Maize N Brew 2020 discussion
Interesting look at how next years roster might look. On offense even if we have some early entries we should be strong at the skill positions. Likely going to be a good battle at qb. OL will see a lot of turnover but there’s talent in the pipeline. They raise a good question about Andrew Stueber. He was slated as a starter at tackle this year. Now that Mayfield is established and Hayes played well as a starter, does one of those three slide inside to guard?
On defense as always we will need to replace some dudes, but we have an exciting core with the defensive ends, McGrone and Dax to name a few.
November 20th, 2019 at 3:05 PM ^
If CB worries you in 2020, just wait until 2021.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:00 PM ^
What I'm most looking forward to in 2020 isn't Jimmys or Joes, but that we might have a good, established offensive and defensive philosophy for the first time since...? The Gattis-Harbaugh offense looks like it's turning into a nice little system. Couple some continuity there with the continuity we have established with Don Brown's system and this program could take another step forward from being a perennially top 10ish program to a perennially top5ish program
November 20th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
Not ready for Top 5 yet. Barring something unexpected, I don't think the team will be good enough to compete for a playoff berth, which is what top 5 generally means.
BUT, I agree with you on the philosophy issue. If that is in place, and the offense continues to hit its stride, there is a fighting chance that Michigan can ramp up offensive skill position recruiting and get to that top 5 place again. Need to step up the recruiting of DLs and CBs, too. Recruiting matters.
Recruiting will be helped, a lot, if the ship looks like it's going the right direction.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:04 PM ^
If and this a big if, Dylan can stay healthy the running game should be fantastic. Dylan isn’t so much a better runner than Shea but more willing to pull (he needs to learn to slide or get out of bounds), which will open up the defense. We lose two road graders at G but the more of a QB keep threat should mitigate that along with improvement of Haskins and Charbonnet who are already pretty damn good.
The speed in space smaller guys might actually be a good thing with Dylan as QB. He hasn’t shown to be a great dropback and throw it deep kinda guy. He could be a great one read, RPO, rollout guy and let your athletes make a play on space.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^
Need corners. Badly
November 20th, 2019 at 1:21 PM ^
This is a good topic (yes, even during the season--I don't mind some needling of rivals, but this is better than that, even during the current season) and something we really miss with the disappearance of Mr. Yost, who used to post stuff on this regularly.
I'm feeling a lot better about the offense, as most are, but that includes our personnel for next year. Yeah, there's going to be a lot of turnover, but there are few really unanswerable questions.
I've felt for a couple of years that we FINALLY have depth on the OL and that the next men up at guard should (SHOULD) be good players. Ruiz should return, and I'm hopeful that we will have two quality tackles. That should translate to a good-to-very good OL.
RB is, obviously, in great shape. I'm still a little ansy that Harbaugh seems to break his QBs, but for now I will maintain confidence that DCaff (probably him over Milton) will be a quality player next year, and if we can get one of our big three junior receivers back (Black, probably, but an outside chance at DPJ?) they will pair well with Bell, who has come through on the hype. And the slot guys and TE options look good.
So, the offense looks like it will be in good shape if the recent trends in gameplanning look like they will continue.
On defense we will be very thin at CB. Best guess right now is that Ambry stays, but if things end badly this year he might just decide to get out, which would be disastrous for our CB situation. And losing Uche will hurt quite a bit.
But... we've got guys ready to go at every other spot, and even when there are schematic or personnel holes (I think our run defense is going to get trucked in a week and a half) Brown produces good defenses every year with the players he has. It should be fine.
The good news is this:
If Ambry and a at least a single junior receiver come back, I don't see any GAPING holes in the roster. In most places where there are departures, there are good players we've already seen play well ready to step in.
November 20th, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^
QB: McCaffrey (RS Jr.) OR Milton (RS So.)
RB: Haskins (RS So.) OR Charbonnet (So.)
WR1: Black (Sr.)
WR2: Bell (Jr.)
Slot: Sainristil (So.)
TE: McKeon (5th) OR Eubanks (5th) (won't both be 5th year? I'd assume we get at least one back)
LT: Hayes (RS So.) OR Stueber (RS Jr.)
LG: Spanellis (5th)
C: Ruiz (Sr.)
RG: Filiaga (RS Jr.) OR Rumler (RS Fr.)
RT: Mayfield (RS So.)
DE: Paye (Sr.)
DT: Hinton (So.)
DT: Dwumfour (5th) OR Jeter (Jr.) (not sure of Dwumfour's status)
DE: Hutchinson (Jr.)
WILL: Ross (RS Jr.)
MIKE: McGrone (RS So.)
Viper: Barrett (RS So.) OR Solomon (RS Fr.)
CB1: Thomas (Sr.)
FS: D Hill (So.)
SS: Hawkins (Sr.)
CB2: Gray (RS So.)
The scary parts are OL continuity, DT, and secondary depth. Ambry Thomas would be the biggest potential loss of any feasible early entry to the NFL on the roster. Only viper, OL, and of course QB will be major changes. Anyone else stepping in has seen enough time to appear viable at worst. This group won't have a ton of time to gel starting @Washington and then facing a gauntlet in weeks 4-7 (Wisconsin, Penn State, @Sparty, @Minnesota). If they can escape 6-1 through that stretch, Michigan should roll into Columbus to play another edition of The Game for all the marbles.