fall football bits

This morning we covered the fall football bits on the offensive side of the ball, now in the afternoon we pivot to the defense. As a whole there's more real buzz in this piece than offense, but not a dramatic difference. It's been a relatively quiet camp so far. 

Defensive tackle 

What we want to hear: Kris Jenkins is approaching Mo Hurst territory (*gasp*), Mason Graham is making a mighty leap towards superstar status, Kenneth Grant is our beefy behemoth that cannot be moved, while Rayshaun Benny and Cam Goode help round out the deepest DT position in the B1G.  

What we're hearing: Of all the positional groups across these two fall football bits pieces, defensive tackle may be the one where "what we want to hear" is mostly closely matching "what we're hearing". Kris Jenkins has been the focus of nonstop praise throughout camp, often in association with a term like "the best player in fall camp" ($). Other reports have had a baby-like amazement at the reps in practice that pit Jenkins against the likes of Keegan and Zinter, with the two sides being described as equals to each other ($). Jesse Minter echoed that wonder in his media availability last week and then spoke about Jenkins' strides as a pass-rusher: 

Kris [Jenkins] has been obsessed with being better as a pass rusher since the day he stepped back here on campus. And it’s showing up. And so he’s moving really well, he’s still the same player against the run with 20 extra pounds

The Jenkins praise is also likely a function of his status as a veteran leader on this team, something he has that Mason Graham does not, which may be the only reason for the little bit more praise Jenkins is getting relative to Graham. Otherwise, though, the sources have been pouring the hype on Graham too. One source recognized Graham as one of the best players in this past weekend's scrimmage ($), also noting improvements he's made in pass-rushing. A different source echoed Graham's conquests at the scrimmage and used the term "fricking beast" to describe his destruction of the Michigan OL ($). 

Those two have gotten most of the praise in camp, with only small mentions of Kenneth Grant and Rayshaun Benny. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing either; when they pop up, it's mostly with the framing of "oh, those guys are good too", as a footnote after 758 lines of KRIS JENKINS IS GOD chatter. Grant did get mentioned in the same breath as the starters in a delectable line from JJ McCarthy: "Those three up front -- Mason, KG and Kris -- they're gonna be not fun for my fellow quarterback friends, that's for sure". Finally, Harbaugh gave perhaps another obligatory shoutout to players working hard in camp by mentioning two true freshmen at DT, Trey Pierce and Cameron Brandt, saying they "have been outstanding and came in right on time". 

What it means: Jenkins and Graham are your starters and there's a lot of reason to be HYPE about it. Benny and Grant are the backups and are probably fine. Cam Goode and maybe one of the freshmen round out the three-deep at DT.

[AFTER THE JUMP: positions where the starters probably aren't both going to be All-B1G]

I've been meaning to do a fall football bits for some time, but the roar of rumors on the insider sites has been strangely quiet this season, especially compared to the past couple seasons. Only now is there enough information that I could reasonably cobble together one of these pieces, but it still feels a bit light. Is that a function of a team with few pressing questions or some other factor? Not really sure. Regardless, we do have just enough information to put one of these pieces together and there will hopefully be one more round before the season starts. [Note: this is the offense football bits, defense is this afternoon]

Quarterback

What we want to hear: JJ McCarthy has transformed into a deity in the flesh, reading defenses better than ever, his deep ball right on the money, and ready to elevate himself into legitimate Heisman conversation. Jack Tuttle and Davis Warren have been engaged in a fierce battle for the backup job where the winner would legitimately start at half the other schools in the conference, and even Alexi Orji and Jayden Denegal look ready to play. 

What we're hearing: Not much at all to be honest. Can't say it's surprising with a returning starter, but descriptions of McCarthy's play have been rather hard to find, with some focus on the backup spots. Most of what we've gotten on JJ ranges from the hyperbolic (Harbaugh labeling him "generational") to the mild, including details about his performance at last weekend's scrimmage. One source called it merely good ($), another used higher praise ($). Make of that what you want. Most of the other chatter about the squad's valiant starting QB has been about intangibles, leadership, that sort of thing. Nothing terribly interesting. 

As for the backup position, there's been mixed signals here. It's between Jack Tuttle and Davis Warren, with Warren getting the extra reps at the scrimmage. Some have interpreted that as an indication that he's the clear QB2 ($), but reports earlier in camp were more favorable to Tuttle ($). When Sherrone Moore did a press conference last week, he gave no indication when asked specifically about Tuttle. Beyond those two, Denegal got a quick shoutout in one scrimmage summary but otherwise has mostly been absent in chatter. JJ was effusive in his praise of both Denegal and Alex Orji at a press conference early in camp, but that's mostly run of the mill from someone in McCarthy's position. 

I would be remiss not to note the real chatter about Alex Orji, which is his potential acumen as a kick returner??? There were rumblings in insider reporting about a "special way to use Orji" that could not be divulged as if it were a state secret, only for Harbaugh to come out and say it himself publicly: 

"Also a secret plan for Alex Orji,” Harbaugh said. “Got a chance to be maybe one of the greatest kick returners of all time. Big 230-235 pound guy, so he just started doing it, we’ll see how it goes"

Harbaugh followed it up by pouring a bit of cold water in saying, "we have to improve in our kickoff return blocking before I would agree to have Alex Orji returning the kick", but certainly something to keep an eye on. 

What it means: McCarthy is The Guy and it's impossible to know how many strides he's made until we see him in regulation games, even if there was more buzz than there is. Tuttle and Warren are probably running close to even for QB2 but perhaps a tilt or lean towards Warren. Denegal praise is probably more obligatory than anything else, while the Orji kick returning chatter is 50% something that might actually work and 50% Something Crazy That Jim Wants To Try (remember when they lined up Dylan McCaffrey in the slot to catch a screen?). 

[AFTER THE JUMP: less glamorous positions]

Yesterday was the offense update to Fall Football Bits, here is the defense and special teams installment: 

Defensive End

What we want to hear: Mike Morris has taken the next step to be a top notch EDGE defender, while the rotation at the weakside spot is still a thing because the options are all quality. Taylor Upshaw is ready for the senior year emergence, Derrick Moore, TJ Guy, and Braiden McGregor are breakout candidates, and Jaylen Harrell has found a little pass rush. 

What we're hearing: Well, there's a new name in this room due to the arrival of Eyabi Anoma from UT-Martin (via Alabama and Houston), who enrolled in the university and joined the team last week. The early reporting confirmed that Biff Poggi did indeed play a role in routing Anoma to Michigan. A few players gave quotes on their early impressions of Anoma and so far, it doesn't seem that he has ruffled any feathers in the locker room. As for Anoma's role, the insider stories the night he committed made sure to say that he would be starting at the bottom of the depth chart. Since then, Balas said that playing time for Anoma is to be determined ($), while Henschke said the team is "pleased" with Anoma's athleticism and then produced the most outrageous piece of camp hype yet ($). 

As for the rest of the positional group, we don't hear much about Mike Morris other than that he's good and is a leader *shrug*. Elsewhere, it's a revolving door of EDGE names. TJ Guy hasn't been featured much since he appeared in the last defensive update, but the newest rising name is Braiden McGregor. Steve Lorenz named his as a "legitimate contributor" ($), while Henschke noted McGregor as a standout in his own update, and Balas yesterday said that McGregor is "starting to come into his own as a pass rusher" ($). That same Balas piece notes that the EDGE battle will continue through September, but for now it seems like McGregor is on the rise. 

Taylor Upshaw's name is still in the battle, but it mostly gets brought up because of his experience and leadership, not because he's suddenly on track to stardom. Derrick Moore is still a guy that the team is very excited about, with Lorenz also bringing up his name in the same article McGregor was in, while Balas used the term "freak athlete" to describe Moore ($). The consensus seems to be that Moore is climbing his way up the EDGE depth chart.

Nothing new on Jaylen Harrell, which feels somewhat bad, but this time I do want to mention Julius Welschof, because I omitted him on accident last time. The team is said to have high hopes for Welschof but that at the moment, it hasn't quite happened on the practice field yet ($). 

What it means: Morris is starting at one EDGE spot, but he may rotate inside on passing downs. After that, it's likely going to be an open competition for the first half of the season to see who grabs the job. The first month in particular is not exactly a murderer's row of offensive lines, so it will give Jesse Minter and Mike Elston a chance to see who they like at this position. Upshaw is probably the nominal starter but if he is still the starter by mid-season, that's probably a bad sign. I'd guess that McGregor and Moore are the most likely to pull through and snag a role, but you're going to see a lot of names in the mix and I would wager that the coaches aren't even sure who the winner of this competition will be.   

[AFTER THE JUMP: a surprising freshman linebacker!]