September 8th, 2010 at 1:01 PM ^
Thanks for sharing this nugget of info with (seemingly) zero source other than that is going on inside of your head (who knows).
September 8th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
When an anonymous message board poster tells me to book something, I damn well book it. I'd suggest you do the same.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
Only if they specifically tell us to Raback it.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
Det. News said RR said it will be Vinopal
September 8th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
Sorry, I thought I posted the link. It's in here multiple times though :)
September 8th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^
in 2013 having a secondary with roughly 120 starts under their belts....
September 8th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^
WHITE MAN IN DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD -- ERROR ERROR -- DOES NOT COMPUTE
September 8th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
I hate your Avatar! "YOOOOOO yo yo yo yo yo, yo yo yo, yo, yoyo. YOYOYOYOYOOOOOO!"
CREEPY.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
Trololotastic, yes.
Trololorific, certainly.
Trololoawesome, sure.
Creepy? Not so much, sniper kitty.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
2 white boys back there!
Don't forget about Kovacs.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^
Angry bunch here today.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
I think you read the same article I just readon AnnArbor.com
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/vlad-emilien-has-left-michig…
Cam Gordon is the starter at the position, and Rodriguez said Wednesday that true freshman Ray Vinopal will be his chief backup. "He's really come on the last couple of weeks," Rodriguez said.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
Emilien left, what?
September 8th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/vlad-emilien-has-left-michig…
Rodriguez said Wednesday that true freshman Ray Vinopal will be his chief backup.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
Nothing like another strike of the AMSHG* to put us all back into panic mode. Just like MAGNUS LIKES IT!!
September 8th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
this sheds some light on Vlad I think. I wonder when Vinopal became Gordon's primary backup, before or after his decision to leave. I am thinking before.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
After the past few seasons I've become conditioned to expect a feeling terror to go hand in hand with football. On Saturday I thought I'd overdosed on LSD or something. I'm glad to see things are returning to normal.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
to read the "devote 15 Scholarships" post. Called you out, my friend.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
On it.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
I guess Vinopal is slightly prefferable to "The Howling Nothingness of the Void."
September 8th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
Ray Vinopal is a scholarship Michigan player. Therefore, I will expect big things from him if called upon.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
Need a tag for Ray Vinopal, pronto. Can't replace "The Impaler" with just plain old Ray Vinopal.
How about "Raven" (for "Ray Vin")??? I like it!!!!
September 8th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^
is so Raven. Our secondary depth right now... not so Raven.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
Isn't this the guy with stubby legs? How can we expect him to perform with that type of handicap?
September 8th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
He has stubby arms too. Allegedly.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
Making gritty plays.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^
his new nickname is "sandpaper".
(It was either that or "Ray You-Need-To-Use-Feminine-Wash-ipal". I wasn't sure the second was family friendly.)
September 8th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
Our defensive backfield is gonna be so gritty, the offense isn't gonna want to touch it.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
If this guy's nickname is anything other than Stubby Vinopal, that's a crying shame.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^
I embrace the Ray Vinopal Era
September 8th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
"The expectation is for the position." Wouldn't matter to Bo who goes in, so it doesn't matter to me. I expect the position to perform.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^
Racism. Not cool.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
I'm not racist. I like Tom Zbikowski. Did you know he used to be a boxer?
September 8th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^
You know you have never criticized an under-sized black Michigan defensive back.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
True. Boubacar Cissoko was my favorite Michigan player ever!
September 8th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
Does Cissoko ring a bell? I think everyone criticized him. And not for his off field exploits, more for getting burnt on the field
September 8th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
I thought it was pretty obvious I was joking. Magnus was way out in front of everyone in predicting the fall of Boubacar.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
Including having Boobie as his avatar? (though I didn't mind the switch to Miranda Kerr)
September 8th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
Magnus had him as his avatar until he started to make some unsportsmanlike plays. Magnus then switched avatars and a few weeks later, Cissoko was off the team. Magnus just calls it like he sees it.
September 8th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
If you look back at past threads (not that you should - it would be a horrible waste of anyone's time), I said that I set him as my avatar because of his exciting kick returns in 2008. There were a couple times where he was one broken tackle from taking it back all the way.
However, I was never a fan of his abilities as a corner. I mentioned from the beginning that I didn't like his size and playmaking ability.
And like joeyb said, I changed my avatar after the ND game last year when he started acting cocky. I'm not a fan of that type of behavior.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^
Magnus also called for Sheridan to play ahead of Denard last year. Never quite understood that one and apparently neither did RR
After the spring game, why would anybody assume Vlad is a better athlete than Vinopal?
September 8th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
Sheridan 2008: 63/137 (46%), 613 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Robinson 2009: 14/31 (45%), 188 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
They both had a similar completion percentage. Sheridan threw interceptions 4% of the time, and Robinson threw interceptions at a 13% rate. Sheridan played for a worse team. If not for Baby Seal University, Robinson wouldn't have thrown a single TD.
I never suggested that Sheridan would be a better runner than Robinson, but as an actual quarterback . . . it's somewhat difficult to make an argument for Robinson. I've said this before, but if Robinson threw the same number of passes as Forcier in 2009, he would have thrown 37 interceptions. Sheridan would have thrown 11.
But yeah, it's a great thing Rodriguez didn't listen to me. Denard had such a great season in 2009 that he went 4/11 (36%) for 57 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in Michigan's four victories against FBS schools. He also carried the ball 29 times for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns in those games, but all three of those touchdowns and 134 of those rushing yards came against MAC schools in blowouts.
Look, I'm not going to argue that Nick Sheridan was a great quarterback. But Denard Robinson sucked in 2009. His turnaround (so far) has been nothing short of miraculous, and that's great for Denard. I'm excited for his future. Let's not pretend, though, that he was significantly superior to Sheridan as a quarterback. He was essentially a tailback taking direct snaps last season.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
Sheridan 2008: 63/137 (46%), 613 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Robinson 2009: 14/31 (45%), 188 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
They both had a similar completion percentage. Sheridan threw interceptions 4% of the time, and Robinson threw interceptions at a 13% rate. Sheridan played for a worse team. If not for Baby Seal University, Robinson wouldn't have thrown a single TD.
I never suggested that Sheridan would be a better runner than Robinson, but as an actual quarterback . . . it's somewhat difficult to make an argument for Robinson. I've said this before, but if Robinson threw the same number of passes as Forcier in 2009, he would have thrown 37 interceptions. Sheridan would have thrown 11.
But yeah, it's a great thing Rodriguez didn't listen to me. Denard had such a great season in 2009 that he went 4/11 (36%) for 57 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in Michigan's four victories against FBS schools. He also carried the ball 29 times for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns in those games, but all three of those touchdowns and 134 of those rushing yards came against MAC schools in blowouts.
Look, I'm not going to argue that Nick Sheridan was a great quarterback. But Denard Robinson sucked in 2009. His turnaround (so far) has been nothing short of miraculous, and that's great for Denard. I'm excited for his future. Let's not pretend, though, that he was significantly superior to Sheridan as a quarterback. He was essentially a tailback taking direct snaps last season.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
If RR didn't play Denard last season, Denard would not be the player he is now. Denard got throwin' to the wolves last year but persevered, and learned how hard he needed to work to compete at this level.
Denard learned some tough lessons about the speed of the college game and is reaping the benefits of his experience.
You know football better than I, you don't think last season's lessons are a catalyst for Denard's improvement?
September 8th, 2010 at 8:50 PM ^
Sure, I think his playing time probably helped. But if Michigan's defense was picking him off in practice, that might have helped, too. Kids can improve during redshirt years, too (not that he should have redshirted, but that practice time can teach some of the same lessons). We'll never know for sure, but maybe Denard would have been this awesome even if he didn't play a single down in 2009.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
Fair enough, on to ND
September 8th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
Are you like... being reasonable and agreeing to disagree? On MGoBlog? On the INTARWEBS?!? Clearly, you need a refresher course.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
do tell!