Category: Featured

The Wolverines entertained almost the same number of fans Saturday night as they had for their spring “game”.  It didn’t seem to me that there the advertised 30,000 member crowd was there, but the crowd was substantial and enthusiastic, while the team ran through an extensive practice with the speakers spuming loud music intended for player distraction.

Both the open practice and night practice are Wolverine firsts and should benefit the team as intended.

This went into the books as another indication of defensive dominance and a continuing struggle to run the football.  The aggressive defense had the offense on the “defensive” on numerous occasions as the OL struggled to open holes for the running backs, and pass protect.

After the game Coach Hoke criticized the backs for lack of vision, but it was more than that.  Backs were running hard but into a dominating defense, depending on as yet sporadic OL effectiveness.

Starters Saturday night were Freshman Mason Cole at Left Tackle, Erik Magnuson at Left Guard, Jack Miller at Center, Graham Glasgow at Right Guard, and Ben Braden at right Tackle.  Right Guard Kyle Kalis was sidelined as he recovers from injury.  Glasgow hurt his foot.

The latest pecking order regarding running backs is Derrick Green, DeVeon Smith, Drake Johnson and Justice Hayes.  Green had the most snaps, but Smith and Johnson looked competitive.  Johnson had some nice carries for a solid third place.  I believe this group will acquit itself as well as possible this season, depending on the growth of the offensive line.

QBs Gardner, Morris and Speight all were pressured most of the evening, with much rush coming right up the middle.  They played against the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd defensive groups respectively, and Shane by far got the most snaps.

This is not to say the QBs they did not impress at all because they did.  They looked crisp, and organized despite the pressure. There was a notable lack of delay of game penalties, and they get the offense to the line of scrimmage quickly.  All threw some nice balls.  Gardner threw a couple of gems, one for forty-yards, and one for a TD.  Devin played within the system and threw a couple of balls into the stands to save a sack.

Russell Bellomy was the fourth QB in and had an unfortunate play in which he bobbled the ball twice.  I was hoping he would have some success.  He is a well- spoken young man.

This scrimmage was not proof that fans should throw up their hands, and retreat into the bunker regarding this OL line.  There is size and talent there.  And they are improving.  There is still time to present an effective running game, and there is improvement.

While it is unlikely that Michigan will become a three yards and cloud of dust team this year under any circumstances, they will have to reliably move the ball on the ground and protect the QB enough to enable play action passing.

It seems to me the strength of this offense will be its passing game for a number of reasons, not the least of which will be the development of Devin Gardner under Coach Nussmeier.

Another is the cadre of somewhat inexperienced but talented receivers led by Devin Funchess.  Armah Darboh and Juhu Chesson are fighting for playing time, and it appears that both will contribute.  Darboh is a big receiver that is tough to get down, a tough cookie.  Chesson has smooth speed.  Both look very good.  Freddy Canteen had some nice catches out of the slot, but is listed behind a more experienced Dennis Norfleet. DaMario Jones and Bo Dever both had catches.  Freshman Maurice Ways demonstrated his abilities with several catches.

Tight End Ian Bunting looked good receiving, and two tight ends often saw action.

As for the defense, it was aggressive, nasty, and dominate.  It has many interchangeable parts.  Frank Clark stood out, Ondre Pipkins looked good, having apparently overcome last season’s injury DT Matt Godin looked good, among many others including Jake Ryan.

Last year’s defensive backfield has been upgraded as to personnel, depth experience, and by players healed for injury.

In the personnel department, no player upgrade is more remarkable than Jabrill Peppers.  He has the size, strength and athletic ability to contribute immediately, and at multiple positions.  He was listed as a starting corner, and has played nickel corner.  He will return punts.  He is smoothly evasive, and can run over people.

While he has to grow into positions, all he lacks is experience at this level of play.  He has all the qualities to become the superstar at the D-1 level.  In High School, he managed a career that led to him being one of the most hyped recruits in Michigan history.   His future as a Wolverine is going to be breath taking.

But in this defensive backfield, he is not alone.  Talent abounds all over the place.  Jourdan Lewis is another talent, as is Blake Countess to mention just a few.

This is a time of year where a least a little optimism is appropriate, and this year is no exception.  Some is appropriate this year.

This year the Wolverines as a team are bigger, faster, more experienced and more talented than last year.  It appears the coaching shuffle has been a plus in all respects. There is no question the defense will be better because of experience and some better talent.

There is also no question that the defense will have to carry the offense for the early part of the season.

I think that they will be able to do so with positive results, but that doesn’t matter.

What matters is they have to go out and do the job.

Go Blue!

August 10^th, 2014, was a day designed to present the 135^th edition of the Michigan Wolverines Football team to the media in the morning and to the fans in the handsome confines of Michigan Stadium in the afternoon, where they could obtain autographs and photos.  Nice opportunity for kids in that regard.  A team picture is taken with the team seated together in the stadium.

The media got its stock in trade sound-bytes, photo-ops, a nice brunch, and this year, an opportunity to interview and question the head football coach, and the offensive and defensive coordinators.

Upper classman football players were available, with freshman unavailable.  Hoke said that RB Jabrill Peppers, OL Mason Cole, and  DL Bryan Mone, and perhaps another two freshmen, would get playing time.

Personally I missed having all the coaches available for interviews as I wanted information on the progress of the special teams, but Coach Hoke did stress the work special teams is putting in, including mention that Norfleet, and Peppers, among others were fielding punts.  Said having Drake Johnson back is a plus.

Mentioned the nice job that Matt Wile is doing, and Will Hagerup, and that Ken Alan is a good punter.  I interviewed Hagerup, and it is clear that he is taking his remaining time with the Wolverines seriously and wants very much to contribute as the clock winds down.  He handled the questions nicely, and appropriately.

Jabrill Peppers was mentioned by Coach Hoke in his comments as loving to compete and play football.  It seems as though he is slotted as the nickel defensive back.

Hoke indicated that the receivers are a group that has improved.  I asked DB Jourdan Lewis about Slot Receiver Freddie Canteen’s skills.  No football slouch himself, he was impressed with Freddie’s abilities and with Darboh’s skills and toughness.   It seems that Darboh is fully recovered and ready to go.

More than one mentioned Darboh’s toughness, including Coach Nussmeier.  Coach Hoke mentioned Canteen as ahead of his time.  RB DeVeon Smith was pointed out as good and tough as anyone, Hoke saying “that’s his identity”.  When I told Smith that in a later interview, he beamed and said, “I am glad he said that.”

Hoke appears happy with the seemingly interchangeable parts in the defensive backfield, feeling it will be more aggressive. There is probably not a fan that wouldn’t buy into that. Jourdan Lewis, stood out in the spring and fall, among others in this very competitive group.

The LBs will benefit from the move of Jake Ryan to Mike.  They are responsible for defensive communication and Hoke cited a couple of practice instances where that didn’t happen, but should have.  Adequate communication is highly important.

Desmond Morgan is contributing.  James Ross III.  Bolden.  More aggressive, and developing.

The efficacy of whether the division of duties will benefit the team this year seems on its way to positive proof.

Everyone wants to know at this time who the OL starters will be.  All will have a better idea at the end of next week.  For example at Center, will it be Glasgow or Miller etc.?  Replaced after four games last year, Jack has apparently done very well this year, has grown his weight, and according to Hoke has done a “nice job” with good consistency.  Glasgow will rest on the bench for Appalachian State, while considering his former shortcomings regarding team rules. He will eventually secure a solid position somewhere along the line.  Maybe at center, maybe not.   Hoke also mentioned “Mags” positively.

There are a number of interchangeable parts along the defensive front such as Glasgow, Godin, Strobel, Godin, and Wormley. and the competition continues.   Ondre Pipkins is returned, Maurice Hurst Jr., and Poggi are standing by.

Coach Hoke said again that there will be the needed running game, and the necessary toughness developed.  He indicated the change up regarding coaching duties has been positive.  To me the addition of Coach Nussmeier as a game time sideline QBs Coach is an extremely positive change.  Last year Devin seemed to be sitting on the sidelines without counsel at his side at critical game times.  Devin didn’t think that would happen this year.

It doesn’t appear that Coach Nussmeier is just dedicated to running back by committee, but wants to discover the best backs.  Coach Hoke said the “best guy” first. But if it is discovered the Wolverines have many effective horses, and it seems likely they will, you can bet they are going to use them. But they have to be good or they will be out of there.

Coach Hoke indicated that expectations never change for Michigan Football.  The bar is never lowered, and the identity of this team should be…..you guessed it: toughness on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball..

A final note from Hoke regarding injuries:  “There are some guys that are beat up a little bit.   Delonte Holloway …he’s got a cast on his hand. We have a couple guys we held out —  Ondre Pipkins… on two-a-day days we try and not overwork. We’re doing a lot with the GPS tracking that we’re into. I think the first time around doing all that stuff, you’re trying to get some baselines and some data, and I think that’s helping us in how we go out to practice.”

While the college football scene is quickly changing:  Rutgers and Maryland now part of the B1G, Legends and Leaders are now (fortunately) defunct Divisions, being replaced by East and West Divisions, and with the NCAA losing an anti-trust lawsuit contesting payments to players for their images, and attempts being made to form unions because players are argued to be employees of the school, who knows what comes next.  Changes continue. The litigation continues.  Maybe an appropriate modern slogan should be death, taxes and litigation.  There will be solid legal answers, but not immediately.

While not the subject of litigation, the new football playoffs will be interesting. Interesting if the Wolverines can become part of them, just don’t expect them to resolve any more controversies than the current system.

Whatever the scene, the goals of the Wolverines remain eternal in spite of those or any other any changes.  The need to win the most games they can, as skillfully and honestly as they can, will always be there. I think they will give it their best effort this year.

Right now the most important game of the year will be on August 30^th according to Coach Mattison. How would another loss to you know who play in Ann Arbor?  It is not going to happen.

Team 135 will be a most interesting team to watch.

Go Blue!