RETURNING PLAYERS: Max Bredeson (RS Sr.), Marlin Klein (RS Jr.), Jalen Hoffman (RS So.), Zack Marshall (RS So.), Deakon Tonielli (RS So.), Hogan Hansen (So.), Brady Prieskorn (RS Fr.)
NEWCOMERS: Eli Owens (Fr.)
DEPARTURES: Colston Loveland (NFL draft)
OUTLOOK: Michigan had one of the best tight ends in college football in 2024 in the form of Colston Loveland, who should be a first round draft pick in April. Loveland was by far Michigan's leading receiver (56 catches, 582 yards, 5 touchdowns) despite playing in a subpar passing game, and his numbers were significantly hurt by the fact that the quarterbacks couldn't get him the ball when he was open downfield.
Marlin Klein caught the fifth most passes on the team in 2024 and filled in for Loveland. Klein isn't nearly the fluid athlete that Loveland was and doesn't have as natural of receiving abilities, but he's a 6'6", 247 lb. player with good straight-line speed and decent blocking ability. He caught 13 passes for 108 yards and 0 touchdowns a season ago.
The other huge returning contributor is 6'2", 240 lb. Max Bredeson, who plays a fullback/H-back role. Bredeson caught just 3 passes for 24 yards, but he's a devastating blocker who sets the physical tone on offense. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey may have to adjust some of his schemes to incorporate a heavy dose of Bredeson. I think Lindsey is pretty flexible as a coach, but he seems less inclined to use multiple tight ends as frequently as Jim Harbaugh-type offenses did.
Rising sophomore Hogan Hansen came out of nowhere to catch 7 passes for 78 yards and 1 touchdown in 2024 while playing in ten games. It's not clear exactly what type of role he'll play since his body (6'5", 236) and skills haven't really developed yet, but what is clear is that the coaching staff likes him and he will probably see a heavier role in 2025.
Walk-on Hoffman is Bredeson's backup, and both Marshall and Tonielli are going into their third years without playing much. Prieskorn was hurt toward the end of the season, and my guess is he will not participate fully in spring ball. The lone freshman in the class is Eli Owens, who was listed at 6'1" and 243 lbs. coming out of high school before enrolling early. He has mentioned how much he wants to fill the role of Bredeson down the road, so he may end up battling Hoffman for playing time this spring after enrolling early.
Overall, Michigan has a solid group of tight ends, but no real stars in the receiving game. Bredeson may prove to be the best of the bunch because of his blocking ability, but there's still some intriguing potential with Klein's athleticism, Hansen's early flashes, etc. One to watch may be Tonielli, who got some buzz last spring but never got an opportunity on Saturdays. It should be a good overall unit, but the crew overall is a bit of an unknown.
Tough group to judge
ReplyDeleteWe've been quite consistent at the position for the last decade, almost as if TEs don't matter, but replacing a generational talent like Loveland
Doing this with a fill-in QB and questionable WR room (again) may be a tough ask
I don't know I think we lost TCU because of TE so it must matter a lot.
DeleteThis weird guy argued a while back that we lost because of our Defense
DeleteMaybe you know him?
So close to getting it! Yet so far.
DeleteThe name changes ... desperate
DeleteOn another thread, you talked about your kids. Do they know that I have you responding to every post, and have reduced you to name changes?
#n0tw0rThrEpLyInGt0
Might want to file this username away ...
"I have you responding to every post"
DeleteEvery accusation.......
You just proved my point ... tell your kids I said Hi
Delete#obsessed
"responding to every post"
Deleteagain and again
hold it up
Yep, you can't help it. Obsessed. Tell the kids; je93 is worth it
DeleteSelf affirmations? Well that's just great lil fella. You're so worth it! Don't let the others tell you otherwise.
DeleteBut did you tell the kids?
DeleteEveryday! Obsessed.
DeleteMen want to be him and women want to be with him. For some people it seems to be both!
Homophobic attacks? Dang, I own this guy
Delete#tellthekids
NOTE: Although this post is about spring only, you'll forgive me for thinking ahead to the the potential TE roster in the fall and ramifications for the 2025 football season happening this fall.
ReplyDelete-------------------
In some ways it looks like one of the weakest TE rooms we've had in years but in other ways it's a significant improvement relative to last year. I'll explain.
Obviously Loveland is an all time receiving threat but he was used mostly as a WR in 2024 - for numerous reasons including because he's a far better receiver than a blocker, the WR room was weak and inexperienced, and Loveland was playing with a shoulder injury that limited him. So you can almost think of Donovan McCulley as his primary replacement in 2025, though Hogan Hansen (more on him later) may have something to say there.
Depth was a problem at TE in 2024 and that wasn't really a surprise. They lost Barner, Hibner, Beetham (3 of the top 5 in 2023) one year after losing Schoonmacher, All, and Honigford after 2022. Barner filled a massive hole but he was a 1 year solution. Loveland and Bredesen were there obviously, bringing playmaking and experience to the front of the room, but they were one-dimensional players who thrive at one element, not the 2-way in-line threats we've consistently had during Harbaugh's tenure.
In 2024, there was no proven traditional 2-way In-Line TE for the first time in years. The options here simply had not seen the field enough and it proved out in games. Having to rely on Klein, Hansen (or Prieskorn), and Marshall (or Tonelli), play with zero meaningful experience was one of my big worries headed into 2024 and it came to fruition.
Kelin was 8th on the offense in snaps (3rd non-lineman after Morris and Warren) and led all other TEs, even ahead of Bredeson (limited role) and Loveland (injuries). His performance was middling at best (per PFF), the worst Michigan has seen for a lead TE in many many years, especially as a blocker. Guys like Hansen and Marshall had to take on meaningful snaps in meaningful situations. The team survived, but it did not thrive.
Kelin is obviously going to be the primary in-line TE again in 2025 given his experience and size. Despite turning 23 this season, I will hope he has a lot of upside left because of his athleticism and background. But given what we saw in 2024 being a league average TE would be progress.
From that perspective the TE room looks much weaker than it has when guys like Loveland, Barner, All, Gentry, etc. headed to the NFL after getting all conference honors. That would be a pleasant surprise from Klein in '25, though he does have the physical talent to be in that group.
That said, the Depth should be much better than last year at least. Hogan Hansen I think flashed enough to be considered a potential star in the making. For a true freshman that was really impressive to close the season like he did. Expect big things in 2025, at least as a receiver, though the blocking may still take a few years.
Marshall also looked playable at times, though his opportunities were limited. His sophomore year was kinda similar to Kelin where the snap count wasn't too encouraging but otherwise he looks the part and generally gets good buzz.
I'm not so enthused as Thunder about Tonelli who was active and available for much/most of his sophomore year but was only a scout team guy in a TE room that really lacked depth. Let's hope I'm wrong but that's not too encouraging, though he did get some honors for a scout team guy that's more of a good sign for a walk-on type than a guy headed into his junior year.
I'll use the Mgoblog methodology to assess things:
Delete2025 McCulley + Hansen < Loveland playing mostly WR mostly while hurt
2025 Senior Klein with experience > Junior Klein with no experience
2025 Bredeson/Hoffman in a new system = 2024 Bredeson/Hoffman
2025 Marshall/Tonelli/Prieskorn + 1 year of experience > 2024 Marshall
Less high end receiving talent, more experience, more playable depth
I think Thunder talked about the key thing with Bredeson -- what role will he have in the new offense. Hopefully it's bigger than last year especially since we have a couple of potentially capable H-backs waiting behind him. But We'll see.
"the WR room was weak and inexperienced"
DeleteWhite flag accepted ... only took a year
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2024/03/2024-spring-football-preview-wide.html#google_vignette
...but mostly a self-own as always.
DeleteWho said the WR room was strong and experienced?
Check the link for quotes and the answer is........another JELLLLLLLLLY fantasy. Arguing with imaginary friends.
L = Long game loss
Hold it up.
"Playmakers" ---> debunked
Delete#jeDub
#iwasright
Conflating experience, strength, and playmaking? #notbuilt4this.
DeleteHold up your latest one jeLLLLLLLLLy
"weak & inexperienced" v "playmakers"
Delete#selfown
Semaj Morgan going into 2024 -- sophomore who is not strong nor experienced but already proven as a playmaker after his freshman year contributions on a national champ (i.e., 6 plays over 20 yards.)
DeleteHold it up little fella.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PDIEweIDAE
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9fCH_CpvU
Deletehttps://michigan.rivals.com/news/by-the-numbers-colston-loveland-wr1-in-2024
Loveland lined up out wide or in the slot on 68% of his snaps while being inline 32% of the time. In 2023!
"We know Loveland can post WR1-level production because he has. We know he can be used like a wide receiver, in the slot and on the outside, because he has, and at a level above the rest of college football. "
Edwards isn't a Harbaugh back and should play WR?
DeleteSounds like we had another proven playmaker in the mix.
#debunked
"Weak" Lank. YOUR word, not mine
DeleteTwo tuddies in 15 games ... a whopping total of 22 catches, just over one 1 per game. Only 2oo yards, in 15 games (13 if we leave out the games he sat the bench)
But okay, I'll give you another chance: how does Semaj as a "playmaker" compare to our opponents? Other Freshmen? You've dodged before ...
You like to make sh:t up. Semaj is a guy who - in 2o23 - made a couple plays. He powered through more tackles against Indiana than Edwards did in 4yrs. HEY! Maybe that's the context you're looking for?
Lmao, Tyler Morris is an even worse example. ONE touchdown; only 13 catches. 8 yards per game ... go ahead, apply context against the playmakers on opponent rosters for 2o23
#youlose
#getreadytododge
On Coleston Loveland, I guess you got me? Our Receiver room was WEAK (your word), and we needed to play an injured TE there ... but does that make him a WR? Can you read? Comprehend? "used LIKE a wide receiver" does not make him a wide receiver
#exposed
#outsmarted
Did you just move the target to Edwards? LMAO, the only fit Edwards has in this conversation is that Semaj has the more physical run on tape
Might have to call the kids in and have them read over your shoulder ... tell them he says Hi
#jeDub
Honestly, this is just getting too boring lil buddy. got anything new cuz this well is getting bone dry.
DeletePlaymakers present in a weak WR unit. Not hard to understand. Different things - strong unit, experienced unit, playmaking ability. Anything else (i.e., conflating) is a fantasy.
"freshman year contributions on a national champ (i.e., 6 plays over 20 yards.)" counts as proven playmaking. COVERED. many times.
Loveland and Edwards are also playmakers. Loveland played WR at Michigan, more than Edwards did, but Edwards was touted as an option at WR and a position-switch solution to the weakness.
So playmakers or lackthereof was never the problem. It was replacing the consistent PRODUCTION and reliability of proven vets like Johnson (who was nothing special in the grand scheme of things but could execute the job) and Wilson (who was a big time downfield threat despite being under 6' GASP).
A relative strength became a relative weakness despite the presence of multiple playmakers.
And for all the talk about it as a problem it was moot/irrelevant anyway since the QBs couldn't throw the ball to their targets even if they were wide open.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_JFarATeW4
Anyway back to your fantasies.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
DODGE
Delete#wavethewhiteflagalready
Keep the fantasies alive lil buddy.
DeleteSTILL dodging
Delete#outsmarted
#n0tbUiLtf0rtHiS
#jeDub