Ruiz, McKeon named to pre-season award lists
Cesar Ruiz (Rimington) and Sean McKeon (Mackey) were named to pre-season award watch lists for the center and tight end positions, respectively (FREEP LINK).
Also, our old buddy Devin Asiasi at UCLA is on the Mackey Award list.
I'm surprised by McKeon being on the Mackey list. His production has never been amazing and being a good blocker from the TE position doesn't usually win awards.
Although I agree with you - McKeon had a productive year two years ago and although that dipped last year, a lot of that was due to an NFL draft pick TE (who is now gone) who took those receptions away from him. Now McKeon is the main guy on a team who likes to use TEs (unless Gattis changes that, and the Mackey award folks can't really predict that).
McKeon also had some bad drops that probably took away some of the coaches' trust in him.
Some bad runs too...like he’s in wet cement.
I’m not in favor of him winning this award. Get the balls to the WRs, slotbacks and RBs (in this order, please).
I could give two shits whether I see a TE or FB all year (except for situational needs - not a FB dive on 3 and 7 facing a loaded box, or 2 TEs, a FB, a HB and a TB on 2nd and a mile facing a 3 man rush) Those positions are archaic and don’t work well against top competition unless they’ve got an italic “A” stamped on their jersey. Our OLine should be able to block without the need of 2-TE sets, heavy FB, and Poggi-back (whatever the fuck he was doing) formations.
I want to see the ball move and move fast, damnit.
End rant.
in watching the offenses where Gattis cut his teeth and presumably modeled his philosophy, tight ends caught a lot of balls. Last year Bama had a tight end with 38 catches for 648 yards (17.1 ypc) and 7 TDs - I hope that will be ok with you given that it’s better than anything out WRs put up last year.
Those positions are archaic and don’t work well against top competition....
Tell that to Travis Kelce and the Chiefs.
By no means am I comparing McKeon to Kelce but the Chiefs have found a way to utilize a TE in their spread-nfl system. Here's to hoping Gattis can do the same.
Pro game different than the college game.
Same with Kyle Shanahan with George Kittle, Doug Pederson with Zach Ertz. If your TE is good enough, good OC will find ways to utilize their talents.
I couldn’t have said it better myself Motown. And sorry but let’s be honest, McKeon has no business being nominated for best TE.
I keep hearing good things about McKeon from this off-season, for whatever reason. I guess we'll see what happens during the season. I'm with you in that I don't think he's played like someone who could be considered one of the top tight ends in the country, but maybe the light has come on.
Didn’t he lead the team in receiving in 2017? Not bad production from a TE spot also the line was a turnstile that year and he was kept in a lot...as I shudder at the memory of those 3 man routes. On a side note anyone know what the H pep Hamilton is doing?
SUPER duper!!
Interesting that Asiasi was named to the list despite being suspended for three games last year for violation of team rules.
Congratulations to our guys!
Losing Asiasi really hurt. He was well on his way to a great career here.
Completely destroyed his career trajectory too. Might have cost himself a pro career by getting homesick.
Watch lists are dumb. Let's say Eubanks blows up and has a huge year. Is he eligible since he wasn't on a preseason watch list?
I am glad McKeon is on it because they should have as many players as possible. I don't expect him to have enough catches to win though.
A watch list is pretty much akin to being a preseason all-conference selection. Players get added and removed from the list as the season progresses.
It's useful as a fan of football to know who to look out for. As I'm channel surfing after our game I might pause on the UCLA because I heard Asiasi, or some other player is pretty good and I might check him out.
Not the appropriate thread (done with intent), but we will make the initial cut/top 10-12 for a certain EM 5* guard originally from the Midwest when released next week. Good work put in so far by the new staff.
...and from what I can tell from the tape, Nimari is my first choice-of all the 2020 prospects Michigan has offered. I believe this kid is a big-time difference-maker...could be an All-American PG or SG...I prefer PG-put the ball in this young man's hands!
Ruiz I can see, but McKeon seems like a stretch.
I thought of him as more of a flex
Neither will win.
Kind of surprised McKeon is on the list. He hasn’t done much here (so far) to warrant being considered one of the top TEs in the country. Good blocker but has frequently had bad cases of the dropsies.
Maybe the light turns on this season. Hope it does, but we shall see.
Enjoy what you can of Cesar Ruiz this year. He's gone next year.
I think y’all have forgotten how good he was two years ago. Not saying he should be a favorite but he’s a great blocker who also IMO showed crazy flashes that year.
I have dreams of Schoonmaker being Michigan's offensive breakout player of the year...along with Charbonnet, Turner, Sainristil, Jackson and the entire offensive line!
Have to say, I just watched the debacle in Columbus again to analyze the problems. I wish McKeon had those three droped balls that went to another tight end. When you have a chance to grab momentum on the road, you'd better grab those passes and hold on to the ball.