Spring Game Standouts: QBs, Isaac, Kinnel, Shallman's Hair Comment Count

Ace

I guess I need to include a SPOILER ALERT for those who weren't able to watch the live stream. If for some reason you want the ending of the Spring Game to be a mystery, and yet you still are on this blog, stop reading now. The full game re-airs at 9:30 on BTN.


Ty Isaac had the best night among the RBs. [Eric Upchurch]

The Maize team prevailed, 14-13, after a stunningly exciting finish for a Spring Game. After John O'Korn juked Mike McCray to cap off an impressive last-gasp drive for the Blue team, but the Maize defense stuffed a fullback dive by Henry Poggi on the ensuing two-point attempt to preserve victory. Your player of the game is Wyatt Shallman. I require no further justification than this:

I won't bother with a full recap, because SPRING GAME, but here are a few players on each side of the ball that stood out to me on first viewing—it was tough to follow line play from the box, so this is mostly going to focus on the skill positions and the back seven.


John O'Korn was at his best when on the move. [Upchurch]

OFFENSE

Ty Isaac tallied 78 yards on ten carries, breaking off a few big runs on a night when none of the other tailbacks found much room to operate behind split-squad offensive lines. He ran patiently and chose the right moments to bounce runs outside. He's a major big-play threat with his speed/size combo.

The quarterbacks were steady, which is about all you can ask in a Spring Game, especially since the O-lines—which split starters between the two squads—were inconsistent in protection. Wilton Speight hit 5/6 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown; he added a six-yard rushing touchdown on a waggle and gained a first down with a 13-yard scramble.

John O'Korn didn't put up as pretty of a passing line, completing 6/14 passes for 93 yards, but he rushed for 28 yards and the late touchdown on seven carries. O'Korn did a nice job of buying time by breaking the pocket and picking his spots to scramble downfield. He also avoided any major mistakes. Shane Morris had an up-and-down showing at quarterback, hitting some nice throws but also hucking a pick to Dymonte Thomas in the end zone (more on that later) when he had a receiver open underneath for a first down. Morris moonlighted at receiver and picked up a 25-yard gain on the final drive when he got wide open on a mesh concept.

With Jehu Chesson out and Amara Darboh taking it easy, Grant Perry played the role of #1 receiver for the Maize squad and aquitted himself well. He beat a defender with a nice deep route that left Speight plenty of room on the sideline, then made an impressive catch—unfortunately, Speight's throw took him out of bounds. He had three actual catches for 30 yards; the reserve corners had a tough time sticking with him on intermediate routes.

TJ Wheatley had a drop over the middle, but he later hauled in a nine-yard catch and had impressive blocks against both Mike McCray and Jabrill Peppers(!) to spring Isaac for big gains. The hype train continues unabated. Ian Bunting looked pretty athletic on a 49-yard jaunt down the sideline after his defender got picked on another mesh route. Zach Gentry had a late 19-yard catch, though he's still far from ready to see the field.


Tyree Kinnel played well against both the run and the pass. [Upchurch]

DEFENSE

Matt Godin stood out among the defensive linemen who played most of the game, taking advantage of getting lined up across from Juwann Bushell-Beatty—who had a rough go at left guard—to work his way into the backfield consistently. Taco Charlton also deserves a mention for blowing Grant Newsome back a few yards to stuff Isaac's first run; Charlton and Wormley both looked good before exiting early along with several other established starters, including Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis.

I liked what I saw from Mike McCray, who teamed up with Tyree Kinnel for a TFL that forced a Maize punt on a third-and-short run to the outside. Kinnel, meanwhile, looked great; he stuck with his mark in coverage and made a couple stops coming downhill against the run. If Michigan needs to put him out there at safety, he looks ready.

Speaking of safeties, Dymonte Thomas was not boring in the best of ways. On the interception against Morris, he covered a ton of ground to get to a throw intended for Jack Wanger at the back pylon—a perfect throw if Thomas weren't there—then held on after leaping for the pick. I didn't notice any coverage busts from him.

Jeremy Clark doesn't look ready to cede a starting spot to Channing Stribling. He broke up a couple passes, including one after blanketing Wangler on a streak route and forcing him into the sideline; Wangler was so well-covered that he couldn't gain separation even with an obvious push-off.

That's the best I could muster from first viewing in the press box. We'll have a lot more coverage in the week to come.

Comments

michiganfanforlife

April 2nd, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^

Had a blast at the game! I agree Isaac was fast and make some good cuts.He's got good acceleration for a big dude. Our TE's have become an embarrassment of riches earlier than I thought they would. Gentry towers over people and when he puts on 30 more pounds he'll be a terror to stop. I didn't really like any of our fullbacks. Anyone think Asiasi might get a chance at FB? Am I irrationally wanting another Samoan at that spot? Our linebackers are faster and more athletic than last year, and I'm not sure it's a weakness as it might have been given the losses at that spot. Coolest part by far? Seeing Brian in the stands right next to me and me just yelling, "You're the shit, Brian!!" - he just gave me a nod that said something like - thanks but I'm not really a big deal. Brian is the shit. Go Blue



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Bodogblog

April 2nd, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^

All of our lives would be greatly improved if everyone yelled "you're the shit Brian!" every time they saw him. And don't let him pay in your establishments either people. He's kind of our football blogger Tyler Durden so he needs to be insisting he'll pay while being embarrassed and aplogizing to his wife

Action

April 2nd, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^

Anything on Higdon? I haven't heard anything about him all spring. Thought he might get some run after the burned redshirt last year.

Harlans Haze

April 2nd, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^

You mean Clark's not ready to cede his spot to Channing Stribner (per Don Brown). Come on, that's got to stick even if it it comes from someone as respected as Brown.

 

WolvinLA2

April 2nd, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^

Did anybody see Shelton Johnson play at all?  I wasn't exactly looking for him, but I also didn't notice him.  I noticed Reuben Jones had a few nice plays at WDE.

OkemosBlue

April 2nd, 2016 at 6:55 PM ^

Am I the only one who thought that Peters showed the most talent?  He couldn't start a real game yet because he doesn't know the system and maybe for other reasons, but he looked awfully smooth on a rollout and throw--no one else looked his equal today on that particularly play.   The main thing though is that all the QBs and both offenses looked like they were organized and could play real offensive football.  What a pleasure!  

Alumnus93

April 2nd, 2016 at 8:29 PM ^

Ulizio looked fantastic. really stuck it to Wormley. surprised no mention of this. Though Newsome had poor bend....we may have trouble at LT folks.

sandradsnyder

April 3rd, 2016 at 4:05 AM ^

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Taxman

April 3rd, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^

I wonder if Morris at WR is something they have been doing in regular practices or if it was merely for the spring game (considering the injuries and pending arrivals, the group was small. They used RBs at WR too.)

tspoon

April 4th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^

Listen to Sam Webb's interview of Harbaugh: Stribling a lock to be the starter opposite JD Lewis

 

But keep on banging that drum, Brian & Co....

 

Clark has intriguing ability ... but Stribling has stepped up and claimed the job.  Emphatically.