Who Stays and Who Goes?
Well, its that time of the year that we all start thinking about who may or may not enter the draft this year. You've gotta think that after this performance some guys that may have been on the fence will be coming back.
Offense:
Patterson- We had some early reports that he was staying followed by reports that he's was probably going. After yesterday's game I think it's probably close to 70-30 that he stays. The talent is obvious but the polish is not there for him to be taken in the top 2 rounds. I think he comes back.
Gentry- Had some serious drop problems and when you're projected to be an offensive receiving weapon that doesn't mesh. Outside of his height and relatively good athleticism I see no aspect of his game that is NFL ready. Shaky hands. Mediocre blocker. No way he is NFL ready. 80-20 that he's back.
Bredeson- I was very surprised that Kiper had him as the #3 rated OG for this coming draft. I think he's a 4 year player and has a chance to really improve his draft stock with another year. I think he had a pretty good year but its obvious that he isn't a finished product. He should return to lead what could be a pretty damn good offensive line unit next year. 70-30 that he returns.
Defense:
Gary- Such an enigma. Off the charts athleticism that just hasn't been matched with productivity. I've loved watching the guy and have no doubt that he has the talent to be a good NFL player. That being said, I think yesterday's game is going to take him out of the top 10 pick discussion. I still think its about a 95% chance he leave but the lack of production couple with a strong dline draft its going to push him to probably mid 1st round area.
Bush- I'd say he's almost assuredly gone and to be honest I think he has a real chance to be drafted higher than Gary. Very good player that should put up some strong combine numbers. Production matches his athleticism. Been a real pleasure watching this guy in a winged helmet and I hope he crushes it in the League.
Hill & Long- I'll put these two together because I believe they are in an almost identical situation. Both are super productive players but both are also undersized for the NFL game. I personally think they each could use another year in college and would expect their draft grades to come back between 3rd and 5th round picks. At those draft spots I think they'd be best served returning. That being said, I've always got the impression that they've each been leaning towards entering the draft. I think its a toss up and will put it at 50-50.
Hudson- I don't see any chance that he enters the draft. He lacks a true position and quite frankly did not meet expectations this year. Still love him as a player but I don't think he's going anywhere. I'd put it at about 90% that he returns.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:08 AM ^
Exactly. We've struggled to recruit tackles and interior defensive linemen for a few years, and we've been able to paper over those problems against other Big Ten teams. But when it came time to play a team that has NFL talent at every single position the recruiting failures showed badly. Hopefully they can get it organized with this class so that moving forward we can match up with the best. Until then our ceiling is a top 10 team that can't beat the elite teams in football.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^
Pretty confident the OL will be better next season. Maybe even a lot better.
Now the DL on the other hand...woof. Gonna be a big step back there, and the depth is pretty minimal. Might be looking at a reverse 2017 kind of year -- great offense, suspect defense.
And while yes, they will still have Don Brown and still likely be a top 5-10 defense, it'll be a paper defense in the same way this season's defense is still the No. 1 defense in the country. Look great against bad teams, vulnerable as hell against good ones.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:50 AM ^
The only ones who would be missed are Bush and the CBs. . .
Patterson had a fine year, but I saw enough of McCaffrey to believe we'll be the same or perhaps even better at QB if he is the guy, and Milton ought to be a serviceable back-up.
Nobody will even notice Gary is gone. The only area he was significantly better than Paye or Uche was in hype, not in on-field performance. Hutchinson will also probably end up having a better career.
The corners look rough for next year without both Long and Hill. . .let's pray one of them stays.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
Bush and Gary have to go. Bush reminds me of those FSU and Miami linebackers of the 90's that are just built for the NFL. One of my favorite Wolverines. If I was him I would sit out the bowl even if I was healthy. I think I would be happy if one corner stayed but I just have a bad feeling they will both bolt for the NFL. I think everyone on offense should come back. Most of them were unable to RS (Gentry excluded) but the rest of them could use a year to get stronger. We still should be pretty good next year. We just seem to be missing that one dynamic offensive piece that OSU always seems to have.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
Or 11 that they always have
November 25th, 2018 at 10:10 AM ^
P. Cambell and Curtis Samuel come to mind off the top of my head. We just couldn't handle those guys.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:03 AM ^
The Clash.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
Bush and Gary will go
One CB will go, probably Hill
Everyone else should stay because they are not ready
November 25th, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^
Hopefully Pep Hamilton goes
November 25th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
Maybe he can take Jay with him? I realize the RB group was pretty good this year, but nobody could argue with a straight face that Jay is among the top 10 best RB coaches in the country.
The RBs benefit from a run heavy offense so his group has good numbers.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
nobody could argue with a straight face that Jay is among the top 10 best RB coaches in the country.
How can you argue that one way or the other? What exactly makes a good RB coach?
November 25th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
Coaching experience, for one. Playing the position would probably be nice. The backs were good this year, but they were pretty terrible last year (fumbles, absolutely shit pass pro).
RB coach tends to be a recruiting position, which Jay seems to do pretty well. However, can you imagine Mike Hart's recruiting pitch versus Michigan? "Hey, do you want to come to Indiana and be coached by a Michigan RB legend, an NFL vet, and an experienced RB coach... or do you want to be coached by Jim Harbaugh's kid?"
November 25th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
Sure Mike Hart would be a great RB coach for Michigan.
But isn't RB coach and/or Jay Harbaugh about 57th on the list of possible reasons Michigan still hasn't caught up to OSU?
November 25th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
I think we're only going catch OSU when every single aspect of our program gets maximized. I don't think Jay and Pep are anywhere near the best we can get. I'd like to see some real meritocracy out of Harbaugh, and that includes firing his decent but not amazing son.
We've almost lost Zordich (to the pros) and Partridge (to Alabama). Who in college football wants Pep or Jay? Nobody, and that's the problem. Upgrading those two will improve (1) on the field performance, and (2) recruiting (at least indirectly).
November 25th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
For the strength of the 2019 team I'm hoping one of Hill or Long return on defense and Bredeson on offense.
Not likely but if all of those mentioned go it could be a little hard for the team to absorb.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^
Also ... Peters will be transferring. He'll be a good performer for a lower level football program. He has skills, but not the physicality he needs to succeed at Michigan. Hoping Dylan stays (maybe he can return for the Rose Bowl), because I do see Shea returning ... and improving next season.
Go Blue!
November 25th, 2018 at 9:22 AM ^
Shea would be crazy to go to the NFL. Rudddddock was way more ready than Shea and he had a better season (or latter half of one).
November 25th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
She’s is a late round draft pick or not getting drafted at all ... He doesn’t have the arm strength for the NFL... I honestly wish he does leave because I think D Mc is better
November 25th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
Why would Dylan leave? He’s in line to start either next week or the year after. There’s no talk of him leaving.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
I think Peters could do well a lot of places, and still power 5 schools. Shea & Dillon better, so makes sense for him to leave. But, better than others that have left in my opinion like Speight or Morris. I think programs like Purdue, Indiana, Pitt, Arkansas, Mississippi, etc. could work. He’s from IN. Both the IU/Purdue or Louisville all I think Work.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:30 AM ^
Pep Hamilton should go, obviously. We are in desperate need of innovation in the offensive schemes and philosophy.
Although few of us recognize Big 12 offenses as “real” football, there’s clearly something to them. Could we adapt those score-fast, basketball-on-grass schemes to the cold weather of the B1G? Perhaps. Hiring an OC from the Big 12 would give us a chance to find out.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
What UM look like with still a great defense (would have tweak a thing or two to slow OSU) and a guy like Bob Stoops as HC or OC?
November 25th, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^
Don Brown needs a real plan B for when “Rush the qb”+”press man” doesn’t work. He either needs to develop that plan B, or he needs replaced.
He’s a great DC, but he needs more versatility.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:10 AM ^
I posted a legit post yesterday that the emo mods took down. Kliff kingsbury is being fired from texas tech. Throw him a bunch of money, and get him in ann arbor. He'd have to adapt to using running backs, but his innovation could light the big ten on fire. Imagine that with next year's offense! All wr, o line, te, qbs are back. That would be an unstoppable force. Plus charbonnet and maybe gray? Coming in
November 25th, 2018 at 10:17 AM ^
No chance Kingsbury comes here as OC after being a multi-year, mostly successful, head coach at a middling P5 school. He'll be a HC somewhere next season.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^
No thanks... We saw exactly what an air raid looks like in bad weather when WSU was soundly defeated, at home, by a non-air raid offense.
I don't mean to poo-poo the idea, because I do agree that Harbaugh needs to employ a 'real' OC, and give him real authority to run the offense. But the base offense is good - it can move and score in bad weather. What needs to be changed is the aggressiveness and mindset to go after a weak spot mercilessly. Harbaugh doesn't do that, ever. He runs his offense for the next play, rather than going after a weak spot that can be exploited (OSU's pass D yesterday). Change that, use those WRs to devastating effect rather than as a constraint. That will move the offense up another notch.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^
I don't mean "100% Pure Air Raid (TM)." But having an ability to go "wide-open" in passing you need to score quickly, or incorporate a RB and ball-control when the weather goes south, are what OSU seems to be figuring out with Haskins at QB. Wazzu isn't that.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:34 PM ^
We must get that mix of Big 12/Big 10 pound style ball. Teams like Clemson, ND, Bama, and even Oklahoma (they run a lot for Big 12) figured it out. We don’t need to do no huddle all the time. Just need to attack downfield and get faster backs in space. This half bsck dive and 3 TE sets can’t be the norm. Just wrinkles here and there.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
I thought and was hoping this would be about staff
November 25th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
Same.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:07 AM ^
Genuine question: Do people usually leave after what amounts to their RS sophomore years?
Gary played a lot in 2016, so okay.
But Long, Hill, Bush...I mean these guys have really only played two seasons. Is it really that common for them to leave so early? I guess if you're Bush and you're projected in the top 10, certainly you're leaning toward going pro. But the other two? Don't see it.
Also...Gary...I mean, its not a slam dunk that he leaves. He obviously has talent, but it has not come together. And if he goes pro and gets drafted high on promise but doesn't deliver, he's just going to sit.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:18 AM ^
We need winners I care less about NFL capable.
Win a Championship and your draft stop goes up.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:14 AM ^
Other than Bush no one is ready for the next level. Unfortunate that Gary has been injured but for a no. 1 pick eh I dunno. Comparing Bosa and Clowney. So before you go out to play Johnny do your homework and clean up your room.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
I am not saying our offense is great,but if you score 39 pts with our supposed number 1 defense,we should win that game. Don Brown got taken to the wood shed.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
You watch the game? Box score says 39, so maybe. But blocked punt, pick deep in our own territory, and countless drives stalled when we had a shot. Reality is we got 2 TD’s somewhat late in mop-up duty.
OSU is weak on D and very good on O. Not scoring in the 3rd Qtr and having like 20 total yards is inexcusable.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
Giving up 62 points is inexcusable.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
I wouldn’t be sad if either Pep or McElwain left (preferably both). Bring in an offensive guru like Leach, and a top WRs/TEs coach. The passing game is underachieving (including the receivers blocking ability).
I feel good about the OLine under Warinner going forward, and with the talent coming in at RB, I’m good with Jaybaugh hanging around.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^
Who cares. Nobody on this team is not replaceable.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
If I’m one of these players who were considering leaving, I’m bolting to the NFL. Looking good against the Maryland’s and Rutgers of the world is great and all, but when you get beat year in and year out In the biggest game of your year isn’t a great look. Leave when you have the chance and get the money. And I know this doesn’t sound great, but I want to see the kids who come through this program leave with the chance of making some real money. Sorry this is so poorly worded, I’m just waking up and also I’m just not very smart. Lol
November 25th, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
IF winning big games is important, they better come back ! Although to be fair, Wisconsin, psu, MSU, were all big games. ND, OSU were HUGE games.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^
November 25th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
I didn’t even really know Shea was an nfl guy. Frankly, I thought of him as a not as strong armed or talented Tim Tebow.
He is 6’1” and 205? Not a super strong arm. This is his year one of full year starting and he grew a lot but seems like he’s a long way to go.
asking the nfl experts here does he have that raw talent to be drafted high? I thought he was in the mold of not having massive raw/elite nfl talent so needs to ball out in college?
bush and Gary gone and they should go. I bet both corners go too.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
There is very little upside to Patterson coming back. Unless he isn't going to get drafted at all he should leave.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:40 PM ^
He’s not getting drafted
November 25th, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^
Definitely possible. If thats true he's not getting drafted after next year either barring a pretty radical shift in philosophy.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
The offensive guys will come back. Shea is in no way ready for the NFL.
The defensive guys are probably all going to be gone.
They had better get better on offense next year, because they will be in more shootouts as the defense will most certainly regress.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
Patterson isn’t ever going to be more than a late round draft pick
November 25th, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
I just don’t see Gary being ready for the NFL. His production just wasn’t there.
Gentry needs to go. Not to the NFL, but just go.