How Are We Feeling About Football Things?
Over the weekend Michigan had a scrimmage that simulated what they'll do for Notre Dame week. Michigan put some ULTRAZOOM highlights on the internet, some guy attempted to UFR them, Heiko attempted to forestall panic about what was contained therein to eagle-eyed watchers. First, let's examine the pore structure of various unidentified Michigan football players:
Countdown to Kickoff 2013: Day 13 - Scrimmage... by mgovideo
Graham Glasgow's playing left guard. More than that, Glasgow was playing left guard because Chris Bryant—not massively-hyped Ben Braden—was held out after having his knee drained. How do we feel about this?
On the one hand, Bryant is a massive human who is a natural guard, whereas Braden is a massive human who is maybe not the best fit on the inside. Having Bryant emerge as a contender at guard gives Michigan more line depth, and when he's been healthy he's drawn praise like this from Kenny Demens:
I’ve always been a fan of Chris Bryant. That has been my favorite offensive lineman since his freshman year. I remember his freshman year he was on scout team… whenever he pulled, I don’t care if you were Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, myself, whoever… when Chris Bryant pulled, you were nervous. You were nervous! Chris Bryant brings the pain.
On the other, Braden is supposedly the most physically talented guy Taylor Lewan has ever seen and line shifts in camp remind you of last year, when the flippin' and the floppin' made the line like jello, Rudy. A steady hand is always better. Plus, Bryant spent all of last year injured to the point where he wasn't really doing much in spring. I'd heard he had some lingering pain issues from that even now, and he just got his knee drained. Also, Bryant was a decent recruit but not as hyped as you might remember. Only Rivals gave him four stars, and they were so up on his recruitment they ranked a 6'4", 340 pound guy at tackle.
Do we like it? Do we hate it? I don't know man. I think I'd rather hear that Bryant is seriously pushing Braden, who is locked in, instead of a position switch that undoes a position switch from spring. The flippin' and the floppin'. On the other hand, Bryant was not available then and is now. It could just be that he is pretty good.
Braden does get some snaps at that LG spot, BTW. He was off and on, apparently hasn't been practicing much at guard, and struggled some against interior quickness in the spring game. (He also seems to get beat by Willie Henry on a Rawls iso that goes nowhere in the above video.) So… I bet he is the #1 backup at tackle when the season starts and it's Bryant at guard. If that happens I'm going to decrement Braden expectations from "Jake Long 3.0" to "plus right tackle."
Toussaint, Hayes
Toussaint looks like Toussaint. In a good way, not Poor Damn Toussaint of last year. No one else did much at tailback except Justice Hayes, who slips out of the backfield from a shotgun set and makes a touchdown catch after Gardner buys some time. Other running back events are Toussaint juking guys, running tough north and south, and picking up yardage. People other than Toussaint get consumed. Sample size qualifiers, obviously, but Toussaint is also getting external validation from insider types and the coaches.
It's one or two carries each for other challengers, thus indicating who has the lead in the race at RB and giving us no other information. Green gets bounced outside and swarmed, looking a little ponderous. Hayes gets to the hole and nailed on by Cam Gordon on a nice play; Ross grabs him in the hole on his next carry. Rawls picks up negative one yards and zero yards (the latter on a play from the two)—picking up where he left off. De'Veon Smith finishes that drive off.
Meanwhile, Hayes: he was reputed to be a spread-oriented back and excellent receiver. Michigan needs a third down back with the graduation of Vincent Smith. Of late I've been asserting that Toussaint should grab that job but if he's entering the season as the out-and-out feature back (which seems likely given his buzz and Green's injury) Michigan will want someone else to pick up linebackers and slip into the flat. Hayes would obviously be that guy. The other backs on the roster are young or bulky.
It does seem like he's locking down that spot. He was the back in all the shotgun snaps, with that touchdown catch and a screen that Dymonte Thomas engulfs.
The first snap is Kalis pulling to Lewan on a power play. Get used to that, kids.
Chesson and Reynolds are the receiving stars. Gallon was held out, probably because he doesn't have anything to prove at this point.
Also, guy who apparently gets injury information no one else gets says Darboh has picked up a boo boo. (Injury guy has since deleted the tweet, undoubtedly after a visit from Biff the Wolverine Enforcer.) He shows up in the first snap of the video as a blocker and then not again. Assumption: boo boo, held out, don't read too much into it. Injury Guy was right about Derrick Green, FWIW. Michigan was being a little coy with how much he was doing; the two-week estimate was not off base much, if at all. Darboh's thing is supposed to be a rolled ankle, so keep your hands off the panic button.
While you don't want to read too much into a hand-picked collection of pore videos, pencil Chesson and Reynolds in ahead of Jackson and any freshmen when it comes to the #3 and #4 outside receivers. Chesson's catch is pretty dang good, especially as it comes over Blake Countess.
Courtney Avery's playing free safety. This one is negative, I think. Avery's run support has never been a big positive, he's never played the position at Michigan, and it says some not great things about the guys backing up the presumed starters that a "five-eleven", 175 pound guy is getting a look.
One thing it probably doesn't mean: Jarrod Wilson is losing the job. Assumption here is that Michigan is experimenting in case something happens. If it is Wilson losing his job, uh, at least my prediction that we'll miss Jordan Kovacs will have been correct?
Cam Gordon is begging someone to photoshop this.
There is a lot of Cam Gordon in here. Cam Gordon pressures and chases Fitz Toussaint and hits guys and blitzes and whatnot. Beyer's supposed to be pushing Gordon quite a bit, but you can't tell that from this video, not only in terms of appearances but also in terms of Cam Gordon play. Since Beyer was not held out, that would seem to mean something.
There is also a lot of Willie Henry. The mountain wearing 69 is Henry, and he shows up on a bunch of snaps. Black was held out, but there are other guys—Strobel and Ryan Glasgow—who do not feature nearly as much. Most notably Henry helps bury the one Derrick Green carry and engulfs Rawls in the backfield. Something to note, maybe: on that play Richard Ash is also in, playing nose. Henry's at the three-tech. That makes sense with a quality nose rotation in place and a notable lack of size at three-tech. We might see him in a short yardage package instead of Black/Strobel.
It would be something if after this year we look back at ten years of recruiting and Glenville has provided Michigan with as many or even more plus players than Cass Tech.
Man I like that Dymonte Thomas play. Can't see much except Thomas flying up at lightning speed to beat a block and tackle, but me gusta.
[Also in CTK:
Countdown to Kickoff 2013: Day 12 - Special Teams by mgovideo
And Jibreel Black says things.]
August 19th, 2013 at 12:52 PM ^
I'm really curious as to what is happening with Pipkins. Came in with massive amounts of recruiting hype, had his RS burned with seemingly little impact, now...? Noone on the site has spoken of him as a bust at all, but I also haven't heard anything very positive either.
Am I missing something? Could someone more informed fill me in?
August 19th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
He's going to be the nose on the "second first unit" as Mattison would say, meaning he's going to get plenty and plenty of time. When Q graduates after this year, Pipkins is on track to take over on the "first first unit."
August 19th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^
Because I understand that unless you've been booted from the team it's impossible to be considered a "bust" before your first game as a sophomore.
this offseason must end before anyone else looses their mind.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:13 PM ^
I meant "bust" relative to his 5-star, instant-impact status. Even then, I was saying I hadn't heard anything about him being a bust.
As for your subject, it appears you're no more informed. Thanks for the feedback though.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
The answer to your question is he's playing behind an upperclassman who should push to make some All Big Ten teams this year.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
"...his 5-star, instant-impact status"
Those two things are almost completely unrelated, especially for linemen. Kyle Kalis was a five-star, saw precisely zero snaps last year, and is exactly on track.
August 19th, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^
Thanks to you and MWolverine for the feedback. I understood the concept for O-linemen, but I guess I had a misconception for D-linemen; I thought their instant-impactability was near the level of skill position players.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:21 PM ^
Last year, Quinton Washington was a bit of an unknown. I think that his emergence allowed the coaches to play Pipkins less, and is a big reason we aren't hearing much about him. Even then, he is a true sophomore, #2 on the depth chart at NT, and expected to get significant playing time given how often Mattison likes to rotate his DL. Not to mention he was overweight last year and is reportedly much slimmer and in better shape overall. Also Also... DTs are notorious for taking a bit of time to acclimate to the college level. I would hold off on the PANIC button, as I bet we see a big leap from him this year, even if he doesn't quite turn into an all-world destroyer.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
Lets not gloss over the facts - Pipkins came in way out of shape. Its reality. Still being 18/19 years old playing people 2-3 years older and out of shape he was out there playing. Lets give him this year before we raise pitchforks eh? (I am agreeing with the guy I am responding to)
August 19th, 2013 at 1:42 PM ^
If you want some perspective on what a "5 star" tackle should be doing his freshman year (aside from lifting weights and doing some practice squad) stuff the best DT of the past 10+ years in college played 2 games and was injured. He came back his RS freshman year and had a very nice season. Now this was the best DT of the past 10 years. So let's hold our panic buttons down a bit shall we?
Suh played in all 14 games as a backup defensive lineman and earned freshman all-conference honors from The Sporting News in 2006. Despite coming off the bench, he finished the year with 19 total tackles, and ranked among the team leaders in tackles for loss (8) and sacks (3.5). He played in two games as a true freshman, but was injured and received a medical hardship.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^
"Ya see!?"
August 19th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Couldn't believe we got a Cosby Show reference in here.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^
Going right for the crotch.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
I'd prefer Bryant and Glasgow to slug it out over that guard spot...we need more backup ready tackles if possible.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
Perhaps I am too optimistic, but I really do not see the downside in Chris Bryant beating out Braden. Bryant is in his third fall camp and is excelling at the position he was recruited to play. When he has been healthy, Bryant has often been labeled as the best run-blocker on the team. The thought of having the two best run-blockers as our starting OG's (Kalis and Bryant) makes me feel much better about the OL.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:26 PM ^
You're too optimistic. Instead of saying "Chris Bryant beating out Braden", you need to look at it as "Braden failing to beat out Chris Bryant". Then start panicking.
August 20th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^
I'll have whatever maize and blue drink that person's havin'!
Seriously though - other than center, I think the o-line will be OK once they get a few games under their belt. The o-line seemed to do well in the one-on-one drill video compared to what I seem to recall from last year. The one problem: we played ND week 4 last year (granted it was away). They only have one warmup game to get it together, so I wish we were more settled now. (Maybe we are and just don't know it.)
August 19th, 2013 at 1:26 PM ^
If he can get back to running the way he did during spring a year and a half ago, Fitz will be this year what people expected him to be last year: one of the best backs in the B1G.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^
I'm siding with optimism with regards to both the Avery and Bryant moves... especially the latter. Bryant SHOULD beat out Braden for that guard spot, and frankly I was a bit nervous that Braden was moved to guard in the first place considering its not his natural position and likely meant bad things for the interior. The Avery move seems like a "best 11 guys" move to me, but who knows. At worst, Wilson isn't very good yet, and we have a quality senior who could reasonably fill the void at free safety if need be. At best, Dymonte is totally awesome, Raymon Taylor took a leap forward, and Avery is too good to keep off the field. Even the worst case scenario isn't THAT terrible, when put in proper perspective...
August 19th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
I think it is more about Avery and depth than it is about Wilson. Everything we have been hearing from GM at his pressers is he's doing fine so I don't think the move has anything to do with Wilson not being good enough. I think it is either a) Avery is just too valuable to keep on the bench or b) they need the depth more at safety than they do at CB. In fact I think it is probably a bit of both. I do doubt that he has actually passed Wilson though.
I think the positive here is that Avery will have the ability to backup three positions now. If any of Gordon, Thomas or Milson go down he will be a pretty damn good (and proven) backup to have.
August 19th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
Exactly what I was getting at. I like the potential that our secondary has. If we can generate some pass rush from the front four, this defense has a chance to be very, very good.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^
August 19th, 2013 at 1:38 PM ^
Because that would be... something.
August 19th, 2013 at 2:17 PM ^
I also heard a rumor that Pipkins is being moved to the slot, Green now weighs approximately 380 lbs and is being brought in on a crane for practice and that Brady Hoke's pointing fingers are both sprained.
August 19th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
You deserve a trip to Bolivia for that last bit.
August 19th, 2013 at 1:40 PM ^
If Avery is trying out for safety because Wilson isn't ready, why not move Dymonte to safety and keep Avery at Nickel?
August 19th, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^
It seems that Mattison wants to move towards a bigger nickel position... similar to Ohio State's "star" linebacker. Perhaps it's less important to have size at the FS position, where run support won't be quite as necessary?
August 19th, 2013 at 3:04 PM ^
Would that make him a a snake in the grass?
August 19th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
We have to get our snake oil from somewhere.
August 19th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
Brian, is there any interest in doing a "Looking back at the Tea Leaves from Fall Camp" post after the season to either realize how accurate or ridiculous the bullet points from this article were based on a zoomed in 3-minute clip of a scrimmage? Would be interesting.
August 19th, 2013 at 6:50 PM ^
Green looks enormous.
August 19th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^
Anyone else notice that Karsch's hoodie string was stuck on top of his microphone in the first segment? Anyway....
August 20th, 2013 at 12:30 AM ^
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