Steve Lorenz on Donovan Edwards: "I Think Michigan Eventually Pulls it Out"

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on April 6th, 2020 at 12:26 PM

Donovan Edwards is the 2021 running back from West Bloomfield who is the No. 2 RB in the class. Steve Lorenz analyzes his recruitment and says while it's far from over, he has a good feeling for the good guys.

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I don't follow this stuff closely enough to know if Lorenz usually knows what he's talking about, but I'll take whatever positive news we can get.

Larry Appleton

April 6th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^

A top QB and a top RB would pretty much make it a good class regardless of how the rest turns out.

Bodogblog

April 6th, 2020 at 12:42 PM ^

Sam Webb has said the same, but continues to caution his recruitment won't be over for a long time.  Others can get into it - even Oklahoma is trying to get in now.  

Getting the ball to a RB out of the backfield is huge for this kid, so hopefully we see that in 2020 (hopefully we see a 2020 season).  Remember Brian and this site continually asking why Michigan couldn't complete a screen pass?  Patterson just couldn't seem to throw them, or they weren't in sync, or whatever they just never worked.  Gattis really likes that aspect of offense though, so they're certain to put more in this year (and Chris Evans may really stand out there).  

Do that, and Harbaugh stays on the kid, it looks good for Michigan but a long road. 

Watching From Afar

April 6th, 2020 at 12:57 PM ^

Patterson just couldn't seem to throw them, or they weren't in sync, or whatever they just never worked.

It's not like the screens were set up regardless. That INT he threw against PSU wasn't a Patterson issue. Charbonnet was a foot away from his OL with guys screaming at the wall to break it up. That wasn't a one off, they haven't been capable of a consistent screen game in years and I'm not entirely sure why.

They didn't run RB swing passes or option routes like they did even under Drevno with Evans. 

They got pretty good at bubble screens though which is a step in the right direction even if not with the same players involved.

Bodogblog

April 6th, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^

I think you make good points overall.  But I disagree on the PSU interception.  That play is dead, turf it.  There's about 50 QBs playing CFB last year that would have had enough awareness to dump that.  

Part of it may have been limited playbook with 1 true freshman RB and another who started camp as a LB.  

Magnus

April 6th, 2020 at 1:13 PM ^

Michigan's lack of (effective) screens has infuriated me in recent years. Gattis's idea of a screen last year was terrible. I hate those off-tackle screens. That's the opposite of #speedinspace. Michigan was much better off running slow screens to Drake Johnson, Ty Isaac, etc. in years past, and some of those guys were underused in the screen game. 

ak47

April 6th, 2020 at 1:06 PM ^

All it took was OSU getting the #1 and #3 running backs in the class for us to maybe be in the lead for a guy in our backyard, sweet.

Frank Chuck

April 6th, 2020 at 2:53 PM ^

Who gives a shit? Talent is talent.

This is kinda before my time but John Cooper reportedly didn't prioritize Charles Woodson. Are you complaining? I'm not.

And Ohio State is riding high but we'll rise at some point.

Believe it or not, every blueblood has periods of underachieving.
What was Texas doing in 80s?
What were Oklahoma and USC up to in the 90s?
Where was Alabama from mid 90s to late 2000s?

UMich2016

April 6th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^

Disagree with Lorenz. To me it seems like Edwards is looking for a different school other then Michigan.  It was OSU, then they filled up, now he’s looking around to Georgia and possibly Oklahoma.  Also, he was not happy about how we utilize RBs.  I feel like he will go elsewhere.

Michigan strongly feels like the backup option here.  And clearly he's going to have many different options.