Don't look now, but another 6th-round pick from Michigan is tearing it up in the NFL
How's that for a hook?
Let's not over-react to fall camp reports (by that, I mean let's do exactly that), but Donovan Peoples-Jones has been getting consistent and glowing praise out of Browns camp this Fall.
Here, here, and here from today. Oh, you mean you want video of the long TD? OK.
This from yesterday. And this. And THIS! (Going against former Buckeye and 1st-round pick, Denzel Ward.)
This from last week.
I also read some things a week or two ago that I now can't find, but people are taking notice, and he's having an excellent camp for the Browns. The excitement level is through the roof here in Cleveland as we get closer to football season, and my excitement for DPJ's potential is increasing as well!
We all knew the talent was there, but was the effort? Was the coaching, play calling, or development? Glad to hear he’s doing well, I hope he continues and starts to dominate the league.
I'll give DPJ the benefit of the doubt and pin it squarely on coaching, development, and play calling. Good coaches get their players to buy-in.
What happened with DPJ is consistent with what we've seen from other players who were at best a bit above middling until they reached the NFL.
There is/was something wrong with the program. There was a level of enthusiasm that seemed to be missing the last few years. The reasons for that have been discussed here ad nauseum, but what we are seeing with DPJ seems to make the case. I remember films of his athleticism in HS and it was off the charts. I always waited for him to have that breakout moment that never really came.
Harbaugh early on had a fire that I no longer saw the last few years. The coaching carousel can't help. There are many programs that don't recruit as well as we have done over Harbaugh's time here and yet they seem to have better results on the field and with player development.
I've seen Harbaugh have the fire. What I haven't seen is a consistent offensive identity.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:46 AM ^
You haven’t seen his fire in several years. If you have, I’d say you’re lying.
That is a major problem. The amount of money he was making before this season he should have been a beacon of a heaping bonfire. Any less is a disservice to the players, the staff, and the fans. For the that matter to himself as well. Seems like he was just going through the motions and collecting a paycheck. If that’s the case he should give back a huge portion of his earnings and donate them to Larry Prout Jr. (BEAR) Here’s a kid who’s had over 100 surgeries and he still has an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. He didn’t just give up because things didn’t go his way. This lame duck coach is starting to become an embarrassment to himself, the university, and his mentor Bo. If he can’t get a fire under his ass after getting his doors blown off against his rivals then when is he going to get it?? I don’t believe for one second that all of the sudden this year he’s got it back. What brought it back?? The huge salary cut, the 2-4 record he managed to record last year?? It all seems like the same old preseason hype only to be greatly disappointed when you see the results on the field again this year. He’s not the savior of the program. It’s time to get a coach that comes out there day in and day out and has a plan and executes it. It’s time to start putting the best players in position to succeed. Most of the kids that have played for Harbaugh go on to have more success in the NFL than they do at Michigan. He can’t develop players obviously and most importantly he has not developed one QB that he has recruited since he signed that huge contract. I’m so tired of the excuses people have for him. Fire his ass and get someone at the helm who can win some big games and maybe beat OSU once or twice in seven years.
That is a major problem. The amount of money he was making before this season he should have been a beacon of a heaping bonfire. Any less is a disservice to the players, the staff, and the fans. For the that matter to himself as well. Seems like he was just going through the motions and collecting a paycheck. If that’s the case he should give back a huge portion of his earnings and donate them to Larry Prout Jr. (BEAR) Here’s a kid who’s had over 100 surgeries and he still has an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. He didn’t just give up because things didn’t go his way. This lame duck coach is starting to become an embarrassment to himself, the university, and his mentor Bo. If he can’t get a fire under his ass after getting his doors blown off against his rivals then when is he going to get it?? I don’t believe for one second that all of the sudden this year he’s got it back. What brought it back?? The huge salary cut, the 2-4 record he managed to record last year?? It all seems like the same old preseason hype only to be greatly disappointed when you see the results on the field again this year. He’s not the savior of the program. It’s time to get a coach that comes out there day in and day out and has a plan and executes it. It’s time to start putting the best players in position to succeed. Most of the kids that have played for Harbaugh go on to have more success in the NFL than they do at Michigan. He can’t develop players obviously and most importantly he has not developed one QB that he has recruited since he signed that huge contract. I’m so tired of the excuses people have for him. Fire his ass and get someone at the helm who can win some big games and maybe beat OSU once or twice in seven years.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:53 AM ^
It is like, UM must know the rules of the game. But decides to not play by them. There are zero differences in the NCAA requirements as far as admittance to either OSU or Michigan as far as student athlete qualifications are concerned. It has been this way for over 20 years! Your administration lacks the balls and the situational awareness to do what must be done when it was time. We fired Earl Bruce for continually under performing. We finally fired John Cooper. Losing to you guys was unacceptable. Have we got lucky with our hires? Maybe. But one thing for sure was we were not going to accept not being the best. Your administration does not see it that way.....
Thanks for reminding us that OSU laughs in the face of academic integrity when it comes to football recruits/players and will do anything and everything to win largely meaningless football games.
Pro Tip: We don't need a reminder, it is blatantly obvious.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:55 AM ^
It is like, UM must know the rules of the game. But decides to not play by them. There are zero differences in the NCAA requirements as far as admittance to either OSU or Michigan as far as student athlete qualifications are concerned. It has been this way for over 20 years! Your administration lacks the balls and the situational awareness to do what must be done when it was time. We fired Earl Bruce for continually under performing. We finally fired John Cooper. Losing to you guys was unacceptable. Have we got lucky with our hires? Maybe. But one thing for sure was we were not going to accept not being the best. Your administration does not see it that way.....
August 4th, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
Please I beg of you stop bring up the truth and facts as you will really upset all the Harbaugh apologists.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:35 AM ^
Ditto! There is a serious culture problem in this program. It has been there for at least 15 years. I do not care what coach you guys bring in. Unless this changes, prepare for being at the level of an Iowa for the next for-see able future. This actually saddens me as a life long Buckeye. You guys used to be of a tough and durable mentality. When is enough going to be enough?
August 5th, 2021 at 12:45 AM ^
I also hope we make a change in the for-see able future.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
Wait, UM has a "serious culture problem" because they actually hold student-athletes accountable for their actions in the classroom, instead of doing the least amount possible to ensure their academic success, all in the name of winning football games?
I don't think you know what culture problem means.
August 12th, 2021 at 3:57 AM ^
You must be another one of the "snooty" inteluctuals out here, not believing that your athletes are being steered to the same programs as a major as anyone else. I was a collegiate athlete myself, I know how this game works. You guys recruit the same dudes we do, are they automatically smarter because they chose UM? I do believe Gary, who started for you guys broke the record for the lowest score ever on the NFL "Wonderlick" test. How did he stay eligable for 3 years? Give us a break, you know damn well that top tier athletes are not required to be "student athletes". People like you need to decide whether you want to go to the Ivy League? Or just trying to stop pretending that you can compete in major college football. There are needs of society that can be fulfilled by every human being. There should be classes that you offer to fulfill those.
Largely agree with this, perhaps DPJ did only give a half hearted effort during times at Michigan. While that may be or would have been disappointing, why did the coaches decide it was acceptable to tolerate that? If a player is not giving their full effort, bringing a bad energy or attitude, yank his ass off the field and address it with him in the locker room afterword. Get an explanation as to where his head is at and come to an understanding of what needs to happen to get his full effort everyday.
The coaches create the culture for the program and the players give their team's an identity. If the culture is one in which half hearted effort is acceptable and grievances are aloud to fester, the team's identity will probably reflect that.
Just wait til Nico Collins is an all-pro in a couple years.
When we got him the ball he looked good. Should have been used in the slot more. Was a huge red zone mismatch and good returner. Better coaching he would have been All-B1G and 1st-3rd round pick
DPJ spent a solid chunk of his career running wide open while either 1) the ball went elsewhere, 2) the ball missed him by 10 yards, or 3) Shea Patterson held on to the ball an extra second to make extra sure that DPJ was really that wide open and then bailed from a clean pocket or got hurried.
I can't bring myself to criticize the dude.
Clearly the GOAT.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHO IT IS!
Looking forward to his contribution to the Browns Super Bowl run this year.
this thread title is so perfectly click-baity that i clicked
"click-baity" +1
Yeah, but this (don't know if DPJ shares his uncle's views, but still not a good look)
HINDSIGHT IS 20-20. It ain't often you see the family member of a Michigan football alum openly admit that he should have gone to Ohio State instead, but that's exactly what we've got from Donovan Peoples-Jones' uncle.
No he wasn't as well as he should have been.. First year didn't even have a wr coach, second year wr coach was good, and that coach left to be a headcoach again, third year played hurt and lost explosiveness and didn't have same targets.
— John Peoples (@peoples2people) August 3, 2021
Facts . But hometown kid, number one player in state of Mich. just made choice to stay home and go to school known for academics . Probably be 1st , 2nd rounder at OSU but its water under bridge now because he gets to learn and develop under studs and good coaching.
— John Peoples (@peoples2people) August 3, 2021
Ha yikes. Even the kids who make it to the nfl are pissed at the program. (Hard for me to think this wouldn’t be DPJs feelings about this as well)
August 4th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
No doubt, big difference in 1st round money vs 6th round money.
Bama has a wall (maybe next to the waterfall) showing off their 1st picks and their money vs. us showing off all our 6th round picks. Then we wonder why recruiting is so damn meh.
yeesh. Developing a generation of Michigan players and families that are indifferent or disdainful towards the program is not good.
Could you imagine a relative of Charles Woodson, or Tom Brady, or Braylon Edwards ever saying if they could do it all over, they would have gone to Ohio State?? Could you imagine any Ohio State player saying they should have gone to Michigan today??
You just simply can't have that mentality floating around the program.
August 4th, 2021 at 11:46 PM ^
You're right, but hey, this is what we have going into the 7th year with our savior JMFH!
Having a QB helps. A lot.
I wish DPJ nothing but the best in the NFL. I think not having a position coach his last year at UM hurt his development but I also thought he didn't show much maturation as a route-runner and dropped a number of catchable balls. Seems like he's improved on both those fronts in Cleveland thus far and hopefully he'll see the field even more with OBJ still recovering from injury. In particular, what's encouraging is it sounds like he's holding onto the ball when it gets to him, something I thought he struggled with at UM and people sort of hand-waved away as the fault of QB.
That said, camp highlights are notorious for not translating to the regular season, and even in the highlights you saw (a) him catch a ball when the defense clearly missed him in the slot and he ran largely unmolested into the secondary, (b) him beat a undrafted practice player down the sideline on what was basically a 9 route (something he was really good at while at UM as well), and (c) a tough catch on a low ball in coverage. The last is the most impressive but also something I sort of expect of an NFL WR. Obviously you make the plays given to you and it sounds like he's making others, but I've been burned enough times from camp reports (especially here at UM) to not read too much into it. If he beats out Higgins for the #3 spot on the WR roster that'll be a good sign.
Anyway, I've knocked DPJ in the past and would love to be wrong about him in the NFL, so I hope he does.
I think not having a position coach his last year at UM hurt his development
I do not understand why JH choses not to have a WR coach. Most other programs have one. JH had one for one year in 2018. We continue to have both a CB and a safeties coach. Why can't one guy coach all DBs? Let Helow coach the DBs and Bellomy coach the WRs. I don't get it.
After watching last year, I want as many coaches as possible for the secondary.
This is one of the coaching decisions that never made sense to me either. You just signed the best receiving class, maybe ever at Michigan, certainly since the Terrell/Walker class and then you don't have a true position coach for the wide receivers when they get on campus? How does that make sense?
Agree with you on the defensive backs as well. The defensive backfield basically plays as one unit utilizing multiple different positions, much like an offensive/defensive line. When half of the unit is getting direction from a different coach, you create a higher likelihood for confusion or a breakdown in communication. I think they have the same approach with the interior defensive line and the EDGE position.
These are guys that have more experience coaching football than I will ever have, but from a communication and cohesiveness perspective that definitely seems to me like a disadvantage.
Yeah, it seems like a blind spot, though at the same time guys like Bell and Collins showed solid development and I think the young receivers have done well.
But yeah, I think the WRs were their best when they have McElwain as the coach.
August 4th, 2021 at 11:48 PM ^
How the fuck did we not always have a WR coach???
Good luck to DPJ!
Kid made the right decision to leave when he did...hopefully, he'll be able to reach his potential with the Browns.
Hopefully, the other parts of his college experience, did meet up with his expectations as I know that he and his family truly do believe in the importance of academics
Live in Cleveland, live long fan, Michigan alum
I bought my Browns DPJ jersey as soon as I could
I literally can't look now because the NFL in which said gentleman is supposedly tearing it up is currently in the off-season.
I hear Tarik B had a bad influence on him when he was here.
I was pounding the table for green bay to take him for like three straight rounds in 2020.
It's August.
Why is OP being downvoted? We're all starved for M Football content (maybe that's just me?) and we should be rooting for former M players to excel.
I'm glad to hear DPJ is starting to realize his potential. Definitely a steal as a 6th Rd Pick.
August 4th, 2021 at 11:57 PM ^
OP is getting downvoted because it is:
1) training camp (has hardknocks taught you nothing?)
2) a click bait title
Agree with the rest of your points.
Exactly! I downvoted myself as well, for these same reasons.
Who would have guessed throwing the football to talented recievers is a good thing??
A lot of people on this here website vastly under appreciated DPJ because his quarterback was mediocre to bad in his last two years and Nico broke out, neither of which were his fault.
It’s true that he didn’t reach his maximum potential here but he was not a bust and it is completely unsurprising that he’s doing well in the league
Lions should have drafted him! Would’ve bought that jersey
August 4th, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
Why do you wish bad things to happen to our Wolverines???