Exit Donovan Peoples-Jones
Michigan loses a second guy to the draft early:
Forever Go Blue !! pic.twitter.com/310Z8NnKiX
— Donovan Peoples-Jones (@dpeoplesjones) January 4, 2020
Peoples-Jones is likely to assassinate the combine and has been projected in the second round by guys employed as draft analysts so this isn't totally unexpected.
Peoples-Jones leaves Michigan in much the same way Rashan Gary did: a five star who was a productive college player but not the obliterating All American you hope for when you get the #1 WR in the country. He had 47 catches for 612 yards last year and 34 for 438 this year, which was third on the team behind Nico Collins and Ronnie Bell. Part of that was due to quarterback play—lord knows I spent big chunks of this year gesturing at either a wide open or single covered Peoples-Jones like Lebron James at JR Smith. Part of that was DPJ not being Jerry Jeudy.
Nico Collins's decision is now extremely important for next year, since he and Bell are the only established outside receivers. Cornelius Johnson will be a sophomore and should start to have an impact but even if he does that's pretty thin. Giles Jackson and Mike Sainristil will get snaps; neither is suited to play outside the slot.
Peoples-Jones was also an explosive punt returner. You'd think Jackson would be a ready-made replacement there after he had a productive year on kick returns.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:57 PM ^
Straight Cash homie!
Next man up. That's you, Cornelius!
January 4th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
Explosive punt returner?
January 4th, 2020 at 8:58 PM ^
I thought the same thing. Peppers was explosive, not sure DPJ is in that category.
January 4th, 2020 at 11:13 PM ^
Explosive let the ball sail over my head so they pin us deep returner imo
January 5th, 2020 at 12:24 AM ^
Satansnutsack? Really?
January 5th, 2020 at 1:33 AM ^
I wish him all the best, of course, but I often thought he cost the team field position by failing to catch punts. So many times he would let the ball hit the ground and roll for 15 yards. Peppers was great at running up and making a fair catch.
January 5th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
Not as much this year as the last couple years. This year I wonder if he was still hampered by the injury that made him miss spring and fall camps. He was a very good punt returner before this year.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
Not a surprise. He played like a guy who didn't give a shit in the Bowl game. Another supposedly elite recruit that Harbaugh and staff could not get elite performance out of.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:32 PM ^
I guess you’re still butthurt about the Bunyan pose after he torched you guys in your house.
January 4th, 2020 at 10:09 PM ^
I think his sentiments resemble that of the average Michigan fan (including me). In other words, I don't think he is an MSU troll.
January 4th, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^
Was it that? Or was it our playcalls never went deep, or was it our QB couldn't see the deep field and always checked down to Bell.
I'll say that Carr would have made good use of him. It seems our offense gets tunnel vision, instead of winging it deep. And now, he's gone. Sucks.
January 5th, 2020 at 10:05 AM ^
I'll say that Carr would have made good use of him.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but to play devil's advocate I recall plenty of UFRs and highlights that showed him wide open deep and Patterson never got him the ball. So, the play call didn't seem like the problem. Carr had a steady stream of NFL QBs, JH...not so much. At the same time I also recall hearing announcers saying the WRs are not getting separation. DPJ was the #1 WR in the 2017 class. Jeudy was the #3 WR. Jeudy may not be as big, strong, or athletic as DPJ, but his skills as a WR are light years ahead of DPJ. DPJ was always crazy athletic, but raw coming out of HS. Unfortunately he's still crazy athletic, but also still not a great WR. But, NFL draft status is all about potential and not production. He'll get a few more years before he's expected to figure it all out. It's just a shame it didn't happen at UM, which is essentially the same for Gary...great physical tools, but not great football skills yet.
January 5th, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
I Agree that you didn't say I was wrong, by essentially saying I was right. The playcalls could have had DPJ as the last read in succession and Shea would stick to his first.
January 6th, 2020 at 7:59 AM ^
The playcalls could have had DPJ as the last read in succession and Shea would stick to his first.
The key part of that is could. We will never know so it's hard to make a decisive take. It's just speculation.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:16 PM ^
Explosive kick returner his first 2 years, this year not at all..
His explosiveness looks all but gone save the MSU game
January 5th, 2020 at 6:56 AM ^
yes, his “explosiveness is gone,” dumbass.
January 5th, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
It's worth remembering that he was injured for all of spring camp, all of fall camp, and the first few games this year.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:17 PM ^
According to Sam Webb, Nico has informed the coaches he is staying. Let’s hope that actually plays out.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:53 PM ^
Crazy that he would be the one to stay of the three.
Once someone is in the portal, are they gone gone? Theres no convincing Black to stay? Or Spanellis for that matter with Ruiz leaving? Those decisions make no sense to me.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:04 PM ^
Putting their name in the Transfer Portal is simply allowing other schools to contact the player. They can pull out and stay at the school if they choose to.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^
I highly recommend pulling out. It worked for Fast Eddie. Pull out!
January 4th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
I too figured if we would loose a WR it would be Nico. Kind of surprised it’s DPJ. Maybe also as you mentioned Black re-thinks his transfer
January 4th, 2020 at 9:39 PM ^
As mentioned, DPJ is likely to obliterate the combine and someone will take him fairly early based on the athletic freak he is. Look at Rashan Gary - he didn't put up gaudy numbers but he was still a 1st round pick based on his athleticism and potential. DPJ is essentially the same thing.
January 4th, 2020 at 10:07 PM ^
Black said big news coming on Twitter a couple days ago. Many think he will end up at BC. I don’t believe there is any chance he comes back.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:38 PM ^
Black leaving I still sorta get; guys like Johnson and the various slot bug-types they have will still eat into his possible catches, and it just feels like he's ready to move on from what has been a probably-painful couple of years with all the injuries.
Spanellis I agree is weirder, but I assume these guys all sorta talk so he knew Ruiz was likely gone (or at least seriously considering it) and maybe didn't see a path to meaningful snaps. This team redshirted one big offensive line class and have a lot of other guys to compete for spots.
January 4th, 2020 at 10:35 PM ^
Based on the reaction here when he entered the portal I’d think we’d rather get the plague than have him back.
January 5th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
So bizarre. Nico is a dominant receiver with great size. He’s the best of the three by a good margin.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:46 PM ^
When did Sam report this? That is to say, is it a new development or old news? A quick Google search yielded nothing ...
January 5th, 2020 at 6:49 AM ^
Sometimes it pays to pay for info.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:21 PM ^
Thank you DJP. Best of luck in the League.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
And his NFL production, like Gary’s, will likely fall fall short of his combine numbers.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:56 PM ^
Gary has been in the NFL for 1 year. And I don't follow the NFL much but isn't he being used as an OLB? But there are plenty of Michigan fans who wanna shit on everything Michigan.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:37 PM ^
Gary sucks in the NFL. He’s being used where he best fits. He sucked at UM and sucks in the NFL. Who are the Mgobloggies going to blame next?
January 4th, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^
“Sucks” is a strong word. I think we all agree he’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s an above average player who has underachieved in terms of his raw potential. He’s a great athlete, but he may only be an average football player.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:47 PM ^
Gary may well turn into a bust in the NFL, but moving to a new position (LB) and playing behind two guys who totaled 25.5 sacks and almost 30 TFLs can limit a guy's opportunities. Hell, Brandon Graham struggled his first couple of years in the NFL as he transitioned to a new role and was an All-Pro a couple years ago.
Not that you particularly care about any of this because you want to be annoying, but figured some context for your lazy rant was in order.
January 5th, 2020 at 12:08 AM ^
You should be banned.
January 5th, 2020 at 11:28 AM ^
He should have been banned within a week of creating that particular account. But nobody gives a shit that this board has become far worse than the rcmb ever was.
January 5th, 2020 at 1:07 AM ^
I'm no JH apologist but wouldn't Gary under-performing in the NFL look better for Harbaugh?
January 5th, 2020 at 6:53 AM ^
You are such a dick!
January 4th, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
Shea's fault all the time? DPJ lacked shimmy shake and the ability to get open enough against good DB's. Sad to see him go because I think he could have been more explosive his second year in a good system.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:31 PM ^
The difference between this year and last was not Shea. I know this causes major cognitive dissonance for the board, but the difference is the OC. But long live St. Gattis because of transition costs and Pep sucks, blah blah blah. It’s amazing what happens when reality doesn’t match up with the hive’s groupthink. But, but, but, we need speed in space and RPOs. Meanwhile, the only significant losses were Higdon and JBB and the running game underperformed by almost a whole yard per carry and Shea’s completion percentage dropped 8 points. But sure, cling to Gattis’ throw away line about Shea golfing too much. BTW, that’s horrible leadership - praise in public and criticize in private. That’s basic leadership 101 stuff that Gattis failed at. I know I wouldn’t be motivated to perform for someone who threw me under the bus that way. And Harbaugh fucked it up just as bad by clinging to the DCaff is getting meaningful minutes bullshit. The snake rots from the head and this program has a serious problem because the head of this program has CTE.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:58 PM ^
Well there was the play just in the bowl game where DPJ blows by his guy on an RPO and Shea hands off for 1 hard instead. McIlroy pointed it out on replay.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:38 PM ^
Because it was a designed handoff, dumbass.
January 5th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
I don't think you would know.
January 5th, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
The announcer said that and Brian has, and it may be true, but at the split second the decision was made, I'm not sure. Would like to see one of those frozen screenshots that you will see an OC going over with some NFL QBs when they come off the field.
I do know that the view on guys being open looks a lot different watching it live at the game, compared to TV coverage which often will show the receiver appearing to be open when it is in fact a split second after the decision already had to be made (and sometimes reflects the cornerback breaking off from the coverage because they know the ball is going elsewhere). You can still make the throws relying on faith/hope that your guy will break open, but recall that early season turnovers were a huge point of contention and I think that did make Shea way more hesitant , and his declining performance reflected that. He had a bad Citrus Bowl, no question.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:04 PM ^
DPJ and Ruiz are the two that I really don't get leaving. Ruiz at least had a better end of year, but the start of the year was simply atrocious. DPJ has his athleticism, but he didn't produce shit and didn't seem to give that much of a damn most of the year either. Best of luck to both of them of course, but I think another solid year each puts both of them in the mid to lower 1st round at least, possibly way higher with a great year.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:35 PM ^
What evidence do you have of dpj dogging it. Maybe the dip in production had something to do with the injury he had all of last off season. Guy missed a lot of practice time with the new offense.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:42 PM ^
How about his shitty stats? And stop with the new offense shit. Justin Fields has no problem at OSU or Burrows at LSU.
January 4th, 2020 at 9:42 PM ^
DPJs production is much more reliant on a competent offense and QB. We didn’t have either for half the season and the qb never really came around. We will have a new starter at qb next year and he may feel that his utilization won’t improve. He’ll dominate the combine and has enough potential to go high.
Ruiz is more of a question. He simply underachieved. He will always be a competent player at an important position in the NFL. His stock can only go up, his departure seems the most strange.
January 5th, 2020 at 9:22 AM ^
Center is a real position of need on probably 40 percent of NFL teams and a real key to NFL offensive success.
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