ryan tice

Previously: Podcast 9.0A. Podcast 9.0B. Podcast 9.0C. The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End And Friends. Offensive Line. Defensive End. Defensive Tackle. Linebacker. Cornerback. Safety.

Nordin's huge field goal was close to being blocked by Hudson [Barron]

Depth Chart

Kicker	Yr	Punter	Yr	Kickoffs	Yr	Punt return	Yr	Kick return	Yr
Quinn Nordin	Fr.*	Brad Robbins	Fr.	Kyle Seychel	Jr.*	Nate Johnson	So.	Donovan Peoples-Jones	Fr.
Ryan Tice	So.*	Will Hart	Fr.*	Quinn Nordin	Fr.*	Eddie McDoom	So.	Chris Evans	So.

This section last year was dedicated to bemoaning the departure of impact special teams coach John Baxter after just one year. Baxter's teams had an unparalleled ability to block kicks over a decade plus at Fresno State and USC. While the block parade didn't get underway last year, Michigan did call time out in anticipation of a squib and return it to midfield and recruit an Aussie punter who had creepy Orin Incandenza skills. Last year's preview projected a "dropoff in effort applied" under Chris Partridge and Jay Harbaugh.

Naturally, Michigan blocked seven punts to lead the nation by a mile, got astounding punt returns from Jabrill Peppers, punted and covered excellently, and finished #1 in FEI's special teams metric. Michigan's special teams performance a year ago was sufficient to get me to shut up about how I hate pro-style punting. Some combination of passed-on Baxter experience, Harbaugh mania, and plain old shoe leather from the new coaches paid off immensely.

Now if they could do it again with entirely new dudes, that would be great.

KICKER: IF YOU KICK IT THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS, AROUND THE WORLD, AND THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS AGAIN DO YOU GET SIX POINTS

Rating: ?, but call it 4.

don't forget holder of the year Garret Moores's contributions [Barron]

QUINN NORDIN [recruiting profile] did this at the spring game:

That is a 48 yard field goal that I swear to God would have been good from 70. That thing barely passed its apex before hitting the net. It's deeply unfortunate that BTN never provided a sideline angle, which would have better communicated just how high and fast that thing was when it went through—actually over—the uprights.

So that's 1) awesome, 2) almost as much data as we got from Nordin's senior season (2/3 on FGs), and 3) probably not relevant until it's time to kick a 57-yarder at the end of a half or, God forbid, game. The jury is still very much out, as it has always been for kickers and always shall be until they have a season of efficiency in the books. 

For what little it's worth, Harbaugh seemed positively upbeat about the kicking situation a couple weeks back. New longsnapper Cameron Cheeseman is "fabulous" because "you can visibly see more velocity on his snaps" and Nordin is "really kicking well." This hasn't been a competition, and that's good news. It's been Nordin's job the whole way, so he keeck a touchdown.

Michigan also has walk-ons KYLE SEYCHEL and RYAN TICE. Both looked smooth hitting field goals of their own in the spring game and would likely be adequate replacements in case Nordin's guidance chip fritzes out. Harbaugh said he's going to split the kickoff duties from field goals and Seychel is in line for the former job, FWIW.    

[After the JUMP: ack no Peppers]

If you're here for the Brandon post, scroll down or click here.

Real Talk

TomVH posted a lengthy article in the wake of Garrett Taylor's decommitment in which he quotes several recruits—including Taylor, Chris Clark, and Thiyo Lukusa—discussing the impact of Michigan's poor season and the accompanying uncertainty on their recruitments. As you'd imagine, it's not a fun read ($):

"I wanted to be a part of a program that knows what it takes to win and the players and coaches develop that culture. I felt like Michigan lost that while watching them play," Taylor said. "As well as the fact that I felt like Michigan wouldn't put me in the best position to get to the next level after college, especially with the problems they've had in developing their players." 

Oof. Taylor will not be reconsidering Michigan as his recruitment moves forward, which... sounds about right.

Tom also posted a rundown of the commits he believes are likely to stick at Michigan despite the turmoil in his Big Ten roundup. With only nine commits left in the class, this should come as no surprise, but the list isn't a long one ($):

Quarterback Alex Malzone, offensive lineman Jon Runyan and kicker Andrew David are prospects who would likely stay committed no matter the coach, which is good for the future. Keeping Malzone will be a big deal as current quarterback Devin Gardner will be gone after this season. 

...

Outside of Malzone, Runyan, David and most likely Brian Cole, there is a chance most of the other commitments look elsewhere. 

Complicating matters is the fact that Malzone, Cole, Clark, Darrin Kirkland, and Mike Weber have all at one point or another stated an intention to enroll in December; if Michigan's coaching situation isn't resolved by then, it would put those recruits in a tough spot.

[Hit THE JUMP for Michigan's latest 2015 offeree—a recruit who might actually come, even!]