Football Outsiders and Matt Waldman discuss Devin Funchess
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/futures/2015/futures-michigan-wrte-devin-funchess
Many of the same criticisms and concerns we levy are repeated here.
January 15th, 2015 at 5:38 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 7:15 AM ^
Kind of douchey that your first comment and action is to see who upvoted it,
January 15th, 2015 at 7:41 AM ^
There were no comments and one upvote when 'Shrute' read the OP. I get that his curiosity moved him to check the voting.
I agree with 'Shrute': -1 to the OP for upvoting your own post.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 5:47 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 6:38 AM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 7:04 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 7:54 AM ^
during training camp, a team may put him on the practice squad. Bulk him up for a year and work on his hands, blocking, and routes. He sould be able to make it as a #3 receiver and go up from there. IMHO of course.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:24 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 7:33 AM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 8:16 AM ^
% are just statistics.
January 15th, 2015 at 6:41 AM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 9:08 AM ^
played like a coward too often for my liking. If I'm an NFL GM, I'm not wasting a draft pick on him.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:26 AM ^
Did you just call a 20 year old who plays a game for free for your entertainment a "coward?"
January 15th, 2015 at 9:43 AM ^
I said he played like a coward. Big difference.
Do you disagree that he actively avoided any contact last year, even if it meant losing the ball?
I don't blame the guy. He was obviously preserving his body for the NFL. But as a coach I wouldn't want a guy that doesn't give 100% all the time on my team.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^
Got it. He's not a coward, just acts like one.
I agree he didn't look like he was playing at 100%, but there are lines between critiquing play and making personal attacks that people feel way too comfortable crossing.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
are you dating the guy?
Sorry if I offended your delicate sensibilities with my choice of phrasing.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
Funchess played like a coward and players got hurt because of it...
you think Shane Morris is getting knocked around if his tight end was actually a threat down field?
Hell you think Gardner would have looked so bad if he actually had a reciever out there pushing the limits of the defense?
I hate Funchess, he is my least favorite wolverine ever. Behind Boren.
love,
jdon
January 15th, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^
he plays the game for free.. a scholarship is free? Hell no.. if i had a scholarship from a school you know i'd be working my ass off for that school.. not thinking they should baby me.. i should work for them.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^
Working your ass off and being a "baby" are absolutely two different things. Funchess was out there playing virtually every week despite injuries and a crappy offense. He absolutely loafed around there at times, which makes him like 60% of all WRs. But my gawd, people think athletes owe them their bodies because "it's what I would do" despite never being asked to do so in their lives.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
the people that financially support the Michigan AD. If you're getting a free education I expect you to give 100% in the classroom and on the football field.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
Funchess not always exposing his body for hits (which is part of the position, I understand) is one thing, but saying he's a "coward" for not doing so is unnecessary. Honestly, the passing game was crap this year for a variety of reasons, and some of that falls on Funchess and his effort. But at the same time, Gardner was SO off this year throwing the ball (and I'm a bigger supporter/defender of Gardner than many around here) that he'd leave WRs into dangerous spots where they'd get lit up. And while it's easy for us to sit on the sidelines and say "he should have still tried", we're not the ones getting lit up by LBs and safeties because the ball is off the mark and a 200 lb guy is about to spear me.
January 15th, 2015 at 6:54 AM ^
I am looking at the 2014 season as one big medical error. Therefore, I will not blame the individual players, but the system they worked under. I think everyone on offense will look much better at combines and all star games than they did during the 2014 season.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:04 AM ^
That is taking the easy way out. Dude gave up on his team in my book by playing with no urgency. Those departing seniors deserved more. Glad he is gone.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:25 AM ^
on Hoke's teams. The coaches didn't get to this level without knowing what should be done on the playing field. It was a spreading throughout the team. It's great to have a good relationship with these guys but sometimes you have to kick them in the ass.
You never really felt like there was any fire in this team with the exception of a couple games. Mainly Ohio State where they would tend to hold their own because they were playing with fire. The problem was it's inspiring the players every day in practice that helps them improve so you can actually beat OSU. This didn't happen.
I think the players are in for a rude awakening as Harbaugh takes over and some will resist and leave. This team has talent and some of these guys who stay will have a chance to make it to the pros and they will all have a chance to be champions.
I didn't see anyone on the previous staff that I think would have that fire except maybe Mattison. The Harbaugh staff I think I can see that drive in every coach on the staff. I don't know much about Jay so he may be the one exception but then you look at his dad and say probably not.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:36 AM ^
Devin did not give up on his team. He is not that kind of person.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:40 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 8:00 AM ^
and watched his actions. This is the kind of guy that cares about people.
1,000 words:
January 15th, 2015 at 8:09 AM ^
Uh, that's the wrong Devin.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:22 AM ^
My bad!!! I don't have as strong of an opinion about Funchess!
January 15th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
Darn, I thought you were just messing with us and I was enjoying it.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:13 AM ^
Agree about DG
January 15th, 2015 at 8:24 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 9:10 AM ^
Yup, nothing to see here.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:30 AM ^
You cant say "nothing much to see here" using that avatar. Those two things cannot come from the same source.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:30 AM ^
I literally started laughing out loud and fell part way out of my chair when I realized you were talking Gardner. Dude is amazing. If anyone tried to knock him I'd give em hell too. :)
January 15th, 2015 at 7:12 AM ^
I would have like to see what this staff could done with Funchess. I hope it works out for him.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:50 AM ^
Having watched Braylon Edwards in a semi permanent dog house during the Lloyd Carr years I imagine Funchess would not have played much last year unless something really changed internally with him, under Harbaugh.
And I am not of mind it is easy to "motivate" people to change their ways - yes you can to a degree but coaching a lot of kids over many years (different sport, much lower level) people are either self motivated and "burn to win" or they don't. Yes maybe the atmosphere was not great but do you guys who were Lions fans and saw Chris Speilman up close think he would have been lax under Brady Hoke or any coach? Hell no. Look at the difference between Suh and Fairley.
Again environment helps those who don't burn their candles at both end to a degree but usually the big winners in sport and most other things in life don't need outside "motivation" to keep them going every day, week, year. Coaches can't be around players all year - football is won as much in February and May as it is in October. Those guys who are self motivated wre winning in February and May. Those who need constant supervision by coaches or trainers do not.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:19 AM ^
When Lou Holtz was coaching a reporter asked him how he motivated his players.
He answered: "I get rid of the ones who aren't motivated."
Lou was a much better coach than he is a commentator.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:35 AM ^
Great quote.
Motivated guys want to win every play in practice, every drill, every minute thing. Even if their skill level is 80% of the guy who "floats" they are a pleasure to coach and create a better team environment. They actually create their own atmosphere when you have a collection of them - they push each other.
Babysitting and constantly trying to find ways to push player ABC is a pain and exasperating over time. Locally, reading all the things the Lions have been doing the past 3 years to get Fairley to play up to his potential drives me up a wall.
I wish Funchess the best but if he doesnt become far more self motivated he is the next Mike Williams IMO. The FO article linked talks about his passitivity in every arena of the football field. That is from a guy who is not even at a practice, just watching his habits on film and comparing them to other players. That will get you crushed in the NFL. He is not talented enough like a Sean Rogers type (or Braylon) to coast at anything.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:17 AM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 8:21 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 7:35 AM ^
He holds the single game passing record.
He is one of Michigan's Top 10 all time passing leaders:
Name | Yards | Start | End |
---|---|---|---|
Chad Henne | 9715 | 2004 | 2007 |
John Navarre | 9254 | 2000 | 2003 |
Elvis Grbac | 6460 | 1989 | 1992 |
Denard Robinson | 6250 | 2009 | 2012 |
Todd Collins | 5858 | 1991 | 1994 |
Jim Harbaugh | 5449 | 1983 | 1986 |
Tom Brady | 5351 | 1996 | 1999 |
Steve Smith | 4860 | 1980 | 1983 |
Devin Gardner | 4440 | 2010 | present |
Brian Griese | 4383 | 1995 | 1997 |
Rick Leach | 4284 | 1975 | 1978 |
John Wangler | 2994 | 1976 | 1980 |
He's also #8 on the list of most Michigan touchdowns.
Given that he was moved from QB to WR to QB and had several OC's and week OL's, I would say he did pretty well given the adversity thrown his way.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:41 AM ^