2023 Starters: Colston Loveland, A.J. Barner
Losses: Barner (NFL), Matt Hibner (transfer)
Returning players: Max Bredeson (RS Jr.), Loveland (Jr.), Marlin Klein (RS So.), Zack Marshall (RS Fr.), Deakon Tonielli (RS Fr.)
Newcomer: Brady Prieskorn (Fr.)
Projected starters: Klein, Loveland
The tight end position is the one that has perhaps separated Michigan from so many other teams over the past several years. Not only has Michigan had some quality players in the role, but the number, usage, and motion of the tight ends have become staples of Michigan's offensive approach.
Probably the best tight end to come along during Jim Harbaugh's tenure was Colston Loveland (45 catches, 649 yards, 4 touchdowns), a rising junior who has the athleticism of some of the elite tight ends playing in the NFL. He's good enough that this is probably his last season in Ann Arbor before getting drafted in 2025.
One-time Indiana transfer A.J. Barner (22 catches, 249 yards, 1 touchdown) was an excellent blocker and underrated pass catcher, but he's headed to the NFL in next month's draft. It appears the next guy in line to play a bunch of snaps in Barner's place is Marlin Klein, a 6'6", 250-pounder who had just 1 catch for 8 yards last fall. He needed to put on some weight early in his career, but he seems to finally be reaching a good playing weight to handle some of the blocking duties.
It's also important to mention quasi-starting tight end Max Bredeson, who plays more of a fullback position but nonetheless started four games last season. He caught 2 passes for 19 yards altogether, but he's a bruising blocker. At 6'2" and 240 lbs., he's unlikely to move into a true tight end role and will probably carry on as a fullback.
Redshirt freshman Zack Marshall (6'4", 232) played in two games last year while redshirting, and classmate Deakon Tonielli (6'5", 251) has some decent size already but did not get any experience. The most likely returning player to step into Klein's role as the #3 tight end seems to be Marshall, who should be a little bigger this spring (and fall).
One of the most intriguing names, though, is freshman early enrollee Brady Prieskorn (6'6", 220), who was a 4-star and the #129 overall player in the class of 2024. He's an all-around tight end somewhat in the mold of Loveland in that he's a good athlete who's not afraid of contact. His physical development is going to be key in determining how ready he is to step on the field this fall. But if he's even borderline ready from a physical standpoint, we could see him begin to emerge this spring as someone who could jump over Marshall and Tonielli to become that #3 tight end.
Good preview. I was concerned with the TE depth after the 2022 season. We used about 8 guys that year in meaningful situations. Suddenly for 2023 we were down to 3 proven players (Loveland, Barner, Bredeson) and it all seemed precarious. But it was fine! Everyone was healthy and Hibner chipped in a little bit to make it 4 by the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have a healthy crew and a couple NFL caliber guys to soak up most of the snaps.
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Now we're down to just 2 proven players and the risk seems even higher in 2024. I'm trying to take a lesson from last year but... we still use 2 TEs more often than not and Bredeson is an H-back, not an in-line guy. To my eyes, we're a twisted ankle away from a very questionable crew at a highly valued position in this offense (assuming Moore sticks to the Harbaugh approach).
The bench guys have had a bit more seasoning than last year, but it's concerning that not even the top developmental option (Klein) got any real run yet. There was ample opportunity early in the year.
I trust Moore to sort it and coaching support with him Newsome and Casula should be very supportive of development. Nonetheless, it seems like a massive opportunity to use the portal. Go find another Barner (easier said than done) or at least a blocking vet that can elevate the floor and serve as a good 3rd TE/Colston injury policy.
There's gotta be some 5th year MAC player who is a proven TE and interested in a promotion to the show?
I'm interested to see if TE remains such a feature in the offense. Certainly this year it will, because we lack established & consistent playmakers elsewhere ... but down the line is another matter
ReplyDeleteI think TE will continue to be a feature of the offense (with this coaching staff) until such a time arrives that it no longer presents a schematic advantage. Right now it seems teams have yet to figure out how to handle the extra gaps, motions, etc. There are a lot of teams using 11 personnel, but not so many using 12, 13, and 22 personnel. I have yet to see any indication with recruiting that there's going to be less of an emphasis on TE and more of an emphasis on RB or WR.
DeleteLack of quality QB play may accelerate things
DeleteJE are you saying Michigan has a lack of quality QB play?
DeleteFor the upcoming season, absolutely
DeleteWe would be foolish to not look into the portal. Here's what we have: two guys with Zero meaningful passes, Zero attempts against a quality opponent, and both were immediately passed up by a walkon (Davis) and a guy who has been on three teams in SIX years, without much to show for it
Nobody is arguing with inexperienced. Quality a.k.a. capability is not the same thing as experience.
DeleteI'm not sure what you mean by "immediately passed up by". Davis Warren is 22 has been on the Michigan team for 3 years and did an extra year at prep school. Orji/Denegal are 20 and have been on the team since 2022. Maybe you mean the scholarship players have failed to pass Warren the walkon is an indictment -- but Orji was playing in the run-QB package while Warren has never seen a meaningful snap so I think the depth chart is not that clear here.
As for Tuttle - yes he did join the team after Orji/Denegal and yes - he has not had an impressive track record even when healthy. At the same time -- he was a 6th year senior with starting experience. Sophomores are not necessarily going to be able to top that.
Joe Burrow spent 3 years at OSU and attempted 39 passes. He turned out alright. Jake Rudock didn't attempt a single pass his first 2 seasons. He turned out to be serviceable by year 5. Everybody is inexperienced until they get experience.
I support looking to the portal for a potential upgrade but I don't agree we lack quality options at the QB position*. I don't agree our offense is desperate for playmakers.
*The reason for this is that I think Jim Harbaugh is pretty good at identifying QB talent and we've got 4 guys he signed off on out of high school and a super-vet who can probably leverage experience, even if his talent level is far below NFL caliber.
I think the offense will be a top 25 outfit despite overhauling 10/11 starters. We've got a talented and veteran OL even though it lacks starting experience or cohesion -- that's critical. We've got 4 proven playmakers in Morgan, Morris, Edwards, and Loveland beyond the QB position. And that's being disrespectful to Bredeson who IMO made a lot of plays out on the field but I'm just a dummy watching guys do stuff on the field and making opinions.
Anyway -- noted that JE thinks we "absolutely" will be lacking in quality QB play in 2024
DeleteAge? Age is your consideration for "quality QB" as we enter spring? Holy crap
DeleteTo your last point, you're misrepresenting the truth again, LyinLank. I have said here & elsewhere on TTB - in the context of the Spring PRACTICE preview - we have no established/proven playmaker at QB. That means RIGHT NOW - the Friday BEFORE spring practice - we lack quality QB play ...
Lots can happen:
- Tuttle can emerge as Rudock 2.o, which - coupled with continued WR development and an OL/Run game in line with recent history - we're a playoff team
- Denegal can turnout to what some thought of Speight
- Orji can learn to do what he didn't do so well in HS, and hasn't been allowed to do at MICHIGAN (pass the ball)
Lots can happen, but requires hope. I'd rather not take any chances
Every accusation is a confession. Who is the liar:
Deleteje93March 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM
"For the upcoming season, absolutely"
je93March 15, 2024 at 4:19 PM
" in the context of the Spring PRACTICE preview - we have no established/proven playmaker at QB. That means RIGHT NOW - the Friday BEFORE spring practice - we lack quality QB play ..."
Everytime!
Too dxxb. Not built for this. Ls on Ls.
4 of the 5 heisman finals were QBs in 2023. Their ages: 23, 23, 23, 24. They all had extra years due to COVID, injuries, whatever. None of them were NEARLY as good at age 20 and 21 as they were as super-grads.
DeleteSo yeah, safe to say AGE seems to be a pretty big factor at the QB position. Tuttle, if healthy and getting starters snaps, can safely assume to be a beneficiary of the talent around him in the Michigan offense in a similar way as Jake Rudock was -- to have a career year way above his previous seasons. And Tuttle's got a couple extra years on Rudock too.
"A lot can happen" - Absolutely correct. That's why no one should be saying dxxb stuff:
LankMarch 15, 2024 at 9:52 AM
JE are you saying Michigan has a lack of quality QB play?
je93March 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM
For the upcoming season, absolutely
Not even you believe you.
Two posts, five minutes apart ... you're reeeaching
DeleteWhat accusation Lank? What are you making up now? Is this a SPRING football preview, or not? We are going into spring practice with no proven QB. No established playmaker at QB. No quality QB yet ... dance, dodge, move the target. LyinLank is a well earned name
Since Tebow (first sophomore to win it), only four seniors have won the Heisman ... out of seventeen seasons. Sophomores have won it three years in a row AND two years in a row; juniors have won it two years in a row; even FRESHMEN have won it back to back in that time. Seniors have won it back to back only once - in SEVENTEEN years Lank ... Why? Were there no Seniors? A lack of Seniors? A bunch of 25y/o underclassmen? So cherry pick 2o23 - when the COVID mess added SIXTH year guys to rosters across the country - and further demonstrate your knack for misleading information
You accuse others of moving the target, yet here you are on a SPRING preview trying to talk about ONE Heisman campaign over two DECADES
Not even YOU agree with you
LankMarch 15, 2024 at 9:52 AM
DeleteJE are you saying Michigan has a lack of quality QB play?
je93March 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM
For the upcoming season, absolutely
je93March 16, 2024 at 10:20 AM
"wErE taLkING AbOUt SPriNG foOTbaLl!"
Two posts 1 day apart. You are moving the goalposts right here from THE SEASON to the SPRING. Every accusation is a confession = You're lying.
You say dumb stuff you get called out (with quotes, with evidence) and then you duck dodge divert insult and namecall. It's just who you are.
When the COVID year added a bunch of 6th year players we got a bunch of 6th year players in the Heisman list. This is ...cherrypicking? LOL.
DeleteThe sixth year adds age and our guy we are talking about is getting a seventh year will add age.
JEbrain rot is so strong that basic facts get argued with. Experience is helpful, SEC starters getting drafted to the NFL are good at football, donovan edwards is a good RB, and guys who made plays on a national championship team are playmakers. Ask JE and he'll tell you that's all BS.
Is this a SPRING preview or not? Simple question Lank ... then apply context & logic. You're drowning in your own lies
DeleteSooo ...are you going to prove that age is what gives us a quality option at QB heading into the spring session, or not? You're on the clock Lank
Did this exchange happen or not?
DeleteLankMarch 15, 2024 at 9:52 AM
JE are you saying Michigan has a lack of quality QB play?
je93March 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM
For the upcoming season, absolutly
Quotes above.
Meanwhile, let me know when I said.
"age is what gives us a quality option at QB heading into the spring session"
LOL. You lying while calling someone a liar. That's JEverytime.
In a different thread you're discounting the relevance of spring because they don't tackle QBs. Now here you're going to pretend -- after explicitly SAYING "for the upcoming season" -- that you're just talking about spring is all. When you talk about being a proven experienced playmaker - last season doesn't count and spring doesn't count -- but we're talking about SPRING aren't we?!? And then you're going to discount age while talking about lack of experience. Uh hu - it all adds up.... in one man's mind.
DeleteYou don't like Orji and you're so bad at rationalizing this you'll just flail around contradicting yourself and making up strawmen. Have fun untying this knot. You won't do it. You can't do it. So back to insults...
We moved on from age & heismans to "you just don't like him"
DeleteOutsmarted. Again. Case closed
Still dodging.
DeleteDo age and experience help players get better? Yes.
Especially at QB? Yes.
Did the 2023 demonstrate what every other season demonstrates about college players getting better with age? Yes.
Was the Heisman dominated by old QBs as the extra year peaked in relevance? Yes.
Is JE asserting our offense lack playmakers for the coming season and lacks quality options at QB? Yes.
No lies told. Hold them high up JE.
Shhhh ... you've been outsmarted
Delete#caseclosed
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2024/03/2024-spring-football-preview-running.html
I've been outsmarted many times. By you - zero times.
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