Unverified Voracity is Rested, Fresh, Healthy
Yes sir I will subscribe to this newsletter. This Week In Schadenfreude spends all its time with Ohio State:
I need a break from this noncents. Gonna hang with my 2 boys or take the broad out for mini golf. I need to repriotoeoeize my life.
… I…
…
— trick or trEtienne (@DavidLee_Goth) October 22, 2018
Okay. Thank you.
Gary details. Rashan Gary's mom decided to put all the cards on the table in re: Gary's injury. Executive summary: he got hurt before Notre Dame, aggravated it by falling on the shoulder in the Northwestern game, and was told that he needed 4-6 weeks for the injury to heal. Penn State is 5 weeks, Rutgers 6. He is not pulling a Bosa. The end.
A terrifying glimpse inside the program. Stephen Spanellis reveals Ben Herbert's mantra:
Rested, Fresh, Healthy: bye week edition pic.twitter.com/CzaF3mCL7x
— Stephen Spanellis (@Big_Spanellis78) October 23, 2018
They seem to like the guy, at least? Enough to photoshop him into things?
No lies detected. Sterile giant fields surrounded by empty buildings and Buffalo Wild Wings, is what Jordan Poole just saw:
“I had never been to Michigan State before, and their campus was awful – it’s trash,” Poole said. “It was just dry.
There's actually a giant, interesting thread on the RCMB about this very thing dating back a couple years. Folks are openly envious of Ann Arbor's ability to put up new buildings, which… hoo boy, that says something about East Lansing NIMBYs.
Okay, here's a hype video. Needs more Metellus skipping but otherwise I will allow it.
State Champs#GoBlue 〽️ pic.twitter.com/qUwCaHhsKR
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) October 24, 2018
Metellus grade. Michigan's safeties are one of only two spots on the defense that seem even a little permeable—DT is the other—but even there Michigan has a guy grading out very well per PFF:
S Josh Metellus, 76.7 Overall Grade
While coverage metrics aren’t typically the best to look at when discussing safety play, Metellus’ play in coverage is certainly deserving of highlighting here. He holds an absurd 5.7 passer rating allowed to opposing receivers, which leads all defensive backs with at least 135 snaps in coverage. He has not allowed a single touchdown this season to go with three interceptions and is allowing just 31.6% of passes thrown his way to be hauled in. In coverage from the slot, he’s allowed just a 13.8 passer rating and has two of his three picks.
That rating has to be giving Metellus credit for all his INTs like he was in coverage on those throws. He was not on two, which were deflected by David Long and Lawrence Marshall. So don't focus on the passer rating, focus on the grade, which is All Big Ten-level.
In other PFF stuff, Gary has dropped out of their first round and Devin Bush has slid to #32 on their draft board. The first is pretty obvious. The second… uh?
[After the JUMP: glacing owlishly]
Time to glance owlishly at playoff stuff. If Michigan can get by Penn State in two weeks only Indiana and Rutger stand between Michigan and a version of The Game likely to be a de facto playoff round of 16 game. We're close enough to the end of the season that folks are putting out the charts with the percentage chances of doing a thing. As always, the chances that folks lose are higher than you'd think:
Win probabilities for 0-loss college football teams
Alabama (8-0)
0 loss: 52%
1 loss: 38%
2+ losses: 10%Clemson (7-0)
0 loss: 55%
1 loss: 35%
2+ losses: 10%Notre Dame (7-0)
0 loss: 31%
1 loss: 42%
2+ losses: 27%These projections are only for the regular season. If you add a conference title game against the highest-ranked potential champion in the opposite division, Alabama has a 66 percent win probability against Georgia, and Clemson has a 74 percent chance against Miami. So that means there’s about a 34 percent chance of Alabama reaching the finish line at 13-0, 41 percent for Clemson.
Connelly has Michigan getting out of the rest of the regular season without a loss at 34%, which is a hair behind Oklahoma(37%) amongst one-loss teams.
Special teams bounces back up. I like FEI's special teams approach better than S&P+ since I don't think success rates are applicable to events like punts where there are no first downs to gain, but FEI details don't come out until week seven since it doesn't incorporate the sophisticated projection scheme S&P+ does. It's week seven, and Michigan's special teams check in 8th. Details:
- Nordin is 71st in FG efficiency. Astoundingly, Kentucky ranks 4th in the country in overall special teams and has the #130 kicker. Dude is 3/7 and those are mostly chip shots if he's averaging a whopping –1.5 points per kick(!!!).
- Return efficiency is excellent in both phases. This just goes to show that kick return efficiency is all about whether you get a TD or not. Thomas's return against ND is the only Michigan return of note this year. DPJ and his merry band of guys who are ostentatiously not blocking you in the back are 14th in punt return efficiency.
- Hart is 5th in punt efficiency.
I'd love to know what Hart did this offseason.
Patterson's draft status. NFL scouting types on Patterson:
Scouts see Patterson (68.6 percent completion percentage) as a mid-round pick, so sticking around would be wise. But his history portends him being on the move.
They're probably right. Patterson has a lot of tools but hasn't been seeing the field that well so far. Going into the year most people in the know expected Patterson to enter the draft if it was at all feasible and that should probably remain the expectation. But he is in that zone where there's a good case to return: if he refines those tools and has a big senior year he'll fly up draft boards, garnering both the additional money higher picks receive and the extra rope (potential) first round QBs get.
Stu Douglass has tales. Playing overseas can be wild:
It was an ugly game for us all around, but it didn’t take a turn to the wild until the middle of the 4th quarter. One of our guys landed on a Belgian fan after a foul on a fast break. As you can see he wasn’t exactly in a rush to get off the guy, and the fan didn’t like that. I’m not sure what he was thinking, but he decided to push the 6’9″ 240lbs Jon Holmes like the world’s toughest tough-guy. Hardos have zero awareness, and that’s why we love them.
Well, our fans didn’t appreciate that.
A timeout was called so I sat down on the bench and the team huddled around. I started to hear a ruckus going on, and as I looked over at the noise, I saw a chair fly over the horizon of my teammates’ heads. Coach tried to get us to focus in on what he was saying, but coach, there are chairs airborne.
Spirou Charleroi vs Hapoel Tel Aviv !!! Worldstaaaaaaaar ! Meilleur vidéo sur snap ; Alainkaban pic.twitter.com/RWXVXyYrVE
— La Legende (@Pacizer) September 24, 2018
The whole story there is worth reading. I wonder if the guys who just like to fight who populated European soccer stadiums have been priced out and now do smaller sports. When we talked to Scott Matzka last year he had a story about opposing fans laying down in front of their buses before a hockey game in Germany.
They gonna lose. Folks inside NCAA thinks it's about to take it on the chin in the latest anti-trust lawsuit that's been filed against them, and this is the big one—the one that seeks injunctive relief. IE: rules out the window.
One Power Five commissioner has already told CBS Sports of the Alston trial: "I think we're going to lose." …
"They're after a total free market," Bevilacqua said of the plaintiffs. "There's a lot of good models out there with pro sports. Half the revenue goes to labor. If you're talking about Power Five, college sports is about the size of the NBA, $8 billion a year. The NBA is paying their players $4 billion out of the $8 billion. These [college] guys are paid a scholarship. At some point, you make a deal and say, 'I can't give you 50 percent but, you know, I'll give you 10 or 15 percent.' That's $1 billion dollars." …
"[The NCAA is] playing the long game and hanging their hat on amateurism," Bevilacqua said. "Each time Nick Saban gets $10 million a year and an athlete gets [only] a scholarship, it further undercuts their argument.
"They're going to get routed. They're going to lose. If I was them, I would have cut a deal [with the plaintiffs] a long time ago."
Dennis Dodd speculates this will lead to a seismic round of realignment as various schools opt out of paying players. Hopefully one of them is Rutgers.
SALT THE EARTH. Maize and Blue Nation folows up the game column with more. MSU just fired lawyers they have working with seven of their Nassar-implicated employees for defending their client in a way MSU didn't like. The article includes a rundown of all the garbage MSU has tried to pull to cover their own ass since Engler was hired:
Three days after a lawyer hired to defend William Strampel said criminal charges against the former Michigan State University dean were unfounded because he was only following orders from MSU's lawyers, the university fired his firm from representing six other MSU employees.
It's a move experts said raised concerns once again about whether the school was more worried about its reputation than the truth. It also sent a signal to law firms being paid by MSU to represent its employees in various lawsuits and criminal matters: Toe the company line or risk losing a lot of money.
"It fits the pattern on MSU under (former president Lou Anna) Simon and (current interim President John) Engler — just run everything through the lens of protecting the university first," said David Jaffe, an attorney specializing in compliance and the former vice president, general counsel and secretary of Guardian Industries Corp. of Auburn Hills, as well as former partner in the law firm of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn in Detroit. Jaffe reviewed correspondence obtained by the Detroit Free Press under an open records request between MSU and and the law firm at the request of the Free Press.
That pattern includes Engler canceling an issue of the MSU alumni magazine that took an unflinching look at the Nassar scandal and replacing it with a version focused on an interview with him touting the positives at MSU. Engler and MSU administrators also drew fire for emails where they disparaged the survivors of Dr. Larry Nassar, the former MSU doctor accused of molesting more than 200 women and athletes, and for releasing personal counseling information about a sexual assault survivor who was suing the school. Simon drew fire for not attending the first day of the Nassar sentencing where victim after victim spoke and even for her resignation letter, where she blamed unnamed people for "politicizing" the issue.
Product of the program.
Etc.: Assistant gymnastics coach resigns after being caught having relations with a student in a car. Merrill Hoge's new CTE book is bad. Daily on Uche. Chengelis on DPJ. Caris Levert having a breakout season. OSU's #3 WR, Austin Mack, is potentially out until the bowl game after foot surgery.
Poole post-winner. Teske breakout? Cooper Marody called up to the Oilers, made NHL debut last night. Nebraska's gonna be fine. Rico Beard is a 50-year old child.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
Pretty sure Winovich's is Shea's best friend on the team so that may factor in.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:47 PM ^
I think you're right about the offensive side of the ball. There is a lot of talent coming back. But, we do lose a decent amount on defense. However, it all depends on how many juniors go. Kinnel is replaceable. I think Winovich's leadership will be missed more than anything. I think it's safe to say Gary is gone. But, if the rest come back, we've already demonstrated that Paye, Hutchinson, & Uche are capable replacements. With another year of development for Solomon & Kemp I think the line will be quite good. I think Long & Bush are the wildcards here. If they both go, there will be some rebuild. That will likely put some combination of Gill, Ross, & Anthony to fill 2 spots alongside Hudson (assuming he returns) and Thomas replacing Long. I get the feeling Hill is coming back. But, if we lose Bush, Hill, and Long (and Watson to graduation), there will some holes to fill. I don't see anyone else being better than average to replace the CBs other than Thomas.
NFL Potential Departures
Gary only - Great season
Gary & Patterson - Hard to say yet, but McCaffrey looks promising, still very good season
Gary, Patterson, & Bush - Really still depends more on the QB so still probably a very good season
Gary, Patterson, Bush, & Long - Starting to get a little challenging, but still do-able
Gary, Patterson, Bush, Long, & Hill - There will be a sure drop-off with the second CB after Thomas
Gary, Patterson, Bush, Long, Hill, & Hudson - Losing the two CBs and the QB are probably the bigger deal, but more losses are more losses and there will surely be some weaknesses on defense.
October 24th, 2018 at 4:29 PM ^
Would love to see another year of Shea. Shea could be looking at a slight downgrade next year ... but not precipitously so - and "another year in system gains may offset" in my opinion. Offense loses Bushell-Beatty, Higdon and Wangler. https://mgoblog.com/content/michigan-depth-chart-class-0
Higdon biggest loss obviously, but JBB has been excellent in run game and serviceable as a pass protector of late. Runyan will be a 5th year senior but I would expect that he will be back. Steuber, Mayfield (sad face - not Hudson) in mix to replace JBB - tackle depth still thin and young.
Evans returns, but I would expect Turner to be first up to "replace" Higdon. Tru Wilson and Samuels should push for carries too.
WR and TE targets (including hopefully a healthy Black) should all be back and with another year of experience. Route concept issues still likely remain, but Patterson hopefully improve on his reads.
October 24th, 2018 at 6:26 PM ^
Evans returns, but I would expect Turner to be first up to "replace" Higdon. Tru Wilson and Samuels should push for carries too.
Don't forget about Charbonnet. He's already at college ready size at 6'2" 215.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:04 PM ^
Hmm. The realignment thing is interesting. Seems to me that probably only 30-40 teams would want to compete if player compensation was effectively unlimited. And on the flip side, perhaps I-A schools below that threshold would merge into a new subdivision with resource-rich I-AA schools like the Ivy League.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
Why in the world would a Dean at Michigan State who is facing criminal charges let a MSU-hired lawyer get anywhere near his defense team? Why wouldn't the Dean hire his own lawyers?
From the story, it seems like MSU hired lawyers to provide the Dean with a legal defense but then fired those lawyers because they didn't like the legal defense they were providing. And then, MSU fired those lawyers from defending other MSU employees.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
Unverified Voracity is one of my favorite features of the blog. I love the potpourri nature of all the juicy tidbits. It's like a really good salad .. or fancy cheese tray .. or dessert table.
re Ben Herbert. I don't necessarily have any hard data points, but the empirical evidence of our boys absolutely owning 2nd halves and 4th quarters in particular makes me bigtime okay with whatever Herbert is doing.
re Jordan Poole's comments. A bit sweeping. I don't have too many problems with MSU's campus. Nicely walkable area along Grand River with shops & restaurants. And actually quite lovely along the Red Cedar, especially in autumn. Have been to a few football tilts and a hoops game or two. My problem is with their insufferable fan base and that godawfully abysmal shithole of a stadium. Ugh, such an eyesore and a pretty miserable place to take in a game. I won't go back. Poole has close buddies on the football team, and he seems the type of kid who can back up any chatter. Can't wait for 3/9/19 @ Breslin. Must-see-tv!
The Stu Douglass stuff is pure gold. Them Euros be crazy.
I'm glad the absurdity of the foundation on which the holier-than-thou NCAA rests is being challenged in the courts. Any mission statements surrounding the well-being of their "student-athletes" went up in flames long ago in places like State College, Waco, Oxford, and East Lansing. Mark Emmert makes what?..about $2mill a year? Burn it to the ground. It's broken beyond repair.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
I grew up in EL and go back to visit family often.
EL isn't a terrible place by any means, but it's very... bland?
You can find Grand River Ave. in any college town worth something. The food options are not unique to MSU in anyway. HopCat is all over now so that's not special to EL. There are far better Irish Pubs than Dublin. Harpers is terrible and their beer is pretty bad while the layout is dumb and it turns into a sauna when there are more than 50 people inside. Menna's/Conrads is your typical drunk food that you realize isn't great when you're sober. PB (Peanut Barrel) is alright for Long Islands but otherwise... meh.
They are rapidly changing the layout of Grand River and injecting new things into it, but at this point it's forced and when I visit everything looks smacked together with seemingly little concern for it all making sense. Plus, it's basically 6 blocks long by 2 blocks deep and outside of that there is nothing to do. Lansing has Old Town, which is something I suppose.
Ai Fushion (down the road towards Okemos) is really good sushi though and Rama is fun (cheap burgers and pitchers of beer Thursdays). Crunchy's isn't bad either. Not the worst place to end up, but I'd take Ann Arbor, Royal Oak, Grand Rapids, and some other places over EL any day of the week.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
I don't know the details, but using the defense of "my attorneys said it was okay" can waive the attorney-client privilege, thus making all the communications with the attorney subject to discovery. If that was done without a full explanation of the risks to the client, and a full consent, it seems a fire-able offense to me.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
This is getting back to my above point. He didn't say "my attorneys said it was okay," he said "my employer's attorneys said it was okay."
Which is a pretty reasonable legal defense for a guilty person who committed crimes while on the job, but obviously not one that will go over well with the employer. The problem seems to be that the employer was providing his legal defense at the time, which is just an all-around WTF for everybody concerned: the University, the lawyers, and the Dean.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
How many juniors are entering the NFL? I know Patterson & Gary were always expected to. But, what about Bush, Hudson, Hill, Long, & Gentry? If everyone except Gary returns, we could be very very good next year. If Patterson, Bush, and Long (and Gary) leave, there could be some drop off, which is sort of what I expect. I don't expect Hudson or Gentry to go however. What are your thoughts?
October 24th, 2018 at 2:47 PM ^
Just a guess, but I'd expect to see Bush and at least one of CBs leave early.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
Gary and Bush gone.
Hill and Long and Patterson maybe/probable.
Gentry and Hudson stay.
Of guys getting meaningful snaps, Marshall, Mone, Kinnel (?), Watson, Winovich, Bushel-Beatty, Perry, Higdon, Wangler graduate. Am I missing anyone?
October 24th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
IDK if he's still getting what you would call meaningful snaps, but Furbush is a senior. FYI the depth chart by class is under the "Useful Stuff" tab above.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
The chant at Douglass's game was probably "Putain Charleroi" which in this context would be like "F**k yeah Charleroi!" And the PA guy is just dancing along to it. European sports fans are a different breed.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
I hear these stories about college basketball players like Stu going overseas and wonder - who are these fans paying money to watch mid-tier American college basketball players, the majority of whom they've probably never heard of? How is this a profitable enterprise? What is does a player like Stu earn - a sack of potatoes?
It's an awesome gig - no doubt I would love to do it - but I just don't understand how it's sustainable.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
Well, why do people watch college or high school sports when they can watch the pros? Plenty of people watched Stu play for Michigan for four years, no?
People form attachments to their local teams, regardless of how good or bad they are. If you're in Europe you're not going to get an NBA franchise (and it's hard to watch NBA games live, since they happen in the middle of the night your time), but you do have your own national league instead.
Keep in mind, the level in some of these leagues can be pretty competitive. Stu isn't tearing it up: according to this source, his career scoring average as of 2016-17 was 6.5 ppg.
October 24th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Maybe Stu can write Playing for Waffles novel from his experiences with apologies to John Grisham
October 24th, 2018 at 2:23 PM ^
"...noncents..."
Holy hell - that was a real post!!!
October 24th, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
What an amazing rant. Spelling errors while having an existential quandary from a fan of cooler pooper fanbase. Amazing.
October 25th, 2018 at 7:45 AM ^
I just assumed that was a facetious spelling. If it wasn't...whoah.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:19 PM ^
Ain't nobody got time for that noncents!
October 24th, 2018 at 2:25 PM ^
Ummm... the PFF list ISN'T a mock draft.
The PFF list is the top 32 PFF ranked college players.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
Parts of Sparty's campus are scenic. Ann Arbor has some less-than-scenic strip malls. Let's be fair.
October 24th, 2018 at 5:54 PM ^
I've only been thru MSU's campus maybe 2-3 times and I thought it was decently nice. I sorta thought Jordan Poole's comment was less sincere and more 'I'm just saying things to piss off my rival / hate on em'. East Lansing might not be Ann Arbor but its certainly not South Bend either
October 24th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
Let us trust in Rashan Gary and his mom. They have only every given us reasons to believe in them.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:59 PM ^
Even if Rashan decided to "pull a Bosa", I personally would have zero problem with it at all. He has a multi million dollar future at stake. No fan in their right mind can criticize a player nursing injury from coming back early and jeopardizing his professional career.
This is a career related issue, not college. Millions are at stake. His family's future is at stake. I wish him well in making whatever decision is right for them.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
Anybody else seeing some similarities between Rudock '15 and Patterson '18? Both late transfers, having to pick up the whole system in 1 summer. Some early struggles. Etc.
If it continues, Shea will be turning it on in the next game or two.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Shea was enrolled for spring.
Shea start practicing with team March 23.
Rudock start practicing with team August 8.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:16 PM ^
Still a little skeptical about whether Gary will ever be back. If this were just an ordinary injury hiatus, with a reasonably likely duration, why have the coaches been so cagey about his status?
October 24th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Because Harbaugh is always cagey about injuries. The cagey announcements were the most ordinary thing about Rashan's injury.
October 24th, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^
He won’t be back. It’s fine. Another guy with huge hype and small stats.
October 24th, 2018 at 6:17 PM ^
1. Stats are overrated and not the same thing as production. Gary has produced. He’s out because of an injury, not lack of performance.
2. I’m not sure what other players you are referring to have had “huge hype and small stats” but M has been hitting on a decisive majority of its recruits lately.
3. Unless you have some particular reason to know whether Gary will return or not, you’re just engaging in useless speculation that is not appreciated.
October 24th, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^
How about Jabril Peppers? Did you forget about him? Huge hype no stats. It’s cool that he’s gonna save it for the league and take care of Mommy Good for him. Not too concerned with what you appreciate. You sound like a Sparty
October 25th, 2018 at 7:58 AM ^
While I don't like the sentiment that Gary's a disappointment, I think it's pretty clear we've had a lot of underachieving recruits in the past 5-10 years, particularly under Hoke. Dawson, Kugler, Kalis, Green, Morris, Harris, Thomas, Ross, Bolden, etc. There have been a ton of them. Our W/L record does not correlate well with our recruiting rankings, which it should. And, Gary's production is also clearly below the average for a consensus #1.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
I can't speak for anyone else, but if UM football (d)evolves into an NFL-lite "product" where everything is pay-to-play, I will seriously reconsider follow it. Call me old fashioned, but prefer seeing legitimate students (yes, amateurs!) playing to represent their school - who cares if the talent is not "elite".
October 24th, 2018 at 4:47 PM ^
Why can't legitimate students get paid? Do you refuse to enjoy college orchestras since some of those students are making money as musicians?
I had a job when I was in undergrad at Michigan that was a stepping stone to the career I was pursuing at the time. Did that make me a less legitimate student?
I love college football. Presumably you do too, and you are allowed to like it for whatever reasons you have. But I can tell you that 0% of my enjoyment on a fall Saturday comes from knowing (or choosing to believe) that the students aren't getting paid.
October 24th, 2018 at 9:59 PM ^
Free U of M degree, treated like kings, prepping for the League, that’s still a pretty good deal.
October 25th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
Why can't legitimate students get paid? Do you refuse to enjoy college orchestras since some of those students are making money as musicians?
I can't speak for the poster, but I think the main difference is the musicians in college orchestras are probably not making millions, whereas I think there is the assumption of a star college player like a Gary doing so which sort of changes the dynamics of what we've come to expect of the college game. While I wouldn't refuse to watch it, and believe they deserve some sort of payment, I'd be disappointed if students could make hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions.
I had a job when I was in undergrad at Michigan that was a stepping stone to the career I was pursuing at the time. Did that make me a less legitimate student?
There probably weren't any fans watching you, your probably didn't perform on TV, there probably weren't dozens of employers recruiting you for your services and competing with each other, and it probably didn't pay you hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. I doubt anyone would be upset if college players got paid $20/hr during the season for their time. But, they might be if schools could offer them $500k.
It wouldn't stop me from watching, but it would change the dynamics of college football if the main reason kids chose the school they did was money. Kids would no longer go to UM because they are from MI and grew up watching UM football. And, it has the potential to be different than a part time job in careers that are less lucrative.
October 25th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
I think they deserve some form of payment. I think this would actually be beneficial to a school like UM with lots of resources when competing against recruiting kids from out of region. That wouldn't prevent me from watching, but I'd prefer we don't have college kids making hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions. I still expect college kids to live like college kids in the dorms and off campus apartments, not in fancy houses & driving fancy cars, at least until after they graduate. But, if we want to throw money at them that either fits into the realm of $10-$50k/season and/or give them money that they cannot access until their college career is over that's fine with me.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^
I don’t think viewing him as a second rounder is absurd at this point. He’s very talented, but has not, as of yet, had much production at all. Granted he gets a lot of double (and triple teams) but some of the shine has diminished.
October 24th, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
I wonder if we may lose fewer players to the NFL than we expected. The case for Patterson to return makes sense. Playing hurt all year has damaged Gary’s draft stock, and another season might catapault him into the upper portions of round 1. Hudson hasn’t been the force he was last year, for whatever reason, and might benefit from another year in college. Hard to figure with Long and Hill, as they rarely seem to be tested. Would be nice to have at least one back to pair with (presumably) Thomas at the corners. Bush seems like a sure early entrant.
October 24th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
Does anyone know how PFF actually works? Do they watch every game, and chart every player? That would take an army of people. What's their business model -- who pays for this effort?
I love the confirmation of Michigan players it provides ... I just don't understand how it works.
October 24th, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^
Gary and Bush both shoot up the boards after the combine. Their measurables will be ridiculous, and Gary has enough tape from last year to ease any concerns. Both of them have great motors that show up on tape as well - rarely taking plays off, if ever. The NFL in recent years has moved more TOWARDS players of Bush's ilk than away - smaller, lightening fast competitors.
Patterson has the measurables for the combine, but tape is more important with QBs than it is with DT and ILBs. Hopefully he stays, although if he goes it will be because of an exceptionally strong finish to the season, which will make us all very happy.
Also why is it that when chairs start flying during European basketball games, do all the male fans feel the need to take off their shirts?
Lastly - the Title IX issue with pay-to-play remains and no one has come up with a scenario that paying FB and MBB players can work with non-revenue and women's athletics still existing. If the NCAA loses big, college athletics as we know it fails to exist, so be careful what you wish for.
October 24th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
Right. They will shoot up the boards but initially there will be downplaying, hoping to get them.
Patterson would be perfect backing up and hopefully heir to Breee. But he isn't ready. He doesn't have enough film yet to go higher than fourth round. And with another year with Harbaugh he will go by the late first .
October 24th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
I don’t care if he comes back or not. That’s his deal. However, He is most definitely pulling a Bosa. Will never play for M again. Uche and Paye actually make tackles and get sacks. Gary usually “occupies 2 or 3 guys so “other guys” can make tackles.
October 24th, 2018 at 8:49 PM ^
Hes not pulling a Bosa. Many here have claimed he's been hurt all year . He is the OPPOSITE of Bosa and played hurt all season. Geez
October 24th, 2018 at 9:56 PM ^
He is saving himself for the League and the big contract. For sure. Bosa actually had surgery. I don’t blame him. He has to take care of Mommy and the family. I would too. It’s just a fact. He could play and chooses not too. It’s cool. Uche actually makes big plays and doesn’t just occupy a couple of the opponents so other guys can make tackles.
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