Michael Dwumfor vs his old team
I was curious how Michael Dwumfor did against his former teammates, especially against our very young and injury plagued offensive line.
So I re-watched every offensive snap of the Rutgers game and kept an eye on big number 99.
The good news is that he did very little. A couple QB hurries (mistakes by Michigan) and a few tackle assists. He consistently allowed Michigan's blockers to turn him, had very little penetration in the run game, and he was absolutely crushed by double teams.
So losing him to the transfer portal was probably no big deal, even if we are now thin on the D Line.
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:04 PM ^
Given how poor our DL has been, an extra body would still be nice.
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:09 PM ^
I think this was the issue. I don't think he wanted to stick around just to be an extra body.
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:16 PM ^
Totally fair and understandable by him - he's a starter now. I do think he would've been really helpful if we had Paye/Hutch playing. His pass rush would force teams to worry about interior pressure more than they have to now. Hinton had some flashes of that on Saturday, finally.
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
Many people aspire to go to Rutgers, like these guys....
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:44 PM ^
The sun must find them very attractive
November 24th, 2020 at 12:03 AM ^
Im not sure what starting for Rutgers or us makes anyone lean Rutgers?
November 23rd, 2020 at 8:07 PM ^
An extra corner back would be great
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
Allowing blockers to turn him, very little penetration in the run game, crushed by double teams...
Sounds like the description of our current defensive line situation
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
Or a low-budget 70's porn flick...
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
Don't sell those 70's porn actors short. They could handle double teams just fine.
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:14 PM ^
Talk about a hairy situation!
November 24th, 2020 at 8:06 AM ^
You stole my thunder. 70’s porn = no boobs and hair.
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:14 PM ^
He was not the nemesis we were worried about.
November 23rd, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
I don't like guys leaving the program, whatever the reason. But I always get it.
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:09 PM ^
This is where people who have never played miss it. It’s not just about starting it’s about depth. How many times do we have to say it? Losing Dwomfour is no big deal IF you’re deep on the DL. Its a very big deal if you’re thin.
A few years ago this board dismissed the importance of James Hudson transferring to UC. No big deal they said because he couldn’t beat out Stueber. Wrong. Very big deal - and now you see why.
Same for St Juste, who we essentially cut. Now that we’re stretched thin on DL, OL and DB you see the importance of losing these guys. How about LB? You think Singleton and Anthony wouldn’t be major contributors?
14 of the 30 commits in the class of 2017 transferred. That is not normal.
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:13 PM ^
A few years ago this board dismissed the importance of James Hudson transferring to UC.
Who's "this board?" Quite a few people here thought losing Hudson was bad news.
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:22 PM ^
As I recall, the board's general reaction to losing Hudson was "GOD DAMNIT!" mostly because there was a sinking feeling that this day - this season really - would come if such things continued to happen, and it seems to have arrived.
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
I seem to remember the reaction being "he's being coddled by his parents and trying to blame Jim for being passed over".
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:16 PM ^
You mean the same Singleton that wears #11 and was keeping a bench warm for Rutgers? I mean, maybe I got the wrong linebacker here, but if I right I'd say a guy who isn't starting for Rutgers isn't helping us.
The only 2 guys I have any heartache leaving are Hudson and St. Juste. And it doesn't sound like we had any choice with Hudson, he wanted to start right away.
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:02 PM ^
Keith Washington would've been nice the past couple or years. Aubrey Solomon would've been nice, too.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:49 PM ^
Washington is a good player, he wouldn't have played until Gray was 3rd last year though. Probably better for him he left.
I've watched enough of Solomon to say we didn't miss anything there.
November 24th, 2020 at 1:49 AM ^
The problem with this is it's also an indictment of the coaching staff. This team is terrible. Maybe the offense has found something with McNamara but they still have a lot of issues. It doesn't make me feel better to say our 30 transfers that the staff thought could help the program all suck.
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
Are you sure I didn't play the game? Played and coached.
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:17 PM ^
St. Juste had a medical issue and Michigan wouldn’t clear him to play. They did not want to cut him, they saw him as an All Big Ten caliber cornerback. Hudson was a head case who never would have lasted at Michigan under any head coach.
Singleton and Anthony wanted immediate playing time and decided to get that closer to home. In this day and age players are going to transfer at a lot higher rate than they ever did. Tons of programs lose multiple players from their classes. It’s how they reload that makes a difference. Michigan didn’t reload on the defensive line and at CB.
November 24th, 2020 at 8:39 AM ^
those are facts right there!!!
there is always more to the story than we will ever know when a kid transfers out. we as fans are always going to think its a playing time issue at first, then followed by blaming the coaches for recruiting kids that aren't good enough to play here... but then we ignore it when a kid who transfers out never gets any real playing time at their next school...
what gets lost in the shuffle is that a good chunk of these kids who transfer out have graduated from Michigan and can go down the way of the grad transfer so they don't have to sit out for a year, St. Juste is one of those kids. St. Juste was probably going to end up at any school where the medical staff was going to clear him to play, it just happened to be Minnesota so it makes it suck even more because we are able to see him play more often..
As for Hudson IIRC he was in the 2 deep on the o-line but got hurt (his hand i believe) right before the season and couldn't paly right away. he got pissy about playing time and decided to transfer and then his family added fuel to the fire...
the other thing that doesn't help is that these kids are able to say whatever they want on the way out the door knowing that the coaches aren't going bash them or say the real reason why the kid transferred out...
November 24th, 2020 at 9:32 AM ^
Seems like the majority of the transfers don't do a whole lot at their next location. That makes me wonder about the talent evaluation ability of the coaching staff.
November 24th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
some kids just hit their ceiling in either their senior year of HS or freshman year of college and just don't get any better and they can't rely on pure athleticism to get them by anymore... they get buried on the depth chart and transfer out hoping to get playing time some where else and it doesn't always work out...
i agree that coaches have to do a better job identifying talent but when the majority of what they see is from HS game film and camps its hard to judge how good player X is going to be in 2 or 3 years...
at the end of the day it falls on the kids to bust their asses to get try and get better to earn playing time... but if a kid is only going to put in half of the work to get better then they have to go. a coach is only going to be able to take them so far the rest falls on the player...
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:10 PM ^
Whatever it means for Michigan's team, I hope he's happy with his decision.
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:45 PM ^
I'm pissed at how many of our players have transferred and how many have transferred to teams in the BIG. If I have a gripe against Harbaugh is that he has failed in retaining players... Why is that?
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
Out of all of the players who have left, how many (name them) have made you say, 'Oh man, we really need this guy!"
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:43 PM ^
Is this a serious question?
Devin Asiasi, Aubrey Solomon, St Juste, DMac, Tarik Black, Myles Sims easily. Jordan Anthony and Drew Singleton playing over walk-ons. DPJ declaring for draft even though he was 3rd-4th round at best. Just look at at our 2016-2018 classes and there's tons of "what-ifs". Not good.
November 23rd, 2020 at 8:09 PM ^
Something is up. I mean, I can understand players transferring because the guys in front are lights out but that clearly is NOT the case.
The more I think about it, the more I am displeased. Something was said to Tarik after his injuries. Something said to McAffrey. I know Saban and company are no saints but it says something when you have players sticking it out and playing.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:43 PM ^
Yes the biggest difference is that when players transfer from OSU, for example, they're usually lower rated and legitimately did not have a shot at playing time. This is not the case for our players, who transfer when they're NEXT UP in the depth chart.
If you look at our top 10-15 players from each class, about half transfer. Tons of highly rated 4 stars. If you look at OSU transfers, it's mostly 3 stars. Most of their highly rated guys are either starting or in line to be drafted, whereas half of our highly rated guys are at another school. There's some disconnect for sure.
November 24th, 2020 at 12:26 AM ^
You mean like Joe Burrows, Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion?
November 24th, 2020 at 12:57 AM ^
I mean the fact that you can remember the 1 exception to the rule, which proves my point.
So many from UM you wouldn't even know where to start.
November 24th, 2020 at 8:59 AM ^
Baker Mayfield, so 2 exceptions to the rule. :)
But you're point stands tall!!
November 24th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
Tate Martell? Joe Burrow? Jaelen Gill? Who was number two in OH in his class and a .980 recruit. He was top 50. Isaiah Pryor, Brendon White both were high 4 stars. Matt Baldwin was a 4 star QB who transferred when OSU had basically no options. L’Christian Smith was a high 4 star receiver who transferred to Cincy. Malik Barrow was a high 4 star defensive lineman who transfereed to UCF. Keandre Jones was a .954 rated recruit who transferred. These were quickly found. All more highly rated than anyone who has left Michigan for the most part.
Every program is losing transfers in this day and age. Just ask Penn State.
November 23rd, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
As others have said, I'd still rather have him contributing at Michigan. He's a big man that is difficult to move so he takes up interior space quite well. Against Michigan I recall him getting into the back field on a few occasions. So he is definitely serviceable, and is missed.
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:03 PM ^
November 24th, 2020 at 1:53 AM ^
That was not remotely his strength here. He was a decent pass rusher with quickness but also a huge liability against the run.
November 23rd, 2020 at 6:58 PM ^
I really don't think Dwumfour is any better than any of the top guys in our rotation. Plus he was always hurt at Michigan. Like, always. That was his rep going into the 2019 season, and on something like his first or second play against Middle Tennessee, he got hurt again.
How many years do you give a guy who's hurt every off-season and for much of the season itself?
November 23rd, 2020 at 8:45 PM ^
We run off too many injured players... We need a new SC coach.
November 24th, 2020 at 1:51 AM ^
Given Kemp wasn't that good last year and yet was so invaluable he couldn't come off the field? I'd have given Dwumfour all the years he needed.
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
I’m not sure the “oh man I miss that guy”, is the issue. The bigger problem is how many are doing very little here or other places. Look up Michigan 2017 recruiting class. That group should be major contributors. Not many are.
November 23rd, 2020 at 8:38 PM ^
Such a promising class that is punching way below its weight. Most of them are gone.
November 23rd, 2020 at 7:56 PM ^
He'd be a nice option in the rotation but, yeah, he looked exactly like he did these past couple of seasons. He's really fast off the snap and can beat somebody who isn't ready but if not, he can be moved pretty easily.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:04 PM ^
I'd still take the depth, thanks.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:33 PM ^
Some kids are just going to transfer for more playing time or other reasons! Could you imagine being a Georgia fan and having fields leave.they have a major quarterback problems there! Smart is like harbaugh he doesn't play the best player! Fields was better than from last year!! All our guys that left were really more depth guys!would be nice to have at st juste...I actually think our staff was looking out for the both of them!
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:40 PM ^
Satire and sarcasm?
November 24th, 2020 at 1:40 AM ^
I mean he looked like the guy he was here, flashed some quickness but still a complete liability in non passing downs. Honestly more bodies would be nice but Hinton flashed some things finally and was probably not as big of a liability against the run.