Top 5 Michigan football observations through the 1st week of camp
Replacing linebacker/safety Stevie Brown will be one of the biggest challenges for the Michigan defense this summer.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Week one is done.
The Michigan football team has completed its first five days of summer practice and will enjoy an off day Saturday. Here’s a look at the top 5 observations so far:
1. Strength in numbers. Uncertainty exists at plenty of positions, including running back, quarterback and safety. At least the Wolverines have options at each position.
That hasn’t been the case in recent seasons, when lack of depth hurt when players transferred, injuries hit or players wore down late in games.
2. One answer, one question. From listening to Rich Rodriguez and others talk, it sure sounds like true freshman Will Hagerup has all but nailed down the punting job.
Not so much the case at kicker, where Brendan Gibbons is battling walk-on Seth Broekhuizen. If Broekhuizen wins, it would be the second straight year a walk-on beat out Gibbons, on scholarship, for the job. (Last year it was Jason Olesnavage).
3. Sleeper to watch. Hanging the fate of the Wolverines on one player is a bit much, but don’t underestimate the importance of Cam Gordon, who switched from receiver to safety this spring.
Asking him to contribute right away seems like a lot to expect, but coaches keep raving about his development. If Gordon can make an impact, he’ll provide a big answer at a position where there’s lots of depth, but few known quantities.
4. No NCAA effect. Sure, whatever conclusions emerge from Seattle will have a big impact on Rodriguez. Beyond support for their coach, the players couldn't care less about the NCAA violations, and they’re not distracted by the case whatsoever.
“Most guys by now have forgotten about it or put it on the back burner,” team captain Stephen Schilling said Thursday. “We’re focusing on playing football.”
5. Filling big shoes. One of the few bright spots last year on Michigan’s defense was Stevie Brown’s emergence at the hybrid linebacker/safety position.
The Wolverines will try to replicate that success this season, but it’s not yet known whether they have a player who possesses the same combination of athleticism and speed that Brown brought to the position.
Candidates are Kevin Leach, Thomas Gordon, Floyd Simmons and Josh Furman, according to defensive coordinator Greg Robinson.
Have a question about the Michigan football team? Email Pete Bigelow at petebigelow@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
amzack
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 1:09 a.m.
PortageLkBlu: 1. Thank you for your service. 2. Flew back to MI for 11 days in July and drove past Portage Lake on my way up to Spider Lake - thought of you. Would be nice to meet you, Tater and other M supporters on this blog at the MSU game this fall for a beer (only game I'll be back for). Go Blue
PortageLkBlu
Sun, Aug 15, 2010 : 5:21 a.m.
Sean T, when it gets right down to it that's what it's all about, the team, our Wolverines, and to be perfectly honest with you, I was born in the University of Michigan Hospital and I have lived and breathed our Wolverines since forever. I am not a happy camper with what is going on with our Wolverines. Since my time in Viet Nam I remember how much support from the the folks back home in Ann Arbor meant to me and I remember how painful it was when the non supporters voiced disdain for what I was trying to do maybe those memories have stayed with me in my support for RR. After this year if RR does not improve this team and I mean really improve this team I may have a change of heart. I'm really not talking so much about wins although with significant improvement this year I think the wins will come. So anyways Sean T, I will lift a shot of Jack Daniels and salute the best college football team and tradition in the nation with you, Go Blue!
Sean T.
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.
Portage, let's tip our favorite beverages to the season finally getting started. Go Blue!!!!!!!!
Sean T.
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 4:56 p.m.
Kamie, the team has shown very little to no improvement under RR though I believe he has brought in talented kids to play here.But we've had talented recruits here long before I was born. RR doesn't seem professional to me, from backing Woolfolk's comments on Forcier to his avoiding blame in the violations scandal. It seems his approach to coaching is get some speedy guys and put them in as if it's XBOX or something. All of the mistakes made by the players throughout the last two years are correctable but I'm not sure he can coach them into being the leaders and the best! I'm truly hoping that I'm wrong. Here's to the guys we have out there playing in the 2010 season, Hail, Hail!!!!!!
Michiganiac
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.
When did brian kelly become Vince Lumbardy?
heartbreakM
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
I don't think pondering how many wins RR needs, or UM will get is doing anybody any good. I do know one thing, though: I think RR has been a bad fit at UM since the first rumors came out. He did, after all, break a binding contract, get into a huge lawsuit, and screwed over his own alma mater at that time, while at the same time never had a moment of contact with UM before. That being said, I think Michigan needs to make significant improvements on and off the field and RR has to start being a coach, not a lightning rod for controversy and blame-master. What is significant improvement? Well, how about actual improvement in the players during the year. Making less mistakes as the season goes on. Not making the same mistakes over and over. Not blaming the players for coaches lack of player preparation. Standing up and taking blame when things are not going well. I think RR listening to his players (and Michigan tradition, which he knows nothing of) about the captains is a good first step. But I do maintain that his hiring and his tenure have been disasters for Michigan above and beyond his won-loss record of which a winning season or 2 will not reverse.
Jaxon5
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 1:39 p.m.
k123- We cannot declare this team as "good" because there is no evidence for it. The only evidence we have is the last two seasons and the evidence says "bad". ND will deliver a whipping like we've not seen a long time. Brian Kelly will set ND up for years of domination of UM, similar to Jim Tressel at OSU. Their big running back will destroy the defense. UConn is much better than many people realize and should win the first game. MSU last year - MSU should have won by more points because they outplayed UM. Iowa - there is no way UM beats Iowa in 2010. We cannot compare Iowa in early October last year with Iowa at the end of last year.
MetricSU
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 1:22 p.m.
I'm an MSU fan and I see 7-5 at least. My pick would be 8-4 (with, hopefully, one of those losses coming against MSU).
kamie123
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 1 p.m.
7-8 wins is likely with this team or else RR should be fired. The first two games will tell us what we need to know for the rest of the year. I think uconn is a good choice to test your muscle. Beating WMU last year in the first game last year was a mirage. It was only significant because of year one troubles and people actually thought WMU had a chance. Uconn is good but not big ten good so we wont be able to read too much on that victory. ND is a interesting game because unless Gardner starts, this will be the first time in 3 years, the first road test for the team isnt relying on a QB that never played on the road. That will be key going into a tough place and playing a rival no matter how good they are. MSU and Iowa were the teams first road games last year and they struggled but still had a chance a winning. On paper this team can win 8 easily when you look at the athletes we have. This team is good but they are a mysterious good. They played well last year with a true freshman at QB and a couple bad 3rd quarters and this team was a 8 win team.
Jaxon5
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
AZW - sometimes I agree with you, but I think you're prediction is way off base this time. An 8 - 4 season is not even in the realm of possibility for this team with so many question marks. UConn is going to be very difficult. ND is a guaranteed loss. Brian Kelly is a coach, plain and simple. PSU is so much better than UM, that it would take a miracle to get a win. Add these 3 losses to the 3 guaranteed losses to OSU, Iowa, and Wisconsin and we're looking at 6-6 best case scenario. A more likely scenario is a loss to any of the following: MSU, Illinois or Purdue. Add 1 loss or more from one of those games and we're looking at the 3rd losing season in a row.
InsideTheHall
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 7:56 a.m.
Nice job on this article. Thank goodness Birkett has gone the way of Tomaselli, Carty, & Whitlock as beat writers run out of town because of their arrogant negative journalistic approach. Keep this approach and you will have a long career here.
63Townie
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 7:24 a.m.
I think the first observation "Strength In Numbers" is a little misleading. Just because there are a lot of "options" at those positions doesn't mean there's any skill. UM is woefully thin in the defensive secondary and players remain unproven in many others. I'm not going to get excited until they put together a strong game, not just a good quarter here and there.
PortageLkBlu
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 1:25 a.m.
Sean T. do you smell that to? azwolverine, as much as I like what RR is Trying to do I think 8-4 is a stretch but then again, as Sean T. has countless times pointed out I could be wrong.
mjwinkie
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 8:58 p.m.
7. Will Theo 212 have Carlos Brown withdrawl, or will Vincent Smith be good enough to get His poet juices flowing?
GoblueinNE_PA
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 8:49 p.m.
I applaud your optimism AZ, but I'm not sure where it's coming from. No running game, no secondary, small QB's, weak linebacking corp, 3-3-5 D that will get pushed around by power running games. I'll admit, if we were in this situation under LC, GM, or Bo, I'd be worried, but would expect an 8 or 9 win season. An 8-16 record doesn't engender that kind of faith however. YMMV.
Sean T.
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.
UCONN is actually big up front and they have the workhorses to run the ball all day. They do have a young QB which can be pivotable to their season but they are pretty tough. You're right AZwolverine that it's not an automatic loss for UofM but there is a big chance they do lose this one.
azwolverine
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 7 p.m.
3andOut, I'm not sure where everyone is coming up with these 5-7 and 6-6 predictions for this year. I'm not a RR fan, and I don't think I'm wearing Maize n' Blue blinders, but I really think this schedule sets up for an 8-4 season. Obviously OSU, Wisconsin, and Iowa are ahead Michigan (I don't recall ever saying such a thing pre-season the previous 41 seasons), and PSU probably is better despite being young in a lot of spots, but the rest of the schedule is fairly soft, imo, and we have 15 starters returning. UConn is overrated, ND has a new coach and QB (not to mention we beat them last year), Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, and MSU had losing seasons last year, and then there's UMass and Bowling Green. That stacks up to 8 wins if there is any semblance of coaching going on with this team. Again, I may be judging Michigan by past accomplishments, but I just don't see a losing season this year. Is 8-4 a great season, imo? No. But it will probably bring RR back for another year as long as the NCAA hammer doesn't come too hard and the OSU game isn't completely non-competitive.
Sean T.
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 6:20 p.m.
I hope Austin White can come back from injury to get significant playing time at RB. Ahh, the smell of College Football is in the air!
3 And Out
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 5:31 p.m.
5-7 this year...maybe 6-6 if the wind blows right and they get a break...and I could care less. Much less.
RWBill
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 3:58 p.m.
Replace Brown with who, someone who will stay at home, can cover and tackle? That would be welcome.