Redshirt watch & participation 2 games in
According to the NCAA.org stats, four freshman have played two games. That one was @Notre Dame strongly suggests that they're on a redshirt-burning path. Bell, Hutchinson and Moody, I think we all know and are cool with. Haskins is the 4th. Two freshmen played in one game: Mayfield and VanSumeren. I don't recall if BVS played on offense and/or special teams. Regardless, it feels like the number of potential burnings is low, which is odd given the new rules.
While I'm at it, I think it's useful to note the less heralded to note their contributions on special teams, based on the same participation data:
Tyler Cochran, Jordan Glasgow, Joe Hewlett, Jacob McCurry, Andrew Vastardis, Jared Wangler, Brendan White, Peter Bush, and Louis Grodman. (The last 2 played in just 1 game, the remainder in both.)
I remember seeing Glasgow and obviously McCurry on defense and offense respectively against WMU, but they also played against ND. McCurry has a recorded tackle.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^
I hope either Mayfield plays a lot or keeps his redshirt. Unless unexpectedly pressed into action, seems like the worst case scenario would be mop up apparences in 5 games.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
I think he'll get extended action this week with the hope to shelve him behind "in case of emergency" glass and save his last two games for the end of the season.
Time to mature and somewhat adjust to college life, but still be useful in big games at season's end.
That's what's nice about less than 4 games at anytime preserves the redshirt.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Mayfield needs more PT. Not sure if Western had their 2nd string in, and didn't get a good look at his pass-pro, but dude was destroying people in the run game.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
Destroying people? He had a couple good seal blocks, but I didn't see him destroy anyone.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
Hey, when you're thirsty in the desert, a glass of tap water can look like Dom Perignon.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
This made me belly laugh.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
You say that like it's a bad thing.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
The way our OL has been lately, a true freshman at the weakest overall position executing a routine block at a high level is "destroying" in my book!
September 10th, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^
You missed him crush a guy for 10 yards down the field then.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
Our entire second team offense looked good.
I did not see wholesale substitutions on defense from Western at that point, so it looked like they were getting it done against Western's 1's for what it's worth (yeah not much, but success is success).
We may actually have a future on offense.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^
They were Westerns backups.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^
Looked better than the offense did at any time last year (except maybe parts of the Florida game). So, yeah, I don't care if they were backups or not. Also, it seemed like Harbaugh really wanted that drive to go well; they were running tempo and stuff, it wasn't just a turtle drive.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
I would expect the majority of freshmen to play toward season's end - Rutgers & Indiana - then post season.
Preserve redshirts, gain strength, learn playbook.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
I remember there being a penalty called on Myles Sims. He played, right?
September 9th, 2018 at 1:08 PM ^
Announcer said Sims but when the zoomed in it was Uche.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^
McCurry hype was real!!!!!!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^
I would love for Mayfield and/or Hudson to get the start next game and let’s just roll with the results. Let them get experience against the easier part of the schedule and see if they can hold up against the better teams. We already know our ceiling with the current OTs, and that will be a loss to Wisconsin, PSU, and OSU unless we get an unbelievable game from the defense and/or a special teams score. Yesterday was nice, but let’s be real. We have one position group that’s holding this team back from greatness, why not try to bring the young guys in and see what they can do instead of settling for 9-3?
September 9th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
Agree. I want both guys to start and see what happens. Ceiling is higher with these two guys. JBB & Runyan are stiff tackles who just aren’t good laterally. Good/above average DE’s will destroy these two regularly like they have gotten beat in the past. Not saying they can’t win the tough games, just will need to overcome their challenges. Mayfield & Hudson might be just what the doctor ordered. Two young guys who bring it in game situations.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
You state that like Michigan’s future is a known quantity. I think after two games, that’s a bit premature. ND could be a 7-5 team and Western Michigan could be a 3-9 team. Conversely, ND could be 11-1 and Western 9-3. You can flop those around however you want, but the truth is nobody knows. So given that, how the fuck do you project our season so easily given the lack of known information?
September 9th, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
C'mon... Everyone knows that armchair coaches know more about the team than anyone else! Clearly, the backups that couldn't beat out the starters for whatever reason are better than said starters.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:07 PM ^
I’m not trying to armchair QB. Where did I say Harbaugh should do this? I said I would like to see us do it and see what the young guys can do. We know what the results will be with our current OTs. Past is the best predictor of future behavior. What have Runyan and JBB shown that makes you think they will ever be able to hold up against a good DE? I’ll wait for any examples from last year or this one.
September 9th, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^
You've been here since 2011 and you are still surprised that people post their opinions as though they were known facts? Almost everyone does it, and almost no one thinks that the poster is really trying to precisely predict the future.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:51 PM ^
So what if they can't hold up and Runyan and JBB are the better options. You would have destroyed the ability if the line to develop chemistry.
If Mayfield is not an improvement, why not try and preserve his RS so we can start to break the cycle. Wouldn't it be nice to have Cole this year?
If you're going to try anyone, seems like Hudson would be the choice, but I heard yesterday that he has worked all camp at RT. Where do you play him? Seems to be asking a little much to throw him at LT.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:33 PM ^
Mayfield has played one game so far this year. He's the only guy I think is really on the fence; they might look to get him into four games if he has decent time, and then decide whether or not to burn the shirt later. But this week he didn't get in until the fourth quarter. There are certainly suggestions out there that he shows promise but isn't ready to be a D-1 tackle yet, and I don't think anybody should be devastated by this.
No reason to start Hudson unless he has passed either JBB or Runyan. It doesn't appear that this has happened yet; I do hope that we can, say, get a 35 point lead at halftime against SMU and spend more time with the backup OL than this past week. The fact that Michigan had a huge lead in the third against WMU and didn't yank guys suggests to me that the staff is anxious to get the existing line game reps to build. So either they think there's potential for improvement, or they really don't think Hudson or Mayfield can cut it.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
Jared Wangler has been on scholarship his whole time at Michigan. I'd suggest not classifying him with walk-ons.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
In fairness, he never said they were walk-ons, just "less heralded." Wangler definitely is that.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:29 PM ^
Yes, it was intentional that I didn't say walk-ons. And, fwiw, my purpose was to acknowledge / celebrate their contributions.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:10 PM ^
VanSumeren played on the kickoff. Haskins must have also played on special teams because I didn't see him on the field otherwise. Per Baumgardner both VanSumeren and Haskins warmed up with the LBers. Don't think that bodes well for either if they are permanent position changes.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:15 PM ^
VanSumeran has got intriguing athleticism. Haskins and Taylor are probably never going to play any serious minutes here.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^
Haskins has been here all of two months and you are already writing him off, haha
September 9th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
I think Haskins is unlikely to see much time at RB if Gray and Charbonnet stick with their commitment
September 9th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^
Except Haskins is a different type of back than either of those guys. There is always a place for a large running back in the offense if he has the ability to get yards after contact and has good ball security. Everyone tried to pencil in Green as a stud and write off Smith. We all saw how that turned out. Haskins may not be a hyped recruit but he has the potential to be a good short yardage back or even end up at fullback. We shouldn't be saying a guy won't see much time when he might be here another four years since he is an obvious redshirt this season.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:29 PM ^
Where's Inside M Football ??
September 9th, 2018 at 6:15 PM ^
Remember it’s 4 total games so it could be at any time. They can sit 2-3 weeks and come back again and play as long as they don’t participate in any 4 games!
September 9th, 2018 at 7:58 PM ^
Any update on the lineman transfer?
September 9th, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
I think Haskins has potential to be a player, there is a significant log jam at Rb though. In a conversation with Jay Harbaugh he commented how he reminded him of Leveon Bell, the kid has surprising athleticism. I believe he was a very good high jumper in HS.
BVS will fight for time at the WILL don’t sleep on his athleticism, go check out is sparq scores from last year. The kid is determined to play at this level and will fight for PT. I predict you will hear Don Brown call him a dude before you know it. I personally think he should be used at the H- back position, but that along with the full back is essentially gone from the playbook. Maybe after Shea leaves it will return.