Spring Football - Who will surprise us?

Submitted by Mineral King on
Big game tonight, but with Spring practice starting tomorrow I was curious who everyone predicts as being a surprise player for the team? Meaning, who has not gotten a lot of hype, is young and unproven, or been a disappointment so far, but you think is going to turn heads and prove they have potential to be a key contributor for us this year. I will take Crawford on offense and Paye on defense.
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DrMantisToboggan

March 22nd, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^

Doesn't have to be in the playbook - putting a 6'7 260lb man in the backfield, or running him on a reverse, is a bit obvious. Part of what makes trick plays work is their disguise in what seems to be a very normal formation or motion.

 

We would have to line Gentry up at wildcat and have him run or handoff multiple times before he threw the ball to make that work. We could also run some double pass with him catching a lateral first, but we should set that up by running a screen to him earlier in the year. 

 

Point is it's not much of a trick if all of a suddent Gentry is taking a snap or a handoff and then throws, that seems obvious. I think if a non-QB throws a pass this year it will be Michael Barrett.

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

SC Wolverine

March 22nd, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^

The trick play we need is the transcontinental.  We had a tradition going with one epic transcontinental per year.  It was breaking that tradtion that sent our program into a tailspin.  So if Gentry throws it, it needs to be the QB.  For tradition's sake!

Joined: 08/18/2010

MGoPoints: 7795

Bodogblog

March 22nd, 2018 at 12:37 PM ^

Or hunting them

EDIT 

< jungle scene >
< a black cat shown in close profile, face filling the screen; panting heavily and terrified > 
< he gulps a desperate last air before continuing to run, as he has for so long... > 
< an arrow pierces the jungle leaves, coming within inches; a trail of blood is observed > 

armed man #1: Zephyr... Zephyr!!  Here little kitty-kitty.  (taunting) 

armed man #2: I have him (as a crossbow appears and fires) 

/ kitten falls 

< mercenaries emerge from the jungle and close in > 

armed man #2: oh how I have been waiting for this (pointing the crossbow between eyes) 

/ clicking sound freezes mercenaries... they part ways as a man in pure white linen approaches, cool despite the sweltering heat 

white linen: It's been a long time Zephyr. 

kitten: unable to speak 

white linen: No need, Zephyr.  As what would there be left for you to say?  (caressing his head, and little bit under the right chin)  You've failed in every way a kitty can.  I found you.  And I watched you.  And I let you live and have a family.  You never even knew.  When the first of your litter died you thought it an accident, but with the second you began to understand.  And as I slowly eliminated them all you felt the shadow growing.  When I forced to watch your kitty wife die you knew it was me... maybe you always knew. 

kitten: /horror growing on his face, sorrow complete; "Kill me" 

white linen: Oh I will.  But before I do, I want to see the look in your eyes when I tell you it doesn't end here.  That I've spent every hour since that day obsessed with this moment, building companies, amassing a fortune, destroying lives... (his anger growing and his voice climbing), so that your death wouldn't be complete without the knowledge that I will kill every single member of your misbegotten race before I leave this earth!  And I now have the means to do so!!!!  I have purchased every kitty food company on the planet, through shell corporations, the mob, the FBI... oh how I've sacrificed, oh the horrors I've done!!!  But it will all be worth it, when I finally see the end of the world for your kiND!!!  WHEN I FINALLY WATCH ALL OF YOU DIE!!!!!!  (screaming, spitting, terrifying) 

armed man #3, a captain: (calmly) Mr. Zuckerberg, the helicopter is waiting. 

zuckerberg: (regaining composure) so it is... Goodbye Zephyr.  I only ever wanted to be your Friend. 

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

Mike Damone

March 22nd, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^

How about a big Spring game with DPJ going off, Black looking great from injury, Collins manhandling some smaller DBs, and Oliver Martin getting in the mix. 

We need this position group to go from a weakness to a strength - and we have the talent to do so.

Joined: 09/02/2017

MGoPoints: 24178

EGD

March 22nd, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^

I am looking forward to seeing what the 2017 LB recruits (Singleton, Ross, and Anthony) will be able to do after a year in the system.  They were all very highly-touted so I don't know if "surprise" is the right word though.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

Alumnus93

March 22nd, 2018 at 11:05 AM ^

I reckon it'll be someone on the OL...... getting Warinner as OL coach is easily among the top few events of Michigan football since we fell off a cliff.   We've stunk for over a decade because primarily of our OL, where historically we've dominated.

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

BTB grad

March 22nd, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^

Ben Mason   /s

 

Really, all of our WRs now that they'll actually have coaching this year, especially those that were freshman last year. Hopefully better route running and getting separation

Joined: 12/01/2015

MGoPoints: 23518

massblue

March 22nd, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^

The OL is going to surprise us.  The expectation is so low that any type of performance will surprise us.  Also, I think they will be a lot better than last year's group.

Joined: 08/15/2009

MGoPoints: 10395

1VaBlue1

March 22nd, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^

We're a basketball school, but whatever.  I'll play you're silly game...

James Hudson and Ben Mason on offense.  I think Hudson is going to shine as an OL (relatively speaking, considering recent OL history), and Mason will end up being the best FB we've had since Bo retired (though some of Carr's FB's were pretty darn good, too).

On defense, Paye, Woods, and Ross are all going to play very well this year.  Not sure they'll have the 'breakout' year where they become legit lock-down stars, but I think thier overall play will remind of Khaleke Hudson's season last year - you knew he was damn good, just didn't have awesome stats to back it up (save UMinn not blocking him, ever).

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127358