Fall Football Bits Minus Fall Football
A Very Visual Podcast: Next MGoPodcast is a Zoom call with the U-M Club of Greater San Francisco, at 8pm EST tomorrow night, with a Q&A afterwards for those who sign up and pay the gate.
Football is dead. Long live football!
The greatest game ever conceived by mankind is on hiatus but Michigan is going to get as much practice in as they can.
#Michigan still practicing, for those curious. pic.twitter.com/F9uBjGoiPt
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) August 17, 2020
Practice means practice stories, so let's do the bits. Offense today, defense tomorrow-ish.
Quarterback
Some Joe over here. [Patrick Barron]
What we want to hear: Milton took a huge leap forward but McCaffery would have started last year if he was healthy but Milton is so so so good now that it's JOE TIME! Also this whole novel coronavirus can be solved by abolishing Ohio State football. Also also your father is proud of you.
What we're hearing: According to Sam (on multiple WTKA segments), Dylan has been working out at the McCaffery production facility while Joe Milton hung around with Devin Gardner. That seems to have paid off for for Joe:
I was told Milton was “killing it.”
In the OPINION of several inside, Milton was the early frontrunner for the job. That doesn’t mean he’d been anointed ‘the guy’ or told he was in line to be the starter. It’s just the sentiment from many that were watching and/or taking part.
I was told, “as far as learning the offense and the leadership part, it's a huge improvement… and everyone on the team sees it.”
ITF also had an insider sharing that Milton is running with the ones($) at the moment. These are all heavily couched in the "This doesn't mean he's the guy but it's a real competition" frame. Also they bring up Cade.
What it means: I've been on Team Joe because of the upside, and I'm a Devin Gardner stan, and now that I am finally getting the good Joe I don't really buy it. "It's a real competition" at quarterback is how camp was always going to start, and a quarterback competition always starts with how far the competition has come. Sometimes when you get what you want to hear it's because it's what you want to hear, and sometimes it's what someone else wants you to hear.
[After THE JUMP: More things you won't believe.]
Running Back
The world versus the one thing you asked of it. [Bryan Fuller]
What we want to hear: Chris Evans ran a wheel route and Gattis saw it, and for a moment the heavens parted and there were trumpets and a brilliant flash of light, and also everyone agrees your politics were right all along.
What we're hearing: Gattis saw Chris Evans on film:
“We’re excited about Chris," Gattis said. "He’s a veteran player and he’s played a lot of football. I remember being in this conference, seeing Chris play as a freshman and seeing the impact he was able to make early on. He’s got a unique skill set because of his versatility, not just as a runner but his ball skins are pretty elite for a guy at his position.
And then all this. Also he's wearing #9, which means one more #12 won't make it all the way.
Nothing else on the other guys except Christian Turner is opting out of the season. Literally the only other thing on the RBs is a note in ITF about Blake Corum($), who is driven.
What it means: You walk into a white room and find Chris Evans on your college football team, yet the only wheel route they throw him is against Rutgers that one time in 2017.
Where are we?
Wide Receiver & Tight End
Four minus one. [Barron]
What we want to hear: Cornelius Johnson is going head to head with Nico Collins. He's going to be the next great one. The Roman Wilson speed is real. Scientists at the University of Michigan have discovered a vaccine for COVID-19 already exists, and it is Mackinac Island Fudge Ice Cream.
What we're hearing: Not a single ring from someone calling me to participate in a clinical trial for the ice cream thing. But Roman Wilson is fast:
Both coming into Ann Arbor were noted as true speedsters and I’m told by a few sources it has translated once they hit the practice field and was put on full display in the summer. Henning and Wilson’s speed is on another level and will make this offense very exciting.
Wilson in particular is already the starting Z receiver in camp($) according to Sam:
Simply put, the Hawaiian speedster has a gear that Michigan hasn’t seen on offense in a long time. He had been nursing a soft tissue injury for much of the spring, so he wasn’t yet back to full speed when he ran the second fastest forty among the freshmen back in June. (His 4.43 was second only to Eamonn Dennis’ 4.37). The buzz from inside Schembechler is that he looks fully back. The only receiver that had registered more big play was Nico (of course).
Uh, okay. Ronnie Bell has been practicing, even went on Jansen's in-house podcast a few weeks ago, and isn't going to lose his spot I don't think.
The Johnson front has been quiet since someone raved to Lorenz($) about Cornelius's offseason. The other thing to note is that Nico is out there with them. It's a longshot that he sticks around for whenever there's football next, but as long as he's still there, there's a chance.
At TE the word is Luke Schoonmaker has bulked up and can run block now. That was to be expected.
What it means: The Wilson talk is very similar to the start of the Ronnie Bell story, which is pretty much in line with what we thought Roman would be. I am surprised we haven't gotten more about Johnson yet give the depth chart, or more about Sainristil and Giles Jackson, but I guess that's old news and the program thinks we want to hear about the new bloods.
Offensive Line
Only a matter of time before we have a new Ryan Hayes photo. [Fuller]
What we want to hear: Just kidding, Mayfield is coming back and will be here for the next three football seasons. Not that we need him. Also that next football season can start in four to five weeks, depending on how fast they can manufacture and distribute the Mackinac Island Fudge Ice Cream to people on the front lines.
What we're hearing: Plenty of weird stuff, mostly about one of the last guys I thought we'd hear from at this juncture. We'll start with the not weird: Ryan Hayes has his fake 40 down below 5 seconds and is going to be brilliant, via Sam Webb and [checks notes] Bears OL coach Juan Castillo:
The Hayes/Barnhart duo is superior athletically to Runyan/Bredeson right now. You’re talking about two multi-sport guys that can really move. I don’t know if either Runyan or Bredeson could dunk a basketball. Hayes and Barnhart can. That’s not a knock… I’m just highlighting the athletic upgrade.
I trust you more than Sam's comments to understand "more athletic" doesn't mean "better." However that was written before the Mayfield news, which might force Barnhart outside. Sam more recently($):
The early guard mix featured Trevor Keegan, Andrew Stueber, Chuck Filiaga, and Zinter. Karsen Barnhart was filling in with the 1s at tackle temporarily, but I’m still of the OPINION that he was the favorite for the left guard spot. However, given the potential for Jalen Mayfield opting for the pros, Barnhart starting on the outside may have been a glimpse of what’s just over the horizon.
All of those names are tackle-shaped guys who might have higher ceilings at guard, a couple of whom were predicted to be there. It's the inclusion of true freshman Zak Zinter that is really eye-opening. That puts him ahead of guys like redshirt sophomore Joel Honigford and redshirt freshman Nolan Rumler, whom I've been rooting for for personal and evil hand-rubbing Onwenu reasons.
What it means: They have plenty of time to shuffle guys around but it's a little odd that Stueber isn't sliding back into the right tackle job. To me it almost sounds like they want to get as much size inside as they can. It also sounds like Barnhart is penciled in to start somewhere, and they're just consolidating their OL battle into the guards for now, IE find the best five then decide where they go.
August 19th, 2020 at 4:24 PM ^
Every preseason there is a single aspect, position, or player on the team that makes me giddy with excitement. This season it was Nico Collins.
I hate Michigan's luck. Really.
August 19th, 2020 at 8:31 PM ^
For me it is Chris Evans' ball skins.
August 20th, 2020 at 2:18 PM ^
I was not so excited to see Evans' ball skins.
August 20th, 2020 at 9:12 PM ^
A bit Hannibal Lecter-y, but upvote for attention to detail
August 19th, 2020 at 11:01 PM ^
I thought he was going to have a Braylon level season. So disappointed that we're going to lose him, Mayfield and Paye.
And that we'll only get 1 more year with Dax.
This sucks.
August 20th, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
Michigan Fan: "I can't wait to see Nico Collins realize his full potential."
Fate: "Oh really? Well here's a global pandemic that will destroy the country and cancel football."
August 19th, 2020 at 4:29 PM ^
Thanks for the update, and as to be expected, there's not a lot of news. This was to be expected. I don't quite understand why people are penciling in McCaffrey so quickly. He hasn't proven anything other than he was more ready last year than Milton. Not nothing, but not much either. It is a lot different than when the last year's starting quarterback comes back to play.
August 19th, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
Ever since that first candid interview from the locker room during the team trip (Milton's first year) I've thought that kid just oozed confidence and leadership. Time will tell, obviously, but I wouldn't be surprised if Milton was able to take over the starting spot in the lineup.
August 19th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
Well what has Milton proved either. If Dylan hadn’t been decapitated last year he probably would’ve been starting and people wouldn’t even be mentioning Milton as having a chance to play
i think everyone is excited about Joes size and arm strength but there is a lot more to playing the position then that. Dylan has all the intangibles and has a ton of success and top flight coaching before even getting to UM. He’s just ahead of Joe at this point in time to best lead this program. I think Joe has a very high ceiling but he’s a long ways from reaching it right now. His time will come in a couple of years
August 19th, 2020 at 9:12 PM ^
Honestly, neither McCaffrey or Milton have lit it up on the field in their limited appearances
August 20th, 2020 at 8:18 AM ^
To be fair to the players, play calling generally sucks ass when second string comes in because it's a blow out. They don't let a back up qb get any real experience because it's all hand off the ball. They need to let the kids play and develop actual depth.
August 19th, 2020 at 9:28 PM ^
People pencilled in McCaffrey because if you watch all their snaps at Michigan, McCaffrey was leaps and bounds better. I don't bet that Milton didn't seriously improve, but it would've been concerning if he didn't given how he performed in his limited snaps the past few seasons
August 19th, 2020 at 4:39 PM ^
figures.... the best 'pre-season' news we've had in years, would be the year that there isn't a season.....
August 19th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
Play some games with students and staff really. I'd be open to limited attendance with masks. Your outdoors for Gods sake. It legal and political.... I get it. So sign a waver.
August 19th, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^
What, no Defense?
What you want to hear: Don Brown has perfected AI technology and worked with a collaboration between U of M medical school faculty and computer science faculty to turn the defense into cybernetically enhanced humans. When the OSU offense lines up in front of these guys...
...they're DOOMED!!!!
August 19th, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
Defense is tomorrow
August 19th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
Likely without Ambry Thomas....
August 19th, 2020 at 8:02 PM ^
Dude comes out of nowhere and drops a bomb on us. A bit less unexpected than Jalen Mayfield, but still.
August 19th, 2020 at 10:47 PM ^
Not a bombshell per se -- I think Chris Balas mentioned it on the radio or podcast last week that Ambry was considering opting out for medical concerns. Colitis can re-occur I think - so it makes sense that he may want to be extra careful with his health in general.
August 20th, 2020 at 6:01 AM ^
Yeah I vaguely remember someone mentioning here that Ambry hadn’t been practicing, even before the B1G cancelled. Don’t remember their source or anything but I do remember reading something along those lines
August 19th, 2020 at 11:01 PM ^
Or Kwity Paye.
August 19th, 2020 at 5:37 PM ^
Well, at least we are going to have plenty of time to find where our five new OL starters best fit.
August 20th, 2020 at 8:50 AM ^
I’ve been thinking for a while that the ‘break’ in college football might work in our favor. We have a ton of youth in the trenches who are ready (or nearly so) on a physical level, but who need more practice on techniques. Giving them another 6 or 12 months to develop is a good thing. At least I hope it offsets the painful roster losses due to COVID-19.
August 19th, 2020 at 5:44 PM ^
Which political party is for Mackinac Island Fudge cures? I'm joining that party. If you're going to be delusional, at least make it delusionally delicious.
August 19th, 2020 at 6:06 PM ^
Fuh-baw!
August 19th, 2020 at 6:44 PM ^
This is some in-depth analysis. It's not everywhere you can get ball skin evals.
August 20th, 2020 at 9:10 PM ^
Logged in to upvote ??
August 19th, 2020 at 8:05 PM ^
I can't remember where or when I last heard this but I really hope they have a televised scrimmage of some sort. They can do it similar to Harbaugh's first year where the teams are drafted by coaches and the OC and DC are the head coaches of each team with Harbaugh supervising. Of course any player who doesn't want to take the risk, either of disease or injury, can opt out no-questions-asked. That would satiate my hunger for Michigan football... for a week.
August 19th, 2020 at 8:45 PM ^
Here we go again with all guards and no tackles. Not a word on Jones, and Keegan now inside? And Zinter too. Two guys we thought were tackles. So we have Bounds and Persi coming in..but nobody else? If Hayes gets hurt we are screwed again.
August 19th, 2020 at 9:31 PM ^
We have a lot of guys who can play inside or outside Keegan, Jones, and Barnhart are all tackles who Warinner seems to just be giving some run inside to add some versatility to the line
August 19th, 2020 at 11:08 PM ^
Calm down. They're shuffling guys around to get them experience, to prepare for injuries and to get the best 5 guys on the field.
Hayes-Barnhart-Carpenter-Filiaga-Stueber is a solid starting OL.
Keegan-Zinter-Vastardis-Rumler-Hogniford is a solid second group.
Persi-Stewart-Atteberry-Korican-Jones would be your third unit. Jones and Stewart could flip/flop.
Bounds/Kendall/Anderson/Crippen/El-Hadi as the unit waiting in the wings.
August 20th, 2020 at 4:49 AM ^
Personally I always thought Keegan would be a guard. I think consensus was always Zinter was also a guard. Time will tell I guess.
August 20th, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
Although they may have more potential as guards, Barnhart, Zinter, and Keegan do have enough size and potential that we could get a good tackle out of that group. (if necessary)
August 19th, 2020 at 9:02 PM ^
If the practice field acts as a viral barrier, why don't they just play the games there?
August 20th, 2020 at 2:29 AM ^
The hope is that COVID infection rates will drop low enough in combination with good treatments for the B1G to start the season in October instead of the spring. This is my hope, Camp sounds promising and wish these guys could all play
August 20th, 2020 at 7:52 AM ^
I'm with you. Otherwise, reading this is like drinking non-alcoholic beer.
August 20th, 2020 at 8:25 AM ^
"Low" isn't good enough here. Viruses don't abide by political compromises. The infection rate in any bubble (which, mind you, will include Nebraska and Rutgers) needs to be literally perfect. I mean, it can be done (NBA seems to be doing pretty well so far), but only with a level of respect that it's just not being given consistently enough by everyone involved.
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