B1G Spring games catchall thread

Submitted by AZBlue on
Without a Spring Game for the Wolverines this weekend, I managed to catch bits and pieces of the games from some of our 2018 opponents. I figured this would be a decent area to collect thoughts from others on the various games. I did not see OSU but saw some of MSU, Minnesota, and top rival Rutgers. What I noticed. Minnesota- saw this was on replay and mainly was interested in former M targets Falele and Viramontes. Overall it was clear to me that Fleck still has a lot of work to do to get the Gophers to West contenders. Falele is huge but slow - saw debate re: redshirting him on the forums post game. Missed the Viramontes portion altogether but his passing numbers were “not great, Bob” and he had 3 fumbles. Discussion on the forums revolved around the other 2 young QBs and one person noted that Vic would make “one hell of a linebacker”...... (Just had to add that after all the hype as a QB by the BTN folks via twitter when he signed..) Rutgers(!!) - Just caught the tail end. Was impressed that BOTH the offense AND defense outdid the 78 points that M hung on them 2-years ago. == very weird scoring system, I think it ended up 132-132. Was cool that they let a young (special needs?) fan run the final TD for an all-time RU TD run-length record. Looks like Arthur Sitkowski (sp?) a QB M was looking at for a bit was the front runner for QB as a true EE Frosh. Limited playmakers on either side of the ball. No Melton got a lot of mention. Rutgers is still bad Mmmmmkay? MSU - I am biased (obviously) but I wasn’t very impressed. They just seemed slow and unathletic overall. Lewerke looked a bit off (Sprng caveats apply) but the backup looked like a slower, less-talented version. Only other QB was the EE true Frosh. DL wasn’t getting great push against an mediocre (in 2017) OL missing 2 starters and either the receivers are awesome (Felton Davis did not play) or the vaunted CBs didn’t play well. The backup RB (Heyward) is a load and seems to follow blocks well but is not fast. All that said, they will play disciplined and hard vs. M and will most likely find a way to grind out a win if our Offense doesn’t improve. The other end of the spectrum -RCMB - saw a different game than me and is predicting MSU vs. OSU for the division title. Anybody else see other games or have additional comments on the games listed above?

DualThreat

April 16th, 2018 at 12:17 PM ^

Thanks for taking the time to write that.  I too, will be very interested to see how Falele and Viramontes do for the Gophers. 

Don

April 16th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

Without a Spring Game for the Wolverines this weekend, I managed to catch bits and pieces of the games from some of our 2018 opponents. I figured this would be a decent area to collect thoughts from others on the various games.

I did not see OSU but saw some of MSU, Minnesota, and top rival Rutgers. What I noticed. Minnesota- saw this was on replay and mainly was interested in former M targets Falele and Viramontes. Overall it was clear to me that Fleck still has a lot of work to do to get the Gophers to West contenders. Falele is huge but slow - saw debate re: redshirting him on the forums post game. Missed the Viramontes portion altogether but his passing numbers were “not great, Bob” and he had 3 fumbles. Discussion on the forums revolved around the other 2 young QBs and one person noted that Vic would make “one hell of a linebacker”...... (Just had to add that after all the hype as a QB by the BTN folks via twitter when he signed..)

Rutgers(!!) - Just caught the tail end. Was impressed that BOTH the offense AND defense outdid the 78 points that M hung on them 2-years ago. == very weird scoring system, I think it ended up 132-132. Was cool that they let a young (special needs?) fan run the final TD for an all-time RU TD run-length record. Looks like Arthur Sitkowski (sp?) a QB M was looking at for a bit was the front runner for QB as a true EE Frosh. Limited playmakers on either side of the ball. No Melton got a lot of mention. Rutgers is still bad Mmmmmkay?

MSU - I am biased (obviously) but I wasn’t very impressed. They just seemed slow and unathletic overall. Lewerke looked a bit off (Sprng caveats apply) but the backup looked like a slower, less-talented version. Only other QB was the EE true Frosh. DL wasn’t getting great push against an mediocre (in 2017) OL missing 2 starters and either the receivers are awesome (Felton Davis did not play) or the vaunted CBs didn’t play well. The backup RB (Heyward) is a load and seems to follow blocks well but is not fast. All that said, they will play disciplined and hard vs. M and will most likely find a way to grind out a win if our Offense doesn’t improve. The other end of the spectrum -RCMB - saw a different game than me and is predicting MSU vs. OSU for the division title. Anybody else see other games or have additional comments on the games listed above?

 

victors2000

April 16th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^

Rutgers: I really think Ash is turning things around, this year will cement that if they continue to improve.

Michigan State: Well, they weren't playing us, were they?

Minnesota: This is the Big Ten, that 'Rah-rah' crap only goes so far. Currently to me, it looks like Fleck is in over his head.

 

DeepBlueC

April 16th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^

of anything that matters in real competition, not for us, and not for any other team in the country. Some fans like to get juiced about what they see, but they shouldn't. Starting units are broken up, defenses play hands off, and you never know if the offense is good or the defense is bad, or vice-versa. You may get a slight glimpse into how a few individual players are progressing, but even that is chancy, as we've seen.

Wolverine Devotee

April 16th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^

Why anyone watches other spring game is beyond me. These aren't the same teams you'll see in the fall.

1VaBlue1

April 16th, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^

Why anyone watches wrestling is beyond me, but people do it.  To each, his own...  You, of all people, I would expect to be tolerant to other's interests in viewing sports.  We understand what Spring football is, and some can enjoy it's entertainment value more than others.

Standard caveat applies - don't like?  Don't click.

AZBlue

April 16th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^

(Did I do that right?). It’s not like we are breaking down specific matchups as to how they will play out in the fall...it’s football and some of us miss ANY football. Plus it is not like I come on here to make fun of you tracking how many times M softball and track have won on the same day in March on a Tuesday when it was drizzling rain and winds were from the SW....(Well I guess I did just then)

KC Wolve

April 16th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^

WD with thread topic smack is terrific. We all love the “If you had a time machine” posts or the “Bo Bo Bo, Bo, Bo, rabble rabble rabble” posts and everyone’s favorite, “New UM underpants available at MDEN”.

sarto1g

April 16th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^

Spring games aren't really of any value to fans besides learning who on the roster is 'on the outs', like a WR spotting snaps at CB or a QB not playing.  Hype from the game is always insane so it is actually a little relieving not fawning over that 6th WR on the depth chart who showed amazing hands or the 5th year senior who is "really ready to put it all together this year."  The only spring lesson we've ever learned happened in retrospect when we didn't realize how bad our 2009 defense was

1VaBlue1

April 16th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^

So, did you say that Minnesota could be West contenders if Fleck gets his work done?  HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!

Not sure how we can ever prepare for that Rutgers (LOL!) offense - 132 points?!!?  Granted, Rutgers (LOL!!) defense applies, but still...  

My thoughts about the game in the cement dump otherwise known as E Lansing are similar to 2016.  MSU will have a couple of drives that make sense, and will get a couple of stops.  Otherwise, it'll be a fairly comfortable win for Michigan.  I see the improvement in our offense as being real - to the point where it will be a credible offense capable of scoring real points against good defenses.  And I don't see how MSU scores more than 20, at best, against Don Brown when M's offense is largely controlling the ball and scoring itself.

TK

April 16th, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^

My feeling is every single year people think MSU is going to suck and we are going to win comfortably. And then we don’t.

NateVolk

April 16th, 2018 at 1:28 PM ^

If we are of the belief the offense will return to at least 2015-16 levels, Michigan wins every game on the schedule but 2. "If" the turnovers are even or close to even in the other games.

So every game but the opener and the last one. It will take more than playing good enough and clean in those two games. 

That if is a big if in football though. Especially college football. 

I have a lot of respect for the ability of the coach at MSU in any game. Same with Wisconsin and Penn State. 

But Michigan will be more talented than all three teams with experience behind them after last year. 

***Got to have a serviceable quarterback who can hit open guys at least though.

bluebyyou

April 16th, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^

I watched about half of the OSU spring game and from what I saw, their QB play looked like it could be good.  Spring game to be sure but lots of accurate passing. Having Barrett play so long should have given his successor(s) lots of time to mature.

Rain started falling there about five minutes after the game ended.

massblue

April 16th, 2018 at 4:31 PM ^

Watched the BTN review of Spring games. They were pretty negative on us. It was not clear if they watched any of the practices or the scrimmage on Saturday but was surprised by their negative tone of the offense. Even on defense they sounded a little negative because we give up too many big plays.

WCHBlog

April 16th, 2018 at 6:25 PM ^

My big takeaway was that Minnesota made a GREAT choice moving their Spring Game up to Thursday instead of sticking with Saturday.