2018 Michigan Season thread

[Mdot21]

Yes, once again that defense will be sick.

Now imagine how effective they will be when allowed to be fresh and with offensive points as a buffer- because the offense is also having consistent success?

That’s exactly what I foresee this season.  Several reasons I feel that way, including the return of Black at WR, the further maturation of DPJ (making for a true deadly combo), the addition of Patterson , and the biggest reason IMO, the addition of Ed Warriner.

Yeah, some people were down on Michigan's D last year for some odd reason. Pretty sure they finished top 5 across the board in every defensive stat despite replacing 9 starters from 2016 and having an absolute putrid offense.

That two deep on defense was maybe the youngest in CFB and that offense gave them zero help and put them in bad spot after bad spot.

If that offense can just be effective and sustain drives and put up some points and that defense isn't always on the field in bad spots bc the offense is actually doing it's job that defense will go to another level.

[Mdot21]

Anyone notice that Jon Runyan is listed as 6'5" and 310 on the fall rooster?  Looking every bit like an OT.   JBB is 6'6" 316, Hudson 6'5" 301, and Stueber 6'7" 323.  IF Michigan develop two serviceable OTs from that group it could be very good year.

"insider" over at Mgoblog umbig11 saying that RS Frosh James Hudson and true frosh Jalen Mayfield have both been getting a lot of reps with the 1's at LT and RT. Coaches experimenting right now with a lot of different OL combos trying to find the best 5. He also added some observers (idk what he means by this- maybe former players watching the practices?) feel like Jon Runyan Jr is going to win the LT job and that he's the best athlete among the OL's. He also said the two practices he saw that the best starting 5 appeared to be Runyan-Bredeson-Ruiz-Spannelis-Mayfield- and that the only certain starters are Runyan, Ruiz, and Bredeson. Have heard that from other sites/sources- that Spannelis has made a move at guard and Mike Onwenu's conditioning is still a problem.

umbig11 also saying that Patterson is the clear front runner at QB. Peters and McCaffrey in a battle for QB 2. The true frosh Joe Milton has taken a slide, he hasn't really picked up where he left off when he had a great spring. Grant Perry and DPJ have been lights out at WR. Zach Gentry is killing it- the best TE on the roster. And Ambry Thomas is the fastest/most athletic guy on the roster and he's pushing the CB's hard.

[Mdot21]

Rashan Gary in an interview after practice:

On Aidan Hutchinson:

He's tied to my hip...
He wants to be great...
I'm trying to be that big brother... If you mess up on something, short memory.

On where he feels he is right now:

Eating better. Working on the little things....
Wearing contacts now. Seeing the field better... I wish I had done that sooner.

Greg Mattison on Aidan Hutchinson:

“We also have a young man…and I never like to talk about freshman, but I'm going to put my name on this guy pretty early, and that's Aidan Hutchinson. I've watched him down there lifting weights or working out, and uh… we'll find out we'll see. I always said that his dad was one of the best I've ever had a chance to coach, but I have a feeling that his son may be a hair better. I think he's weighed over 265, 267 maybe. You're talking about a 6-6, 265 lb. freshman that's been here all summer lifting with our guys, and comes from a family where you aren't going to take a backseat. I don’t ever like to say a freshman is going to step up in there but, if I were a betting guy, I'd say you watch this one close because he's really shown (ability) when I watch him.”

Hutchinson is playing as a true frosh. Gary's back-up at SDE I bet. Also- how is Gary only starting to wear contacts on the field right now?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone notice that Jon Runyan is listed as 6'5" and 310 on the fall rooster?  Looking every bit like an OT.   JBB is 6'6" 316, Hudson 6'5" 301, and Stueber 6'7" 323.  IF Michigan develop two serviceable OTs from that group it could be very good year.

I did. Though many roster measurements seem like nonchalant lies to me these days. 
I think the number change is perhaps more likely to mean that Runyan despite shorter stature is a lock to start at tackle (and the department wants to signal to scouts and media that he's closer to archetype than they think). 
I fully expect he's thicker but I'm unconvinced he's actually taller.

[Anonymous Coward]

"insider" over at Mgoblog umbig11 saying that RS Frosh James Hudson and true frosh Jalen Mayfield have both been getting a lot of reps with the 1's at LT and RT. Coaches experimenting right now with a lot of different OL combos trying to find the best 5. He also added some observers (idk what he means by this- maybe former players watching the practices?) feel like Jon Runyan Jr is going to win the LT job and that he's the best athlete among the OL's. He also said the two practices he saw that the best starting 5 appeared to be Runyan-Bredeson-Ruiz-Spannelis-Mayfield- and that the only certain starters are Runyan, Ruiz, and Bredeson. Have heard that from other sites/sources- that Spannelis has made a move at guard and Mike Onwenu's conditioning is still a problem.

umbig11 also saying that Patterson is the clear front runner at QB. Peters and McCaffrey in a battle for QB 2. The true frosh Joe Milton has taken a slide, he hasn't really picked up where he left off when he had a great spring. Grant Perry and DPJ have been lights out at WR. Zach Gentry is killing it- the best TE on the roster. And Ambry Thomas is the fastest/most athletic guy on the roster and he's pushing the CB's hard.

That came from ChatSports.com. ChatSports is a fraud that preys on narratives fans want to read and then writes them without evidence or insider info. If that's true of Hudson and Mayfield, then it is a sheer lock that ChatSports landed a lucky guess. 
We can be absolutely sure that Yoder (ChatSports) doesn't know ANYTHING beyond what you and I know from following free message boards.

[Anonymous Coward]

Umbig11 on the other hand is clearly in touch with Schembechler Hall. I have *very* high expectations for Ambry Thomas.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, the hype train has left the station on Hutchinson. I know I'm becoming more convinced. Holy moly if it ends up true.

[Mdot21]

That came from ChatSports.com. ChatSports is a fraud that preys on narratives fans want to read and then writes them without evidence or insider info. If that's true of Hudson and Mayfield, then it is a sheer lock that ChatSports landed a lucky guess.
We can be absolutely sure that Yoder (ChatSports) doesn't know ANYTHING beyond what you and I know from following free message boards.

no that actually came from umbig11. he posted all that on Mgoblog yesterday in a thread. he said Chatsports stole some of that info from the Michigan Rivals board- where umbig11 posts most of his info.

[Mdot21]

Yeah, the hype train has left the station on Hutchinson. I know I'm becoming more convinced. Holy moly if it ends up true.

the hype on him started to get loud during the week of practice in the Army Bowl where he was facing some of the top HS OL prospects in the country and dominating them in practice. Rivals and 247 both had him listed as one of the top performers all week in practices. Then he went out in the game and dominated. 247 shot him up in their own rankings from the 240's to like #80 overall just based off that Army Bowl week.
He's got the blood lines, and he was a guy that Mattison scouted early and wanted badly, and I'll always trust Mattison when it comes to d-linemen.

[ELA]

the hype on him started to get loud during the week of practice in the Army Bowl where he was facing some of the top HS OL prospects in the country and dominating them in practice. Rivals and 247 both had him listed as one of the top performers all week in practices. Then he went out in the game and dominated. 247 shot him up in their own rankings from the 240's to like #80 overall just based off that Army Bowl week.
He's got the blood lines, and he was a guy that Mattison scouted early and wanted badly, and I'll always trust Mattison when it comes to d-linemen.

He had a weird trajectory.  When the first 2018 ratings came out in 2015 or whatever, way too early, he was the top recruit in the state, then he slipped over the next couple years, then had really good AA circuit last year as you said, and shot back up.  I'm usually wary of those guys, as it usually means they look best in shorts, but then he played well in the game, and the early returns seem to match.

[ELA]

"insider" over at Mgoblog umbig11 saying that RS Frosh James Hudson and true frosh Jalen Mayfield have both been getting a lot of reps with the 1's at LT and RT. 

That was the crazy recruitment, where all of the CBs kept flipping back and forth.  Thinking that one is going to keep smarting MSU.

[Anonymous Coward]

no that actually came from umbig11. he posted all that on Mgoblog yesterday in a thread. he said Chatsports stole some of that info from the Michigan Rivals board- where umbig11 posts most of his info.

I checked his history. You're right.
However, I think it is already outdated info though. He did say they were rotating with the first team for a while. Later, he noted that Warriner was experimenting with many combinations. And today he said Filiaga and Mayfield are outsiders behind JBB/Hudson and Onwenu/Spanellis for the remaining tackle (unknown whether L or R) and RG spots, specifying that Runyan was a mortal lock for one tackle spot (side, unspecified) and that Bredeson and Ruiz were certain locks for LG and C, respectively, too.
My thoughts? Runyan was NOT a popular starter option at tackle among message board fans through the summer. And since he doesn't have archetype height, I get it. But he sounds like the best technician and most playbooksmart of the tackles. And I trust Warriner. So I'm all aboard that experiment.
I even think Runyan could be our most compelling LT option. And, if Hudson beats JBB, I'd honestly like Runyan at LT even more. (For however primed Hudson could maybe be as a starting tackle today, I think starting LT is almost always too much for a RSFr.)

[Mdot21]

I checked his history. You're right.
However, I think it is already outdated info though. He did say they were rotating with the first team for a while. Later, he noted that Warriner was experimenting with many combinations. And today he said Filiaga and Mayfield are outsiders behind JBB/Hudson and Onwenu/Spanellis for the remaining tackle (unknown whether L or R) and RG spots, specifying that Runyan was a mortal lock for one tackle spot (side, unspecified) and that Bredeson and Ruiz were certain locks for LG and C, respectively, too.
My thoughts? Runyan was NOT a popular starter option at tackle among message board fans through the summer. And since he doesn't have archetype height, I get it. But he sounds like the best technician and most playbooksmart of the tackles. And I trust Warriner. So I'm all aboard that experiment.
I even think Runyan could be our most compelling LT option. And, if Hudson beats JBB, I'd honestly like Runyan at LT even more. (For however primed Hudson could maybe be as a starting tackle today, I think starting LT is almost always too much for a RSFr.)

Runyan might be 310, but he isn't 6'5. Probably more like 6'3 and change. Also doesn't have those super long arms you look for in a LT. He is the best athlete of the bunch by all accounts though and he backed it up posting the best testing #'s of all the OL's in the conditioning tests the staff put the team through. If he's a lock to start, that's probably because he's been the most consistent with his technique and made the fewest mistakes.
umbig11 just posted some more info today....
"There are 8 different configurations on the Offensive line being looked at.Three positions are locked up. Bredeson, Runyan, and Ruiz.. Two are up for grabs and the most likely candidates are JBB, Spanellis, Onwenu, and Hudson. An outside shot for Mayfield and Filiaga.

One DB will play both ways and it is not Hawkins. Some Freshman turning heads are Mayfield, Bell, Hutchinson, and Myles Sims.

 There isn’t an OC, JH has control. More shotgun and spread as expected."

My guess is the DB playing both ways is Ambry Thomas. Not surprised to hear Mayfield and Hutchinson are turning heads. Ronnie Bell and Myles Sims are pleasant surprises though. Bell was a huge under the radar recruit and Sims is playing at a loaded position. Not thrilled about Jim having control and not having an OC. If he fails to win big at Michigan it will be because of his inability to let go of the offense and get a "Don Brown of the offense".

[Anonymous Coward]

He won't be the most important this year, and I'm still doubting he even wins a CB spot over Long or Levert, since they have 1-2 years on him and are already among the best in the nation, but there's an argument to be made for Ambry being the best player on the entire roster, at least by the time every guy puts a bow on his Ann Arbor career.