UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Hannibal]

Bringing in Borges from SDSU was a huge mistake.

[hack]

What's worse is that it was a slow-moving wreck we were able to see really early on, far before it actually happened. This was easy to anticipate and avoid and they didn't. Shame, shame.

[iam416]

The team was young. RichGOD hosed him.

[WM Wolverine]

Borges passing attack was slow developing when he didn't have an offensive line that couldn't give the play enough time to develop... Borges running attack involved overly complex blocking schemes by a young interior offensive line that too often made one critical mistake that would blow up the entire play.

Borges also sticked far too heavily to run:pass based upon down, distance; running far too much on first & second downs when M couldn't run the ball. Borges was also so stubborn that obvious constraint plays that were wide open weren't used like bubble screens...

First thing Nussmeier will do is simplify the blocking schemes for the offensive line, that should at least get M able to run the ball when they need to and drastically reduce negative yards on rushing plays.

[lineygoblue]

Improvement in the running game is the key to the entire season, IMO. If they get that done, Gardner becomes a better QB because he's not running for his life on every play, and he plays with more confidence. The defense stays off the field more, and doesn't have to bail out the offense for giving up bad field position.

I hope Nussmeier is up to the task.

[hack]

Borges never had much of an appreciation for when to take risks and why. That fucking halfback pass on an early down @ ND two years ago was just one of the most ridiculous things ever. Trick plays are trick plays for a good reason, but big-brain Borges was good at intellectualizing away the risks he was taking.

[WM Wolverine]

1st down and goal I think.

[The Oracle]

He just seemed to be wrong guy from the start if Hoke truly wants to go to heavy run oriented. His run game seemed forced almost all the time.

[Da Geezer]

Reported that Rosen is taking an unofficial to UM this weekend. Does anyone know whether he has arrived.

[WM Wolverine]

He's in AA right now but he's UCLA bound, were a distant #2/#3 for him. He's just doing his due diligence before choosing UCLA this week but good to see an elite QB considering us...

M is close to offering other QB's in this class and has a few dual-threat types they are likely to very soon, kids M wouldn't have been in on if Borges were here.

[hack]

If we're open to dual-threat QBs why aren't we seeing Kevin Dillman's name back on the board? IIRC he's a two-threat five-star who loves Michigan, but is pretty raw as a thrower, right?

[lineygoblue]

I saw one report where Rosen really enjoyed his visit to Michigan, and was very impressed with Coach Nuss and the academics. I agree he's still UCLA bound, but Michigan made a good effort on him. If Rosen wasn't going to make an early decision, I think Michigan would have a shot. But, he's making his decision official on Thursday, and it will definitely be UCLA.

[WM Wolverine]

Rivals basically said what liney said, Rosen loved his visit to M but Rosen was already way too solid on UCLA (pretty much a silent commit). He's going to decide on Thursday and the only team I can see him choosing is UCLA...

We'll hear a lot more about new QB recruits/offer pretty soon, I'll probably update my recruiting board closer to the end of the month. Good share of new names and some guys I might cross off.

[Da Geezer]

Any of you guys been on the campus at UCLA? Westwood is really high class; I mean mansions everywhere classy. That's where I'd go if I had the chance.

[The Oracle]

Yes, I have. I live 4 miles from Westwood. Good tie breaker.