Day 2 HS All Star Game Practice Reports
Yeah we are just talkin' 'bout practice here but this is one of the few times most of these players get to play against kids of similar skill level so some things that are not apparent when they physically dominate on their HS team might be in this atmosphere.
Cutting and pasting blurbs below from UA and Semper Fi. Quick takeaways:
- Gary is being Gary
- Walker has scuffled both days and the PSU RB commit on his team is really showing well (welp)
- Hudson (UM in top 4 with Pitt, PSU, UCLA) is showing well - this is a guy who Shoop (PSU), Aranda (Wisc), and Narduzzi (Pitt) all want so might be one of those guys who is under-ranked as those are 3 very bright defensive minds who find talent. (Speaking of which the best Semper Fi performer yesterday was a 1600th ranked "undersized" LB Aranda found out of Florida)
- Ron Johnson impressed
- Bredeson was able to stop Gary... a little.
- Delance was better in day 2 than day 1
- Non UM stuff - Lots of struggles for all the QBs in the UA practices....
- Old UM targets - WR McDoom and DE Kareem impressed as did TE Upshur
UA
On day two of practice, it was Paramus (N.J.) Catholic five-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary who was the most dominant performer of the day.
Gary was outstanding all day long. There wasn’t an offensive linemen who truly slowed him down completely during one-on-ones. Michigan commit Ben Bredeson gave him a little trouble, but all it did was fuel his fire for the rest of practice. Gary was able to get into the backfield with ease and blew up two reverses during 11-on-11 work. His quickness is ridiculous and his strength made him nearly unstoppable when working on the edge or in the interior of the defensive line.
Michigan offensive tackle commit Ben Bredeson did a decent job with Rashan Gary early on. But Gary’s speed and strength shone through as he beat Bredeson time and time again as 1-on-1’s wore on. Bredeson was simply too slow coming out of his stance.
Michigan commit Kareem Walker had a less than stellar day for the second straight practice. Walker does not have the same running instincts that Miles Sanders, the other running back on Team Armour, shows. Walker continues to run timidly.
OL Jean Delance: The Mesquite (Texas) North Mesquite product was one of the few that was able to handle Simmons’ speed rush off the edge. After lunging and getting out of position a lot on day one, the 6-foot-5, 290-pound prospect was able to stay balanced and keep defenders at bay much of day two.
Semper Fi
Khaleke Hudson: With his compact physique, Hudson looks like the hybrid linebacker/strong safeties that are starting to become very popular as teams move to more sub-package schemes to combat spread attacks. He broke down a couple short passes and closed on the ball carrier quickly, once stopping the wideout at the line of scrimmage and almost intercepting a dump off pass to the running back a few plays later. Had he had his eyes up and not on the tailback, a practice pick-six would have certainly occurred. Later Hudson made up for it with a leaping interception in front of the tight end.
Ron Johnson - in a group full of impressive defensive ends, Johnson had the best first day. The Michigan commitment displayed three great qualities of a productive pass rusher - he was tenacious, he utilized violent hands well, and he absolutely flew to the football. With refined technique, Johnson can be a special player for the Wolverines because there was no doubt he displayed a love for the game during his initial Semper Fi practice.
http://247sports.com/Article/UA-All-American-Game-Team-Armour-Top-Perfo…
http://notredame.247sports.com/Article/UA-All-American-Game-Team-Highli…
http://247sports.com/Bolt/Semper-Fidelis-Bowl-East-Day-One-Top-Performe…
December 31st, 2015 at 6:53 AM ^
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December 31st, 2015 at 7:40 AM ^
This obviously affects the entire offense. But that Army game is going to be fun to watch.
I made a comment the other day that I think this is the deepest crop of QBs we've seen in awhile and they have a chance to be the best we've seen since 2008. A lot of great arms.
I made that comment because of the names you mentioned + Haskins. However, I think Haskins is a kid that you redshirt in year 1, and he's got to be in that Houston style system (dual threat) and he'll be like Greg Ward down in H-Town or Mahomes over at Texas Tech.
Add him to the pocket passers in the Army game, plus the guys who are underrated this year or system QBs who will have a great year...I think we'll look back on this class and it'll shit on the current crop of QBs we're looking at.
A Memphis QB as the best overall prospect? A Cal system air-raid guy as #2? An overrated guy who isn't even team captain as #3? The HS prodigy that didn't pan out? This current class is awful.
I think the HS class is legit.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:04 AM ^
It has to be the rare parent who can see the important things for her child through a sea of bag men...
And while I'll agree Lynch from Memphis looked turrible (he did have to leave his game for awhile with an injury), Goff from Cal ("an air raid system QB" did you say?) is the real deal.
He's accurate short & long, buys time in the pocket in a Brady-esque way by stepping up & resetting, has the size and arm you want in a pro QB - in short not just a system QB.
Full disclosure, he played HS locally to me, I had some friend/neighbors sons who played with him. Quality kid, parents were college athletes as well. I'm very anti-49er since the way they treated JH, but Goff is not lasting past their pick, if he gets that far.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:32 AM ^
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December 31st, 2015 at 6:57 AM ^
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December 31st, 2015 at 7:55 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 10:28 AM ^
Rivals also said that Walker was struggling.
December 31st, 2015 at 6:59 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
Bredeson and Bredeson has the desire to face the best.
Seems like a perfect match to go to the same school and push each other to greatness.
December 31st, 2015 at 7:13 AM ^
Nation's No. 1 prospect, DT Rashan Gary, goes through bag drills at #UAAllAmerica pic.twitter.com/pXMLdZMtyL
— Erik McKinney (@EMcKinneyESPN) December 30, 2015
Nations No. 1 ranked player, Rashan Gary. #UAAllAmerica https://t.co/d9oltEcNUS
— Derek Tyson (@DerekTysonESPN) December 30, 2015
Michigan RB commit Kareem Walker up the middle with Steve Mariucci looking on #UAAllAmerica pic.twitter.com/BRo4JPivMT
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 30, 2015
December 31st, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
/s
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December 31st, 2015 at 7:30 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 7:33 AM ^
Reminding me of Shane Morris.
A guy who was a 5* as a junior and no one had anything good to say after that. Shane struggled even over the summer (before he had mono) and then struggled after that and in the all-star game practices.
I know, I'm obligated to stay excited and say he's underrated because I'm a Michigan fan, but if he was still at OSU...I don't think I'd feel this way after reading all of the comments from the past 5-6 months.
Only OSU fans were clamoring for him when he was committed. Now it feels like only we are.
At least he'll get the best coaching possible here at Michigan (something Shane Morris never got early in his career).
December 31st, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^
Plus, isn't there a report that says he hurt his ankle or something? With classes starting next week, and him having to move i am sure he doesn't want to hurt it again.
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December 31st, 2015 at 9:07 AM ^
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December 31st, 2015 at 9:15 AM ^
Shane's senior year was bad, even when taking the mono into account. I don't mean "bad for a high-level college prospect," I mean "bad for a high school QB." He was barely hitting 50% of his throws and averaged about 100 yards/game, IIRC. He still have the measurables, bur a redshirt was basically REQUIRED for his development, and he didn't get it.
Kareem had a solid senior year, if not as impressive as his junior year. He's going to be joining a team with several upperclassman RBs and has anywhere from 1-3 other possible RBs joining him in his class. He'll have the time an opportunity to prove his worth. He might not be a day-1 contributor like Gary likely will be, but he'll have 4-5 years in the program to contribute. I hope he and his supporters have the patience to let that happen.
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December 31st, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
If we look at the numbers, Shane was never really that good at actual football. All of his accolades came from camp performances and arm strength.
December 31st, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
Michigan flipped a top 2 running back (maybe top 10 when final rankings are done) from Ohio State.
The same school that produced Zeke Elliott, Benie Wells, and a few other NFL backs in the last few years and won out for Mike Weber last year which bummed all of us out.
And all some of you can do is sigh and be disappointed??? Harbaugh flipped Walker from Ohio State. Focus on that for now and then see what he looks like on Saturday.
December 31st, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 7:42 AM ^
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December 31st, 2015 at 7:54 AM ^
Depends on what you think makes a top end back. I happen to think the things that do make those backs special are not the teachable things - see Mike Hart. So many decisions are made in a fraction of a second with so many bodies flying around - being a good decision maker is either there or not. Coaching is not going to help you in that millisecond when you are either going to take a hop to the left, a lunge to the right, wait 2 steps before committing or deciding to plow ahead. Coaching can help you study defenses, become a top end blocker, how to read your keys etc but the decision making, balance, vision stuff I think is inherent ...or not.
How much teaching did Wheatley give to Peppers this year and he looked like our best back in terms of running (ignoring he can't block)...that stuff is just you have or not.
It is a bit frustrating to read these reports in light of our failures with highly rated backs the past decade and esp since PSU has Saquan Barkley and apparently the new commit is really impressing. I think someone wrote yest in a thread we saw the same comments on Henry v Green 3 years ago in these all star game practices and we just put fingers in our ears and said "lalalalal" in response.
Not going to overreact to it, we'll see how it shakes out this spring but would have been nice to hear the things about Walker that they are saying about the PSU commit.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:04 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 8:12 AM ^
But not really at RB. How many guys do you see improve drastically in that area? You can certainly get better as a RB. But instincts are just that, they're tough to learn (if it's even possible).
Hart had it from day 1. Hell, Drake Johnson has always been a fan favorite to many on this board because while he doesn't have all the tools...he's got more of that "it" than anyone else on the roster (not named Jabrill).
It doesn't make you a complete back. But it's definitely a major factor. It's what Derrick Green hasn't shown despite having some of the physical tools.
It's what makes some of these college QBs so great in open space. What did Al Borges teach Denard about being Denard? Come on, let's be real. He was like that from the first snap he dropped, picked up and ran into the endzone.
Sure he was fast, but the instincts, he had that on day 1. Michigan made him a better passer and overall QB. But the stuff Alum is talking about. Al Borges had no part in it when it comes to Denard Robinson. He picked that ball up and made all of those decisions, all of those cuts and jukes, etc. on his own. That had nothing to do with repetition.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:58 AM ^
If I was going to compare Walker to anyone, it would probably be Chris Perry. Perry never really had one certain skill that jumped out at you either.
December 31st, 2015 at 3:47 PM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^
Drake Johnson doesn't have the tools?
6' 1" and 207 lbs... and I think he's our fastest RB.
Maybe you're right, but I think this is a poor example of the point you'd like to make.
December 31st, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
He's now got elite RB tools?
I think you just proved my point.
Are you really going to argue Drake Johnson or any MIchigan RB has all of the physical tools needed to be an elite RB?
Go look at Henry, Fournette and Gurley and then come back and check with me.
Hell go look at Mike Hart!
Johnson is waaay faster than Hart. But speed isn't the only tool.
That said, I think Johnson has the better agility and vision of any RB we have on our team as well. But Smith can block much better, his power and tackle breaking ability is unquestioned and he's got great hands. I'm pretty sure the coaches feel they've started the best RB this season - I for one, am not going to question them.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
He hits holes quickly & decisively, has breakaway speed, is agile & keeps his feet after contact. But he can't be a 20+ carry guy who stays in to block because he's never established he can take the pounding.
In fact I'll make a Mike Hart comparison to Drake:
Despite being a record setting HS RB he was not ranked very high because of the competition he did it against. Pioneer (my Alma mater) just doesn't turn out enough FBS talent, nor play against enough really. Hell, the highest ranked kid to come out of A2 in like forever isn't even from A2 (D. Hayes) and did he even play at all?
That's why I'm impressed with the '17 Pioneer kid garnering big time offers already - he must be good!
December 31st, 2015 at 8:04 AM ^
1a vs. 1b.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 8:05 AM ^
it has been two practices for christ sake...should the PSU guy be the best running back based on these two practices? Walker MAY be overrated, but christ, lets wait to see what he does at UM when he knows the system before we get our collective panties in a bunch over whether he is a failed recruit. Some of you are so damn sensitive to every little slight or trouble. We got it, he isn't Peterson or Fournette...thought we knew that already
December 31st, 2015 at 8:18 AM ^
...except for the 2 practices part. People have been saying it since the summer camp circuit and throughout the fall. That's why he lost the 5* and OSU fans were so mad.
There's nothing to panic over. But I don't see what's wrong with doing exactly what you said...take the "wait and see" approach. Lower expectations and let's see what our coaches can do with him.
But I don't see what's wrong with taking off the maize and blue colored glasses and thinking his shits gold just because he's a highly rated prospect.
December 31st, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
Walker still had a very good senior season. Doesn't seem fair to judge him based on a few practice reports. I don't think anyone's expecting a Heisman candidate but just a good college running back. And hell, Harbaugh turned Toby Gerhart into a Heisman finalist so maybe we will get a Heisman candidate out of him.
December 31st, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
"But I don't see what's wrong with doing exactly what you said...take the "wait and see" approach."
There's never anything wrong with taking that approach. But why does it specifically apply to Walker? It also applies to Davis, Peters, Bredeson, Weaver, Enis, Evans, Onwenu, etc.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
I don't really get the hand-wringing about Miles Sanders. We recruited him, and he wanted to go to PSU. End of story. I don't understand why we're saying, "Well, look at THAT guy." Other teams are always going to get good/great players, too.
December 31st, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^
The idea that you can not practice things to improve the results of your instincts is silly. What you see as the finished product looks instinctual, I garauntee a lot of practice and effort is made to make that possible.
I played basketball. I think the instinctual nature of basketball is very similar to a running back. You're taking in info and quickly processing what you should do to achieve your goal. All of the spin moves, cross overs, behind the back and through the legs dribbling, scoop shots, turn around jumpers, hesitation moves, etc are all things I practiced to make them come naturally in a game. Choosing which one to use when, was prediciated on knowing my opponent and yes, instinct. But actually executing in real time was accomplished through endless hours of practice.
And yes, I looked very silly on a court practicing post up moves against air to insure my footwork was perfect.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:25 AM ^
Haskins the QB I think is the started so far. The O line for Highlight has worked against Gary and the D all week and the line has been getting beat a lot.
Kendal is a monster and has been nicknamed the HULK! The guy squats 850 and benched 520 I think they said. He's a Alabama commit.
I'm at the hotel w the teams and last night hung out w Plaxico for awhile and talked some crap w him and Arrington cause I had my M hat on. Plax is a specimen people, dude looks like he can play today and he's rocked up.
Will keep u posted today from the practice.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:08 AM ^
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December 31st, 2015 at 9:08 AM ^
Eh...I still refuse to get hyped up over these practice reports, good or bad, as fun as reading about Gary's dominance has been. Wait to see how Walker does in the game, at least. Plus, spring ball will be here soon enough, so we'll have a sense of how he looks early. Best to take a wait-and-see with all recruits regardless. And I do believe that coaching can help running backs with decisiveness, especially since the theory that this can't be taught is based on nothing more than the idea that 3 star Mike Hart beat out all the 5 stars because he was just a natural who needed no instruction and received none, a statement which can't be proven at all. Here's one for our MGoResearchers--How have these all star-game practice reports aligned with subsequent player performance in college? I'm sure the correlation is far from absolute there.
December 31st, 2015 at 9:32 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 9:12 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
Rankings aside, we've all sorta known that Walker isn't the best back in the country. This is a poor year for running backs anyway as there are no can't miss prospects. That being said, Walker is still a solid back that has all the skills of a lead back. I don't like that they said he's being too timid, but hopefully with some carries and increased confidence that can be taken care of. I wouldn't count out Kingston Davis either. Harbaugh loves that kid.
Both Davis and Walker are early enrollees so they'll have plenty of time to learn the system and get in shape for the next year. I expect both will play as well.
December 31st, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
I'm tired of relying on recruiting sites, but they pretty much ALL like Walker more than Davis - even the ones that don't love him.
December 31st, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
December 31st, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
Davis ran behind a really good offensive line in high school. It's hard to get a good read from that. But, he's got a really good frame and I like how he runs between the tackles and gets tries to get low at times.