Week 1 Thoughts
Managing talent, emotions and expectations in the era of the portal/NIL has gotta be tough so I'm betting Cade starts week 1, JJ starts week 2, Cade starts week 3 and then the competition ensues thereafter with Cade in the driver's seat. We have a great QB room which includes Davis Warren.
Also think Mason Graham starts on D-line along with Morris, Mazi and Upshaw. Jenkins and Hill-Green have been battling ankle sprains. I expect McGregor and Harrell to be big contributors too. Mazi's stamina will be an issue (asthma) so I expect to see a lot of Benny at DT. Many "insiders" downplaying expectations on Amona's contribution. I wouldn't. Hearing that he's playing good and fitting in well as is Rolder at LB.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
While I'm very excited about all the early Mason Graham hype, I really hope we do not need to start a true freshman on DL
August 26th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
Not sure we "need to" but more that they can't keep him off the field.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
Cade will start until he either gets hurt or loses the job.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^
I uh...
August 27th, 2022 at 8:04 PM ^
#Fail
August 26th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
I expect plenty in week 1
QB - Cade and JJ split time until sometime in the late 3rd quarter where we get to see Warren (whom I really liked in the Spring game)
RB - Blake and Donovan in the 1st half and then open tryouts for Dunlap/Mullens/Stokes. Expecting to see plenty of Power when they are in there as they want to evaluate
OL - 1st string 1st half......2nd string 2nd half....
DL - Morris, Smith start with heavy rotation at the other DT spot (to save Jenkins) and other DE spot for evaluation
LB - Junior plays most of the game to continue to get reps, but Rolder gets some time in the 4th quarter
DB - Lots of rotation, particularly at the 2nd CB spot across from Turner
This script will continue to play out for the first 3 games before shortening up the rotation.....
August 26th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^
Agree 100%. Worth mentioning that prior to Spring Game very, very few knew who Davis Warren was unless you were fortunate enough to have read my post on March 28th.:)
August 26th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
i've already said this on this blog but with cades leadership, michigan will go 11-0 heading into OSU. they will win that game but it'll be close. then win the b1g again, yet somehow be ranked #2 behind a 1 loss bama team heading to the CFP.
that will all happen week 1
August 26th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
Wow. I want to believe you.
August 26th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^
I want a sip of that kool-aid too. It would be glorious.
August 26th, 2022 at 6:37 PM ^
Sign me up.
August 26th, 2022 at 7:15 PM ^
Make it a double.
August 26th, 2022 at 7:15 PM ^
Make it a double.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:09 PM ^
DISCUSS... this outstanding new, original, and previously unconsidered topic!
/Do you even read MGoBlog??
August 26th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
Exactly. I mean who wants to discuss UM football on a Michigan message board one week prior to a new season in the aftermath of a CFB playoff appearance? Silly me.
August 26th, 2022 at 2:08 PM ^
What he's saying is that this has been ongoing discussion here for several months. You didn't bring a new discussion that hasn't been hashed out hundreds of times.
August 26th, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^
"Hundreds of times." Really? Hmmm. Tell me who else posted Cade will start week 1, JJ week 2? Who else has said Mason Graham to start at DT? Show me one post let alone "hundreds." Maybe I missed them as I'm only an occasional visitor here.
August 26th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
Umm... multiple front page articles discussing the entire depth chart that lead to this exact discussion.
August 26th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^
Go ahead and link the “multiple” posts that specifically say Cade week 1 starter, JJ week 2, and Graham a starter at DT.
I’ll hang up and listen.
August 27th, 2022 at 12:35 PM ^
Just hang up.
August 27th, 2022 at 8:05 PM ^
#Fail. Again.
August 27th, 2022 at 8:05 PM ^
#Fail x 1000
August 26th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
what
August 26th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
Hot take!
August 26th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
💩 post
August 26th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^
In terms of this team's ceiling, the emergence of someone unexpectedly special at linebacker would be a wonderful lift.
And things like "Jenkins and Hill-Green have been battling ankle sprains" are, well, not good.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
if you're looking for an emerging player at LB, then Rolder is the guy.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
There is no way we’re going to start a true freshman DT when we don’t have to. And we don’t have to. Graham (and Grant) will certainly get their feet plenty wet. But the more viable DTs, the better.
There is no reason to start JJ, even if he’s playing lights-out. If he is, he can simply receive the lion’s share of playing time, like Hunter Dickinson did behind Austin Davis, until it is completely obvious to everyone what to do.
2nd team OL won’t be in until Cade/JJ exit, for obvious reasons.
The rest of these seem plausible, and I’m rooting for these outcomes (except Mazi stamina; by the way, dude is looking svelte for a 337 lb human).
August 27th, 2022 at 8:06 PM ^
Lol. Great take. #Fail
August 26th, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^
If Mason Graham is starting week 1, that either means:
1) He is somehow going to completely buck the trend of freshman DTs sucking. Which is highly unlikely unless he is somehow as good as Chase Young and the Bosa brothers and just completely flew under the radar on that for his entire high school career. Or:
2) The more likely outcome, its that our DL is in really bad shape through injuries or just no one outside of Mazi asserting themselves. If your DL is in a position where it needs a true freshman to start, its in a lot of trouble.
Mason Graham will probably get quite a lot of snaps this year. Wouldn't be surprised to see them burn his redshirt. But if he's starting at any point before next season, the defense is likely in trouble.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:18 PM ^
Cade and JJ on the field together 30% of snaps. New offense that works off explosiveness and chaos. Need to think differently if Georgia, Alabama talent is heads above us. Boom margaritas kickin in
August 26th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
What do I hope for - especially in September…
Solid play - ball security / protection - re-establishing the run game - and, I certainly hope, plenty of reps for 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s on the depth chart.
IMO, it’s been a long time - going back to Moeller - since Michigan really opened up leads - when they could - and provided “good” game experience / reps for the 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s. And, limiting those game reps - slows down talent development. Hoping to see a number of games where these hard working young men on the depth chart - get to see / experIence game action.
Go Blue!
August 27th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
All who doubted my telling you that Cade would start week 1 and JJ week 2 might want to see the tweet that UM Football issued about 2 minutes ago.
#You’reWelcome