Pick your surprise(s): Offense
The MGoBlog previews for the offense have been posted. It seems there is at least one surprise starter and contributor every year. Last year, Grant Newsome took the LT job, Asiasi leap-frogged Wheatley, Chris Evans took off as the #2 RB, and, most famously, Wilton Speight won the starting QB job (though by the preview Brian conceded he was the most likely starter).
So...who on offense do you think will start/contribute in a significant way that has been overlooked? As a reminder, here's Brian's starting line-up:
- LT: Mason Cole
- LG: Ben Bredeson
- C: Patrick Kugler
- RG: Mike Onwenu
- RT: Jon Runyan, Jr.
- FB: Khalid Hill, Henry Poggi
- HB: Khalid Hill
- TE: Ian Bunting
- Flex: Zach Gentry
- WR1: Kekoa Crawford
- WR2: Tarik Black, DPJ
- Slot: Grant Perry
- Spread H: Chris Evans
- RB: Chris Evans, Karan Higdon
- QB: Wilton Speight
My guesses: TWJ starts at TE (not Bunting); Sean McKeon is a surprise contributor; Chris Evans and Karan Higdon combine for 1,800 rushing yards.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:43 PM ^
Zach Gentry turns out to be butt-tastic
August 29th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
Then Walker ..
August 29th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
If that happens (and I hope it does) I'm going to e-mail the doofus sportswriter from Albuquerque who shat all over Gentry's move to TE.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:04 PM ^
to the Albuquerque Journal and give him some kind of gift. That was one of the stupidest things I've ever read in that paper, and that's saying a lot (or not much, depending on how you look at it - the Journal sucks.)
August 29th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
my offensive suprise is realizing we have 2 players from New Mexico on this roster...
August 29th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
I believe that by mid-season, once they've gotten some game experience, this offense is going to be explosive. So many playmakers and a coaching staff that knows how to use them all.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
Agree. It's reload. They will be as good if not better than last year.
QB - obvious
RB - we rotated everyone often last year, lot of them are back
TE - all very talented and used last year too
OL - just as good
WR - these are young, but this is the position where raw talent makes up for a lot.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:29 PM ^
My only push back on this is WR. Darboh really stepped up last year and I think he will be missed, but agree there is so much talent and potential. I'm excited for Crawford to get more looks as he seems very quick.
August 29th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
Darboh also had a couple key drops last season. There's definitely room for improvement in the area.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
Obvious answer is Nolan Ulizio at RT
August 29th, 2017 at 5:11 PM ^
By being obvious does that render your answer not valid?
August 29th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
James Hudson may have something to say about that.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
Hudson isn't starting a week after moving across the ball unless he's a freak born to play the position and somehow has the playbook down pat.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:24 PM ^
I think he was joking
August 29th, 2017 at 5:24 PM ^
Ooooh he said it, where's the ensuing rumble?
August 29th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
Ben went through trial by fire last season and it didnt go well for him or the OL as a whole. I really believe a lot of that had to do with him being a true freshman and not knowing the playbook, or his assignments, very well. Now that he has some experience under his belt and a full year of coaching, I think we will be pleasantly surprised with his contributions..... or we at the very least, wont be talking about all the mistakes he made week in and week out.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
Because we'll be talking that way about the FR playing on the o-line THIS YEAR, right?
August 30th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
argue with this.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^
McDooooooooooooom
August 29th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
I think he will fit our offense perfectly. I foresee lots of screens and misdirection plays. Plus the expected jump from soph WRs will make him more dangerous in the rest of the passing attack.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
Schoenle
August 29th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
RT has me sweating bullets at night so I'm just gonna pretend like everything is okay and take whoever starts as RT as my surprise
August 29th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
Speight is 2nd-team All-B1G
August 29th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
Martin.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^
brings the calvary of TEs to the top of nation.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
I see him being a solid go to player while the freshman receivers are acclimating to college ball.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
Speight leads the B1G in passing yards, TD:INT ratio, and QBR. No RB has over 900 yards rushing. Ruiz takes over somewhere on the line eventually. Rashan Gary will break the single season sack record at Michigan.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
But our offense will be more balanced than that, and either spread passing offenses or teams playing from behind tend to have passing yard leaders, and we won't be either of those.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^
Really the only competition for passing in the B1G this year is PSU and Purdue. PSU has a Heisman caliber running back, so they might not air it out as much (or be as successful as last season). Purdue could easily end up with more passing yards this year than Michigan. I can't think of another team in the B1G that has a scary passing game and is capable of putting up huge numbers.
Also, I think we'll see Evans go for around 850 yards, Higdon around 800, Isaac around 600, and Walker around 400. We'll still have a balanced offensive attack, but our passing game will be scary this season.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:59 PM ^
good numbers based on tempo, scheme and Wilson play calling. Simple reads. Don't have to be a world beater thrower in that offense. Hit a deep ball or two when they're there. Latter may be his only issue but still think they'll put up some numbers.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
Ruiz will be starting by start of Big10 season.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:07 PM ^
Im kind of hoping Kugler keeps the job and brings veteren leadership to the group. Ruiz learns and is ready to excel in year 2. True freshman Oline is a scary thing, especially at center.
Ill go with Higdon.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^
get dinged up at some point. Almost a certainlty. Ruiz will play.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
Eddie McDoom puts it together and gets an entire package devoted to him in motion Ala Jazz Peavy at wiscinson
August 29th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
Are both going to play a ton! Carl Myers will get more reps than expected as well.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^
Good job nailing the offense
August 30th, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^
Give him a break. He has been tailgating all week and hitting the sauce hard.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
O'maury Samuels has a Chris Evansesque freshman year.
My other answer: they platoon Runyan/Ulizio at Right Tackle in the first half against Florida, it is a total disaster, so James Hudson starts the second half and demolishes the Florida offensive line, paving the way for a freshman anti-American season.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
You must type anti American a lot for it to auto correct from all American :D
August 29th, 2017 at 5:37 PM ^
Or maybe Hudson is a closet Leninist.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
Okay, I literally lol'd.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
I think the spell ck monster jumped up and bit you.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^
Vladimir was a crafty little slot receiver in his day, with a devastating cut block in his arsenal. Dude really enjoyed destroying people's knees, and he had deceptive speed and was reliable catching the ball in traffic.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
love that name
August 29th, 2017 at 5:26 PM ^
Donovan Peoples-Jones... I don't know why but I think he is going to catapult a great career at Michigan with one of the best freshmen years in Michigan history.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^
I know everyone is hyping the wide receivers (as I am too). However, if the passing game clicks, expect the run game to explode. If teams can't load the box against us, I expect Evans and Higdon to pile up the yards. I think Higdon really shines this year. He gets to and hits the hole better than the other returning RBs with playing time.
August 29th, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^
I'm so excited to watch teams play "pick your poison".
I just hope those young receivers can block when Higdon and Evans get out into the secondary.
August 29th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^
That's one of the reasons I like Kekoa. Blocking is what freshmen WRs and TEs struggle with the most, and Kekoa seems to be significantly ahead of te curve in that department.