Hype Train: Sam Webb edition

Submitted by kawter on
Hey all. Found this snippet from Sam and had to share. Keep the train rolling! 
 
 
Let's end on a positive note...
 
This team looks good. Really good.    I believe Wilton Speight has greater command of the offense than Jake Rudiock did last year at this time.  I still believe Michigan will roll into Columbus undefeated.  There is every reason to believe that all the lofty expectations placed on Michigan this year are attainable.
 
Sam Webb
 
 
mods, I apologize if this is considering "looting" paywalled content... it didn't seem like that much intel compared to his actual posts
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The Mad Hatter

September 1st, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^

I want the highest character guys playing for Michigan.  One of my biggest gripes with RR was him trying to get questionable guys on the team.

I don't know what the rumors are in regards to any alleged infractions or suspensions, but it does seem like we're hearing about them more often these days.  My inclination is to trust the coaches when it comes to this sort of thing, and Harbaugh certainly demands a lot more of his players than many (if not most) other coaches, but I wonder if it's possible to run too tight of a ship.

I mean, these guys are 18-22.  They're going to do some dumb shit from time to time.

And Jim Harbaugh was no saint when he was playing in Ann Arbor.

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

marti221

September 1st, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^

Does anyone actually thingk we're doing anyone a favor by not mentioning the players alleged to have been suspended? If its on social media, just say it with the caveat that this IS A RUMOR.

Joined: 04/21/2010

MGoPoints: 4791

lilpenny1316

September 1st, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^

Every little thing gets a life on Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Sounds like it's something that could warrant discipline, but kids used to get sat down for a quarter, half or entire game and we know nothing about it.  I remember someone didn't play against Iowa one year because of a midseason root canal without a coach's blessing.  He never made that mistake again.

FWIW, it's better to teach these kids a lesson now as opposed to letting things go and we end up sitting three key guys against MSU or OSU.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61956

umbig11

September 1st, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^

There is something to this. I sent Brian a note earlier in the week. Will he sit an entire game? Maybe, but I highly doubt it. Nothing serious, but a message is being sent. Could it be more than one player? Indications are yes. We need Saturday to get here to see for ourselves!!!

Joined: 07/21/2010

MGoPoints: 115573

stephenrjking

September 1st, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^

In other words, Jabrill and possibly other players will be conspicuously absent when their position groups take the field. Maybe a series, maybe a half, very small chance of a single game. Perhaps guys bugging out of the hotel after curfew, or getting into a fight in a bar, or something like that. It's not permanent and, of course, it shouldn't affect the team overall. 

Still all rumor. And if John O'Korn is named the starter, perhaps this information will be questionable, but of course we've just been through a thing with umbig11. If it's true that he has sent a note to Brian (who is not exactly unconnected himself) and Brian's unreserved optimism regarding certain named players continues, it's safe to say that this is a thing and that it's not a very serious thing.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

stephenrjking

September 1st, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^

This is all very much vague rumor at this point. 

Were it to be true, this would be very unfortunate. We've almost gotten through the preseason without serious discipline or injury issues; it would be nice to keep that going.

But, as a vague rumor, we have no idea what scope we're talking about. A couple of one-game suspensions is very disappointing but is the sort of thing that will be forgotten by the meat of the season.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

JohnnyV123

September 1st, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^

We are beating Ohio State. We faced an absolutely loaded team last year while employing a terrible defensive gameplan and we still hung with them for a half. This year we get a middle of reloading team....a team who will probably be a monster next year. Yep, they have a season to improve, but so do we. Look at our team from Utah to Florida last year and it's night and day. Be afraid of us. Excuse me while I run through this wall.

Joined: 04/08/2011

MGoPoints: 1007

Allen Rumsey House

September 1st, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^

Herbie usually props us up.  Not this year.  He suggests that our returning starters will be eclipsed by their last year back-ups and freshman talent.  This is nonsense.  I smell fear.  Road warriors.

Joined: 08/31/2016

MGoPoints: 36

mgowild

September 1st, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^

Can't wait til Saturday... excited to see how Speight does. My gut tells me the offense may not run as smoothly as some would like (see the "Guess the score" thread, with many predictions in the upper 40s and 50s). I would guess there are some kinks that need to get ironed out and it will take him a few games for him to get comfortable, a la Rudock last season. The good news: he's basically got 3 exhibition games to begin his career as the starter. 

Want to see that defense in action too. Let's get the season started with another multiple game shutout streak.

Joined: 08/10/2016

MGoPoints: 1631

uncle leo

September 1st, 2016 at 11:10 AM ^

"Greater command" stuff. Rudock came into Michigan having commanded a Big Ten offense for multiple seasons. Gleaning how much one "commands" an offense before a game even starts is a bit iffy. 

We'll know how much he commands the team when the going gets rough and they look to him for guidance. 

The rest of it, fine. I believe this team has what it takes to go far. But I don't agree with that portion.

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636

funkywolve

September 1st, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^

QB play wasn't really that good to start the season last year.  Agree that we'll need to the QB's on Saturdays, but I don't think it's that far fetched for Speight/O'Korn to be looking better in practice right now than Rudock did a year ago.  Most of our Rudock memories are filled with the great second half of the season he had, but for the first month or so QB play wasn't that good.

Joined: 10/08/2008

MGoPoints: 20263

uncle leo

September 1st, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^

I just don't think there's much you can take from "He looks better at this point."

Nothing compares to game action. Rudock had a lot more, even though he struggled a bit at the start for Michigan. And we don't know how Rudock would have progressed if he started game 1 at a cupcake instead of on the road at a very good Utah team.

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636

Roland Deschain

September 1st, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^

Not sure it's that big of a stretch. If memory serves me correct, didn't Ruddock have 3-4 weeks to learn this offense before the Utah game? Sleight has had more than a year? Agree that Ruddock's actual game experience counts for a lot, but I'm not sure it necessarily means he was more or less in command of Harbaugh's offense.



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StrictlyShorts

September 1st, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^

As much as I can't wait to sit my butt on those bleachers and watch Michigan roll through the early powder puffs, I can't frickin wait for Michigan to go to east Lansing and ROLL through Sparty in front of all those mouth breathers. LETS GOOOOOOO!!!!

Joined: 07/23/2016

MGoPoints: 6413

Gallagher

September 1st, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^

Let's slow down the train. We're breaking in a new QB, our o-line is merely ok, and our linebackers are new.

We barely beat Minnesota and Indiana too. We may be very good, but there's still a lot to prove before I consider us a playoff team.



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Steves_Wolverines

September 1st, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^

OL "concerns" are kind of funny at this point. 

If you look at our rivals, and the rest of the B1G, it can be argued that we have the best OL in the B1G. The only other team that's close is IU. 

Yeah, LT might be concerning, if we were starting the year off against LSU or OU. But we essentially get 3 scrimmages to start the season. I just don't see us struggling on the OL like we saw last year. 

http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135416/big-ten-position-outlook-offensive-line-2

Joined: 01/17/2013

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