Maize N Brew 2020 discussion
Interesting look at how next years roster might look. On offense even if we have some early entries we should be strong at the skill positions. Likely going to be a good battle at qb. OL will see a lot of turnover but there’s talent in the pipeline. They raise a good question about Andrew Stueber. He was slated as a starter at tackle this year. Now that Mayfield is established and Hayes played well as a starter, does one of those three slide inside to guard?
On defense as always we will need to replace some dudes, but we have an exciting core with the defensive ends, McGrone and Dax to name a few.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
That site is blocked at my office. Probably because it has the word "brew" in it and apparently I work for a bunch of puritans.
Bankers used to be cool.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
But the mgoblog URL has "brew" in it too? I am confused
November 20th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^
probably just looks in the name of the website
November 20th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
Correct. it's probably based on the domain name.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
Only because you are in this post. If you get out of this post "brew" is not in the url.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^
They still are... err, I'm working for one of the Big 4 firms now (13 months into it) and this is the first time in my professional career that I didn't have to take a pre-employment drug screen. I guess everyone in Manhattan would be unemployed if they had to.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Yeah Manhattan is different. It's still like the 80's there. Midwest bankers are lame as fuck now though. I don't know what happened.
What I wouldn't give for a job a Goldman...
November 20th, 2019 at 3:01 PM ^
GS is one of our clients... had an interview to work with them this past August. Looks like they work hard and play even harder.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
eh, you don't need to read it. It's just a projected depth chart for 2020 which I'm sure you could figure out without looking through it. No real insights provided - summary: OL will be interesting as to who slots in where, WR depth chart is a question since we don't know who is leaving yet, who wins the QB battle, who slots in at DB.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Do they invite you to the Christmas party or have they realized that may turn into an HR issue?
November 20th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
There is no Christmas party anymore. Just a lunch. Lame as fuck. There used to be some serious debauchery, even as recently as just before the crash.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
We're having a family Christmas party at work with balloon animals, face painting and an assortment of soda and salty snacks. Standing around with people you don't like while their kids run around ain't my idea of fun
November 20th, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
Name checks out
November 20th, 2019 at 3:03 PM ^
No... that sounds horrible user name or not.
Personally, I'd rather companies would just cancel the fucking things instead of trying to dummy down, sanitize, make-PC, holiday celebrations.
November 20th, 2019 at 3:18 PM ^
Amen brother
November 20th, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^
IIRC, the Puritans of colonial New England actually were massive drinkers by modern standards.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
This is mostly due to water cleanliness and disease; before plumbing water from a stream/river/pond/lake was generally contaminated with all sorts of natural and man-made wastes, causing sickness and death. But while brewing beer the water was heated and sterilized, meaning it was safe to drink. As a result most people consumed multiple servings of beer per day (even children) as they wouldn't drop dead "randomly".
Additionally, "grog" (like on naval and pirate ships) was a mixture of rain water and whatever beer or spirits they had. Barreled water would quickly sour/go bad, especially on longer voyages, so the drunk alcohol was usually mixed with fresh rain water and the individual barrels were depleted.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
I believe they’re wrong about DT. Both Kemp and Dwumfour should be back next year. Also Ambry is having a really strong year and I could see him jump to the NFL. Corner is going to be extremely thin so I hope one of Perry, Turner or Gemon steps up.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
According to the MGoDepthChart Kemp is gone after this year but Dwumfour should be back, unless he said something about not returning. DT right now is the only thing holding next year's defense back from being the best Harbaugh has had. If they can somehow get to a 2017 (Hurst/Mone) level of play, this defense is going to be incredible. Our back 7 might be the fastest in the country. CB will be a little thin, but I have full confidence that Zordich will be able to turn one of Perry, Turner, or Gemon into a viable 3rd option.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
It's been discussed but Kemp is still kind of up in the air - it seems like he can probably get a redshirt (maybe medical? Things have gotten more complicated last few years) but nobody from the team is explicitly saying he is going to try to get another year. Hopefully he can continue to improve from like a B guy to a B+ guy. If Jeter can become viable and Hinton/Smith can be real rotation pieces I think we'll be back to 2015 (but probably not 2016) DLine level.
If I had to bet, Stuber takes one of the open guard spots next year. I think Hayes and Mayfield have an athleticism edge, better feet, and a higher ceiling at tackle. On top of that, Stuber was supposed to be the injury fill in for every spot on the line except center. My money would be on Rumler to take the other spot, although Spanellis is a possibility. I'd guess at this point Ruiz is coming back.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
OL-If Ruiz comes back the line could be in great shape. Hayes needs to step up and add 30lbs. I could see Stueber moving to guard. Barnhart was the only true frosh to see the field this year (at tackle) if I remember correctly. He as serious athleticism. Maybe he wins a guard spot.
DL- please have Kwity and Kemp return. Kemp,Jeter, Dwumfour, Mazi and Hinton on the interior w Hutch and Paye back at DE!
November 20th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
Kemp would only be able to get a medical redshirt under the rules in effect at the time. It does sound like the main hangup is whether he wants one.
Hinton seems to have joined the DT rotation. He played a series while the MSU score was 7-7 and again early in the 2nd half.
I never heard that Stueber would be the injury fill at guard. When was that? We've gotten to see so little of the interior backups that it's hard to get a read on who will be next up. Vastardis taking important snaps at center must mean something. I bet we start to hear more during bowl practices.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
Ive watched Mayfield alot this season and to me he should be playing inside, as he gets beat alot on the outside...
November 20th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
If Ambry leaves we are kind of screwed but I’m thinking he should stay a final season. Lavert was a stronger prospect and he stayed.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
Not sure about that. What's holding Hill's prospects back is his lack of height, which is not a problem for Ambry.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
I know not to trust roster measurements but Thomas is listed as only one inch taller.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
Yeah, I wouldn't trust that roster height then. No way.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:16 PM ^
Dwumfor is not coming back, dude. Also think it’s 50/50 whether Hawkins comes back. I agree with Mike leaving, don’t think Hawkins should. This isn’t a guess either
November 20th, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
Nice article; super excited about 2020. Since the PSU game, it seems like the offense is clicking now and with a year of that system under the team's belt, it should be exciting.
Excited to see Jackson get more reps at WR and see him use all that speed.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
Offensive consistency (coaching & scheme) will help this team the most. It appears they are in line to finally do that as I'd expect Gattis to be here 1-2 more seasons.
I think they'll be ok next season all around. Losing some guys like Hudson, Metellus and Bredeson, who I think have that "dawg" attitude that this team is developing, will be a hit. But others should step up.
It would be cool to see some DT and CB recruits.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
Correct me if I'm wrong but Dwumfour and Kemp are expected to be back next year, aren't they?
Offense reloads in 2020, I think that is a pretty objective statement. On defense we should take a big step forward, assuming Hinton, Smith and even Ojabo make the sophomore leap.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
Offense will come down to QB, as we've seen this year. In theory either McCaffrey or Milton should be more than capable of running the offense and meeting or exceeding Shea's performance this year, but then again, we said that about Shea this year vs Shea last year. Football's weird. Here's to hoping both QBs stay and another offseason baking in the Gattis oven turns out a loaf of hot fresh Speed in Space bread. Damnit I think Im just hungry and rambling.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
wierd, as in,
1) mccaffrey gets hurt by game three.... milton comes in.... ineffective, and we see McNamara.
2) mccaffrey gets hurt in first game.... milton transferred out in spring... and our QBs are McNamara and Stroud.
3) mccaffrey hurt, and milton runs with it.
4)mccaffrey learns how to stay clean (unlikely), and thrives.
November 20th, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^
Or more likely Dylan easily wins the QB battle has a huge season and will be remembered as one of the better QBs to play at UM. Milton is a decent backup for two years then is a grad transfer as McNamara takes over
November 20th, 2019 at 7:31 PM ^
Remember a bench warmer called Brady?
November 20th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
DT could be even more of an issue next year. We need Smith and Hinton to come through. Also relatively thin at DB. Everyone was saying pre-season that the offense would have to carry us this year; they may be saying that again next year.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:47 AM ^
I agree that DT is a concern but i don’t think it’s as big as some may believe. Brown has mixed up lineups that have minimized the DTs anyway, and the only player we lose is Kemp.
November 20th, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
I think there's still a decent chance Kemp and Dwumfor are back for 5th years as well.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
Does anyone really believe that Peoples-Jones will stay for his senior year? He's been Michigan's most productive receiver, by far, the past couple of seasons. Collins is definitely gone, but I think DPJ is as well.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
I think the next couple games and draft evals will have a big impact. If we see the Speed in Space we saw vs MSU continue vs IU, OSU, and the bowl, it will give them something to think about, as a year of fully deployed Gattis offense could help them put up the numbers to bump draft stock significantly, which they haven’t had yet. Then again we don’t know who the QB will be a d that may render this moot if they are gonna take half the season to weaponize again.
If they are getting high round draft evals that probably matters less/not at all. DPJ is also a serious academic and I believe had aspirations for med school at one point so maybe there’s an academic interest to stick around one more year that plays a small role as well?
I think Tarik stays, Nico goes, and DPJ depends on if he thinks he can go higher next year
November 20th, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
I didn't think there was much question. If Nico is 100% NFL ready, DPJ is about 98 or 99.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^
especially if this offense shows out next couple games... DPJ and Collins both day 2 picks...
November 20th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
DPJ has actually had a relatively quiet year to date (25 rec., 262 yards, 4 TD). Of course, draft stock isn't necessarily about stats.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
The calculus is a bit complicated for me. Question one is, is the guy ready to get a decent draft spot? That's questionable, perhaps. Question two is more pertinent: Is Michigan a program that a receiver wants to hitch himself to for another year, rather than getting out while the getting is good?
Until a couple of weeks ago, the answer to question two was unquestionably "no." As in, concern that guys who couldn't get drafted would transfer anyway just to get away. Now, things are starting to click, and the passing game was FINALLY unleashed against MSU. But there's still time for a really bad finish to the season to crush the narrative.
I suspect Nico is looking at a high draft ranking and leaves. DPJ? Maybe, with his excellent measurables and flashes of production.
Honestly, I think they both go. If the season ends poorly, DPJ may decide that it's in his interest to get out now in case things are bad against next year and his draft stock only gets worse. And if things go well, I suspect that DPJ has some more plays like his TD Saturday and looks like a top-half draft pick and leaves because it's a genuinely good idea.
Either way, out they go.
November 20th, 2019 at 5:21 PM ^
How is DPJ the most productive receiver? Ronnie Bell would fit that tag. Unless you want to discount his production because of lack of TDs!?
November 20th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
I hope Steuber or Mayfield, both tackles, slide inside, rather than the unfortunate thing we've seen since 2007 of having a ton of guards, no tackles, and slide the guards outside to tackle.....
November 20th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
Thoughts:
- Steuber will be a projected preseason starter at G. He was battling for the RT job this fall and is a swing G/T. Going into his 5th year he'll have the advantage over Rumler, although Rumler could obviously outplay him. Even if Ruiz goes we should have a good starting 5.
- I'm operating under the assumption that we get none of our big 3 WRs back. Collins and DPJ have shown enough on film and will test well enough that they should be day 2 picks. Black should come back, but he also seems set on going pro from social media posts. Logically he should come back, but I'm mentally preparing for him to leave. Still feel good about the WR group if that happens with Bell, the current freshmen, and Henning/Wilson coming in.
- Kemp will hopefully be back at DT and Dwumfour should be for sure (he only played the opener year 1), so I'd call one or both of them the starters if they return. Also Jeter will be there as well.
- DE depth/pass rushing may be an issue. Losing Uche and Danna means we'll have Paye/Hutchinson who are both B+ guys but not elite pass rushers. They'll both develop but who plays behind them? Need something from Villain, Ojabo, Welschof, McGregor, etc. We'll still have McGrone as a blitzer but lose Hudson too.
- Not sure how much Anthony will play next year so he might be a flight risk.
- CB worries me, especially if Ambry leaves. Gray is solid right now but definitely the most vulnerable, he should develop as a 3rd year player but I feel like he'd be a drop from our recent CB2 history, let alone CB1 if Ambry left. And JKP as the slot seems really scary. Need another 3rd year guy to develop, or more likely Turner/Perry.
November 20th, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
rumler won't beat out steuber.... rumler got zero mention by warinner, who said the three guys well ahead are keegan, barnhart, and carpenter
November 20th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Agreed. I'm just going off the predictions in the post.
November 20th, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
Black should come back, but he also seems set on going pro from social media posts. Logically he should come back, but I'm mentally preparing for him to leave.
I'd be shocked if Black left. I suppose he could go to the combine and really impress, but he could also pull a Higdon and wind up undrafted. Better to play your Junior year where you'll be the sole go-to deep threat and really get some attention.