tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post5895191244939074677..comments2024-03-28T20:09:43.455-04:00Comments on Touch the Banner: 2013 Recruiting AwardsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-69338402119513775342013-02-13T01:09:42.530-05:002013-02-13T01:09:42.530-05:00Disagree with your assessment about Delano Hill. I...Disagree with your assessment about Delano Hill. If you watched many Cass Tech games this year, his greatest attribute is easily his instincts. One of the most instinctual kids in this whole class. I do agree that he doesn't play as fast as timed, but no way could I agree with you knocking his instincts. mongoosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08531126625223703397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-8578297027284267762013-02-12T14:49:04.387-05:002013-02-12T14:49:04.387-05:00You could be right, I just see 3 interior OL posit...You could be right, I just see 3 interior OL positions open and no returning experience. It's one thing to red-shirt a true freshman who is underweight and competing against experienced players, but Bosch is already 310+ and the guys he's competing with have started as many games as he has. Braden, Bryant, Kalis, etc. haven't played a down yet. Burzynski and Miller have played a bit but they may form the OC duo (SOMEONE has to be the backup there).<br /><br />95% of the time I'd agree and say it's very likely that a freshman OL red-shirts. But Bosch, as an early enrollee, with good size, offers from schools like Alabama and Notre Dame, and some early practice hype...I think there's a very good chance that they can't keep him off the field.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-6507651779047389422013-02-12T14:39:47.032-05:002013-02-12T14:39:47.032-05:00While I agree with everything you said about Lewan...While I agree with everything you said about Lewan and Denard, I don't know how meaningful NFL draft position is to the debate about who is the better recruit for Michigan. <br /><br />But yeah - Lewan being a 4-year starter gives him an edge. Denard clearly could have used a red-shirt year too.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-42119064373532410182013-02-12T12:23:48.909-05:002013-02-12T12:23:48.909-05:00I was reserved in my initial judgment of Green, bu...I was reserved in my initial judgment of Green, but he improved a lot from his junior to senior year. I also did that study of #1 rated tailbacks, and when you combine that with the offensive line Michigan is bringing in, you almost have to expect that he'll turn into a high NFL draft pick unless he's a head case like Bryce Brown.<br /><br />I also think this recruiting class is full of high quality players, but not necessarily superstars. I mean, I don't think many of these guys have a chance to win the Heisman, become a Legends jersey, etc. They're just guys who can get the job done across the board.<br /><br />I'm not too concerned about Thomas. There were always questions about Robinson's speed, and that's not really an issue with Thomas. There were some initial concerns about Thomas during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices, but he reportedly improved throughout the week and did well in the game. If he plays strong safety and has similar responsibilities to those of Kovacs, then I don't see a slight issue with pass coverage to be a huge problem.<br /><br />Bosch might play early if there are injuries, but he's got Kalis, Braden, Bryant, and Burzynski ahead of him at guard. And I don't think a guy who played LT in high school is going to be a threat to play center as a true freshman.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-54246911955026822922013-02-12T12:15:50.846-05:002013-02-12T12:15:50.846-05:00Lewan's career isn't over, so the jury'...Lewan's career isn't over, so the jury's still out... But at this point, I would have to say that Lewan is the better player. Despite all the hype for Denard, Lewan is a projected top-15 pick. Denard is/was a good football player, but he also has a lot of flaws with the turnovers, the incompletions, etc.<br /><br />There's still time for Bryant. He only just finished his redshirt freshman season, and he had a broken leg for the entire year. He'll have some tough competition, though, from here on out. We'll see.<br /><br />Williams played a lot, but I don't know how much of an IMPACT he made. Considering Funchess scored 5 touchdowns - regardless of the time of season - I think he has to be the choice. Maybe Williams played more, but he didn't really play well.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-5314480675773763612013-02-12T10:33:45.565-05:002013-02-12T10:33:45.565-05:00I'm a little surprised by these rankings. Gre...I'm a little surprised by these rankings. Green's the highest rated recruit and you're usually not one to go by the book, plus you were a little reserved in your initial assessment of him. <br /><br />As for Thomas - no question he was highly recruited and has talent, but I was rather disappointed to hear about his struggles in coverage. Sounds to me like he's a ways off from playing time and I worry a little bit about him being a Marvin Robinson type of 'early bloomer' who ends up getting blocked by others. Thomas is going to see pretty strong competition with all the guys brought in the last few classes at Safety and he could get lost in the shuffle. I almost wonder if he isn't headed for WLB eventually. Still - glad to have talent like that in the class.<br /><br />The more I read about D.Hill the more I like and Iowa still has a good track record of identifying defensive talents. If he really has that kind of speed he could be an impact player in the secondary.<br /><br />There are a lot of recruits I'm excited about in this class. I'm excited to see how Shallman, Stribling and Dawson develop. Like everyone else, I doubt Shallman sticks at RB, but I could see him being very valuable as a FB/HB type who gets the ball enough to keep defenses honest. One of the most intriguing things about the last couple recruiting classes is the varying types taken who range somewhere between RB and TE (Houma, Shallman, Hill, etc.) It's also interesting how the two DTs are kind of the shorter plugger types that Michigan used to have when Hoke was DL coach.<br /><br />Best recruit: Bosch<br />Instant impact: Green, Butt, and Bosch (I'm not confident in Miller or Bryant right now)<br />Most important: Morris<br />Most overrated: McCray, Poggi<br />Personal favorite: Bosch and Kugler<br />Underrated: for sleeper I'll go with K.Hill<br /><br />I think one of the freshman is going to contribute right away at WR but I don't know which one so I'll go with Hill. Hill was lightly recruited but seems to have a knack for pass catching. I think he's going to be a big part of Michigans offense a couple years down the line - converting big third downs and making TD catches in traffic.<br /><br />Poggi got a billion offers but sounds like a low ceiling player. McCray seems like a boom or bust kid and with so many LBs I see him as a special-teamer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-22299617887564703082013-02-12T10:14:17.613-05:002013-02-12T10:14:17.613-05:00It was interesting to take a look back at the prev...It was interesting to take a look back at the previous years. You did pretty well given how many recruits there are. <br /><br />In 2009, it's an open question who the best offensive player is - Lewan or Denard? Defensively, it's amazing that Thomas Gordon is the only remaining starter from that class.<br /><br />The "under-the-radar" and "overrated" picks are the most interesting. In 2010, you nailed those with Ryan and Jackson. Very little production remains on defense besides Ryan - a few backups and Black, but even the well-recruited guys like Robinson and Wilkins and Ash have never broken through<br /><br />2011 was a rough year for the program and for your picks. You did nail Morgan though, but Bryant is really struggling to impress (injuries, sure, but for a guy who was supposedly college ready he was behind Burzynski in his second year, before he got hurt) and Clark looks like one of the few impact players in the class so far. Taylor, Countess, and Morgan look like multi-year starters and all-conference caliber players, but this class is THIN.<br /><br />2012 is looking like a real good class. One year later, and no attrition and the practice murmers are still pretty positive on most of the kids. The early impact award probably goes to Williams,one of the more underrated players by M fans because he mostly just blocks - but the kid played A TON. For all the Funchess and Norfleet hype they didn't end up making much impact beyond the first few weeks.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-84797731952672809852013-02-12T09:34:15.972-05:002013-02-12T09:34:15.972-05:00Lewis is more quick than fast. And I do think he&...Lewis is more quick than fast. And I do think he's pretty good in coverage because of his change-of-direction ability.<br /><br />Several players have faster 40 times than Lewis - including Ross Douglas and Derrick Green.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-72165584491351480112013-02-12T09:24:05.765-05:002013-02-12T09:24:05.765-05:00I'm surprised Jourdan Lewis isn't mentione...I'm surprised Jourdan Lewis isn't mentioned as fastest in the class. I see Rivals has his 40 time listed as 4.68, but that can't be right. It seems like all the feedback from over the summer was that he was pretty darn fast.<br /><br />Plus he has the fastest sounding name...<br /><br />And quite frankly, if Lewis isn't fast, then we're in trouble because he's not a hitter, and from previous right-ups I've read he's not great in coverage.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04168030965184433488noreply@blogger.com