Klatt Picks Blake for #2 RB; Great Rant on UM Culture v. Pay to Play
Great show from Klatt this week. 40 min long so here are a few Michigan highlights.
Comments on Blake start here:
https://youtu.be/jKdpHDjq5tc?si=QL0qCuSH6a66cv8j&t=522
This starts with a great clip of JJ and Chop Robinson jawing at each other after a play. Then Joel goes on to explain how we beat PSU that day avoiding Robinson and bludgeoning their D:
https://youtu.be/jKdpHDjq5tc?si=KoxgTufoq0EQ_bDv&t=1034
And here's where he uses Saban's comments to describe Michigan's selfless, Championship culture:
March 11th, 2024 at 11:42 AM ^
I keep going back to Texas A&M as the example that it doesn't work. They spent big on their 2022 class (not to mention their crazy overpaid coach) and it blew up in their face. Until we see a team that buys the best recruits and transfers, and uses them to win it all, I will not be convinced that formula works in the NIL era. It sure worked when the money was all under the table.
March 11th, 2024 at 11:13 AM ^
I listened to what Klatt said about Blake and I agree with all of it except I am not convinced he will be the #2 RB taken in the draft. In the world of analytics I think the NFL execs will see 5 foot 7, slower than 4.5 and heavy usage in college and he will drop. I think whoever gets him will have gotten a steal. He will be better than Rutger Pacheco who has turned out to be pretty good for the Chefs.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:48 PM ^
One of the biggest battles for a NFL draft pick is getting picked by an organization that will utilize a players strengths and not try to fit a square peg in a round hole. Pacheco hit the lottery when he was drafted by the Chiefs and got Reid as his head coach.
I'd imagine Blake is cutting weight and working on sprints rn aiming to run 4.45 to 4.48 for pro day, which could help his draft stock.
40 times, particularly for running backs are way overrrated, but the NFL is obsessed with measurables. Corum had the 2nd best 3 cone shuttle time and 3rd best 20 yard shuttle of the backs this year...measurables much more likely to translate to an actual game. His cuts, change of direction and vision are elite.
He was a speedster before bulking up to be an every down back, but was still a homerun threat last year before injury. He didn't look fully back until the last 3-4 games this year, but was still an elite back all year. That speed and elusiveness is still in there and can be unlocked, if that's what a team wants, by reshaping his frame once in the league.
Would he be a pick for the Miami dolphins - warp speed offense - probably not, but seems like the perfect fit for a franchise like the Steelers or Ravens that need 3 yards on first or second down consistently.
March 11th, 2024 at 11:14 AM ^
It will be real interesting to see when donor fatigue starts settling in for some of these big time programs. Especially when you end up with mediocre results like Texas A&M or Miami.
Schools are asking you to continually cut checks with what type of ROI? Getting free tickets to sporting events? Your name on a wall somewhere?
March 11th, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
I agree. These programs are shelling out huge money, and 25 programs cannot finish top 2, so there will be some cannons that walk away eventually. Then its back to program prestige, academics, coaching and facilities.
March 11th, 2024 at 11:39 AM ^
In fairness, free tickets and your name on a wall somewhere has always worked to motivate donors. However, I agree with you that donor fatigue will set in because the difference today is that donors believe they are actually paying directly for on-field success, and so far that hasn't worked.
March 11th, 2024 at 11:54 AM ^
The MGoBlog Roundtable made some really good points about this last week. Its not like this is asking for donations for a new building on campus, where the ROI is obvious, the building will more or less be there forever, its not a well you have to keep going back to. When the building is built, its built.
So then instead of paying for a player, we can pay for a position. We have endowed coaches. Why not endowed positions?
Just think of the possibilities:
For a nice donation, we could have the "Blue@LSU QB2" as a great way to raise money to retain a backup quarterback.
For just $1 million, you too could have the "Perkis-Size Me TE" to go toward recruiting and retaining tight ends.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:33 PM ^
Especially if your team lays an egg like Miami and TAMU have done lately.
March 11th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
Like Klatt and agree that UM had an incredibly rare culture and selflessness not seen in other programs, helping them win the championship
However…
The talent gap narrative is overblown. Extra Scrappy and gritty doesn’t win championships or get a team to 15-0. Off-season work, effort and reps - to some degree.
Bama, UGA, OSU may have more recruiting starzzz and higher composite recruiting rankings, but UM had the best, most talented, and deepest D-line in the country - probably the most important position group in CFB.. Also had one of the most talented secondaries in the country (Moore, Paige, Sabb, Johnson, Mikey). Hell, our 3rd string safety is transferring to Bama for playing time.
JJ (early fist round QB) and Donovan were 5 stars, Loveland is one of the top 3 tight ends in the country and oh yeah, that guy Corum is one of the top 3 backs in the draft this year. Zinter, Keegan - 2 of the top 10 guards in CFB. O-line- at worst, top 5 overall.
A team that is about to have 16-18 players drafted is elite in talent and also very deep, not even mentioning that UM returns what should be a top 5 defense in the country despite the NFL losses. This team was loaded everywhere, a talented and balanced roster.
The scouting and development at UM was absolutely elite, and outperformed HS rankings in both college productivity and draft outcomes. Bama, UGA, OSU getting marginally better HS athletes into their programs is not the definition of football “talent” imo.
Further, OSU having five 5* receivers on a roster and the most overrated edge duo in recruiting rankings history (Sawyer and JT) doesn’t make them more “talented” just because they have a higher aggregate recruiting score.
UM was the best team last year as they had no real holes and low variance due to O-line and D-line depth and excellence and exceptional talent all around.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:15 PM ^
Love Klatt but he is one of many that keep saying Alabama was more talented than us and I feel like that statement is being made entirely based on recruiting rankings, not actual talent.
Michigan could break the draft record with at least 5 or 6 of their most talented players not even declaring for the draft. The idea that Mikey or Mason is lesser than Bamas 5 stars on a college football field is just plain incorrect.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:19 PM ^
Talent - development - scheme.
Bama fans were complaining about the “limited / reduced” level of talent on their roster. Yet, according to 247, Bama still had the most talented roster.
This leads to questions about development and scheme.
Hopefully, Michigan can sustain the culture - program - and approach.
Recruiting rankings matter in the aggregate, but there are 2 major flaws that could help the rating system.
1) All positions are not created equal. Just like punters and kickers don't get equal weight to other positions, WR or CB should not be given equal weight to DT, edge, tackle or QB. D-line and QB are arguably the most important positions on the field as they are involved in every play of the offense or defensive game, and create the highest variance as to outcome on the field. Great D-lines can carry a team to a championship. A great QBs can carry a team to a championship. 1 great WR can't. 1 great Cornerback (besides Charles Woodson ofc) can't.
OSU with their three 5* WR's per class completely skews their aggregate rankings every year. There shoul be a way to weigh roster balance and position value in the rankings such that they are more accurate.
2) Rankings based on CFB readiness at a position often lean towards a ceiling for a player, rarely the floor. UM has been recruiting based on measurables, athleticsim and "smarts", not necessarily HS production or polish, to fit their scheme, which often underestimates a player's potential.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
Haven’t listened to it all yet - but, I like Klatt and will listen to it.
The culture was - and seems to have been different than most teams. The player commitment throughout the year - e.g. off season S&C - made a significant difference. M vs Everybody was a rallying point. The schemes and flexibility provided a another difference.
Saban’s comments about Michigan huddling in the Rose Bowl were music to my ears.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:34 PM ^
These are great. Really enjoyed these clips. Thank you for taking the time to pick out the best parts.
March 11th, 2024 at 12:42 PM ^
I loved the bit about Devotion v. Talent. On paper, osu and Alabama should have beaten us and did not. Our team was committed to the cause, they were selfless, a true team, a brotherhood of sorts. The others, in it to do silly dances and make money.
Go Blue!
Okay this is my new favorite user name! Besides that, I agree with the sentiment of ‘devotion’ being relevant. This was a 3 year process and from the team leaders on down, they were committed.
The for-some-reason-prevailing narrative that we "bludgeoned" the Penn State defense in 2023, which Brian and Seth further on the podcast by mocking the Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator, has always been strange to me.
In fact, our only touchdown in the second half of that game came after a Penn State fumble on their own side of the field. Otherwise our "bludgeoning" offense scored one field goal.
Our offense obviously did what was necessary — don't get me wrong — but that game was completely won by our defense, which Moore justifiably relied on to see the game out. Our defense was fucking amazing that game, given our offense's general inability to score.
If anything, I think the mockery should be pointed at the Penn State offense. Their defense did just fine, but got no help.
Anyway, suggesting that 10 points in the second half — seven of which came after we got the ball on their side of the field — represents a "bludgeoning," seems weird, to me.
Well ackshually...
We got a FG after the fumble. The TD came in the 4th quarter after Frames went on 4th down from his own 30 (or so).
Also, IIRC, the 32 straight runs started in the first half, including the Dono 3rd and 11 TD run, which I think is what Brian centers his mockery around.
The run-the-ball-down-their-throat narrative has been overblown. Frankly, we should have passed more at some point. (There were a few attempted passes that didn't end up being official passes with JJ scrambling at one point and a P.I., and I kind of think there might have been one other one that we didn't throw once a T.O. got called.)
But you can't argue with success.
Thanks for posting AND for links to the Michigan-specific parts.
He is a really good announcer and his show seems to flow very well also. He has interesting things to say without being offensive.
Great job with the timestamps Comrade. +1 for that.
Spot on by Joel Klatt imho. Culture, selflessness, and team ethic and devotion was a large part of what helped enable Michigan to win the National Championship. College football may be coming up to a cross roads. I hope not, though I do wonder with NIL, transfer rules etc. Saban's comments were interesting and revealing. Thanks for sharing this.
Great stuff. Thanks for posting it. This team was so damn likable, I am thrilled for them that they won it all this year.