Emil Ekiyor on the verge of decommitting
October 25th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
Harbaugh was hired too late to improve that 40is class. WI has no problem fielding good teams in the 20-30 recruiting rankings.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
We're pretty much always ranked higher than them in recruiting, yet look at the teams they keep fielding. I think they have a great system (and identity) that they find players which fit into it. And it hasn't changed for years. Plus, they do a superb job developing middling type guys.
October 25th, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^
It's amazing, too, that their system has survived multiple coaching changes. Even Fat Bret couldn't destroy it, and look at the wonderful job he's doing at Arkansas.
October 25th, 2017 at 6:57 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 7:30 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:52 PM ^
That's it in a nutshell...
October 25th, 2017 at 1:20 PM ^
This is a bit misleading, as Hoke's 2014 class wasn't really #20 as it applies to this years team. Look at the top few guys in this class:
Peppers - Gone and no longer contributing to team (I don't mean this in a negative way, just a statement of fact)
Drake Harris - Very little impact, all but gone from the team to basketball at this point
Brian Mone - Contributing
Lawrence Marshall - Very little impact
Michael Ferns - Transferred
Towards the bottom or "depth" end of the spectrum, you also have Canteen and Pallante that have left the team. So a total of 5 guys on a 16 man class are basically non-entities this year. You could maybe put Ways on there as well but I suppose he's at least on the field most games.
I think we have some depth in place and for the most part the 2018 class is a "high ceiling/low floor" class that might go the way of 2014, or it might work out well as many of these guys have several players in front of them and will be able to redshirt and contribute later on. There is still a lot of value in having 5th year guys that "need" the 5th year to become maximum contributors.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
20th ranked recruiting class:
1) Jabrill Peppers propped up that ranking and he was so good, he left after three years. So the fact that he's not here to help isn't really a fair reflection of the quality of that class.
2) There were probably a slightly higher number of misses in that class than there typically would be: Drake Harris, Ferns, Marshall, Canteen, Ways (and ugh, we could have used one or two of those WRs).
...but it wasn't all that bad for a 17 person class. The problem is, a 17 person class, minus one to the NFL, minues one for eligibility (O'Neill) and you're down to a really small number, which is not ideal no matter how good those guys are. We paid for that small class and this years struggles with big numbers in 2012 and 2013, which gave us the last two seasons.
October 25th, 2017 at 3:07 PM ^
We didn't take any in 2017 and now have none in 2018 (if he decommits). It's a position that requires two guys on the field. So you'd ideally average 2 per class. Onwenu, Bredeson and Spanellis will all be gone by 2020. You really don't want to be forced into starting 2019 guys that soon. How many times have we seen that play out in the past decade?
Yes, some of the 2017 OTs will probably end up at guard (they'll have to), but it would be really nice to take one in 2018.
I can think of...pretty much all position groups that could afford a decommit more than guard.
Mayyyybe DT is less stocked with the move by Hudson and the chance Gary leaves after three years.
October 25th, 2017 at 3:08 PM ^
and Filiaga's been mentioned also as having the style and height for guard
Tackle is and continues to be the primary concern
October 25th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
but the 2018 class is for 2019 and beyond. We took 5 OTs in last years class and have two more committed for this year already. We project to be just fine at OT in 2019-2020. We project to be potentially very thin at guard by 2020.
The only upperclassmen would be anyone who moves over from OT from the 2017 class and anyone we recruit for 2018...which is looking like two guys total, IF Hall and Filiaga are able to successfully move over. That's still half what you want in a two year span, and that's trouble.
It's a position of need in the class such that I bet if Ekiyor decommits, they'll pick up another guard, which is why it's a bummer if we don't get a near-elite guy at a position of need.
October 25th, 2017 at 5:20 PM ^
All I know is Drevno better get his ass in gear and get this offensive line to be one of the best units in the country by next year or I hope everyone calls for his job. They have young guys now with good rankings so there is no excuse next year. Three returning starters and Newsome will be back. And for Kryst's sake, against Wisconsin and Ohio, there better not be any running-back left in to max protect against the pressure because it doesn't pay. Why the fuck do you all you idiots think leaving a running back in the backfield who cant knock anyone on their ass except some little old lady, is a good idea? Why would you constantly waste that option when your recievers cant get open and the QB is getting sacked over and over every play by two or three guys. GET THE FUCKING RUNNINGBACKS THE BALL in on swing passes. Higdon and Evans are fast. What about the old half-back screen pass to counter the over agressive blitz? Oh yeah I forgot, that's not a good play because it never works right? This team needs a new offensive coordinator. Hire fucking Chip Kelly.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
I can't question any kid that wants to play at Bama.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
of course, I'm a total homer, so there's that.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
We know they pick Bama because of its great engineering program! Right? Right???
There is no guarantee of playing on Sundays. To me, anyone who picks Bama is making a gamble that nothing bad will happen and they will be among those who can make up for an inferior education with a few big paychecks. Not to mention the fact that the last time I checked, the University of Alabama was still in the State of Alabama.
October 25th, 2017 at 2:46 PM ^
Sure, but in reality how much more valuable is a General Studies degree from Michigan than a General Studies degree from Bama? It's not like he's gonna major in Aerospace Engineering or something.
October 25th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
One of the brightest people I met during my year in Champaign/Urbana was a high-energy-physics theorist who got his B.S. at Alabama. He'd gone there because it was home, because his family didn't have money, and because if you come from a pretty crappy Southern rural high school it can be hard to convince a better school that you're worth taking a flyer on.
You might not be surrounded by the best and brightest at a school like U of A but if you really want to get an education there you probably can.
October 25th, 2017 at 6:52 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^
Interior OL
2016 class - Bredeson, Onwenu, Spanellis
2017 class - Ruiz, Hall, Filiaga
we need tackles
October 25th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^
based on body type and height more suited to play Guard
we also have RUmler who may be more suited to play guard as well
October 25th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^
based on body type your mom is suited to play guard
October 25th, 2017 at 2:13 PM ^
Double post!
October 25th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
Filiaga is definitely a tackle. His body type and size is that of a tackle as well.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
Joel Honigford? Is he no longer an OL?
October 25th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
not a guard.
October 25th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
2016 class is irrelevant to 2018 class needs, especially since Bredeson and Onwenu didn't redshirt and thus will be gone by end of 2019.
So in 2017:
OT - Filiaga, Honigford, Steuber, Hall, Hudson
Interior OL - Ruiz
EVEN IF you move Filiaga and Hall inside, you have 3 to 3. That's one more OT than can start and just as many interior OL as you need.
2018:
OT - Mayfield, Hayes
Interior OL - 0!!!!
That's min 5 OTs in a two year span for a spot that needs 2 starters. It's max 3 interior OL for 3 spots. The 2018 class does not need more OTs (unless they're actually 20 and can play right now). It needs interior linemen. This is a big loss that will be replaced by another interior lineman because it is such a need. Hopefully they can nab/develop another good one.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Bagmen or something else?
October 25th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Any particualr reason why?
October 25th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
Is Drevno a good O-line coach? Probably safe to add that to the list as well.
October 26th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
I've asked the same question. I didn't follow Stanford close when JH was there, but it seeed that by the time he left, he and Drevno had developed a pretty solid OL, based on 1) pass pro seemed to do a more than adequate job protecting Luck, and 2) they had a very good power running game.
That tells me that they're capable of at least fielding a pretty good OL given a few years. So while it's not happening as fast as anyone would like, I gotta think it will come together soon enough. He hasn't even finished year three. But yes, depth issues are a concern.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^
Right - sometimes the most obvious reason is the reason.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
Hmmm,
I wonder if anyone else who may have commented on this post knows anything about this theory...
October 25th, 2017 at 12:46 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
Brent Key > Dim Trevno
October 25th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
Sorry to lose him. Could have been a nice building block, but he's been gone awhile
October 25th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^
at least there is plenty of time left to offer to others or potentially bring him back into the fold. Good luck to him if he does go elsewhere, but we'll get someone else to be excited about in his spot.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^
More worried about our tackle recruiting than our guard recruiting. Hoping guys like Mayfield and Hayes pan out and that we reel in a few more blue chips at that position. Our guard recruiting has been pretty good these past couple seasons so I'm not as worried about this.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:46 PM ^
He's probably not "on the verge of decommitting." He's probably already decomitted internally but just hasnt made the announcement official yet. I dont ever remember news like this coming out without it actually happening.
I dont care how you rationalize it this is NOT good. Our position group of greatest need and one of our best (potential) recruits is bailing.
Why?
October 25th, 2017 at 12:50 PM ^
His name rhymes with Dim Trevno and will hopefully be seeking greener pastures or be taking another demotion like he did at Stanford for David Shaw.
Mario Cristobal would be a fantastic replacement.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:46 PM ^
Agree. The team needs Tackles badly.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^
Well. That sucks. Hopefully Harbaugh and Co. can dig up some quality O Line prospects in the next few months, since we pretty clearly need them.
October 25th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
with all their success and kids wanting to play for an NC. But, just once I wish a kid would be grounded and look at the depth chart and realize there are only so many snaps for all the 4 and 5* kids on their roster and it's going to be tough to crack that lineup.
Why not get a crazy idea and play at a top flight school and program and make a huge difference instead of just being a cog in the wheel, if you get on the field.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^
What you're saying sounds reasonable, but Alabama has been telling Emil that the depth chart will work out well for him. They're supposedly very thin at the center position.
He apparently won't have to beat out a bunch of top kids. Alabama is a great program, but Emil stated in an interview that he also likes their center depth chart and what they've told him.
October 25th, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^