Higdon spotted in FL, likely sitting out bowl
A follower of mine on twitter sent me a photo of himself with Karan Higdon at the airport in Fort Lauderdale.
Higdon said he’s down in FL working out. One can only assume the rumors are correct. Higdon is from Florida.
The Team isn’t on vacation either. They’re practicing for the Peach Bowl in Ann Arbor so....?
December 18th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
I guess that’s why Shea got offensive player of the year
December 18th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
Shea Patterson is also better at his position than Karan Higdon is at running back.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
That is true. Higdon was a good back who looked a lot better than he is based on Harbaugh's scheme.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^
I don’t know about that. Harbughs scheme also had teams loading the box to stop the run every play. Even though we have arguably one of the best receiver trios in college football.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
Grown men, sitting in the privacy of their warm basements in judgement of highly gifted athletes, piling on with their tongues out (you sure told Karan!). . . always a little bit questionable.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
as are comments from strangers on the internet doubting the ability of others to judge talent
December 18th, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
a) I never sit in my basement, and it is cold down there.
b) I don't know who Grant is. Should I?
December 18th, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
18th President of the U.S... duh!
December 18th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
Whose Presidential library is bizarrely housed on the campus of Mississippi State University about 100 yards from my office: http://www.usgrantlibrary.org/
December 18th, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
Who's boyhood home and schoolhouse are located about a block from my rural home on the Ohio River: https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/us-grant-boyhood-home-schoolhouse
Grand Days are fun when I am jolted out of bed at 8:00 AM on a Saturday to the sound of the first hourly firing of the Civil War cannons.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
He was nationwide. Let's see if anyone from Illinois or New York chimes in with their local Grant places of interest.
December 18th, 2018 at 4:17 PM ^
Not NY or Illinois, but Grant lived in Detroit in 1849 and his home still exists. It is presently located at the old State Fair Grounds but likely will be relocated to the Eastern Market area.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
Magnus, what do you think about Higdon in the NFL? The NFL wants backs who can do more than just run. Is Higdon a good enough pass catcher and blocker? What about Higdon’s speed? Does his game carryover to the NFL.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^
Magnus might not agree with me on any of these points, but:
Higdon improved markedly as a blocker and was quite good at it this year. He wasn't quite Tru, but he had a number of excellent blocks that kept Shea's pockets clean.
He clocked a 4.4 time in Michigan's combine a couple of years ago. It remains to be seen if he can replicate that at the NFL combine; 4.4 is very good. It was visible on the field on plays where he just ran past defenders that would tackle slower runners. The winning TD against Indiana last year is a great example of this.
His speed should be fine. It's his vision and his ability to beat tacklers that will be in question. He runs hard, but he's not a tackle-breaking machine or anything. And while he's fast, he isn't agile enough to elude guys with explosive cuts.
I suspect that he gets drafted in the mid-rounds and nicely complements someone's RB rotation; his blocking ability makes him a third-down asset. If things break right he can evolve into a steady starter; it's possible that he proves unable to make enough of his own yards to be a reliable every-down back.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Hes the kind of guy who gets drafted by a Shanahan or Pittsburgh in the 4th-5th round and toils on the roster for a year or two then all of a sudden has a breakout season and people say "where did this guy come from"?
He's not going to blow anyone's skirt up, but in the right situation he will be productive
December 18th, 2018 at 3:06 PM ^
That's largely been my read as well. He's a better athlete than I think people give him credit here; he has ran past guys who are NFL-caliber athletes and is physical enough to go through other ones. When he gets ahold of someone he can hold up well blocking, and he's squat enough that I think the ability should translate to the NFL reasonably well (versus just a big guy who might not have a great sense of leverage).
But he's not great at reading holes and making guys miss when he gets there, and in the NFL you're going to need to be able to do that unless you are just a truck of a player (which Higdon isn't). He's also not a particularly great receiver out of the backfield; he's certainly improved in that department, but his change-of-direction isn't where you see guys who are good catching out of the backfield.
There definitely is a spot for him in the NFL, and my guess is he shows well at the combine and that will help. I don't know why this name popped in my head, but he feels like a Jeremy Langford-type of RB. They are different type of runners but both are about the same size and are more "pure" runningbacks than the hybrid guys you see in the NFL more and more now.
I wish him luck, and it was nice to see him mature into a good back at Michigan. And I think it's smart for him to skip the bowl if he's worried about being hurt. But there's also a ceiling for him as an NFL draft selection.
December 18th, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
One note about pass catching: I think that aspect of his game has yet to be fully explored. Michigan, for whatever reason, seemed allergic to fully utilizing RBs as receivers, despite having Chris Evans on the field frequently; when they did, Evans was the obvious, logical guy to fill that role.
It's possible that Higdon never does develop receiving skill, but the fact that he didn't show much here, especially this year, doesn't tell me much. IMO.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
I think his gam translates to the nfl ina Kevin Faulk/James white kinda way...not saying he is as talented or have the bagggage but I see some similarities to ray rice as well I think he goes in 4-5 round and plays a good 7-8 years.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
Rice was at the tail end of the "you need a feature back who can carry the ball 25+ times and maybe catches a swing pass once or twice" era in the NFL; I don't think that model works anymore. The Faulk/White comps are closer; I think it all comes down to if he can improve his hands and vision getting through the line, though he's not terrible at the latter. It's why I think Evans will always be a "what if" at Michigan but will be more successful in the NFL, or at least have a better overall role, because a guy who can catch the ball and make guys miss in space are incredibly valuable now.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
DoublePost my bad
December 18th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
Quick answer because I have to run:
I think Higdon's style carries over to the NFL. He's a decent back in all phases (running, catching, blocking). I don't know that he's a standout at the next level, but I think he can play.
Also, regarding some of the other comments in this thread, there's no shame in not being as good as Shea Patterson. It doesn't mean he's terrible. Josh Ross isn't as good of a linebacker as Devin Bush. Kwity Paye isn't as good as Chase Winovich. It happens.
December 18th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^
Seperate, but related... Higdon or Weber as having a better NFL career? I think Higdon due to his toughness and his willingness to grind out the tough yard.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
I don’t know 1200 yards in the big ten and there was probably an opportunity for more, is nothing to slouch at I definatley thought that he was the offensive MVP
December 18th, 2018 at 7:54 PM ^
You can argue the MVP is "best player" or that he was most important to the team's success. Both arguments still tilt toward Patterson, IMO.
1. Shea Patterson was #4 in completion percentage, #2 in passer rating, and #3 in yards per attempt in the Big Ten. Karan Higdon was #17 in the Big Ten in yards per carry, as well as #8 in YPC among primary ball carriers.
2. IMO, if the team lost Higdon, they probably would have had close to the same record. If the team lost Patterson, well...we saw what happened last season. And Dylan McCaffrey, while seemingly better than the other options last year, showed that he might not have been durable enough to make it the entire season. We could have seen a replica of the 2017 season.
December 18th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
Good. I'd rather see turner get some snaps
December 18th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
I totally agree on this. If guys want to sit out, fine. Much better to use that playing time to get guys ready for next year than some meaningless bowl. And yes, it is meaningless.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^
Every Rose Bowl was meaningless. Got it.
Except some of the former players and coaches might disagree with that...
December 18th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
Interesting... I don't think anyone said the Rose Bowl was meaningless. The bowl they're going to this year: meaningless.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^
I'm saying it. What did any Rose Bowl ever "mean"? Explain the meaning.
It was a year-end destination. Playing a PAC-10 team meant nothing other than pride, record and ranking - same as this Peach Bowl.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:53 PM ^
I think this is more reason why those saying the bowl game doesn't matter are incorrect. The bowl games do matter... changing them to meaningless exhibitions has everything to do with trying to cope with players sitting out without getting mad at them.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
Exactly. People are conplaining, arguing the bowls are meaningless and just a matter of pride. Pride matters, especially in college football. The reason college football came into being and has such impassioned followers is school pride. Even if that is the only reason to play, it should be sufficient for those who want to be here.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:47 AM ^
I don’t think pride is meaningless but that’s just me.
December 19th, 2018 at 10:08 AM ^
Usually it was about what came with it, a Big Ten Championship. The game itself, didn't really matter, I agree. But you could play in the Rose Bowl in years past and, if won, could get the NC.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
....yeah okay, this bowl game is meaningless even though if we lose this it , all we're going to hear about all off-season is Harbaugh's 1-3 bowl record (and of course his shitty record verses rivals)
December 18th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
I had not heard that rumor that Higdon is from Florida.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
His family lives in northern Macomb County now.
December 18th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
Fire Brandon.
Burned out on everything Michigan Football, so that's all I got...
December 18th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
Really aren't we just waiting to find out if Long and Hill are sitting?
December 18th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
It appears they’re both sitting. Lets see what Ambry can do with B Watson.
Maybe see some Vincent Gray appearances
December 18th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
Think we'll see some zone or still man?
December 18th, 2018 at 1:28 PM ^
Wait... what?! I didn't know that both sitting was a possibility.
What is the whole list of expected players out for the bowl?
December 18th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
Kid isn’t even a day 2 pick and he’s skipping the bowl.
What a winner.
December 18th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
Higdon has a young daughter so I don’t blame him for wanting to play it safe.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
Amen. How short our memories are. Remember when Jake Butt got hurt in a bowl game vs FSU that no one nationally even remembers? Anyone who has real draft hopes and wants to sit out is ok with me.
Imagine graduating from Michigan with your 4 year degree and then participating in an exhibition after that could leave you with brain injuries and unable to use your brain and your degree in the workplace. A lot of these guys have been working toward the NFL for a long time. No sense putting it on the line for an exhibition if you don't want to. Even more so for a guy like Karan who already has a small family to feed.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:09 PM ^
Remember all the thousands of other players who stuck with their teams, played in meaningless bowl games, and went on to have productive NFL careers?
December 19th, 2018 at 5:58 AM ^
Of course, but if I guy doesn't want to roll the dice how can you be upset with him? It's his life and it's his career he's gambling for an exhibition game
December 18th, 2018 at 10:51 PM ^
Spot on WD.
December 18th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
He has more to gain by having a great combine than he does a great bowl game. It's a business decision.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
That, and running backs only have so many carries in their career. That's why those not named Adrian Peterson flame out by 30 (for the most part)
December 18th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
Guy will be lucky to be a Day 3 pick. He is a slightly above average RB in college that is trying to get in a league thats shifting away from a RB focus.