UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[The Oracle]

I don't agree with any of this analysis.
Harbaugh has recruited a bunch of RB's... it's unclear that Walker is a must or a difference maker. As Talent has said he is no Fournette.

We are missing a truly elite LB, and it is the glaring weakness of our D. It' a shame that Caleb Kelly is so committed to heading to a Sooner program that clearly eroding/descending.

Caleb Kelly isn't an Okl lock.

[WM Wolverine]

Gary is going to play as a true freshman, he's a beast and incredibly quick, explosive. He might not start, but he's going to play.

M's DT chart previous to this class leaves a glaring need for a DT so Gary is 'relatively' critical. Same argument could be made about the glaring need for a RB, last couple classes M hasn't landed a Plan A running back.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

M has a good chance for several DTs including Gary, Jordan Elliot, Chris Daniels, and with the USC turmoil, Keyshon Camp.

[Da Geezer]

Caleb Kelly is from Fresno CA. Kids from Fresno go to Oklahoma. That is why Harbaugh had a camp in the Fresno area.

We do have a great need at LB.

I was wondering what happened to Weber. You say he got hurt, Talent. Badly? I actually believe Weber would be in the top 3 on UM's RB rotation this year, maybe even a featured back. We have lots of bodies, but no one is an all-B10 performer, even third or fourth team.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I don't agree with any of this analysis.
Harbaugh has recruited a bunch of RB's... it's unclear that Walker is a must or a difference maker. As Talent has said he is no Fournette.

We are missing a truly elite LB, and it is the glaring weakness of our D. It' a shame that Caleb Kelly is so committed to heading to a Sooner program that clearly eroding/descending.

I kinda agree with this but from a different perspective.

Harbaughffense, at least as he probably envisions it, is a carefully planned and balanced element of the three parts of the game. My sense is that at the college level he puts a bit more weight on defense and special teams and his coaching selections seem to bear that out.

Offense is hard. There is more potential for game loosing plays on offense and way more chances for game winning plays on D. Given that viewpoint, I'd say who M lands on the defensive side of the ball in 2016 class is a bit more important than who M lands on offense.

I'd add one caveat to that: The most important part of today's CFB winning offenses is the QB followed by the OL then skill players. I'll take a homerun at the QB position or at least a player that has the tools that can be developed before I'll get too concerned about M's upcoming RBs.

But Walker, if he comes and from what I've seen of him, he's a good fit for Harbaughffense and he's obviously got him thinking about how good a fit he can be. Probably just as important, again if it happens, HARBAUGH!!! took one from urban. That's more than the shot across the bow that the summer camps were and more like a direct hit on HQ.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

UFM pulling in Weber...it still hurts my heart.

[Prime2]

Boy, if you told me we had an incredibly great shot at closing on the #1 running back, #1 tightened and #1 defensive player also ranked #1 overall, I'd say your nuts!

NFL Machine Inc. is a terror. Can't wait for Harbaugh to start selecting players instead of recruiting them like Urban Meyer does so we've been told countless times!!!

LOL. I believe all 5-star players too I think?


keep Weber , we will take Walker.

[The Oracle]

Offense is hard. There is more potential for game loosing plays on offense and way more chances for game winning plays on D. Given that viewpoint, I'd say who M lands on the defensive side of the ball in 2016 class is a bit more important than who M lands on offense.

What? In today's CFB? Offense is easier than ever. DEFENSE is hard.

[froot loops]

Are we sure defense is harder? Or is it that the majority of teams prefer to play the spread style that results in a hell of a lot more plays? I think it is more like a basketball pace factor. Defense is harder for those teams that make offense a priority.

I don't think the larger CFB picture has much of an effect on what Harbaugh is going to need.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

[ame]https://twitter.com/coachjim4um/status/661950625987616768[/ame]

[jaadam4]

As long as they choose Michigan I'll agree to that

[The Oracle]

Are we sure defense is harder? Or is it that the majority of teams prefer to play the spread style that results in a hell of a lot more plays? I think it is more like a basketball pace factor. Defense is harder for those teams that make offense a priority.

I don't think the larger CFB picture has much of an effect on what Harbaugh is going to need.

Yeah, that's part of it for sure. Targeting rules aren't making it easier Spread offenses have made it harder to play defense for a majority of reasons; pace, practicing vs it in practice, covering guys in space, etc.

[iam416]

I was wondering what happened to Weber. You say he got hurt, Talent. Badly? I actually believe Weber would be in the top 3 on UM's RB rotation this year, maybe even a featured back. We have lots of bodies, but no one is an all-B10 performer, even third or fourth team.

Not badly -- something with his knee, I think. He was out for 5-6 weeks or so and at this stage they'll probably just redshirt him. Same thing happened to Torrance Gibson. Weber was performing really well in summer camp and a lot of people thought he'd push Brionte Dunn for 2nd string carries. I expect Weber to eventually start next year. Fron what I can glean, he's the real deal.

[iam416]

As for RB or DT, again, I mean...B10 teams don't get very many chances to land a difference-making DT. Last year two B10 teams landed really good RBs and M would have probably landed the kid from Kentucky if their coaching situation wasn't a fucking disaster.

Elite DTs are really, really hard to come by. And Gary is it. And, IMO, relative to his position, he's way better than Walker.

Urbs is desperately trying to pull another stud DT to go along with Malik Barrow, but the kids he's in on are from Georgia and Louisiana. Up-fucking-hill battle.

[Da Geezer]

Talent: thanks for the info on Weber. I hope the kid is dynamite (except in The Game). I'd hate for my son to be caught in the situation he got himself into.