From Denarded re: saturday's scrimmage
From Denarded in the "There Are" thread. Now the 2nd individual calling out Fitz as standing out at RB.
Since there's not much recruiting updates I did catch a little bit of Michigan's scrimmage saturday a couple of info.
- Fitz and Shaw looked great, Shaw was running with a ton of rage, while Fitz probably had the best day out of all the runningbacks, hopefully they can stay healthy because they were forces.
- Rawls did not play, has a bum shoulder, but nothing serious, should be back this week.
- Desmond Morgan was playing WLB with the 1s, maybe a sleeper to start?
- Carvin had a big knee brace and was playing with the 2s. T-Gordon was with the ones next to Kovacs.
- Brink was starting at SDE, RVB has moved inside now.
- When Taylor Lewan pulls he is a very scary man, him and Shaw put poor Courtney Avery off his feet one play.
- J.T. Floyd lit up Koger on a tight end screen.
- Hawthorne made an interception yesterday off Gardner, while Carvin picked off Denard, but other than that the QBs looked solid.
- Did not see much of McColgan at Fullback, rather Steve Watson I believe is playing a little H-Back.
- Gallon looked like the most impressive wide out.
- Roy had a couple drops, hopefully that won't translate to the field again.
- Wile was making field goals effortlessly, looked like a veteran out there.
- The D was HITTING, man the helmets were cracking out there.
- All in all it was great to see the winged helmets on 12 days away!!
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
"Tits pounds it in for the touchdown!"
I hope we can say this frequently this year.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
I'm more of a fan of Cox in this situation. *snicker*
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
Our RB situation this season will be RIPE FOR PARODY!
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
Has anyone seen MikeCox? Who wants to see MikeCox?
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
It's like the old Army team with Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside.
Cox in, Titz out.
/12 years old.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
Titz better keep it up, cox is coming...
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
sounds like a bunch of MANBALL out there. I can't wait until September 3rd. Thanks for the update!
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
4 INTs? Ugh.
And as far as walk-ons beating out highly regarded scholarship players, it's happens every year at one program or another. Michigan has a rich history of walk-ons becoming starters. Kovacs, for one. Todd Plate immediately comes to mind (from my days and before the majority of you were probably born), Brian Griese was technically a walk-on. Obviously it doesn't happen within the same program every year, but it's not like Haley's Comet either.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
I too was worried about that. I know, practice, take it with a grain of salt, blah, blah, blah.
But, last year, we saw Denard struggle with interceptions - the success of our season may depend on how much progress he can make on this front. I expect our D to be improved (significantly), but with the current roster and lack of depth, I don't exactly expect a shut-down defense. Our offense is going to have to help the D out plenty, not just by scoring points, but by not turning the ball over.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
From what I hear, Denard threw two picks off deflections and Devin threw two straight up picks.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
Is it possible that Denard maybe forced some throws that he wouldn't normally make because the coaches didn't want him running all that much?
I'm sure he had a red jersey on and wasn't being tackled, but from a practice standpoint for the defense as well as the O-line and receivers, it seems like making them finish the play rather than two-hand-touch a scrambling Denard is probably for the best.
Just wishful thinking maybe?
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
Some guys just mature a bit later (physically and/or mentally), don't get the hype...regardless they can be solid players stop focusing on stars
<br>
<br>Thus message brought to you by unranked 2 star LeVeon Bell and walk-on Jordan Kovacs.
<br>
<br>I hope Nathan blows up for us, it sounds lime he is playing his tail off. If he beats out BWC then props and congrats to him. I want the team out there that gives us the best shot to win.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
if he can only stay healthy. Love our stable of backs, but I'd like to see the senior bust loose. Dude's got some home run speed, plus he could give my Mike Hart jersey a second chance at life.
Also, even if they only call Denard's number half as often, I still say he could go >1,000 yards if he learns to take off when receivers aren't open. With six or so dropped in coverage, he could easily break off some long ones.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
If a walk-on is at SDE and van Bergen is the three-tech, that's really really bad news for more than one guy than just big Will. It means that we dont' have a scholarship SDE who can play ahead of a walk-on, and it also means that Richard Ash and Quinton Washington are not good enough to rotate into the first string somehow.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
Or it is good news because we have a walk-on capable of starting over 4* scholarship linemen. Proof will be in the pudding.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
Going by recent history and the fact that we never heard of this guy until last week, I would suggest that you default to worst case unless you see differently. Van Bergen is undersized at DT, so that right there is a troubling sign for Big Will, Ash, and Washington.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
Recent history got canned. There's a new Sheriff in town.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
Van Bergen is now 288 lbs. Compare that with all-everything and possible 1st round pick Jared Crick from Nebraska, and you'll find that Crick is 285 lbs. This is college. Van Bergen isn't that undersized...and even when he was playing DT at 279 lbs. a couple years ago, he picked up 5 sacks.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
I think I read on here that the staff intentionally understated RVB's weight gain, and that he is actually closer to 300 #'s. I can't claim to know that this is the truth. If this is the case though, it might show that the plan all along has been to slide RVB inside or to make sure that this would be a viable option if BWC, Q etc. don't pan out. In any case, if the staff is comfortable with RVB sliding inside (either as the starter or as a situations dictate personnel groupings), it provides a lot of flexibility up front.
I'm not going to freak out and say that the other d-line candidates aren't viable(read BWC). After all, this was a scrimmage. I have a feeling we won't truly know who is going to start where and what the personnel groupings will look like until the ND game.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
RVB is "listed at" 288 lbs. I would venture to guess that his actual weight is closer to 300.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
He seems to be a 1-tech and a 1-tech only. BWC, Q, and Wilkins must not be showing up as well as hoped.
But if Brink is outplaying all of them, fortunate that we have him arrive out of nowhere.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:04 PM ^
If the situation is these guys not showing up, it also raises the question of why this staff would only take 1 true DT in this recruiting class. Sure, Wormley and Godin have the size to move inside to the 3-tech, but I would also like to see one of them stay at 5-tech and get both Pipkens and O'brien. Hopefully Brink is just really showing up and we have less of a problem than we are making it out to be.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
Posted the same idea in another thread, though there are throngs of us clamoring for another DT. Seems to me that Strobel and Wormley are ideal SDE's. Godin seems like the perfect fit there as well. One of them will slide, sure, and it's possible that this group will play both positions (with a solid 4 years in a consistent system, this is possible). But it still seems like we need an O'Brien or Shittu.
It's also possible that aaamichfan and ken725 are correct, and Brink is this year's Moundros.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
Isn't Brink undersized for the D-Line? I'm in full support of starting the best players, walk ons or not, but hearing good things about him does not make me feel good about the state of the D-Line (talent-wise).
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
was that Brink is a bit small for the 5-tech position (Not good with terminology = BWC's slated position) - which is why RVB moved inside and Brink took the SDE position.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
The 5-tech is essentially the SDE, the 3-tech was BWC's slated spot.
Brink he a little small for a 3-tech, only a little small for the 5-tech. Considering he's smaller than Roh, who's playing WDE.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
if brink is playing as a de he's not undersized, 265 pounds is a good size de. if he's taking bwc's spot as a 3 tech then yeah he's undersized.
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
+1402348234932750913497501092370172095719037591
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
In every arena of life, there are 3 kinds of people:
- Those who are self-motivated and work hard without being told.
- Those who will work hard if properly motivated.
- Those who will hardly work, no matter what happens.
The motivation to work hard does not have a direct correlation to physical ability (or other kinds of ability, for that matter.) While it is true that you need athletes with the requisite physical attributes, this only goes so far. Athletes who take marginal talent and max it out through their effort and moxie are to be applauded. I am thrilled to see Brink (& Kovacs, and Donnie Warner, among others) succeed on the field because of their effort. Yes, we obviously want so-called 4 & 5 star talent on the team. But coachable kids with 3 star talent and a ton of heart and the right kind of attitude are the building blocks to a successful team.
I remember how Mike Hart was ripped for coming from a small school, for his size, etc. But he was just awesome in what he did, in his effort, in his work, in all he did. More power to Brink in efforts.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
I think Roundtree is the best YAC receiver on the team but in order to get YAC he's gotta hold onto the ball. That was a frustrating part of his game last year and I hope he can get the drops out of his system.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
Some of that was on Denard - his touch and accuracy needed some improvement, especially toward the end of last season.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
FWIW I don't care where this information was stolen from, I am just happy to finally get some news about the scrimmage. Thanks for the fix OP.
August 22nd, 2011 at 5:42 PM ^
Brink looks like he is going to start. BWC just isn't getting it done on a consistent basis, and that is what the staff has preached over and over the entire camp. Consistency and toughness. I didn't believe the hype until I saw it for myself. The kid can play.
This report is pretty much spot on.
August 22nd, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^
When one is not enough