Team 137 by Jim Harbaugh. Football talk and Predictions.

[The Oracle]

Ruben Jones never really had a high ceiling for DE because of size issues. Hopefully he can make LB work long term stay in the 230s and keep his athleticism.

[WM Wolverine]

I'd assume it's not related to Bolden as much as next season's depth chart and/or finding the best position for him going forward.

[lineygoblue]

Will Devin Bush crack the starting lineup?

[WM Wolverine]

Yes, in '16? Probably not yet. M needs 4 new starters on defense to replace Mario Ojemudia/Royce Jenkins Stone, James Ross, Ben Gedeon & Jarrod Wilson...

Lawrence Marshall (rs-So) likely takes over at 'buck', a half DE/LB position that will do a ton of blitzing under Brown....

Ben Gedeon (Sr) likely has a lock on one of the two open ILB spots... The other spot is whoever takes a step up in '16; whether that be Mike McCray, Jared Wrangler, Allen Gant, Reuben Jones or Devin Bush Jr... I've always thought Dymonte Thomas might be a better fit at linebacker than safety as he gets lost in coverage too often...

At safety, Delano Hill (Sr) is the obvious candidate to take over as he played a lot in '15.

Quite a logjam on the DL with arguably 6 starters; Bryan Mone (rs-So), Ryan Glasgow (Sr), Chris Wormley (rs-Sr), Willie Henry (rs-Sr), Taco Charlton (Sr) & Maurice Hurst (Jr?)...

[The Oracle]

I thought Thomas got better in coverage as the year went on. I hope he gets the first shot to replace Wilson.

[hack]

Thomas' in-season improvement was really impressive.

[WM Wolverine]

Good to hear, he should do a lot to help replace Jarrod Wilson.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Speaking of Thomas at S and M's D against the frigging spread .......

I'd like to put a little frost on your warm and fuzzy Holiday cheer.

Frankly and UFR, I don't think BC w/Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshen for those who were alive in that era), I mean, now our DC, Don Brown, was very effective against good spread teams who, on that day, played well against them, like Clemson.

The reality is that well executed spread offenses are hard, really hard, to defend. Spread in my definition includes an offense w/a QB who is a viable run threat, has plays including most any variation of option football, the read option being key, and attempts to spread out the defense by increasing the gaps between OLmen and putting a bunch of receivers out there wide. Running IZ/OZ power things with a very talented, hulking back is a cherry on top (see ufm's/osu's offensive play book and zeke elliot).

In the final UFR analysis, it comes down to one v. one or beating your man (or double team as the case might be) in the space on the field this one guy is responsible for. Unfortunately for the BT's Eastern Division, it seems that meyer is about as good as they come in watching what's going down on tape and then in-game with an opponent's D and finding these one v. one match-ups that advantage his skill players/his offense in general.

Two things: M's DL got whipped by osu's OL. Not a good thing. Also, LBs. Enough of that. UFm did good. M didn't in hiding or adjusting for these weaknesses.

BC's D got exploited in almost the same way by Clemson but there were key differences. One, BC's DL played better than M's in those two games we're talking about. You can see it on tape if you want to grind through this stuff if not, you'll just have to take my word for it. Better technique (hands, shedding blocks and leveraging the opponent). Two, M's backend play was WAYYYY better than BC's and for the love of God, why Durkin (and D staff) just didn't make osu's s barrett and ufm test that area of the field is just beyond stupid to me ..... whatever, that's over.

The point of this little comparative breakdown to chill your winter even further is that Don Brown is not going to suddenly convert M's D into a world beating, spread offense crushing machine. If M's D is good against such things in 2016, its going to be less about Don Brown, although most will say it is, and much more about how well the subunits of the D execute. Experience will help and there is no lack of talent on the DL and on the backend. LBs? Who really knows. Could be a problem and the Achilles' Heel of M's D in 2016. Match-ups are match-ups. Win these and one side is going to do better than the other.

What has been pointed out to me in considering what Brown brings to the table v. good spread teams is that, one weak link, one guy getting handled or, as well, one guy making a great play, ONE GUY, can be the difference between a great offensive play being called and executed, then held to 5 yards or less, versus the opposite resulting in a big gain/TD.

[lineygoblue]

According to 24/7, Derrick Green did not travel with the team to Orlando. Its being called "an internal matter", not an injury.

The first real sign of a pending transfer?

http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Green-Doesnt-Travel-For-Citrus-Bowl-42306190

[Prime2]

Hope Green, Isaac, Morris, Malzone et. al, hit the road in off-season.

Sad waste of scholarship.

Terrible news:
While Harbaugh was definitive about Green's status, he was less so regarding Michigan standout Jabrill Peppers. Peppers was at the practice facility on Sunday but not in pads.

"He's working through something," Harbaugh said of Peppers. "We'll see how much he plays. He's out here working through something."

This season when Harbaugh has said that, it has meant an injury.

Harbaugh declined to offer details on who would carry the load for Peppers, a safety, who also returns kicks and contributes on offense.

"Don't need to really share that," Harbaugh said.

[Prime2]

At least Bellomy had the decency to leave, realized he wasn't going to fool Harbaugh.
Russell has recently left the U of T SA as well, that's 2 programs in 9 months.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/05/ex-michigan-qb-russell-bellomy-leaving-utsa-too/

[WM Wolverine]

Until they've been here four years, it's their decision whether to stay. Harbaugh can tell an athlete they'll never see the field to sway them but I hope it's not his style to pull a scholarship from someone who wants to graduate here...

If you're a rs-junior and unlikely to contribute, it's nearly overdue that you've produced. Then it's alright to tell the scholarship athlete, it's time they find somewhere else to sit on the bench...

M started recently offering 4-year scholarships btw, not sure when ('14 or '15?).

[hack]

Nothing wrong with coming, competing hard, falling short and moving on. Put Morris in that category for sure. He's been a good soldier and deserves respect for toughing it out under Hoke. Green and Isaac maybe not, from what we've heard, but certainly Morris deserves to leave Ann Arbor with dignity even if he never plays another snap.

[WM Wolverine]

Brian Cole appears to be transitioning to safety, been playing there in bowl practices. He was always an 'athlete' imo and not a major surprise to see him switch.

[WingsFan]

Green’s mother complained to Running Backs Coach Tyrone Wheatley about playing time. This set the conversations in motion for Green to transfer following the season. The committment of Kareem Walker likely was the final nail in the coffin of Green.

Under Harbaugh, guys who do not produce on the field will not be a part of the program, plain and simple. The old ways of entitlement are gone, you earn your spot, which simply wasn’t the way things were run under Hoke. Thomas Rawls was a constant source of friction in the locker room for the players, many of whom felt the best players weren’t playing because of entitlement and politics.