Quick Bits:

• Sammy Faustin was moved to cornerback, with Dax Hill presumably back at safety. We’ll see if that sticks; the concern about finding another starting CB is real.
• German Green is the latest cornerback to lead for the second job.
• Second week in a row our bits title is a reference to a quote about Taylor Upshaw. Man's getting a reputation.
• Join the me and the JUB tonight at THE UM ALUMNI CLUB OF GREATER CHICAGO KICKOFF EVENT, 6pm CDT, 7pm Eastern
• DON'T PANIC.

Harbaugh's Contract

What we want to hear: Some fake hot seat controversy out of the James Franklin Book of Favorite False Narratives.

What is sarcasm: This is.

What we're hearing: Omigod Harbaugh only has a couple of years left on his contract, that he's negotiating with an athletic department that just had a $40 million shortfall dropped on it, like every other coach who's up for an extension in a year a pandemic canceled sports! Omigod!

What it means: Harbaugh's staying. If someone's hinting otherwise they're selling something.

Quarterback

What we want to hear: Joe Milton throws are breaking the rules of physics.

What we’re hearing: Insiders with Milton hype ($, info in title) and players with more Milton hype. This was Mike Sainristil:

“As I was tracking the ball, I noticed it was the highest ball I’d ever seen thrown. It was in the air hanging and I asked myself when and where it was going to drop. I kept my head down and kept running. The ball can be tough to track when it’s that high because you don’t know where it’s going to land, you don’t know when it’s going to land.

Where it will land can be guessed based on height, velocity, and trajectory, but I wouldn't know where to begin when it comes to coaching receivers to calculate time dilation on the fly. If you’re into previews, 247 has their position one up.

What it means: Nothing.

Depth chart: Joe Milton and Cade McNamara.

[After THE JUMP: A panicometer update, D-line hype believable and otherwise, and 2018 three-stars galore]

Running Back

What we want to hear: Everybody is so comfortable in their roles that they're going to exhaust their eligibility in them (but still make room for Donovan Edwards of course). Also they're each picking up different skills, some of the fullbackian.

What we’re hearing: If half of halfbacking is hitting the right hole it’s a good sign that the first thing Jay Harbaugh wanted to talk about was that they’re all going where they’re supposed to, and they’re now talking about beating the free hitter who arrives there.

The talk on Charbonnet, via Jay Harbaugh, is he’s all the way back from injury and able to practice, whereas last year he “wasn’t able to run the way he wanted to run.” Harbaugh named four guys on Jansen’s podcast in this order: Charbonnet, Evans, Haskins, Corum, adding “Really those four have been outstanding, outstanding, outstanding.” Sorry Turner.

247’s Zach Shaw has their RB preview up.

What it means: Best case scenario, except we really like Turner too and hope he comes through here eventually.

Depth chart: Charbonnet, Evans, Haskins, Corum.

Wide Receiver & Tight End

Sweetness is holding onto a starting job [Bryan Fuller]

What we want to hear: Major improvement from the sophomores, especially Cornelius Johnson, and general excitement about the talent available. Nico? No, not keeping any home. A reminder that Shoenle exists and is still very viable I guess. More freshman hype, yes about speed but maybe other than speed too.

What we’re hearing: Harbaugh named eight guys on the Jansen pod. The order and superlatives as follows:

1. Ronnie Bell: great tone-setter.
2. Mike Sainristil: tremendous, tremendous offseason and early camp. Really improved his blocking, might be the best blocker on the team. He’s also got the … you saw last year.
3. Roman Wilson: doing exceptionally well.
4. Giles Jackson: doing extremely well. (piggybacking off the Sainristil note) that, you know, and then some, probably. Both making tough catches, contested catches.
5. Jake McCurry: doing extremely well
6. Cornelius Johnson: really coming on strong.
7. A.J. Henning: did some really good things in our scrimmage on Saturday.
8. Nate Schoenle: maybe he’s the tone-setter, the leader. Doing really good things at the wide receiver position and on special teams.

They also made Sainristil available to the media. At this point it seems Nico isn’t returning.

Erick All was the only TE brought up this week. Lorenz noted on their podcast it's weird we haven't heard much from Ben Mason this offseason.

What it means: No change except Sainristil is backing up last year's offseason hype with more offseason hype. Last year that didn't translate as much to the field but he was great except for some drops. If he can take an expanded role outside as a downfield blocker (see: Martavious Odoms) that would open up a lot of interesting spread H options for the other guys.

Depth chart: Bell, Sainristil, Jackson, Johnson, All, Wilson, Henning, Schoenle

Offensive Line

What we want to hear: I think we're good to go until they name a left guard starter. But sure, give us more Ryan Hayes hype just so we know left tackle is secured for the foreseeable future.

What we’re hearing: The same things all offseason: four spots are set and left guard is a battle between Barnhart and Filiaga. Vastardis is smart and the running game looks really good($) said the guy who emails me and Borton (the ITF I linked has a ton of good updates on hoops by the way).

Kwity Paye thinks Ryan Hayes is the breakout candidate of the year. Stueber thinks his experience at right tackle helps him better understand how to team up with Mayfield.

Also Mike Onwenu is the best rookie in the NFL—possibly the best lineman in the NFL so far—which means you have to expect some step-back from that spot just because.

What it means: Go forth and maul.

Depth chart: Hayes-Filiaga or Barnhart-Vastardis-Stueber-Mayfield, with Trente Jones, Trevor Keegan, Zach Carpenter, and to a lesser degree Joel Honigford being guys they're comfortable using.

Defensive Line

What we want to hear: Okay last year's Jeter hype was just hype but THIS YEAR it's totally serious. Mazi????

What we’re hearing: It's Jeter Surge week again. Brown admits there are more bullets but not necessarily better bullets:

“I don’t know if we’re better, just deeper,” Brown said. “We got more guys to choose from. You’ll kinda see that the depth is good, our knowledge is good. We have some young guys, we talked about Chris Hinton, we’ve talked about Taylor Upshaw, we’ve talked about  Speight. He’s just a reliable guy. The guy I’m telling you, Jeter is a different dude. Flat out different dude.

Shawn Nua's presser went into the difference between JETER TALK 2019 and JETER TALK 2020:

“Jeter finally got into the – that comes with a lot of experience and just time – young men finally realizing, ‘I can do this. I can do this on a consistent basis,’” Nua said. “His mindset is part of the thing that’s changed in everything he does. Off the field, on field, with his teammates. Once that happens, everything seems to fall into place. He’s literally took his mindset into a place where it’s helping him produce at a very, very high level. And especially on a consistent basis. He’s in a very good place.”

Nua also went Rocky IV in his description of Taylor Upshaw (emphasis obvious):

“The one thing that Taylor has is he has the epitome D-line mentality – kills everything in his path,” Nua said. “And I love it. Just gotta control it at times. But very, very explosive, very athletic young man. Great, great size, great frame. Improving a lot. He’s doing a great job of understanding the full aspect of the game. So he’s gonna be heavily involved in what we do, especially from a rotation standpoint. I’m excited for Taylor Upshaw.”

Harbaugh gave a depth chart update on the Jansen pod:

I think if you can picture Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson—Wow. Tremendous players, and they’re having great camps. I kinda look over there and see the identity of our defense, just in those two. Really talented, great, high effort type of players. Carlo Kemp and Chris Hinton. Donovan Jeter, also, is really surging and doing great. He’s such a natural, good football player. And Jess Speight, total Michigan man. Talk about position switches … The guy will do anything for the team. He’s in there playing nose.

"Also Luiji Vilain, look for him to have a very good year. Taylor Upshaw is surging as a player. And Julius Welschof—keep an eye on him. He’s coming into his own

Mazi gets mentioned in a pile between Mike Morris and Gabe Newburg of guys “really turning into a good football player.” The Vilain bit though was echoed by Kwity Paye in his media availability: “If anyone’s a harder worker than me it’s Luigi.”

What it means: No Mazi yet. Maybe Jeter is going to be good. Hinton seems like he's on track. Vilain is damn good news if true, but the best friend bit probably colors that commentary.

Depth chart: 1) Hutchinson-Kemp-Hinton-Paye, 2) Vilain-Jeter-Speight-Upshaw, 3) Welschof & Smith

Linebacker

Ross is boringly ready. Who's behind him now is frettingly exciting. [Patrick Barron]

What we want to hear: Breakouts beyond the two interior dudes. Barrett will be the breakout star of the group.

What we’re hearing: Michael Barrett seems to have accelerated past the competition. Brian Jean-Mary:

But he’s been great. Started off a little slow, but the last two to three weeks, he’s probably been the best player we had whether it would be SAM or VIPER.

and why:

[Anthony Solomon]’s a guy that’s up and coming, has to learn some of the techniques and fundamentals of playing off the ball, and not just rushing the passer. But super talented guy that hopefully we’re gonna get a chance to get on the field and show some of the things he can do. Now the young buck, William Mohan, who we all call ‘Apache.’ He’s probably one of the most explosive young men I’ve ever been around and I’ve been coaching for 20 years. He has some natural ability that you can’t take credit for as a coach.

Cam McGrone went on the Jansen podcast, gave the standard about how the game’s slowed down. Harbaugh’s take on a different episode highlighted Michael Barrett, who seems to be winning the viper job now. The depth chart has a walk-on behind the inside starters:

“He’s a rock solid guy, a tough competitor and an experienced player. I’m feeling very good about the linebacker position, with Michael Barrett, Josh Ross, Cam McGrone. And some other players that are behind them—Ben VanSumeren is looking for a starting spot at the SAM ‘backer, along with David Ojabo. Adam Shibley has really surged here the last couple months and is doing a great job at the MIKE position. He’s got versatility to play both MIKE and WILL.

"Anthony Solomon is a sophomore, but he’s doing a heck of a good job. The two freshmen you really look at at insider backer, Nikhai Hill-Green and Kalel Mullings are both doing really well, especially for only being freshmen. … Also, Jaylen Harrell.

I asked an insider about redshirt freshman Charles Thomas and was told "He's at least another year away." We've also gotten nothing about Joe Velazquez at Viper. Both falling behind freshmen is a bad sign given the freshmen coming in next year. That is something of a concern because depth in the year of COVID is a big deal. The drop-off if they lose Cam or Ross would be noticeable but if they lose two of their top three things start getting freshman-y.

What it means: Barrett is winning the viper job but I still expect to see Solomon on the field plenty—if you’ve been watching Big XII football they have guys his size in Uche roles all the time. Inside, depth behind the seniors is questionable; I think they like Hill-Green and Mullings for the future but they’re true freshmen. I would guess they would move Barrett to WILL if one of the inside starters goes out, drawing in Solomon at viper rather than a walk-on. Braiden McGregor, who’s at SAM supposedly, seems to still be recovering from his injury; I wouldn’t expect much out of him this year. Ojabo and Harrell sound like pass rush specialists for now.

Depth chart: Barrett-Ross-McGrone, with Barrett sliding to WILL and Solomon coming in if something happens to Ross or McGrone. The SAMs are all specialty pieces.

Secondary

What we want to hear: The Daxton Hill cornerback experiment ended as quickly as it started because a couple other cornerbacks started playing so well there’s no need.

What we’re hearing: It sounds like Daxton Hill’s cornerback experiment ended as quickly as it started; Dax is practicing at just safety and nickel.

Oh, and they’re trying Sammy Faustin instead.

Harbaugh:

Corners, there’s battles going on. Vince Gray is starting; who’s gonna start on the other side of Vince? Gemon Green, Sammy Faustin—we moved him from safety to corner. He’s done a really nice job there the last week that he’s been there.

The next guys mentioned are George Johnson, DJ Turner, Eamonn Dennis, and Andre Seldon, in that order. Harbaugh also brought up Johnson when talking about the slot receivers, noting “he’s doing a good job there.” This came after practice notes that had Gemon Green the leader. Lorenz is doing a better job than I of making people feel okay with it, reminding us that the 2018 class was a bunch of projects you expected to hit this fall. Sam at least confirms moving Faustin isn’t a new idea($):

As for Faustin, this isn’t a move out of left field. As I reported previously, his coverage ability had them contemplating moving him to corner last year. And while he doesn’t possess Dax’s jets, he has football speed and impressive length to still affect plays where a receiver has a step. He should add nicely to the competition out on the island.

The link also has some insider info on Dax’s thoughts. Meanwhile we’ve got Omarion Cooper’s mom with accidentally cogent commentary($).

This was deep into Harbaugh's depth chart talk but it's a mention of German Green and another walk-on I'm personally rooting for:

“Compliment both the Green brothers – German Green playing safety and special teams and Gemon Green is competing for the staring corner position alongside Vince Gray. Been happy with both safeties. Caden Kolesar, also playing safety and special teams. Those are the ones that are right there in the mix at safety and doing a really good job.”

For what it's worth, Click on Detroit's Derick Hutchinson went through all the 3-stars of the 2018 class and there's a potential that every one of them is a hit save perhaps German Green and Christian Turner, for depth reasons.

What it means: BackwardsMourning.gif. We of course are going to overreact whenever Michigan moves a player’s position, even if it’s kind of a common thing. This one however isn’t hard to interpret: Michigan lost Ambry Thomas, didn’t like their second corner options, tried Daxton Hill, Daxton didn’t feel that was him, and Faustin was the next best guy in the secondary.

If Faustin takes to cornerback like Jeremy Clark that’s a yay down the line. It at least confirms the coaches like him. But in two weeks? Meanwhile it also confirms they think they have one cornerback, or at least they’re acting like it. Which means I am raising the Panicometer.

But at least it helps with recruiting.

Depth chart: Safety is Hawkins/Dax, Faustin, Paige, and walk-ons. Cornerback is Vincent Gray and whatever sticks.

Special Teams

What we want to hear: Super spread dudes.

What we’re hearing: Giles Jackson indeed looks set to reprise his kick return job with Michael Barrett the off returner. Punter seems to be Bell but there are other ideas:

Kickoff return, obviously Giles is tremendous. We’ve really put an emphasis this offseason, not only having Giles improve and getting better, but being able to have a great backup for him and a good dynamic guy back there with him. Mike Barrett did a good job for us last year as the off-returner, but we want to be a little deeper overall if Giles, in a situation, isn’t gonna be back there, then who’s gonna replace him? Love that situation. It’s really the same guys in terms of punt return. It’s still a good competition. Ronnie (Bell) probably is the guy right now. He’s got a lot of reps and everything. Giles has been working at that. Blake Corum is a natural punt catcher. Eamonn Dennis for us is a guy who’s dangerous with the ball in his hands. We like what he does. Mike Sainristil has a good amount of reps stacked from last year.

What it means: Safety in Ronnie Bell. Sigh.

Depth chart: It's Nordin and Hart until it isn't. Bell returning punts, Jackson kicks.