NFL Netowrk's Ben Fennell gushing about Michigan's 2016 team
I can watch #Michigan run game all day.. OL nasty in trenches. TEs blocking asses off (88,84,89). De'Veon Smith is tough/one cut downhill RB
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 30, 2016
Michigan might only see Henry and Glasglow drafted.. But they are bringing back almost all core players + incredible recruiting class..
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 30, 2016
If Harbaugh gets the QB position ready and stable.. This team is going to be good. Very good. #Michigan
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 30, 2016
Maurice Hurst Jr & Chris Wormley... Yea good luck blocking these fellas next year. Sprinkle in some Rashan Gary... This DL group is a terror
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 30, 2016
Versatile group.. Everyone is from the same mold. They're aren't any 'fat guys'. Hurst and Wormley can really play up and down the line
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 30, 2016
but considering they are going up against what should be a damn good dline, I like what I'm hearing about the oline.
I have little to no doubt that we will show improvement from year to year but the degree of success in terms of Ws and Ls will always be contingent on experienced, good to very good players. The defense is loaded in that regard this season, and there is no doubt in my mind, once they've grasped all of Brown's concepts to the point they can execute out of habit, they will play at at extremely high level.
The offense is, much like the D as to experience, but last season was really the first in which they received the level of coaching recruits should expect when they commit to Michigan. I am more concerned about the quality of the man that emerges as our No. 1` QB. There is very little doubt that Jim will have him play at maximum efficiency because, imo, JH is as good with the qbs as any other position coach is with their players.
And in that regard, if the starter is at or near late season Rudock level, we will be good, very good. Increased passing efficiency = increased rushing efficiency. Some might want to look at what Speight did last season in the last drive vs. MN as proof of little because it was only one game. They can't even imagine the pressure of that situation. That was huge for him, and possibly UM as well. But as much as it showed me, I stil remember a lot of plays that Jake made with his legs that kept drives alive. We will be o.k. at the position. I'm confident of that. But if we are better than o.k., we will have one hell of a season.
If you rearrange some of the letters in the tweets, they spell out "national championships 4ever"
This is true, of course, and really, I doubt anyone would get all that bored if the CFB Championship trophy simply became the "Title In Residence" on South Campus, up to and including opting for tenure at some point and coming on board as a full-time staff member. It would be perhaps the best problem to have in college sports if it got that far.
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I want to beat tOSU and MSU on the road. We're going on double-digit years since we did either of those things (16 for tOSU, 9 for MSU).
wow thats sad. i knew it was bad but i couldve gone without the specifics
Head may asplode if more reports like this continue
Who is Ben Fennell? Is he viewed as insightful or reliable?
/ Insert comment about how he sure seems to be insightful in this instance. /
He seemed to be the only national guy buying into our chances last summer.
I'll have some of that.
That is all
to believe this will happen. After all, we did a fair amount of dominating teams this year. I'd say we flat dominated 6, and came close to dominating Penn State. At their place.
I predict 8 dominations in 2016, with Wisconsin, Iowa, MSU, OSU being probable not-dominations. Those other 4 though, I think we have a nice chance of getting the "More Points" thing done.
I know we're damn good, that's for sure. I'm still not far enough away from 2014 to just assume stuff though, despite my rash prediction of 8 dominations above. I'm REALLY happy we're not playing our first game against Utah on the road with a new DC. :)
Rob
Show me 7, I'll show you 8.
Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I just feel really good about our QB situation.
Last year we had Rudock come in July/August and he learned on the fly and eventually threw for a ton of yards. I have to believe that both Speight and O'Korn, having a year of Harball under their belts both come in ahead of where Rudock was. I mean, it's a given, right?
we'll see around September 17th. :)
Rob
Give Brian Fennell another glass o' Kool-Aid!
Seriously though...he raises some good points. My concern is depth at key positions, WR, OL, LB, and K/P.
If they stay healthy this is a Top 5 team.
really wishing we had one more year of Rudock. QB is the make or break this year. Sounds like O Korn is sporadic, and from watching his highlights you can tell he was. Throwing screen passes at his receivers feet some plays. He seems like a guy who thrives on the run but cant consistently throw the dart in the pocket like Rudock. Dont think Speight is the answer.
The O Line should be great barring injuries this year, we have so many different RB's who can do different things.best TE in the nation, plus Asiasi and Wheatley for goalline packages. Chesson will be a high draft pick and Jabrill can really burn Defenses. Plus I think one of our slot receiver 2016 recruits will surprise and challenge Perry.
Defensively, you've got to think we will have a top three D line this year. Gary will be a terror from the getgo, Wormley, Glasgow, and Mone clogging up the middle. Taco on the edge. LB's will a strength with Peppers there, Gedeon/McCray in the middle, and I really think Devin Bush will be a stud this year. We could have some really fast Backers. Throw Uche in there speed blitzing in some packages? And the secondary will be stout. Away trips to OSU and MSU are a challenge but you've got to think those teams are in for a semi down year. I know OSU will reload, but both teams are beatable.
This year could be special.
I think we're well ahead of where we were last season. I trust Harbaugh to get the best out of his QBs and to play to their strengths. I'm more worried about whether we have the safeties to implement Brown's defense.
We should be fine at QB. O'Korn has been here and around Harbaugh a long time. He was roommates with Rudock and both attended the same high school.
I think most acknowledge it, but it still bears mentioning again that it was pretty incredible what Rudock did in such a short amount of time.
While we can't expect O'Korn to pick up right off where Rudock left off (though I wouldn't be shocked if he started off very fast) the learning curve and cohesion factor is a lot shorter.
There are lots of examples of teams not showing up or giving up in bowl games; the beating Utah put on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl comes immediately to mind.
However, it would be odd for Florida to be unmotivated/disappointed playing in the Citrus Bowl based on their recent years.
That game looked to me like an old fashioned ass-whuppin', much like Harbaugh's Stanford teams. I think it's a harbinger of things to come.
I'm extremely optimistic - Michigan football is headed for a new era of glory!
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We might have the best DL in the country. Certainly top 5.
We might have the best DB in the country. Certainly top 10.
We have the last year's best defensive coach in the country. Likely at least top 5 this year.
LBs have received a shot in the arm by adding the nation's top defensive heisman candidate.
Damn, this year is going to be FUN watching that DEFENSE!
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And then QB play has to pick up where Rudock left off. Luckily there are 3 very manageable games to start off the season that will allow O'Korn/Speight/Morris to get their feet wet. Hopefully the running game can pick up where it left off against UF too. DeVeon and Drake looked like completely different players that day and just tore Florida's defense apart.
Catch a few breaks and this team could challenge for a playoff spot.
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I'm all in!
15-0 here we come!
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Keep the dirty talk coming Ben!
March 30th, 2016 at 10:56 PM ^
instead of weaknesses? Sounds better. ty.