December 23rd, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
Then why have him practicing on defense? I can't imagine he got so many reps in practice that he was a viable option anymore on defense than he would have at his natural, and apparently future position. Im not questioning to be snarky, but legit don't understand.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^
Haskins was the 6/7th string RB and wasn't going to play on offense this year. How many reps was he going to get in practice? Why not take that opportunity to see if he was a better fit somewhere else? Now with 2 RBs gone, there's more opportunity there. Seems completely normal.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
The “most gifted” RB was 6/7th string? Seems odd to move him to defense if he’s the most gifted RB on the team.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:56 PM ^
How do we interpret what "most gifted" means? It certainly didn't mean most ready to contribute. Maybe those gifts can translate elsewhere too.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^
I was wondering the same
December 23rd, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
So athletic he can easily play many positions :)
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:47 PM ^
"Most gifted"...but at what? Harbaugh didn't specify. He could be most gifted at lawn darts, dancing, playing the oboe, PacMan, Etc.
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:46 PM ^
it's not that he's the most gifted at lawn darts, dancing, playing the oboe, playing PacMan or playing the etc. you fool, it's that he's by FAR the most gifted at playing lawn darts WHILE also dancing, playing the oboe, PacMan AND the Etc.!!!
He's like the Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner of Michigan football!
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:56 PM ^
A player can be the most athletically gifted and still struggle with scheme and fundamentals.
December 23rd, 2018 at 8:04 PM ^
Just look at Samuels. Was an athletic freak, but couldn’t push his way past a walk-on safety (not a shot at Tru)
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^
I wouldn’t buy into “most gifted” too much. Sounds like someone just got a little excited.
December 23rd, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
Because if he’s got talent you want to get him involved ASAP. RB was loaded this year and until Samuels derped looked pretty stocked for next year as well. Why not give him a shot at LB? Haskins himself may have just asked to be put in a position to get on the field ASAP.
While my guess is that the “gifted” comment is hyperbole, it doesn’t preclude the possibility that he’s impressing at RB. Sam had said he was impressing at LB before the move.
To me, this all just signals he’s probably a talented football player hat will settle into a position.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^
Preseason buzz was Turner had third string duties behind Higdon and Evans or was about equal with Wilson and then I believe he broke his arm (?). Haskins may be crazy athletic but didn’t pick up in playbook/pass blocking as quickly? Guys like Samuels and Walker were super athletic but weren’t really getting much run before they left - for different reasons, but nonetheless. Coaches look for more than just raw talent. Doesn’t invalidate the quote.
December 23rd, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
I’m always leary of statements like that. They don’t often pan out or mean much.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^
I always take these “rumblings” with a grain of salt, but nonetheless they are nice talking pieces. I remember when we all questioned the addition of Gray to the last recruiting class, even if it’s just a bunch of fluff we’ve heard much more of him than Myles Sims. Donovan Jeter is a huge human being, probably Mone 2.0. Can’t wait for Saturday!!
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^
Bryan Mone also got a mention. He has to be one of the greatest practice players in UM history.
December 23rd, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
This is all great news. Higdon’s absence hurts, but it will be fun to see some of the freshmen show their talent.
Sometimes position switches are a bad sign, but Haskins seems to be getting shifted because they see his talent and want him on he field ASAP. Hope he gets some snaps on Saturday.
Jeter is vital to next year as well as the emergence of at least two CBs, so that’s all good.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
ahem Chase Winovich
December 23rd, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
He's no Grady Brooks.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
awesome! I know it’s all hearsay, but I always like hearing how some of the young guys are progressing. Need to hit on Jeter.
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:51 PM ^
Well I don't really advise it, but if you really NEED to hit on Jeter I'll help you out a little in your endeavor. He lives on the even side of the 800 block of Tappan, but I won't narrow it down more than that for you....
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:56 PM ^
We've been through this enough with spring hype to know none of it is true.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^
I imagine a lot of the RB chatter is due to the extra touches available from Samuels leaving the team.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
Can someone explain how Jeter (or anyone else) has made great progress since the end of the season? Is he stronger or faster? Does he know the playbook better? Can he cover crossing routes as a DL? We hear comments like these before bowl games and they seem ridiculous.
December 24th, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^
Likely the playbook knowledge. Keep in mind during the bowl game practices they are preparing for one opponent but they also devote a lot of time for younger guys to get reps. Sometimes that in itself can help a player progress. It's tough to get any traction during the season for a guy like Jeter, not surprising that things would be starting to click for him between November and now. Don't underestimate the importance of more reps.
Football is not all physical, mental is a huge part. It's always darkest before the dawn, sometimes guys show no 'progress' and then it all starts to click.
Don't read progressing as he's gone from nothing to gonna start, but just as they're putting it all together. It's a combination of more reps, comfortability with the playbook among other things.
Hearing a guy is making great progress after season's end and practice hype (like the Dwumfour hype we've seen) are not the same thing.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
They better be praiseworthy, they get to start there are so many guys not playing.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
Will be interesting to see after the bowl if Hill or Long declare for the draft. This is what has me the most anxious for next year. Very little playing time for anyone besides Ambry Thomas
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:51 PM ^
That's my most significant question too, who will be the corners next year. I think it's a bigger question than who will be the DE's.
December 24th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
Who is concerned about the DE's? We have several proven (in the sense that they've played and shown big time potential more than a couple times) guys there. Between, Paye, Uche, Hutchinson they should be fine. The DT's are my concern, especially after zero pressure from them against OSU and losing Solomon. The prospect of Kemp, Jeter and freshman like Mazi Smith and Chris Hinton being the two-deep don't exactly warm my cockles there.
CB's are a question mark but I'm still more worried about DT.
December 23rd, 2018 at 5:31 PM ^
"One source indicated that Turner “keeps amazing” the coaching staff, while another said, “he’s gonna go off in the bowl game.”
Translation: Turner will get less than 10 carries.
"I was told that Haskins “might be the most gifted” of the current tailbacks."
Translation: Fred Jackson was at practice this week.
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
This!
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:49 PM ^
Oh Don, you're BPONEiest!
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^
Someone should carve this prediction into stone tablets. I 100% agree. This sounds like a lot of talk without much substance, the typical spring practice type talk. Hope I'm wrong.
December 24th, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
You’re probably right. Turner had the look of a future star in limited action. Not his production necessarily but his body composition, fluidity and balance.
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
I've always wondered how a few bowl practices makes guys so much better or stand out so much more. Don't they practice during the week in the regular season? Where was all this hype just a few weeks ago before OSU?
December 23rd, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
because during the season they are focusing on that weeks game and preparing the guys that will be needed that week to play in the game in a very limited time frame.
Bowl prep is like 6 weeks or so of uninterrupted practice time with plenty more reps available for peeps that weren't going to be counted on much or at all during the regular season when there was always a time and reps crunch.