2018 Michigan Season thread

[Anonymous Coward]

Grant Newsome officially calls it a day. Must be so disappointed

Yeah. That one hurts. And not just because it was so gruesome.
His was the one position Michigan could least afford to lose a promising RSFr starter for years (or forever). Fans have slowly gotten over it since early 2016, but he's been fighting like hell despite all the forgetting. 
I can't imagine how anyone convinced him he had done everything he could and it still wasn't enough. I've seen him talk, though, and have heard rumors of his coursework. It's possible he could shine even more without football.

[ELA]

Deron Irving-Bey transfers to CMU.  Kind of odd

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought so, too. I had wondered where he fit in (he hadn't been on any interior lineman 3-deeps for 2018), but figured he had plenty of time. Granted after this year the DTs only lose Mone and Marshall. So I kind of get it. But still that's a weird time to transfer. 
My guess? He didn't like his prospects if staying and really valued the idea of 2018-19 being his "one season to sit out."

[Mdot21]

to the surprise of no one, Shea Patterson named the starting QB by Harbaugh.

sounds like the DL rotation will go 10 deep.

Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Kwity Paye, Aidan Hutchinson, and Luiji Villain at DE.

Michael Dwumfour, Aubrey Solomon, Bryan Mone, Carlo Kemp, Lawrence Marshall at DT.

Also sounds like RS Frosh safety Brad Hawkins and RS soph LB Josh Uche have made big impressions in fall camp. Both superior athletically to the other safeties and LB's. Don't know if they'll have the guts to bench Josh Mettellus at safety and give the job to Hawkins, but they rotate the LB's on pass rush downs and I'd expect Uche to get lot more of those minutes. Sounding like he's the best edge rusher on the entire team period.

On offense word is sophomore WR Nico Collins has been the best WR in camp and that RS Frosh OT James Hudson has gained the edge on 5th year senior OT Juwann Bushell Beatty at the RT spot.

[Anonymous Coward]

Uche may be great, but I reeeally don't think Michigan's LB cohort (Bush, Hudson, Ross, Singleton, Anthony, Gil) is lacking in terms of athleticism.

At safety, I like the depth with Hawkins and JKP. But I also feel good with Metellus and Kinnel tacking on an extra year with Don Brown. Especially with everything Ambry can do when floating around in nickel packages.

That detail about Nico at WR is fascinating. I've been excited for him and am not fully in-line believing this rumor. But if it is true that he passed DPJ and/or Black, that's incredible. There are two camps on Jim McElwain at Michigan: that (1) he's a doofus HC and what are we doing or (2) holy crap, that's a tremendous WR coach hire and that we really lucked into his HC career tanking. Either way, I doubt he stays more than 1 year, and even if that, I'd even further doubt he lasts beyond 2. But if he gets back to his original chops and takes this chance seriously, this WR roster can really blossom.

And then for Hudson > JBB? Man I hope so. I don't know who would be better v. ND, but I am persuaded that Hudson has significantly more upside and would improve more as the season progresses.

[Mdot21]

Uche may be great, but I reeeally don't think Michigan's LB cohort (Bush, Hudson, Ross, Singleton, Anthony, Gil) is lacking in terms of athleticism.

At safety, I like the depth with Hawkins and JKP. But I also feel good with Metellus and Kinnel tacking on an extra year with Don Brown. Especially with everything Ambry can do when floating around in nickel packages.

That detail about Nico at WR is fascinating. I've been excited for him and am not fully in-line believing this rumor. But if it is true that he passed DPJ and/or Black, that's incredible. There are two camps on Jim McElwain at Michigan: that (1) he's a doofus HC and what are we doing or (2) holy crap, that's a tremendous WR coach hire and that we really lucked into his HC career tanking. Either way, I doubt he stays more than 1 year, and even if that, I'd even further doubt he lasts beyond 2. But if he gets back to his original chops and takes this chance seriously, this WR roster can really blossom.

And then for Hudson > JBB? Man I hope so. I don't know who would be better v. ND, but I am persuaded that Hudson has significantly more upside and would improve more as the season progresses.

Uche is a freak. The other LB's aren't 6'3, 240+ like he is and he's faster and more agile than every single one of them except Bush. Hudson isn't really a LB'er, he's undersized and more of a hybrid so I don't think that's a fair comparison.
Kinnel is an average B1G starter at safety. They can work with him. But Metellus is pretty bad though. He's below average. If there was a weak link in last years defense it was lack of depth at DL and Metellus, Mike McCray, and Brandon Watson in man coverage. None one of them were that good at it. And Don Brown asks his safeties and LB's to play a lot more man coverage than pretty much any other DC in the college game. I think the best thing for the style of defense that Don Brown likes to play is for Ambry Thomas to leap Watson at the nickel and for him to get more athleticism on the field at safety and LB. Devin Gil is a really good athlete- was a HS safety who has grown into LB'er- and I'd bet he wins the open LB job. Josh Ross is more of a thumping MLB run stuffer.
That 2017 WR haul was one for the ages. I'd bet that all 4 of them are big-time producers before they leave. Don't think Nico has leapfrogged DPJ or Black, he's just had the strongest camp. Michigan is lucky to have McElwain coaching WR's. Beats the hell out of last year when they didn't have a WR coach at all.
Hudson should start imo. JBB can't pass block. At all. He was a turnstyle last year. Solid run blocker. Horrible at pass blocking though.

[Temp430]

Michigan has a lot of talent on offense much of which is largely unproven and/or did squat last year.  Do I think they'll be better?  Yes, but that's not saying much.  If they can run the ball against the better Big Ten run defenses they may have something to contend with.   If you're hoping a couple of underclassmen OTs bring this about you may be kidding yourself.

Go Blue!

[Anonymous Coward]

Michigan has a lot of talent on offense much of which is largely unproven and/or did squat last year.  Do I think they'll be better?  Yes, but that's not saying much.  If they can run the ball against the better Big Ten run defenses they may have something to contend with.   If you're hoping a couple of underclassmen OTs bring this about you may be kidding yourself.

Go Blue!

I didn't think the run game was the problem last year. Even with a trash passing game, they ran more roughshod over the lesser and medium competition than any Michigan team I've seen in years. No doubt the productivity hit a wall against the top teams, but with the top 2 QBs injured, the season finished with truly no passing threat. Even elite rushing teams will hit a wall if the defense has the benefit of 9- and 10-man boxes.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like Michigan will have an open practice Sunday night. That's very unusual for Harbaugh. What's the interpretation for giving the fans/media/opponent those kinds of kitchen scraps? I guess that he's feeling very good about things(?).

[847badgerfan]

How are ticket sales going? Still strong?

[Anonymous Coward]

How are ticket sales going? Still strong?

I haven't read, but I don't know why they wouldn't remain sold out.

[Mdot21]

I didn't think the run game was the problem last year. Even with a trash passing game, they ran more roughshod over the lesser and medium competition than any Michigan team I've seen in years. No doubt the productivity hit a wall against the top teams, but with the top 2 QBs injured, the season finished with truly no passing threat. Even elite rushing teams will hit a wall if the defense has the benefit of 9- and 10-man boxes.

take away sacks and the run totals were just fine even against the better competition. Sacks shouldn't be counted against the rush totals imo. Should be the passing.
And yes, having zero passing game or even the threat of a QB that can burn you with a deep ball can make it hard to run the ball against the better competition. No doubt that was a major problem last year.

[847badgerfan]

Well, like many/most schools, ticket sales are definitely trending down. That's why I asked - sometimes coaches are made to do these things like what is happening Saturday, whether they like it or not.


https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/tickets-fbl-index-html.aspx

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah maybe. But if that were true, it would have been true last season, too. And he'd have been suggested to hold a more engaging spring. I don't believe those forces have changed.