the teams future scholarship numbers look but that must be considered.  harbaugh has added tons of QBs, and will continue to do so, in order to increase that spots overall talent and depth.  im sure hell have a good idea of whether or not morris can help his team win games in the future - and if not, they will prob move on and use that scholarship to add another player at any number of key positions.  

ive seen nothing to date indicating morris has any chance of winning big time games for his team.  hed require such dramatic improvements in so many vital areas of his game that im not sure its even feasible at this point - id love to see the local kid make good just like most fans but it seems like some are putting too much stock into this redshirt idea and too much faith into harbaughs QB whispering ability

Joined: 09/07/2013

MGoPoints: 7385

charblue.

September 22nd, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^

He'd have to wait another year if he transferred. Whether or not, Morris stays or goes eventually, I think he will still get an opportunity to show what he can do. Now, I thought he looked decent in the spring game, but I am not sold on him as a starter as apparently the coaching staff isn't either. 

But the staff is thinking of him and his future by not playing him, which seems weird when you think about it.  And I don't know what the kid would be thinking about if he'd gotten a prior RS as a freshman, especially  since he could have used it to build himself up after getting sick during his senior year in high school. But then, of course, Devin got hurt and he played in that bowl game. That was a function of Hoke bowing to Morris' wishes too, and not having enough functioning qbs on the roster to overcome that problem. 

Well, we know that won't be concern for Harbaugh. He'll just bring in another guy to compete for the job, and the best man wins. And that is all he is trying to do now with Morris, give him a better chance to compete before he actually needs to use him. And once that tryout takes place, well, then Morris future is determined. And that's good for all concerned. 

Joined: 05/25/2010

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IndyBlue90

September 22nd, 2015 at 9:00 AM ^

The other change of note is that Stribling has apparently won the second corner spot, at least for this week. Considering the way he played in this last game he deserves it, but I kind of thought BYU's jumbo WR would make Clark a really good option this game. It's possible Clark still play a lot, but who knows.  

Joined: 05/07/2011

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charblue.

September 22nd, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^

just tells who will start, it doesn't mean anything more than that. Because the backups are going to play. Harbaugh wants tp play a lot of kids because they want everyone engaged and making contributions, because that is how you build a winning program and team, with everyone feeling they are part of something bigger than himself. He said this during his press conference yesterday, but nobody picked up on it. He's using these preseason games to see who can play and how much. "Time on task." 

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11365

StephenRKass

September 22nd, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^

I really like saving some redshirts. There is no reason to burn many of them. This has hurt Michigan in the last few years.

Newsome, on the OL, should definitely redshirt if at all possible. And I believe it serves Morris' best interest to redshirt. As others have said, there are multiple good things that happen. He gets a year of learning and competing under Harbaugh's tutelage. He gets to compete in Spring ball to start next year. If he clearly isn't going to beat out Korn, he has the option of transferring elsewhere with a couple years of eligibility, or remaining at Michigan and not paying for it.

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