The Under Armor All American game is on tonight at 7:30 ET, so make sure you check it out on ESPN. Michigan commitments Terry Richardson and Joe Bolden have drawn in strong praise all week, so it'll be interesting to see them on the field.
Josh Garnett will also be playing, although offensive lineman tend to look bad in these games as they lack experience playing as a group.
Definitely worth watching!
Thanks for the new thread Benji. Just read Sam Webb's article (today's date) regarding these highschool games.
ReplyDeleteHere it is:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/OPINION03/201050450/1361/Joe-Bolden--other-future-Wolverines-shine-in-showcase-game-workouts
M GO BLUE!!!
Bolden seems to be very promising to get playin time as a FR. So if we assume him and Ryan, and who's the 3rd?
ReplyDelete@smokey420
ReplyDeleteif you are referring to who our 3rd LB would be next to Ryan and Bolden, that'd be Demens, imo.
I wouldn't count Morgan out either. I think he can be a real force with an extra 10 - 15 pounds on his frame.
ReplyDeleteGood guess, wasn't it Morgan who had an excellent FR year this season? So besides that and the obvious chang on the d-line, with Martin and vanburgen gone, you think there will be any more changes? CB countess, Floyd, SS kovacs, FS Gordon, LB Ryan, bolden, demens, DL cambell, black, roh, ?? I know mattison will rotate LB's and d linemen. So who's the FR that will get some play time on the line? Does anyone expect TR to start like he wants to?
ReplyDeleteI assume you are talking about Pipkins getting time on the line as the "obvious" change. The other Freshman I can see getting time on the line is Chris Wormley and maybe Strobel as well.
ReplyDelete....and no I don't think TR will start like he wants to.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should run a 3-4 and get more of our playmaking LB'S on the field
ReplyDeleteIf they all live up to the hype then Demens could find himself on the bench by the end of the season. I thought he would have a bigger year but to be honest I barely noticed him out there most of the time. His most visible game was probably the Sugar Bowl.
ReplyDelete....ok so I just looked up KD's stats and I guess I put my foot in my mouth since he led the team in tackles. I still stand by what I said though about not noticing him much. I guess I am just focusing more on other players when watching the play.
ReplyDeleteI would love to run 3 4, but I don't think we have the lineman for it yet...
ReplyDeleteI think the linebackers are gonna be ryan(beast), demens of course and morgan with the fr rotating in. I think all our backers had an awsum sugar bowl, along with kovacs. The way the coaches talk about morgan I feel as if he will be a monster in the coming years along with ryan...which makes me think that maybe one of the star fr lbs coming iin could switch to de maybe? if not I'm thinkn the 3 4 will be put in place in 2 3 yrs
I was hearing talks about countess bein the next woodson which would be awsum! I thhink he's going to be good n the future maybe not on woodsons lvl but a solid db...now I think the closest we going to get with woodson is the fr comin in wilson! It seemed liike with every int he had he housed it! Maybe a lil premature for me to say lol but I have high hopes for this kid!
Sam Webb is reporting that a New big time Michigan O-line target? That's the word we're getting down in San Antonio. The rest is behind a paywall. Does anybody know anything about this?
ReplyDelete@Jer89
ReplyDeleteDo you have a link?
link it Jer
ReplyDeleteWith NSD just around the corner there has been alot of names being thrown around. Some new names and names that we all know all to well. I believe UM no longer have a shot at guys like Diggs, Banner, Payton and Kozan. Afew new names have popped up lately like Grant, Dobson, Reeves(again), Perkins and Kenneth Crawley. And of course the names we have been talking about for month we all know them.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe UM will take another TE. But with the news of Stonum ticket I do believe UM will go after another WR weather its Madris or they really make a hard push for Payton again.
After watch UM O Line get pushed around in the Sugar Bowl. UM needs to add two bigger O Linemen. Garnett and Diamond would be great. UM has a good chance with Garnett and I believe UM is back in the running for Diamond. And I think he is visiting A2 soon. If not Dodson or Sam Webbs mystery OL may do.
UM also got burned in the secondary over the last two games. Two CBs are needed. Wright and Reeves are our guys for that. I have said in the last couple of days that I am not getting the warm fuzzy feeling from Wright but in the end I think he goes Blue. And on a sidenote I read somewhere that he is still taking his visit to UM and sounded like he was offended by reports saying he was going to ND.
Now I know what your thinking thats 5 guys UM is only taking 4 guys. Well not so fast my friends. I think 29 is the magic #. With transfer, EE and some scolarships not being renewed UM will be able to do you.
So here is my final 5. At least for this week. LOL
1. Garnett
2. Diamond
3. Wright
4. Reeves
5. Madris
Jordan it was on twitter and on UM scouts site.
ReplyDeleteIt may be Taylor Decker, current ND commit. They are changing OL coaches.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great.
ReplyDeleteYeah from what I've heard the rumor is it's Taylor Decker (ND Commit) but I'm not 100% sure.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately if Decker decides to move OSU may be in the equation since that's where the coaches are headed. Here's a link: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/9778262-419/notre-dame-loses-two-assistants-alters-staff.html
ReplyDeleteRegarding Taylor Decker.
ReplyDeleteRivals says he has no interest in TSiO
Scout and ESPN have no mention of TSiO
However, it all depends on the relationship he has with the former ND coach......AND Brady Hoke.
Either way, if Michigan gets either Diamond, Garnett, Decker, or some other massive lineman, then Michigan could have one heck of a NUTCRACKING O-Line in for the next few years.
Which RB or WR wouldn't like that.
M GO BLUE!!!
Hybrid, what type of lineman do you think we need to run the 3 - 4. I may be wrong, but I think they are set up pretty well for the 3 - 4, with big Will, Q.Washington and Pipkins in the middle. With Roh, Black, Clark and the two FR DE's rotating in. That lets us play Demens, Morgan, Boldon and Ryan.
ReplyDeleteI think there is more LB depth then DL depth, which is why I think the 3 - 4 makes sense. But that's just my opinion. At this point, whatever Mattison runs is the right decision (except maybe if he wants the 3 - 3 - 5) I dont think any of us want to see that again.
I'm of the opinion that football games are won and lost in the trenches and Michigan has recruited top notch talent on O-Line and D-Line. They also have a great class of linebackers and that is the recipe for excellence. Any other recruits we get who are high in talent is just icing on the already baked Hoke cake. I expect great things from this team a couple years down the road. This year was an unexpected delight. Go Blue!!!
ReplyDeleteBTW, Great job Benji, keep up the great work!!!! Great time to be a Michigan Fan!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHoneyWolve - With all due respect:
ReplyDeleteIT'S GREAT
TO BE
A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE!!!
M GO BLUE!!!
The system that UM plays on Defense is the 4-3 Under. It is VERY similar to a 3-4 in that there are 5 guys on the LOS and two guys in teh traditional LB positions. There are a few differences. Gap resposibility is one and I wont get into all of that but the SDE and the two DT are close together. Also, a rush DE (Frank Clark) is in place in the 4-3 under where he would be an OLB in a 3-4 (with his hand on the ground mostly). Jake Ryan is an OLB in both systems and lines up right next to our SDE. Guys coming in like Wormley and Godin will probably be SDE (or 3-4 DE's). Pipkins is a NT a la Vince Wilfork and in the 4-3 Under its about the same. The other DT in the 4-3 Under is a big DE/DT. If BWC could have been more consistent and held the NT position, Mike Martin would have been even better. He wouldn't have had to "eat" blocks for everone the entire time and could have been allowed to make more plays.
ReplyDeleteThat is why when everyone was clamoring for more DT's, the 4-3 Under closer resembles a 3-4 in appearence than it actually does a 4-3. It just has 4-3 gap responsibility.
SOB...DeAnthony Arnett to MSU
ReplyDeletehttp://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2012/01/deanthony-arnett-transfer-tennessee-michigan-state/1
@jgrubbs I just don't think their d line is good enough....will campbell could make it happen but he's severly underachieved throughout his career I gont think he can get it done in a 3 4....and he would be the main guy on the line the center of attention. I'm not saying he cantt do it cuz he's huge! But sometimes I feel like he's not putting it all out there....hopefully he proves me wrong next year.
ReplyDeleteI love the 3 4 idea, I just think they need to get the pieces for it....which they started doing with the fr lbs coming in. But who knows...mattison will put us in the best formation to win and of course I trust him he's thee genius. I just think changing their d now would be a mistake until they have the bodies for it
It was one year ago today that UM started looking for a Michigan man. Today is the day that RR was fired a year ago and UM started the search for a Michigan man.
ReplyDeleteBenji,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to thank you for all the hard work and your well writen post.
And I wanted to run a idea by you. I know your busy but what do you think about doing a National Signing Day live chat? Just a thought.
Hope you guys are watching the UA All American Game. Looks like Joe Bolden could be a star in the making.
ReplyDeleteANN ARBOR VICTOR: RIGHT ON!!!!
ReplyDeleteSide note on Benji's Most Valuable Prospect Poll on the top right of his blog. IMO Yuri Wright is the guy we need to be targeting. Based on all of the stuff coming from sites like ESPN/Scout/Rivals/Twitter I think Garnett is a lock. So he WILL be a key to an absolutely beastly o-line.
ReplyDeleteWith all that said, we need Wright bad. Although he says UofM was his childhood favorite I think Mallory, Mattison, and Hoke need to get in his ear.
I would love to see Michigan close out with.
1. Garnett
2. Wright
3. Reeves
4. Diggs/Diamond/Payton/Shittu/ or Danny O'Brien(not giving up on any of them yet)
p.s. Thanks for all that you do Benji. Keep up the good work my friend. Like the thought of the NSD live chat.
ReplyDeleteFrom a forum on mgoblog, it looks like Stonum's status is unknown. One of the posts cites Hoke as saying a decision won't be made until everything is know, which could be whenever.
ReplyDeletehttp://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/no-change-stonums-status
Whatever the facts, I hope Hoke continues to put integrity first. I'm all about giving young adults second chances, and if Stonum deserves a break here he should get it. However, I want Hoke to continue to set UM apart from trash like Ohio and the sec.
@caleb, thanks for the breakdown.
ReplyDelete@hybrid, all valid points, and perhaps I just don't understand the intricacies of the 3 - 4 vs 4 - 3, but I feel that we have more depth and skill at LB then DL, especially lacking at DT. Because of that I think it makes more sense to put more LB's on the field, but I agree with you, I trust whatever decision Mattison makes.
I think we can all agree, if Big Will ever decides to come close to meeting his potential that will be a huge benefit to Michigan next year.
To echo other's sentiment's, thanks again Benji for all the work.
@jgrubbs I don't claim to know the intricacies either lol....I. just know that for 3 4 u need a behemoth nose who can take on multple blockers and a stellar lb core...the second part we will have I just don't think wc will be able to fill the firsst part....totally agree with what u said about wc...cuz he could be a big time player and if he does step up and fill our weakness at d I believe will be just as good as last year if not better....to me wc iss gonna be the key for us nexxt year...unless pipkins or washington can fill in for him, but I. Think wc will get it done hoke and mattison won't let him fail!
ReplyDeleteThanks benji! Go blue!
I really think we will end up with Diamond, Wright, Garnett and Reeves.
ReplyDeleteGarnett I think is a for sure.
Wright I think we still have an 80% chance with. I also think it would help in a much needed area.
Diamond because he is a beast and I have home state bias. I also think it will be good to recruit Simeon HS more. The amount of talent there is unreal.
Reeves just because I am hoping. I'd also like another big time D-Lineman too if we do not get Reeves.
When is Garnett going to announce?
ReplyDeletewe all assume that the freshmen are going to be coming in at linebacker and on the dline but we are forgetting about last two years recruiting class already. guys like beyer, black, rock, and heitzman are all there on the line plus at linebacker/end we have clark and at linebacker we have antonio poole and jordan paskorz. and with guys like josh furman, marvin robinson and cam gordon all being big fast guys they could sure help out at the linebacker position if you ask me. just saying we all expect these guys to step on campus and be immediate contributors when they have yet to even suit up yet for the first time. i say we let them come in and get used to being on campus before we name them the starters.
ReplyDeleteRight on Logan...I agree with you, but with the problems in the secondary there's almost gonna have to be some change in personel. But GM said when he came in he was going to stop the run first, be a bend but don't break D, and I think he did that. So next year I see him focusing on a shut down Defense alittle more. All the faith in the world in him!!
ReplyDeleteGo Blue!!
I'm high on wislon 6'3 200 4.5. He could come in as an ee and be one of the biggest fastest in the secondary. He could deffinetly see some time
ReplyDeleteI think we'll here from Amani Reeves pretty soon. Penn State is apparently hiring the Patriots' O-Coordinator as their head coach. I think he'll take a visit (if not already scheduled) in two or three weeks and announce shortly after. I think Penn's hiring of an OC that is unproven as a HC is good for us. This should increase the likeliness that Reeves leaves PSU.
ReplyDelete@hydriblp
ReplyDeleteThere are hybrid versions of the 3-4 which Michigan can run without the big NT we don't have. It would involve a big outside line backer who would actually take on the look of a de. We could run this with our personnel. This defense is often used to open up more opportunities to do zone blitz plays, which is a favorite of Greg M. The only problem we will have in a scheme like this is you have to be able to get off blocks to stop the run, and you end up a bit undersized at the line of scrimmage. When you zone blitz you have one or more lineman pulling away from the line, which can hand a running team exactly what they want.
I don't like the 3-4, never have. I always prefer the 4-3 with the 4 down lineman who can pressure the quarterback and make the middle of the line much more crowded. I'd rather have a big d-lineman rushing an o-lineman than a blitzing linebacker. I think with the recruits we have, a 4-3 is more commensurate to their talent level, at least in the long run. Next year I could understand the 3-4 considering the linebackers we may have, but then again the d-line would be thin. I say a 4-3 is the best option.
ReplyDeleteThis debate about 4-3 and 3-4 is pointless to me. Caleb, did a great job describing the base defense we actually run the 4-3 under D. This is what we are recruiting for and is what we our running, but that is only the base defense. Watching our defense we gave many different looks and fronts 3 man, 4 man, 4-6(Bear), etc. Recruiting wise we are building depth and improving our defensive talent overall.
ReplyDeleteI think Will Campbell showed flashes of improvement this season and will only get better. I hope Washington, Black, Clark, Beyers, Brink and others that redshirted or came off the bench this year do the same. Like Logan, said don't get so caught up in the current recruits that you forget about the guys already on our roster. Most players no matter how good they were in HS, take two to three years to develop at the college level. Speed of the game, strength and conditioning, and learning the schemes.
Not sure how I missed this article last year, but I love this kid already and this fires me up even more about him.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2011/05/michigan_commit_joe_bolden_on.html
Jordan, great article, I agree he is already one of my favorites. All reports are that he really impressed at the UA practices as well!
ReplyDeleteI am sure many of you saw all or at least parts of the UA All American game. One of the things I did notice was Josh Garnett. He definitely will be a great lineman (hopefully at UM), but he carries some bad weight. I know lots of OL are big and carry some bad weight, but I am quite confident that if he comes to Michigan that he will need to redshirt to "tone" up. Burn some of the baby fat and put on some muscle. Guys like Kalis will need to develop physically as well, but Kalis is much further ahead than Garnett in my opinon.
ReplyDeleteTerry Richardson played pretty well at CB and had one exciting return as a KR. He also muffed one punt (which he did recover), but he also had another nice KR going when he was stripped of the ball and recovered by the other team. Highly unlikely that he starts over Countess or Floyd, but he very well could get in nickel or dime packages ahead of Courtney Avery. He did cover well and is VERY quick.
armani reeves is visiting jan 13th along with yuri wright.
ReplyDeleteAlong with Joe Bolden being named the Black Team's Defensive MVP for this week, Ondre Pipkins was named as one of his team's captains for the Army AA game. Rivals is reporting that no has shown the dominance that Pipkins has and that after this week his ratings will dramatically improve. His teammates voted him captain for both his "performance and leadership style."
ReplyDeleteKyle Kalis also was said to be the most consistent of all the O-Linemen for the East squad. Kalis was also quoted as saying that he has really enjoyed playing guard and that he feel very comfortable there.
It sounds like Zach Banner is improving, but is routinely getting abused by some of the stud DE's in practice.
James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone were both running with the first team defense on Thursday.
Great
ReplyDeleteGreat
We aren't in Banner's top 3
Great (Ross and RJS are 2 of the starting 3 LB's)
zach banner sucks. just a big gump with a matching ego. kalis is better. garnett is also better. im very excited for pipkins and bolden. if yuri wright OR reeves commit i will be happy.
ReplyDelete3yards, kind of harsh. We like to respect everyone on the field.
ReplyDeleteJust heard arnett is going to msu
ReplyDeleteLol where you been homie?
ReplyDeleteDogging on 5* recruits?? Hmm...
I figured we'd have a new commit by now.
Judge sends Stonum to jail for ten dats. Very disappointed in Stonum's bad decisions. I don't see any way Hoke doesn't cut him loose now. Too bad!
ReplyDeleteGoBluePaulie91,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you. Cut him loose.
With PSU hiring a coach that nobody wanted at least no former player. I am sure there will be a mass departure of current and future player. Reeves will most likely Go Blue very soon.
Jer89 I hope ur right... I know that Countess was a Freshman and Reeves will be one also, but Reeves looks much more natural at the corner than Countess, plus depth can't hurt our secondary...
ReplyDeleteBad news coming from ESPN...
ReplyDeletehttp://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/7433096/california-golden-bears-pick-two-big-time-commits
We are going to have to get another WR now with Darryl Stonum being stupid. I agree with GoBluePaulie, cut him loose. He is becoming a big embarrassment. He keeps making those ESPN headlines. Hoke was more then fair to him.
ReplyDeleteShaq was never coming to UM and Payton wanted to stay closer to home. This is no big deal. Its not like they are coming to OSU, ND or MSU. Good luck to them.
ReplyDeleteBut with payton gone, arnett gone, Diggs basically gone, and Stonum probably gone, do we need another wideout now. Not to metion Hemingway graduating.
ReplyDeleteBenji & Fellow Wolverines,
ReplyDeleteWho of our current 2012 commits do you see as being the biggest surprise? In other words, the most underrated player that you expect to make a nice impact.
My pick is Jeremy Clark. I think he will vastly outperform his 3* 'Not Rated' status. At 6'4" 205 with a 4.47 40yd, he can either be an INT machine at DB or even convert to huge WR. Personally, I'd like to see him switch to WR at that size.
On the flip side, I wonder if Drake Johnson will pan out.
Hoke will go hard after Monty Madaris. I think he is visiting on 1/12 or somewhere around there.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not we need another wideout is completely on what the coaches intend on the offense being like next year. If our O has graduated to a more pro-style, it means fewer wideouts will be needed. If it will stay more spread, then yeah, I'd say we need to grab one more. There's always next year for getting more wideouts as well, we have 2 solid commits this year, I'm not in any panic mode over being thin at wideout.
ReplyDeleteLike Bryan said UM has a couple of people that can play WR with Clark, Funchess and Gant. Most people think he is the most likely one to switch to WR. Either way UM will be just fine at WR.
ReplyDeleteDo we need to be concerned with this Royce Jenkins-Stone tweet "I will make my decision Saturday".
ReplyDelete@chris
ReplyDeletedo you know what he is talking about? I doubt it's recruiting related
Sad to say it but I agree with other people, Stonum needs to go. He can't violate his probation and lie to his probation officer while already being suspended. That just means someone like Jerald Robinson or Jeremy Jackson needs to step up next year. Maybe even Justice Hayes if he was moved to the slot.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't think this changes Michigan's recruiting needs this year. Even if you bring in another WR they probably aren't going to contribute right away (unless its Diggs, and that ship has sailed). I'm still hoping for Garnett, Wright and Reeves, with one more wild card in the mix.
Michigan has offered 2013 5 star WR Robert Foster.
ReplyDeleteLets not forget what can happen in crunch time fellas. The staff has a plan and I think it will work out for the best. the point that HoneyWolve makes is an excellent one in regards to us moving to a more Pro style offense. Obviously you would like to see ideal depth, but I think that we will be fine. Also I think everyone writes off Gallon. He has turned into a nice little option out there. Roundtree will obviously have to step it up big time, but I think he is capable. Stonum is disappointing, but its not the end of the world. Bigger picture here is that they are already looking into 2013 for the WR need. Laquon Treadwell already a Junior All-American 1st teamer. Kid looks like the real deal. But again lets sit back and see. Have a little faith in Brady here... lastyear he salvaged a trainwreck of a situation, and this year he has had time to plan. He took team 132 to 11 wins this year, im sure he has a sound plan for this years recruiting class. RELAX.
ReplyDelete@Chris - Do we need to be concerned with this Royce Jenkins-Stone tweet "I will make my decision Saturday".
ReplyDeletePossibly, but probably not. Did you read the tweet he made after what you posted? Jenkins-Stone, Ross, and Richardson all played grade school football together and their plan was to play together in college.
If you hear anything like Ross & Richardson making statements like that too, then maybe there is concern.
I would think that Wilcher is working on all three, but who really knows, Wilcher can't make their decisions, only influence.
(It is not intent to cause a riot if anyone thinks I am posting this to stir the pot. Just responding to a comment.)
M GO BLUE!!!
RJS's tweet was followed by another saying there was no need for him to pick hats and that he was going to go Blue anyway...chill out.
ReplyDeleteThese kids thrive off this attention and i dont blame them. live it up.
ReplyDeleteHe followed that tweet up with:
"dont need to raise a hat #IwasGoingBlueAnywatys
We will land Reeves or Wright. No worries on our last CB spot
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete