jon runyan jr is good

This is a decennial series covering Michigan's last ten years that were. We could have made an all-2010s team and published it when everyone else did, but how MGoBlog would that be? This time we're doing this as a staff since one guy could forget. Previously: The aughts: ESPN Images, Michigan's offense, Michigan's defense, Worst Plays of The Decade Part 1, Worst Plays Part 2, Best Plays Part I, Best Plays Part II.

We figured the best way to lead off Of the Decade 2020 is with the guys carving out a path. Ten is a nice round number so we'll go with top ten blocks thrown from 2010-2019. These are ranked by gut because the only number you can put on something like this is on the UFR scale. Points are arbitrarily awarded for:

• Defenders removed
• Meanness of block(s)
• General Splattitude
• Significance of moment
• Deservedness of recipient

Let us ruminate.

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10. EATING OUT

Dealer: Vincent Smith
Recipient: Troy Stoudermire
Scene of the Crime: First drive of 2012 Minnesota

We'll start with a shorty. Friend of the blog Vincent Smith was the best pass-blocking back at Michigan since Hart, and if we wanted to, this whole article could be #2 flipping blitzers. But then there was the time he got to split out wide and face a Minnesota cornerback. This is a thing spread teams do all the time to unbalance a defense and reveal their coverage, and usually means the back's job is done for the play.

Obviously Vincent was told his job is to bury the corner to clear space for a quick out to Kwiatkowski  He very much obliged:

CLONK-O-METER:

• Defenders removed: 1
• Impact: 0/5. There was no throw because—ah 2012—Mealer and Barnum screwed up a stunt, and had there been one it was going to be PI.
• Meanness: 4/5. That's a cornerback man.
• Splattitude: 3/5. I'm sure he remembers this. Probably felt it all game.
• Karma: 0/5. Stoudermire holds the Big Ten record for kickoff return yardage, which he achieved before he was granted a 6th year. He was the only Big Ten-caliber player in the Gophers' back seven, had an injury history, was one of my many inspired late Draftageddon picks, and seems to be a good dude. Planting him like that was a dick move. (Not sorry)

[After THE JUMP: Pads recommended.]

Previously: Podcast 11.0A, Podcast 11.0B, Podcast 11.0C. The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End.

Depth Chart

Last year at this time this preview surveyed the evidence. The evidence was not encouraging in regards to one Jon Runyan Jr, projected starting left tackle:

I dunno, man. I want to believe but not even the talk is trying to make me, you know? How far can someone come in one year? Can they come from behind Nolan Ulizio and Juwann Bushell-Beatty to become an average Big Ten starter? It seems like the answer is no. But let's hope otherwise.

The one bit of hope offered was that the very messageboard takes about the coaching changeover were reality:

…what you're really banking on is an OL coaching transition from "Tim Drevno was actively sabotaging the program out of spite" to "Ed Warinner is a golden god."

A year later Drevno's OL recruiting class at USC looks like this…

…and Michigan has four returning starters who got some version of All Big Ten recognition. The coaches named Jon Runyan first-team all conference. There was no Drevno/Warinner take hot enough. The craziest, most spittle-flecked barbarian on the least moderated Michigan site on the internet did not bring sufficient Bayless to the table. We have liberated Seth's photoshop from the WR post, because it needs to go here:

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There. There's the take. Hail Warinner.

[After the JUMP: please enjoy this tackles section that is 100% 90% upbeat]

What this is: Our take on preseason all-Big Ten lists, drafting position-by-position. Previously: Quarterbacks and Running Backs, Receivers and Tight Ends

How things stand:

Seth: RANDOM.org is being a stupidhead and keeps putting Bryan and me 1st or 4th and Brian & Ace in the middle, so for Offensive Line we're going by age. BRIAN is on the clock.

[time passes]

Seth: Brian has until sundown to send someone an LOI.

The Mathlete: He's got one ready to send to Alaric Jackson, just has to check with one guy before sending it

[more time passes]

BiSB: He’s just holding that spot for next year’s Draftageddon. Smart move, IMO.

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OT #1: Alaric Jackson, Iowa (Brian)

[The Detroit News, because, you know, he's from Detroit]

This is not a Tim Drevno joke. Three years after Drevno did not send Jackson a letter of intent he is being touted as a potential first round pick after putting up the best pass-blocking grade in the league.

He's 20th on Rotoworld's 2020 mock draft. SB Nation has him 28th. He is a fine young man who was academic All Big Ten last year. Tim Drevno, human person, surveyed a roster with zero viable tackle shaped persons with eligibility this year and was like "nah" about Alaric Jackson.

Now, did I see this coming? Yes. Yes I did.

Wirfs and Alaric Jackson are fairly good bets to alpaca. Both passed veteran starters last year as first and second year players, respectively, and are giant. Jackson also got passed over by Drevno so he's got that going for him.

I saw it coming miles away. Drevnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Alex: Can I get a “Dim Trevno?”

[After THE JUMP: More Iowa. And one Big Ten team gets its entire line drafted]