Final Spring Football Practice
2008
Saline High School was a good alternative
for the final Spring scrimmage although the weather did not cooperate.
It was a cold, windy day with temperatures ranging from a chilly,
rainy 42-44 degrees. It snowed Saturday night so it got colder
as the day progressed so I've waited until Sunday to post my observations
after reading other observations from fans on the posting boards,
journalists from newspaper articles, interviews, videos, etc.
Let me start with an overall analysis
of where the Michigan football program appears to be! We have
had huge attrition (Mallett, Boren, etc.), and will continue to
be disappointed with good players leaving our program because
they don't fit it, fit the system, etc. Rodriquez is a tough coach
who will refuse to compromise his values, vision and philosophies
for the Michigan football program to individuals who will always
be willing to criticize him, his coaching staff and the Michigan
football program. What I saw on Saturday was what I was hoping
to see: a quicker, faster, better conditioned football team. The
team will take time to develop from a conditioning, personnel
and system approach; however, it will be a team and program that
Michigan football fans will be proud of. We will have many championships
years under Coach Rod and staff.
On offense, our offensive line will
be a better unit than the 2007 group although it won't have the
individual talent of a Jake Long or Adam Kraus. It will be quicker,
faster, more determined and will play more as a unit. It looks
like Schilling, Zirbel, Moosman, McAvoy and Ortmann won starting
positions, but Molk will definitely contribute after losing 20
pounds with the flu. Molk won the best conditioned lineman, Moosman
won the Dierdorf and Schilling won the Sophomore Awards. We will
see the offensive line doing significantly more blocking downfield
with plays designed to break away from the line of scrimmage to
block in the open field. We will see more offensive plays from
an offense that will line up quickly, and not give defenses time
to adjust to our personnel, formations or play calls. We won't
see nearly as many mid-to-long range pass plays as in previous
years, but we will see significantly more receivers utilized and
pass plays called. My guess is that we may run 40 times and pass
30 times per game in our 70 or so plays. We will not be a 500
yards of total offense team, but we will scrap for the 300 to
400 yards we get. Coach Frey is doing a great job molding this
group into a productive unit, and he is an outstanding recruiter.
Our execution will improve, and red zone efficiency will be heavily
emphasized.
At quarterback, expect both Sheridan
and Threet to play and rotate to keep defenses off balance. Sheridan
is the better runner, game manager and ball control quarterback
while Threet is a better passer. It will probably take Feagin
at least half the season to develop into the type of player who
can rotate in. Our running backs won't need to worry about pass
blocking huge, physical defensive ends rushing our quarterback
in the pocket since they'll be running, catching, decoying and
blocking downfield. Minor won the starting position with Grady
as his primary backup. The speed back position is up for grabs
with Carlos Brown getting the start initially, but he must demonstrate
better ball control to maintain the starting position. Brown couldn't
play in the Spring scrimmage because of a broken finger so Avery
Horn demonstrated he has the speed to get outside and upfield
fast. Horn, Sam McGuffie and Michael Shaw will all see action
at the speed back position. The two back system will be hard to
defense, and Rodriquez and Magee will make sure to keep defenses
guessing with unpredictable formations and play calls. It will
be exciting to watch the running backs develop, and earn their
playing time every day through Summer and Fall practices. Coaches
Jackson, Smith and Dews are working our skill players hard to
get the offensive system down. What the players do on their own
this Summer under player leadership will determine their success
in August.
The huge difference offensively will
be utilizing six skill positions as offensive threats rather than
four. Five linemen will block, and not necessarily at the line
of scrimmage; the six others will be fast, quick, and in great
condition to line up, run and pass on every down. We will use
the tight end significantly more as a receiver and decoy rather
than as a blocker. Carson Butler and Martell Webb are perfect
for this role; they are fast, quick and release well from the
line of scrimmage. They are both good receivers although their
were some disappointing drops in the Spring scrimmage. Steve Watson
may be ready to contribute by Fall, but Massey may not be ready
until mid-season. Clemons, Hemingway and Mathews will be our starting
receivers although Babb, Rogers, Stonum and Savoy will all rotate
in. Frosh Robinson, Roundtree, Odoms and Shaw may also see action
at wide receiver. Hemingway didn't play in the Spring Scrimmage
due to a high ankle sprain, but he will be our Slot. We will throw
a lot of short passes to backs out of the backfield, the tight
end and wideouts. We won't see the quick toss play much if at
all nor will we see as many reverses. When defenses load up to
stop the short stuff, Rod will go deep. We will also take away
a lot of the defensive blitz packages with an offense that is
mobile, and not satisfied to patiently wait in the pocket for
a receiver to get open.
Ball control will be the key to the
success of the offense. They will be fast, quick, well-conditioned
and unpredictable, but they'll need to minimize mistakes to be
an effective unit. Our offense will be aggressive, play fast,
hurry back to run the next play quickly in an effort to outcondition,
outquick and speed by our opponents. Hopefully, we'll have enough
offense to beat Utah and Miami-OH, but Notre Dame will be a low
scoring defensive struggle and turnovers will be the key to winning
that game on the road. We are lucky to begin the Big Ten season
at home with Wisconsin and Illinois to hopefully the three games
of experience will help us to improve by the time the Big Ten
season commences.
The strength of the 2008 team will
be on defense. We have a veteran group who knows they'll have
to carry the team until the offense develops and gels. Our linebackers
will be exceptionally strong with great depth. We have five players
who could start for most teams in the country: John Thompson,
Obi Ezeh, Austin Panter, Jonas Mouton and Marell Evans. Panter
won the best conditioned award. Ezeh is probably the most athletic.
Mouton and Evans are former safeties who have grown into linebackers
so expect this group to be solid against the run and the pass.
Other linebackers who could contribute include Brandon Herron
and Brandon Logan. It is doubful that any Frosh will contribute
to linebacking since we are so strong there, but we did recruit
four outstanding linebackers in Fitzgerald, Witherspoon, Demens
and Hill.
Our defensive line will be faster,
quicker and more mobile. Tim Jamison will be the leader of the
defensive line and starts at defensive end; he is fast, strong
and experienced. Brandon Graham starts at the other defensive
end, and will go to tackle in obvious passing situations with
Ryan VanBergen coming in to help with the pass rush. Graham has
moved from 285 to 260, and all the defensive lineman have lost
weight while gaining speed and quickness. VanBergen won the Maulbetsch
Award, and Will Johnson won the Meyer Morton Award so we can expect
great things of this defensive line. John Ferrara backs up Johnson.
Terrence Taylor and Marquise Slocum will battle for playing time
at the other defensive tackle with Barwis and the coaches helping
them keep their weight down and their running, strength and conditioning
up. We will use four down linemen (4-3-4) in obvious running situations,
but move to a 3-3-5 in obvious passing situations. The backups
on the line, Jason Kates and Ray Ray Sagesse will be hard-pressed
contribute until they get their weights down, and this will leave
playing time open for incoming Frosh Mike Martin.
Our defensive backfield should be solid
as well, a much better group than last year. Our defensive backfield
ended last season as one of the finest in the country, and this
years group will be stronger. Veterans Donovan Warren and Morgan
Trent man the corners with Stevie Brown winning the Free Safety
and Charles Stewart winning the Strong Safety positions. Brown
won the Matthei Award, and best conditioned in the skill group.
Brandon Harrison resumes his role as Nickel while moving to safety
when needed; he played with an injured shoulder in the Spring.
Troy Wolfolk will back up the corner positions, and had an interception
in the Spring scrimmage. Boubacar Cissoko and J.T. Floyd may also
contribute as Frosh on special teams. Doug Dutch, Michael Williams
and Artis Chambers will contribute at Nickel, safety and corner
positions. Look for Brandon Smith to contribute at Strong Safety
unless we need him at quarterback in case of injuries. A better
pash rush and more sacks will make this group even more effective.
Coach Shafer will have us in aggressive defensive schemes, and
Coaches Hopson, Tall and Gibson are working hard to get this group
to be a fiercesome bunch.
One of the things I like about Coach
Rod's philosophy showed in the scrimmage, and that was the defense
as an offensive weapon. He has practice schemes showing the defense
turning over the ball and proceeding down the field offensively.
We will field an athletic defense that could easily create defensive
scores, and this group should give us a turnover advantage if
the offense doesn't mess up too badly.
On special teams, Bryan Wright will
continue to kickoff and K.C. Lopata will be our field goal and
extra point specialist; they are both solid kickers and accurate.
Mesko returns for his 3rd year as punter, and should be one of
the best in the Big Ten and the country. Our snapper, Sean Griffin,
also returns. On kickoff returns, we can use Brandon Minor and
Carlos Brown like we did last year, but it is more likely we go
for speed with Avery Horn, James Rogers, JR Hemingway, Michael
Williams and some of the Freshman: Michael Shaw, Sam McGuffie
and Terrence Robinson. On punt returns, Greg Mathews gives us
good ball control with Donovan Warren backing up. James Rogers
and Michael Williams are also solid backups. It will be interesting
who wins the flyer job on punts amongst the true Frosh: Boubacar
Cissoko, J.T. Floyd, etc. Expect our special teams to be a big
point of emphasis!
Hopefully, our special teams will contribute
to good field position for the offense and give our defense good
field position to contain opposing offenses. If our special teams
and defense are solid, our offense can develop in the Fall so
we can end the 2008 season on a proud note. While one would have
to say that Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Illinois should
be the top returning teams for 2008, I like our hunger to improve
and outtough, outquick, outthink, outcondition, etc. with a faster,
hungrier, tougher group of guys. Our role is "darkhorse"
along with the Spartans. We play Sparty at home on October 25,
and that will be a real backyard brawl. If we win, could we be
in position in November to upset the Buckeyes? The Buckeyes are
gearing for 4 Big Ten titles in a row. I like our schedule, our
coaches, our strength & conditioning staff, our attitude,
our philosophies and our chances to succeed. We need team leadership,
spirit and unity to make things happen.
Go Blue!!!
Spring Primer
2008 Big Ten Football Prospectus
Spring 2008 Roster
Spring Awards
Spring Game Video #1/#2/#3
Big Ten Network Video Highlights
Spring Game Pictures#1/#2/#3/#4/#5
Coach Rod on Spring Practices
Spring Practice Summary 2006
Spring Scrimmage 2005
Spring Scrimmage 2004
Spring Scrimmage 2003-cancelled
due to turf/weather
Spring Scrimmage 2002
Spring Scrimmage 2001
Spring Scrimmage 2000