 |
| Cam Gordon almost had a touchdown on the ball he tipped up in the air (image via MGoBlog) |
Running back by committee. Granted, it was almost a fifty-point blowout, but the reps at running back were spread out a lot. The depth chart to begin the week was thrown out the window by Saturday. In order, the running backs to get carries were Fitzgerald Toussaint, Drake Johnson, Derrick Green, De'Veon Smith, Thomas Rawls, and Justice Hayes. Toussaint (14 carries, 57 yards, 2 touchdowns) looked to have his 2011-level burst back, but he looked rusty with his footwork and didn't seem to show the same lateral mobility; there were a couple times where he needed to pick up his feet through traffic or sidestep guys on the ground, and he just failed to do so. Johnson (2 carries, 9 yards) looked uninspiring to me before spraining a knee. Green (11 carries, 58 yards, 1 touchdown) also needs to pick up his feet in traffic, but he showed decent vision and burst. Smith (7 carries, 12 yards) broke some tackles but didn't show the same speed as the guys ahead of him. Rawls (3 carries, 12 yards, 1 touchdown) looked quicker than last year, and Hayes (1 carry, 7 yards) is still a scatback type without elite burst or an ability to break tackles. It's a well rounded group, but none of them looked outstanding.
Cameron Gordon looked very good. I thought Gordon was Michigan's best defensive player on Saturday. He had 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 pass breakup, which he deflected in the backfield and almost caught it in the endzone for a defensive touchdown. His added size in the offseason makes him a more imposing figure, and his athleticism for a linebacker is well above average. When Jake Ryan returns from injury, Michigan needs to find a way to get both Ryan and Gordon on the field at the same time.
The quarterback situation. Starting quarterback Devin Gardner looked shaky early with an interception deep in Michigan's own red zone, and then another long interception that never should have been thrown. Altogether, he was 10/15 for 162 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 picks through the air, plus 7 carries for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. I'm not concerned about those somewhat paltry passing numbers, because Michigan didn't need to throw the ball to win, and I think Gardner was pressing a little bit to try to get some explosive plays. The deep interception was a well overthrown ball to Jeremy Gallon, who never got on top of the cornerback. We all know that Gallon is going to be Gardner's main target, but especially in a game against teams like Central Michigan, you might as well check it down and let your superior athletes drive the ball down the field or make plays with the ball in their hands. True freshman Shane Morris entered the game in the fourth quarter, and he finished 4/6 for 59 yards and 1 interception. He also looked a little jumpy, which is fine for a kid his age, and the interception wasn't a bad one. But the offense was toned down by the time he entered, and I would still be very worried if Gardner got hurt.
The defensive backfield is wacky. I don't know why, but it seems to me that defensive back is the position that's always in the most flux at Michigan. It was announced before the game that fifth year senior strong safety Thomas Gordon was suspended for the game for breaking team rules. Potential starting free safety Courtney Avery had arthroscopic knee surgery last week and will be out for a couple weeks. Redshirt sophomore Blake Countess returned after tearing his ACL in the 2012 season opener, but he looked a half step slow. In recent years, Josh Furman and J.T. Floyd have been suspended, Floyd and Troy Woolfolk both suffered terrible lower leg injuries, and there have been numerous transfers/quitters (Terrence Talbott, Greg Brown, Cullen Christian, Vladimir Emilien, Ray Vinopal, Tamani Carter, etc.). Down two returning starters and featuring a guy who missed virtually all of 2012, the starters in the backfield were Countess, junior Raymon Taylor, sophomore Jarrod Wilson, and redshirt junior Furman.
Freshman fun time. Redshirts have been burned for TE Jake Butt, DE Taco Charlton, LB Ben Gedeon, RB Derrick Green, S Delano Hill, CB Jourdan Lewis, QB Shane Morris, RB De'Veon Smith, CB Channing Stribling, S Dymonte Thomas, and WR Csont'e York. That leaves OG Kyle Bosch, OG David Dawson, FS Reon Dawson, CB Ross Douglas, WR Jaron Dukes, OT Chris Fox, TE Khalid Hill, DT Maurice Hurst, Jr., WR Da'Mario Jones, C Patrick Kugler, LB Mike McCray, DT Henry Poggi, OG Dan Samuelson, FB Wyatt Shallman, LS Scott Sypniewski, and OT Logan Tuley-Tillman as the kids on track to redshirt. Redshirt freshmen OG Blake Bars, OT Ben Braden, WR Jehu Chesson, S Jeremy Clark, QB Bryan Cleary, WR Bo Dever, DT Ryan Glasgow, DE Matt Godin, DT Willie Henry, TE Michael Jocz, RB Drake Johnson, OT Erik Magnuson, OG Ben Pliska, DT Tom Strobel, and DE Chris Wormley also played for the first time. (Redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant hit the field for the first time after breaking his tibia last year.)
Freshman fun time, part two. Of those true freshmen listed above, Dymonte Thomas blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown by fifth year senior Joe Reynolds. Butt looks bigger and improved since the spring, Gedeon looked college ready from the start, and Stribling already looked solid. Delano Hill also made a heads-up play by recovering a punt that sophomore Dennis Norfleet muffed, but Hill looks huge for a safety. I wouldn't be surprised if he grows into a linebacker eventually.
Speaking of Norfleet . . . I mentioned this when he committed, and people bashed me for it. I still get occasional snide remarks about it over on MGoBlog. Here's what I said on February 1, 2012:
I'm not a big fan of the way Norfleet finishes plays. He jogs into the endzone too often, which rubs me the wrong way and makes me question how disciplined he is.Norfleet got the ball on a reverse and took it 38 yards before getting tackled from behind by a linebacker coming from the opposite side of the field. After his last cut to shake a defensive back, it sure looked to me like he eased off the throttle, thinking he was in the clear for a touchdown; then the linebacker dove at his ankle and Norfleet fell on his face. That is why not finishing plays is a problem. If the opponent were anyone other than CMU or perhaps Akron, that really might come back to haunt the team. Additionally, Norfleet's muffed punt was a terribly undisciplined decision. The short punt bounced on the ground multiple times and Norfleet was sprinting toward his own endzone to field it. Instead of allowing the Chippewas to down it, he tried to grab it on the run when his momentum would have likely taken him out of bounds at that very spot, anyway. Delano Hill's awareness saved Michigan from having to defend a short field and, at the very least, a likely field goal attempt.
Overall. I had fun watching the game, but the offense seemed pretty vanilla outside of the reverse to Norfleet. I'm sure there are things being saved for Notre Dame - screens, read options, etc. Offensive coordinator Al Borges's favorite running play for Denard Robinson was the inverted veer, and Gardner ran it just once (and poorly at that). I think the slightly more traditional backside zone read option would be more productive for Gardner, but it remains to be seen whether Borges will warm up to that spread concept. Defensively, Michigan looks fast and deep. I thought defensive coordinator Greg Mattison threw quite a few different fronts and blitzes at Central, at least until late when the subs were in. That might be tipping his hand, but I also think it's somewhat necessary for those young and inexperienced guys to get used to different frontz, blitzes, coverages, etc. Plus it will given Brian Kelly and his staff plenty to try to prepare for next week.
This isn't a question you could possibly know definitively, but my sense of the game was that they were treating it as a preseason game a la NFL in regard to playing time and rotation. Do you think it's Mattison's ideal dream to have that many different players getting tick against a real opponent, or do you think playing time will begin to be monopolized by the "best" players?
ReplyDeleteI think we'll see more rotation than in past years, but I definitely don't think yesterday was indicative of what will come for the rest of the season. Obviously, there were some guys getting in late in the fourth quarter who won't see much run against Notre Dame, MSU, Ohio State, etc. But I definitely think those guys on the defensive line are going to rotate a lot.
DeleteLet's not act like Gallon hasn't made poor punt return decisions before.
ReplyDeleteBeyer looked better than last year, although Gordon has made a much bigger leap.
Jarrod Wilson had a really nice play. There's questions about whether he was responsible for one of the big plays, but he certainly showed up ready.
Gallon has made poor punt return decisions before, but if I remember correctly, his were/are mostly about whether to catch the ball or not, whether to signal for a fair catch or not, etc. I don't remember him pulling a boneheaded play like Norfleet's on Saturday.
DeleteI agree that Beyer looked better. He looked like he was all muscle. He's never been fat, but he just looked very much in shape. I wonder if the move to linebacker - and the resulting lack of a need to bulk up - helped him eat a little less and tone up his body. Anyway, he looked quicker, stronger, and more aggressive.
@BB88
DeleteI agree with you. Confirmation bias going on here. I think people are seeing what they want to see.
I'll include myself because where I disagreed with most people (OL being 'fine', Funchess being great, safeties being a potential disaster), what I saw in the game confirmed my opinions - but others watched the game and reached opposite conclusions.
I think that goes for Norfleet too. It was a dumb decision to try to field that punt, but he was just trying to prevent his team from getting pinned too deep. It's a mental error. The good news is he made enough plays to make up for it later. Probably best to get a foolish play under his belt in a game like this and it leads to him getting coached up.
@Thunder
Totally agree on Beyer and that's a reasonable-sounding theory to me. Encouraging development from him.
I'm a lot less worried about a Gardner injury than I was Friday. For a true freshman in his first outing, Morris looked just fine. He threw and moved confidently, like he knew what he was doing out there. His performance was an order of magnitude better than Bellomy's last year, albeit under a lot less pressure. With the fact that our o-line is not a disaster, I think we could run a more than passable offense with him in there. Not that I'd want him to start against ND or State, but I would have no concern if he had to fill in for a little while against most other teams.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, he will get some good reps against Akron and UConn that will have him in even better shape if needed.
It looks as though we won't be missing Ryan nearly as much as I had been arguing last week. Glad for that.
ReplyDeleteI think a few things that we can look at this game that will translate to tougher competition are as follows:
Our WR don't get great separation.
Gardner made some big boy throws into tight spaces that show great promise but still want to see him spread it out a bit more. Gallon isn't the type that will be able to play through a team scheming him. Thinking more to Funchess. Mismatches and all that.
Play action, we are saving it. There were several times where we had successfully set up play account with good runs but never pulled the trigger which says to me that it will be the ace in the hole for next week.
I thought the team speed and play recognition of the defense were just swell. Lateral speed of the unit looked great. Very disciplined as well.
Oh yeah. And hurray for Brennan Beyer getting his first big play we were all waiting for.
Yep, the WR separation was poor. Was hoping to see more from Chesson.
DeleteI thought there was a lot of play-action though.
It looks as though we won't be missing Ryan nearly as much as I had been arguing last week. Glad for that.
ReplyDeleteI think a few things that we can look at this game that will translate to tougher competition are as follows:
Our WR don't get great separation.
Gardner made some big boy throws into tight spaces that show great promise but still want to see him spread it out a bit more. Gallon isn't the type that will be able to play through a team scheming him. Thinking more to Funchess. Mismatches and all that.
Play action, we are saving it. There were several times where we had successfully set up play account with good runs but never pulled the trigger which says to me that it will be the ace in the hole for next week.
I thought the team speed and play recognition of the defense were just swell. Lateral speed of the unit looked great. Very disciplined as well.
Oh yeah, and hurray for Brennan Beyer getting that first big play we were all waiting for.
whoa I watched that reverse like 25 times and it does sorta look like he slows down right after the cut, I also tried to discount your observation by saying no way would he slow down cause he knew that linebacker was somewhere behind him but after watching I decided he might not have seen him.
ReplyDeleteThats an interesting observation. Though I wonder if the coaches will pick up on something that subtle and with the success Norfleet has had on a few plays I wonder if Norfleet would take the coaching to heart. I can only hope because a Michigan Man would. I know if I had a position these kids have I would be running my heart out right to the back of the endzone.
He switched gears to try and avoid the tackler in front of him. It had nothing to do with being lazy or hot dogging.
DeleteIf you look down field a few yards there's a receiver locked up with a defender. My impression was Norfleet let up a little trying to read that block and let it develop, judging by where he was looking at the time.
DeleteI find this criticism odd; really enjoy this site, but it screams confirmation bias. I've seen the play multiple times, and every time I thought Norfleet was reading the safety and trying to shift gears to go by him.
DeleteIt's one thing to slow down as you cross the end zone line -- annoying, sure, but not uncommon. But you're essentially suggesting Norfleet slowed down at the 20-15 marker... like I said, I think you're stretching here.
ThW
I see it differently. I think it's a noticeable difference in speed/effort. But regardless, the punt return gaffe was plain to everyone, and one or both are signs of a lack of discipline.
Deletewhoa I watched that reverse like 25 times and it does sorta look like he slows down right after the cut, I also tried to discount your observation by saying no way would he slow down cause he knew that linebacker was somewhere behind him but after watching I decided he might not have seen him.
ReplyDeleteThats an interesting observation. Though I wonder if the coaches will pick up on something that subtle and with the success Norfleet has had on a few plays I wonder if Norfleet would take the coaching to heart. I can only hope because a Michigan Man would. I know if I had a position these kids have I would be running my heart out right to the back of the endzone.
whoa I watched that reverse like 25 times and it does look like he slows a little after the cut.
ReplyDeleteI tried to discount your subtle observation that could be biased because you were trying to show evidence to your earlier point by saying he had to have know that the linebacker was behind him, but after watching the replay he might not have seen him and slowed a little.
I wonder if the coaches could catch such a subtle thing like that. If they do I sure hope Norfleet listens, I worry cause people like Manziel dont listen to things like that cause they have had success. A true Michigan Man would listen. I know if I was in a position like that I would run my heart out every play to the back of the endzone.
As much as I love the countdown and general anticipation of the season - it sure was nice watching football. And now some of the hypotheticals we discussed are real (or not).
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts about the D - looked very strong and Gordon and Beyer look MUCH better than they have in the past. Morgan too seemed bigger and more of a presence. There was a ton of rotation on D, less than we'll see vs ND and in the Big 10. I think the coaches wanted to see what these kids had to offer in live action.
The OL and run game was not good. I found the outcome pretty worrisome. Under 4.1 ypc from the running backs? Against a MAC team, with more than half of those coming against 2nd stringers and the game already decided? Toussaint's 4.1 ypc was terrible under the circumstances, and Michigan wasn't even running inside power very much. Seemed like Borges didn't try anything too tough and it still wasn't very successful. This team is going to have to manufacture a run game with Gardner scrambles and gimmick stuff like Norfleet, because the OL still can't run block.
More concerning was pass-blocking. Gardner had to do some ridiculous-Gardner-scramble things to dodge pressure a half dozen times. This is CMU we're talking about, not ND, MSU, or OSU. Gardner should've been having a picnic in the pocket but the pressure came with regularity.
What I saw from the offense was this: Gardner and Gallon are going to have to carry the load. With some Funchess mixed in, though against a more talented team he may still be coverable one-on-one.
To the defense - I think they looked real good. Gordon being out is probably a blessing in disguise, putting the pressure on Wilson and Furman. I thought both looked alright, but I'm no expert and secondary coverages are more of a gray area than I'm comfortable speculating on. They tackled well from what I saw and I had a positive impression of them.
This is just an educated hunch, but I feel like Gardner was looking for things to develop downfield. When he had to scramble and doing ridiculous things with his feet, it seemed to be after he waited in the pocket for a few seconds, not because he was flushed out immediately. For the most part, it looked like Gardner was looking deep and only deep...his second choice was to scramble...and his third choice was to dump it off, which he did to Dileo and then Funchess. I thought Gardner was pressing to make the big play against a MAC, whereas he will hopefully be a little more judicious against Notre Dame and take the plays that are there.
DeleteI'm not that worried about the run game. All the backs just flat fell down after swats at their feet several times.
DeleteFunchess looked unstoppable when he got the ball. He's definitely bigger than last year and doesn't run like a tight end. He'll be a matchup problem against every team we'll face this season.
@Thunder
DeleteAgree with that, but that's kind of Borges' MO. He likes to take his shots and likes long-developing pass plays. I don't think it'll change too much vs ND - maybe some more rollouts to neutralize the inside rush. I think making the scramble the 2nd choice for Gardner wouldn't be a bad idea.
I thought Gardner was good. The first INT was awful, but you know - first drive of the season, whatever. On 22 dropbacks (I don't recall seeing a called run) he had over 214 yards. Just a shade under 10 yards per play -- I'll take it, even against a MAC team.
@BB88
Swats at their feet against a MAC team become TFLs against 'real' teams.
Funchess looked better than I thought, but 'unstoppable' - no. Gallon was the guy that Gardner looked for continually, and Dileo the guy he finds for 3rd downs. If Funchess was the freak people imagine him to be he'd have a lot more production. I love his potential, but as I've been saying for nearly a year now - he's going to have to be able to block to be an all-conference impact player.
The only called run was the inverted veer where Gardner kept it and got stuffed. Obviously, he could have handed it off, so it wasn't guaranteed that he would run it himself.
DeleteYep - I missed that one. Weird to not just save that for ND.
DeleteThe official box score had Beyer for 1 sack, but wasn't that also him that had the strip sack early? Does stripping the QB not count as a sack in college or was that somebody else?
ReplyDeleteIIRC, he got credit for the first sack/fumble, but the second sack was started by him and finished by someone else. I'd have to see it again to be sure, but I seem to remember the QB slipping away from Beyer and then instantly being taken down by Gordon or Ojemudia.
DeleteSpeaking of Ojemudia, he had a pretty sweet play where he got hogtied by the tackle and still took down the QB. Even if WDE is a high rotation spot, both Clark and Ojemudia played pretty well given the circumstances.
DeleteAgreed. I'm comfortable with both of those guys. I wasn't impressed by Charlton in his first game, but...it was his first game.
DeleteLack of WR separation against a MAC team and especially not much from Chess on were my biggest concerns. It seemed Gardner had to take off too many times because he couldn't find anyone open. Was he too slow on his reads still or are the WRs just not very good?
ReplyDeleteI addressed this in the comments above, but I think he was a little slow on his reads because he was only looking for big plays early. I think we have a few decent receivers (Gallon, Chesson, Dileo, Funchess, Reynolds), but Gardner built up a connection with Gallon and Darboh...and now it will take time to build it up with Chesson, Reynolds, etc.
DeleteAny thoughts on Frank Clark? I didn't think he looked that good especially with all the hype he has been given over the summer. I remember a play where he bull rushed the tackle that looked good, but there were also a few whiffs.
ReplyDeletePhysically, I thought Clark looked good. I don't know that I would take too much away from the pass rush this game. It really seemed to me like part of CMU's game plan was to pack things in tight, take short drops, and get rid of the ball. I think Dan Enos knew that his offensive line couldn't hold up against Michigan's pass rush, so he ran a short passing game because of that. The sacks seemed to come on plays where the linemen were instantly beaten, not deep dropback, coverage-type sacks.
DeleteThunder,
ReplyDeleteWhat are your feelings about Jarrod Wilson's play against CMU?
I thought he looked a lot more confident. He was running around with a little life in him, not like a terrified freshman. I think he improved since last season and looks bigger and stronger, but he's not all the way there mentally yet. In an ideal world, he would be a redshirt freshman right now. I think playing as an unready true freshman last year cost him some confidence.
Delete@Thunder
DeleteI'm encouraged to hear you say that. I thought I saw the same stuff. Never got the big worry about Wilson as he was a true freshman who did OK in limited duty during the regular season before struggling in the bowl game. Improvement was expected.
Lanknows
DeleteSpot on. I also know absolutely nothing about football. Size on the line doesn't matter. I agree with Magnus completely all the time, too.
Hugs n kisses Anonymous
DeleteI'm not worried at all about the playbook. I remember 2006 when there was so much BURR HURR HURR HURR HURR HURR after Ball State when we pretty much ran draws to Hart all game only to get "Oh, wide open" against Notre Dame.
ReplyDeleteThe playbook is too big. Always has been always will be with Borges, IMO.
DeleteI'd like to see this team get really good at executing a smaller package of plays, but Borges seems more interested in constantly throwing new plays into the mix than perfecting any subset of plays.
I don't think you can run stuff like the zone read at the same time as developing a sophisticated west coast passing game all while trying to power run.
Channing Stribling is a player I am just over the moon for. At this point, if you asked me to pick between him and Peppers or Thomas I'm not sure I wouldn't pick Stribling. He looked very very good to me. Not complete yet, he got beat a couple times, but you can see the physical abilities. It speaks volumes to me that he pushed Avery to safety, seems to be ahead of Hollowell and the other backup CBs, and that the coaches appear to prefer playing him to Thomas right now.
DeleteI think Taylor and Countess are really good, so Stribling is probably going to be limited to a situational role, but right now he's the defacto nickelback and for how skinny/lanky he is, and for the depth we have there, the sky is the limit. Kids gonna be a star.
Regarding Delano Hill - I don't know if it's going to be him or not, but some of these safeties are going to move down to LB for sure. Some of the CBs will slide to Safety. Some of these LBs will slide down to DE. And with the way recruiting is going on the DL... I don't get why we're taking kids like Winovich and Furbush.
Csonte York - raise your hand if you thought he'd play as a freshman ahead of Jones and Dukes...that's no one.
ReplyDeleteI figured one of the WR would play, but it was a bit of a surprise to me that it was York. May mean that they see Jones as a slot guy.
I thought it was 50/50 between Dukes and York. I also still stand by my suggestion that Jones will find himself on the field at some point, too. If another receiver goes down due to injury, I think one of those other freshmen has to step in. Walk-on guys like Bo Dever can't be receiving threats, IMO.
DeleteI think they have Jones pegged for 'SLOT', and with Dileo and Gallon there they can afford the red-shirt.
DeleteYou could be right though. The second outside WR spot obviously is an opportunity for someone.
Norfleet looked real good as a WR. A couple nice snatches away from his body and of course he's a threat once he does catch it.
ReplyDeleteI actually gave Norfleet points on the reverse for taking a nano look in order to evaluate his options as he turned the corner. He clearly backs off for a step, takes a look inside, thinks about setting up some blockers, settles on a plan and then hits the gas. I'm assigning that tackle to just plain bad dumb luck. The punt thing was absolute bonehead.
ReplyDeleteThe guy I see slowing down in the open field is Drew Dileo, who I believe is so certain that he is gonna get caught from behind anyway that he slows down and starts thinking about covering up in order to avoid getting stripped.
After Gallon in general who ran some impeccable routes and blocked downfield like a kid from The Muck is supposed to, the reception that impressed me was Jeremy Jackson going up, getting it, turning way quick straight north with a lot of intent, making no attempt to avoid contact, delivering a decent little shot and then falling forward. He looked a lot like Junior Hemingway on that one ..... only ..... you know ..... faster.
Agree about Dileo..I feel he never got to speed and took a bad angle because of the tackle threat from behind. That should have been a score as he had blockers.
DeleteMy favorite play of the day was Cam Gordon stacked behind the nose tackle coming so quick that neither Beckman nor the kid playing left guard had a clue where he came from. The guard never even saw him go by and was still looking for someone to block when the whistle blew, Beckman called the play Gordon coming from the edge.
ReplyDeleteI watched it 12 times and am still laughing.
Finally and I promise to quit, it's gonna be a long, long time, if ever, before anybody thinks it's OK to just give Dymonte Thomas a shove and then go downfield to cover. That punt was smothered. It was so blocked it hardly bounced. That kid has some serious acceleration.
ReplyDeleteYou post pictures of girls in low bikini's and everything, but I can't post something about beautiful women on here?
ReplyDeleteWorry: Countess looked slow and picked on early in the game. Hope it is rust and not "the new Countess". Offsetting that is come out of nowhere Stribling.
ReplyDeleteNot worried but strange to not hear his name much: Ross
Worry: WR depth (but we knew that) - even losing Reynolds for any period of time is so very bad. No one would have thought that a year ago. Any injury to Gallon and there appears to be very little passing game.
Worry: Run game but that takes time; OL push against ND is going to be a major issue but we knew that
Positives: Cam Gordon looked as good as the 3 min scrimmage/practice tapes they have been releasing (as did Stribling). Beyer flashed. Desmond Morgan very at home at MLB. Raymon Taylor - Mr. Underappreciated - made a play.
Who knows?: Safety play - realize Thomas Gordon was out and Wilson played decent but who knows.
Overall: did what they had to do. My 2 main worries are ND WRs versus DBs (they have one player who looks very special) and our OL vs their DL. Lack of running game will force UM to go to pass game and finding secondary help to Gallon seems to be a potential "challenge" this year. Should be a very fun game.
@Mark
DeleteI think Morgan was making a ton of plays which probably kept Ross more quiet than he might otherwise have been. Plus, the hype was so big on him that he was going to have a hard time impressing. Finally - there was a lot of rotation at WLB. I saw Jenkins-Stone in early and Gedeon in later. I think they didn't need to see Ross do too much and he'll be unleashed a bit more against ND.
I wouldn't worry about Countess either. The coaches wouldn't be putting him at nickel if he wasn't doing well.
I don't think Reynolds is appreciably better than the other options. He did play well yesterday though. Depth obviously takes a hit but I think playing more Dileo, Chesson, Jackson isn't so awful. Also, York may emerge now that it's clear he'll get an opportunity.
Worried about the OL matchup vs ND too. This might be a good opportunity for Bryant given his size.
I was pretty unimpressed by the running game. Offensive line wasn't bad, but they didn't dominate. Both Green and Fitz went down too easily. Fitz didn't look to me like he was back to his 2011 form. He looked more to me like Clarence Williams.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing - we looked fine, but against a bad MAC team we should dominate.
DeleteI thought Fitz had the best runs of the day and made some nice cuts, showing good burst. But you also saw some of the same hesitation and decison-making that lead to unproductive games last year.
Mostly, it was as expected. The run-game takeaways were:
a) doesn't look like we're in for disaster (no one thought that anyway, but nice to have confirmation)
b) lot of options at RB
c) freshman have talent but need to improve
We'll know a lot more next week.