Some Positive Ambry Thomas news
An article on The Athletic yesterday about Harbaugh's Monday meeting with the media included some assumed positive news on Ambry. As of now, he is not yet ruled out of Saturday's game. From where his situation was a few weeks ago, this is very good news indeed.
My personal opinion is that they will be cautious and hold him out of this game and give some of the other guys some reps, which will be a good thing for the depth of that group.
Probably the only other news worthy item is that Ronnie Bell was the most improved offensive player.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:11 AM ^
This is a rough outline of what he needs to accomplish before playing:
Attend team meetings and receive treatment - Check
Start running again - Check (Monitored by medical staff)
Meet conditioning goals set by trainers - Beginning (Monitored by medical staff)
Run at full speed; Maintaining conditioning & strength without setbacks - Not there yet
NCAA mandated 5 day acclimation period - Not there yet
Full speed/full strength - cleared for contact
Catch back up with his competition and get game ready
"The acclimatization schedule is student-specific, meaning, the entire team does not need to be on the same five day acclimation period if a student joins the team at a later point. All football student-athletes are required to go through an acclimatization period regardless of when they join the team."
August 27th, 2019 at 7:17 AM ^
Sounds like Wisconsin at the earliest.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:45 AM ^
Agree. Praying for no setbacks and fullgo by then.
August 27th, 2019 at 8:58 AM ^
I hope him and Runyan are full go for the Wiscy game. We will need all hands on deck.
Also, it was confirmed yesterday the UM/Wisc game is 12ET (11 am local) kick which I feel is a slight advantage for UM.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:11 AM ^
Why do you think an 11:00 am kickoff is an advantage for Michigan? Is it because it's not a night game (which would be a disadvantage)? I would think that the early start could only hurt the road team in terms of time acclimation and things like that. Just curious about your rationale.
August 27th, 2019 at 10:10 AM ^
In a hostile environment like Camp Randall, White Out at PSU, etc., an early start would take away some of the hostility.
Not saying Michigan is going to win automatically now because it’s a noon start, but I think we would all rather that game is early as opposed to a later game.
So, to answer your question; yes I think it is a huge disadvantage for UM playing night games in hostile environments because they haven’t won in that type of environment since 06 when they killed 2 PSU QBs.
August 27th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
Just to add to what you're saying, an 11AM start is not optimized for tailgating. That's good news for visiting teams to Camp Randall.
I lived not too far from it during the peak Alvarez years and the whole area would be a shit show on game day.
August 27th, 2019 at 11:06 AM ^
ABK2QB?
August 27th, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
Got it. I was actually at the White Out game in 2006. I took a lot of abuse and the guy next to me kept yelling, "You're scum, Lloyd".....but it was awesome. Mike Hart ripped their hearts out....and we all know what Alan Branch did to Anthony Morelli!
I was also at the 2005 game in A2 when Henne and Manningham crushed their souls!
August 27th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
I'm so happy Joe Pa lost that game.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:54 PM ^
Could you have any more irony than a Ped St fan calling the OTHER team's coach scum?
August 27th, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
The Penn State White Out, 50% of time it works every time
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/10/21/16491124/penn-state-white-out-games-history
August 27th, 2019 at 10:21 PM ^
That's a pretty good record considering they basically only do it for big games.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:41 AM ^
That kickoff time was announced when the 4 others were announced weeks ago.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:41 AM ^
That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. He won't be needed against MTSU, and as much as Army concerns me, its not like you really have to worry much about them throwing the ball.
You've got to hope he's back by Wisconsin, but wouldn't be so bad to have some guys get in there and start getting in-game reps before then.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:45 AM ^
When you say "run at full speed; maintaining conditioning & strength without setbacks- not there yet" does that mean he has had a setback while being monitored or is he being monitored and they have to wait to see how his body reacts?
I had a roommate in grad school who was diagnosed with UC. He had to drop down to the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) and then build back-up. Every time he reintroduced a food he had to see how it would affect him both in the hours after eating and for a few days. So I'm curious if this is just a matter of seeing the reaction to workouts or whether there have been struggles already.
August 27th, 2019 at 8:08 AM ^
No setbacks to my knowledge and this description is probably a week old. Just a rough outline.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:38 AM ^
Thanks for all the good info man
August 27th, 2019 at 8:21 AM ^
No setbacks to my knowledge and this description is probably a week old. Just a rough outline.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:39 AM ^
My brat diet is significantly different than that one.
August 27th, 2019 at 8:00 AM ^
Umbig11 what's goin on with freshman corner jalen perry? It's been really quiet on that front..
August 27th, 2019 at 7:22 AM ^
I’m of the mindset that we won’t need him till Wisconsin. At least I hope.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:53 AM ^
I don't understand why people think we need him for Wisconsin. As far as I can tell they don't have the receivers, the QB or the system to threaten our corners anyway and I don't want a thinned out ambry trying to tackle Taylor anyway
August 27th, 2019 at 8:06 AM ^
Quintez Cephus being reinstated changes the no WRs part. Coan sucked last year, but he's young and inexperienced enough where there's a chance he improves a lot. Plus it's at Camp Randall. It'd be nice to have the defense full go for more margin of error.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:02 AM ^
Yeah I want all hands on deck for this one. I went to camp Randall once and it was pretty hostel. Great game day atmosphere, awesome fans and food but tens of thousands wanting your head. Shut down the pass and make them one dimensional and pray we can contain Taylor. The last thing we need is a corner being a liability this game.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:40 AM ^
It was a pretty hostel? How much for a bed?
August 27th, 2019 at 9:52 AM ^
And did you leave with both kidneys intact?
August 27th, 2019 at 11:52 AM ^
Liver is the preferred organ for transplant in Madison.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
I’m safe there lol. I’m in the upper peninsula this week with the wife and prepping it for Saturday.
August 27th, 2019 at 8:30 AM ^
If there is no depth behind Ambry that we can trust against the Wisconsin attack we should all be very afraid of how the season ends. I trust Zordich to turn one of the young athletes into a serviceable guy.
Lot of good athletes over there going against elite receivers everyday. It isn't like they're walk ons. They were all recruited by Zordich and practice alongside LaVert and Long for a year or 2. The expectation is for the position. I refuse to be pessimistic now that live action starts this week.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:46 AM ^
Definitely would be nice if he is healthy enough to go for Wisconsin. I think we will really need him for that game.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:51 AM ^
Obligatory hope he can play OT post.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^
When it comes to OT posts, the MGoBlog message board two-deep is pretty competitive—it may take Ambry a few reps to crack the lineup.
August 27th, 2019 at 7:52 AM ^
Whatever the process it seems like the coaching staff is more optimistic than they were a couple weeks ago. Even if they have no intention of putting him in the first couple games and he still has the hurdles outlined above by UMBig11, considering the language being used by Harbaugh not long ago and Webb saying AT was in the hospital this summer, at least things are trending much more in the right direction. Hope he’s back when he’s ready
August 27th, 2019 at 8:40 AM ^
Supposedly MTSU has a 4 WR offense. I think, even though no one fears this game, it will be somewhat interesting to see the guys they use for coverage.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:02 AM ^
And a terrible OL. They'll take chances early in the game, see how it goes. Michigan's DL should murder them. Then they'll shut it down into a screen and short passing game so they don't get their QB killed in the first game of the season.
August 27th, 2019 at 9:43 AM ^
This may be ignorant of a lot of things, but I disagree with the OP's opinion that they will be cautious and hold him out of the game if he has cleared all the hoops he has to go through. It sounds like he's healthy but still regaining his strength and conditioning. So he may not be full-go for the whole game, but I don't see any reason why he couldn't play special teams, or passing-down packages, or whatever to get a few live reps in, with careful supervision by the doctors and coaches.
Obviously if his S&C is not there yet and that heightens the chance that he injures himself another way, then be safe and sit out. But this isn't like a tissue injury that could possibly be re-injured by coming back too soon, I don't think. If he can get in for a few plays and get some confidence (plus the feeling of playing on the field at Michigan Stadium UTL) then I say go for it. Lots of ifs, of course. But I feel it makes more sense against MTSU than Army, and there's a long time until Wisconsin.
August 27th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
That's a really good point. I think you may be right. Just getting on the field and running - literally running - for a few plays under the lights may go a long way psychologically after what sounds like a tough ordeal. At some points he may have thought this season (or more) was in doubt. Even a play or two in that night atmosphere excitement may give him an "I'm back" moment.
Throw it deep to him in the 4th quarter Jim!
August 27th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
His getting back into training might just well have a positive effect on his UC:
“Cells produce chemical messengers called cytokines that tell cells what to do. Certain messengers trigger the immune system to attack [causing inflammation], and others tell cells to turn off an attack,” he says. “With exercise, running in particular, it helps readjust the balance between pro-inflammation messengers and anti-inflammation messengers. So it can, in some people, help to modify or slow symptoms.”
https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a28774156/running-with-ulcerative-colitis-saved-life/
August 27th, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
No need to play him first two games, zero need in my mind.
Practice, eat, workout, eat, rest... young man will be ready for the big games.
No disrespekt to MTSU and ARMY