Pick your surprise(s): Offense
The MGoBlog previews for the offense have been posted. It seems there is at least one surprise starter and contributor every year. Last year, Grant Newsome took the LT job, Asiasi leap-frogged Wheatley, Chris Evans took off as the #2 RB, and, most famously, Wilton Speight won the starting QB job (though by the preview Brian conceded he was the most likely starter).
So...who on offense do you think will start/contribute in a significant way that has been overlooked? As a reminder, here's Brian's starting line-up:
- LT: Mason Cole
- LG: Ben Bredeson
- C: Patrick Kugler
- RG: Mike Onwenu
- RT: Jon Runyan, Jr.
- FB: Khalid Hill, Henry Poggi
- HB: Khalid Hill
- TE: Ian Bunting
- Flex: Zach Gentry
- WR1: Kekoa Crawford
- WR2: Tarik Black, DPJ
- Slot: Grant Perry
- Spread H: Chris Evans
- RB: Chris Evans, Karan Higdon
- QB: Wilton Speight
My guesses: TWJ starts at TE (not Bunting); Sean McKeon is a surprise contributor; Chris Evans and Karan Higdon combine for 1,800 rushing yards.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:43 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
If that happens (and I hope it does) I'm going to e-mail the doofus sportswriter from Albuquerque who shat all over Gentry's move to TE.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:04 PM ^
to the Albuquerque Journal and give him some kind of gift. That was one of the stupidest things I've ever read in that paper, and that's saying a lot (or not much, depending on how you look at it - the Journal sucks.)
August 29th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
I believe that by mid-season, once they've gotten some game experience, this offense is going to be explosive. So many playmakers and a coaching staff that knows how to use them all.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
Agree. It's reload. They will be as good if not better than last year.
QB - obvious
RB - we rotated everyone often last year, lot of them are back
TE - all very talented and used last year too
OL - just as good
WR - these are young, but this is the position where raw talent makes up for a lot.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:29 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:11 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 7:24 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:24 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
Ben went through trial by fire last season and it didnt go well for him or the OL as a whole. I really believe a lot of that had to do with him being a true freshman and not knowing the playbook, or his assignments, very well. Now that he has some experience under his belt and a full year of coaching, I think we will be pleasantly surprised with his contributions..... or we at the very least, wont be talking about all the mistakes he made week in and week out.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
Because we'll be talking that way about the FR playing on the o-line THIS YEAR, right?
August 30th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
argue with this.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^
McDooooooooooooom
August 29th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
I think he will fit our offense perfectly. I foresee lots of screens and misdirection plays. Plus the expected jump from soph WRs will make him more dangerous in the rest of the passing attack.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
RT has me sweating bullets at night so I'm just gonna pretend like everything is okay and take whoever starts as RT as my surprise
August 29th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
Speight is 2nd-team All-B1G
August 29th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
Speight leads the B1G in passing yards, TD:INT ratio, and QBR. No RB has over 900 yards rushing. Ruiz takes over somewhere on the line eventually. Rashan Gary will break the single season sack record at Michigan.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^
Really the only competition for passing in the B1G this year is PSU and Purdue. PSU has a Heisman caliber running back, so they might not air it out as much (or be as successful as last season). Purdue could easily end up with more passing yards this year than Michigan. I can't think of another team in the B1G that has a scary passing game and is capable of putting up huge numbers.
Also, I think we'll see Evans go for around 850 yards, Higdon around 800, Isaac around 600, and Walker around 400. We'll still have a balanced offensive attack, but our passing game will be scary this season.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:59 PM ^
good numbers based on tempo, scheme and Wilson play calling. Simple reads. Don't have to be a world beater thrower in that offense. Hit a deep ball or two when they're there. Latter may be his only issue but still think they'll put up some numbers.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:07 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^
get dinged up at some point. Almost a certainlty. Ruiz will play.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
Are both going to play a ton! Carl Myers will get more reps than expected as well.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:37 PM ^
Or maybe Hudson is a closet Leninist.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^
Vladimir was a crafty little slot receiver in his day, with a devastating cut block in his arsenal. Dude really enjoyed destroying people's knees, and he had deceptive speed and was reliable catching the ball in traffic.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:26 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^
I know everyone is hyping the wide receivers (as I am too). However, if the passing game clicks, expect the run game to explode. If teams can't load the box against us, I expect Evans and Higdon to pile up the yards. I think Higdon really shines this year. He gets to and hits the hole better than the other returning RBs with playing time.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^
August 29th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^
That's one of the reasons I like Kekoa. Blocking is what freshmen WRs and TEs struggle with the most, and Kekoa seems to be significantly ahead of te curve in that department.