Staff believes Benny is back in the fold, WMU LB a likely transfer
Matt Dudek and some of the current defensive staff believe they have Benny back in the fold. Additionally, they have already been in contact with WMU's Treshaun Hayward (I believe Treshaun family actually reached out to Michigan to get the ball rolling) and it sounds like it's more of an admission issue than anything else, but he is also likely coming.
PS: All of the players are back home, spoke to Joey Velazquez last night, both him and Eric All believe Don Brown is gone, but they have not been told that directly. JV is very frustrated with the way the team fought this year. "It's like we don't know how to win". He is now preparing for baseball, and says there is no chance he quits or transfers, even if DB is fired.
Cheers
December 18th, 2020 at 9:24 AM ^
Jonnyhintz pointed out the injuries. I'll point out another aspect to why the LB's were 'bad' this year: the DT's sucked. Instead of simply playing their position, a lot of the time it looked like the LB's were unsure of where to go because the DE's were also covering for the DTs. So do the LB's cover the DEs, or the DTs? What are the DE's going to do?
So much confusion because the DT's just weren't able to hold up. Someone, I think Brian, mentioned that Brown should just force everyone to play their position, and deal with whatever was happening, rather than try to cover some everyone else.
December 18th, 2020 at 8:52 AM ^
GoJG, how would Nua hypothetically not being on the staff, affect Benny flipping to Michigan?
December 18th, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
I really LIKED Don Brown and overall his defenses have been aggressive and fast. Im not an X's and O's guy, but it seems like he just stuck to a scheme, without adjusting. This has ALWAYS been the downfall for coaches, whether in the NFL or NCAA. Always play to your talents, and if the talent is not there you need to adjust. In turn, if youre getting exposed - switch that shit up.
December 18th, 2020 at 9:37 AM ^
Given the misery of the football season, you get Benny and this class is a success in my eyes. Still a very strong class without him but I think it becomes an A- class with him. Only weaknesses are maybe needing 1 more DT body and a CB.
December 18th, 2020 at 9:56 AM ^
So what does everyone think about the downward trajectory of DB's defenses? Is it due to lack of horses (ie recruiting) or that his one dimensional scheme has been figured out by the rest of the B1G?
One would imply the need to step up the defensive recruiting; the other signals the end to the "Dude" era in A².
Also, how much is left on his buyout?
December 18th, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^
The funny thing about schemes is that they all tend to work when you've got the talent. Our defense lacks talent at DT and CB.
Offense is a bit different. Its much much easier to scheme your way to success on that side of the ball. Defense, you need players because by the structure of the rules you're already at a disadvantage.
December 18th, 2020 at 10:11 AM ^
Would an admissions issue be an issue any where else???
December 18th, 2020 at 11:13 AM ^
Probably not. It's why we don't take JUCOs, but does the rest of the B1G? Michigan is notoriously difficult to transfer credits to.
December 18th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
I had completely forgotten about Joey Velazquez.
December 18th, 2020 at 12:07 PM ^
You would Putin...
Quick hacking our shit
December 18th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
I find it odd that Velasquez and All are willing to put their names on the idea that they believe Brown will be gone.
Not sure to what to make of it. Makes more sense to remain anonymous if they are going to talk. Weird.
December 18th, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
I would be lying if I said I didn't think this year could get any stranger. But I did not have "two dead people engaging in dialogue on MGoBlog" on my bingo card.
December 18th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
B-B-B-Benny and (Harbaugh to the) Jets
Music to my ears
December 18th, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
Anyone else see that last night Benny said on IG Live that there is a 0% chance of him flipping to Michigan?
December 18th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
He didn't sign with MSU, I'll take that as a better sign of what he might do than him trying to keep a bunch of Sparty Mouthbreathers off his ass on social media.
December 18th, 2020 at 12:40 PM ^
I guess. He said he wasn’t going to sign until February regardless of who he was committed to. So I personally don’t put much weight into him not signing this week.
December 18th, 2020 at 11:36 AM ^
Also have a shot at 3-star DT Victory Vaka, who decommitted from TAMU and has us in his top-six.
December 18th, 2020 at 11:44 AM ^
I believe Michigan people on 247 say that his interest in Michigan is greater than Michigan's interest in Vaka. Seemingly, he was rated highly before and has been consistently dropping and has been unable to control his weight.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
What's worse—a 350 lb NT who's having a hard time controlling his weight, or a 300 lb guy who gets pushed all over the field by OL who outweigh him by 30-40 lbs?
December 18th, 2020 at 3:36 PM ^
My thoughts exactly. Look at Onwenu. Scouts had the same weight concern and now the guy is considered their top OL.
Better to take chance on him and hope the peer support and pressure keeps him within playing weight. And if he flames out so be it, but this is better than a little guy hoping to put on weight and be effective, and who still transfers out anyway.
December 18th, 2020 at 11:58 AM ^
Benny on IG last night said there's a 0% chance he's coming to Michigan, but I think there's a chance.
December 18th, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^
Maybe it was just a Tuckerism and he'll be elsewhere tomorrow.
December 18th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
"It's like we don't know how to win". Quite the indictment of the head coach if anything.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
"It's like we don't know how to win"
It's impossible to know exactly what he's referring to with that statement—is he specifically criticizing play calls, practice methods, coaching attitudes, in-game player substitutions, or is it simply frustration?
Regardless, it's impossible to put a positive spin on that comment, and Harbaugh should be getting to the bottom of it with Velasquez yesterday.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
In hindsight, it's really not shocking that such a young team (on average) lacks the locker room leaders that motivate everyone else. Good teams rely on players that are leaders, not just the coaches.
And the extra plus is that JJ seems like this type of kid. Already a glue guy with his work on the recruiting trail.
December 18th, 2020 at 8:37 PM ^
Having watched alot of wmu football this year, every defender is suspect