With all the debate about certain positions, certain sides of the ball and also recruiting in the past with what we have said I thought it would be interesting to bring some of our past articles back to life.
Here are a few spring practice comments and also e-mail questions we got during the spring practices. Thought it would be fun to bring them up again so people can remember what we said back then. It seems like most of our e-mails revolve around the defense and recruiting. So here are a few e-mails to share.
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4/10/2009
Best
1) B. Graham: Best player on team. What impressive was his effort and leadership. He could of coasted or acted bored, but was 100% all the time.
2) Boo Boo: Tough physical and fearless, but taller split ends will always be challenge, but not for lack of effort.
3) Offensive line: Will put them as group, because that was most impressive part. The way they worked together, big improvement was ability to go eight or even nine deep. Not an All-American level yet, but huge improvement.
4) C. Brown: Wow what a difference, quick and burst, looked like different player. Did whatever necessary to get reps, even caught passes with slots at one point and looked good doing it.
5) Tight Ends: Especially Koger and Webb -- Both are difference level athletes that can make defensive coordinators do different things. They must be big part of offense and make them a weapon. If that happens then you will open up everything else on the offense.
6) Defense becoming more athletic and quick. Lots to worry about on defense, but some of the youngsters are starting to show.
7) B. Minor: Would have been higher without fumble and being pulled from scrimmage, not sure reason (we are ASSuming it was his ankle they were worried about). He was definitely bigger and faster and he must stay healthy.
8) Specialists: Mesko, enough said, but Olesnavage is upgrade from last year.
9) Forcier: Again keep expectation in line with true freshmen, there will be times this kid makes you cheer and other when he makes you throw the remote, but an upgrade.
10) Team attitude: There were upper classmen mentoring kids, first and second group cheering for third group. It is important to get off to fast start to keep this attitude and believe the attitude suffered once the season started the way it did.
10a) team is in best shape since Mo days of no huddle
Concerns:
1) Depth on defense has been kicked around a ton (or the new thing to bring up), but still #1 in our book and have been that way since last spring.
2) Starting true freshman quarterback: Always a concern no way to sugarcoat.
3) Split end play: Too many drops and only Stonum with speed to stretch offense, and he looked frustrated. This position needs a boost.
4) Slots: Again too many drops, and not much depth. Top two still learning position.
5) Fumbles: Ball was on the ground way too much again.
6) Big plays given up by defense: C. Brown had three long runs, Webb had two (mostly against the second group defense), and even #2 offense had big plays against #1 defense. This has to change.
7) New Scheme on defense: Not saying it is bad or anything, but there is always a learning curve and you are never 100% certain until you play a game with new stuff.
8) Michigan is counting on too many true freshmen. Would not be surprised to see ten or so in top two on the depth charts before season is done. Old saying, only good thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.
9) Lack of vertical stretch by offense: Michigan needs to back those safeties off.
10) Defense in general: Depth is issue, but so is overall quality at this point. Example, when sophomore defensive tackle who was not starter last season is almost irreplaceable you have some issues.
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