Jibreel Black: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Defensive End -- Signing Day Recap

Posted by at 4:00pm -- 2/28/2010

Jibreel Black: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'2
Weight: 253 lbs.
Position: Defensive End
High School: Cincinnati Wyoming (Ohio)
Head Coach: Bernie Barre
Recruiter: Coach Bruce Tall
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Jibreel makes up for his lack of ideal size with effort and intensity. He has look of a defensive tackle, but possesses enough athletic skill to play defensive end. GBMW would not be surprised to see him play defensive end on early downs and defensive tackle on passing downs.



Strengths:
Jibreel has an excellent first step and get off. He really moves his feet and demonstrates decent, solid pad level. Jibreel has a nice burst and closing speed, both in pursuit and pass rush. He has good lateral movement and does a good job maintaining outside leverage.



Needs work:
Jibreel does not use his hands very often and he also needs to work on his press-out. Also, Jibreel has a tendency of getting too deep and over running plays.



Jibreel reminds us of former Michigan Wolverine:
Chris Hutchinson



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Red-shirt would be a big help, but because of depth issues Black maybe forced to play.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #45 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #25 at position.
Scout: 4-Star .. #15 at position.



Final Thoughts:
Very good player that Coach Rod was able to get at the end especially at a position of need in our opinion. He could be that pass rusher that we have needed for the last couple of years in recruiting. Has a excellent get off the ball and also burst that helps him get past the linemen. Just needs to work on technique and will be a solid player at Michigan.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Mailbag question: Night of Champions

Posted at 8:00am -- 2/28/2010

Mailbag question: Night of Champions

Hi guys,

Thanks for the great site and for the opportunity for us mere mortals to be able to discuss Michigan football with some knowledgeable people. I'm hunting for some info on a team morale-boosting event that I think might be called Night of Champions or something like that. I could be way off on that name but it's where the team competes against each other in a variety of strength and agility events. Am I close? Anyway, if you know what I'm talking about would you be able to tell us about it. Has it happened yet and if so who won what??

Thanks,

Tom T.

----------------------------------------

Thanks for the question.

No, you are not crazy, The Night Of Champions is a great tradition usually held in conjunction with Junior day. It is a team-building event that goes throughout winter conditioning that includes academics, community service, and conditioning.

It culminates with a ten-event Olympic style competition between ten teams of ten.

We do not have a firm date for this year’s Night of Champions, but we are ASSuming it will be the weekend before the first spring practice. So we would think it might be Saturday March 13th.

Usually it is on a Saturday night and then the staff has the junior day, or academic day, for high school kids on Sunday.

Why we say these dates is because of Michigan Pro Day will be Friday March 12.

Last year they had all three event on the same weekend.

Here are the particulars about the Night Of Champions. This was an article from last year about this event.

Night of Champions

Written by GBMW Staff

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Jake Ryan: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Linebacker -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/27/2010

Jake Ryan: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'3
Weight: 220 lbs.
Position: Linebacker
High School: Cleveland St. Ignatius (Ohio)
Head Coach: Chuck Kyle
Recruiter: Coach Bruce Tall
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)


Overview:
The difference between Jake’s junior year film and that of his senior year is stark. Ryan has grown two inches or so and has picked up his game noticeably. Jake plays both middle linebacker and outside linebacker for one of the top high school programs in Ohio, maybe the entire country. His high school, St. Ignatius, is not only an outstanding athletic school, but also a top academic institution within the area. GBMW envisions Jake as a middle linebacker at Michigan. But so far some discussion has him starting out on the outside.



Strengths:
Jake plays a physical and aggressive game, is an excellent blitzer, takes very good pursuit angles and shows an excellent motor and hustle. Jake really finished his tackles and shows a surprising burst and runs well in straight lines.



Needs work:
Jake is a step slow filling the hole and his lateral movement needs to improve. He does not use his flipper very well and does not show the ability to shed blocks. He also needs to work on changing levels and bending his knees.



Jake reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Carl Diggs or Sam Sword.



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Jake will most likely red-shirt.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #58 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #30 at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #81 at position.

Final Thoughts:
Jake showed a big improvement from his junior year to his senior year in high school -- can that continue? Jake will be a very good special teams player and possibly in a couple of years become a good linebacker for Michigan. He shows the qualities you want, being a good blitzer, taking good pursuit angles and also just making plays.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Michigan Hockey: Michigan at Notre Dame

Posted at 12:00pm -- 2/27/2010

Michigan Hockey

Michigan at Notre Dame
7:00pm EST. - 9:30pm EST.
DirecTV Channel 610
BTN

Written by GBMW Staff

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Michigan Basketball: Michigan at Ohio State

Posted at 10:00am -- 2/27/2010

Michigan Basketball
Michigan at Ohio State
12:00pm EST. - 2:00pm EST.
DirecTV Channel 206
ESPN

Written by GBMW Staff

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Mailbag question: Will anybody leave the Big Ten

Posted at 8:00am -- 2/27/2010

Mailbag question: Will anybody leave the Big Ten

Hello GBMW folks,

With all the news floating around about conference expansion I haven't heard anything about the possibility of a team leaving the Big 10. Do you think this is likely and if so which teams could you see leaving? Would a team like Ohio State really say no if the SEC asked them to join?

Thanks,

Matt D.

-------------------------------

Thanks for the question.

The only team we see as a possibility of leaving would be Northwestern and that would be athletics purposes, but this becomes highly doubtful for many reasons.

Foremost is the financial benefit of being in the Big Ten is huge with the television contracts, with ABC/ESPN, along with the fact that the Big Ten has their own Big Ten Network as well, which shows many athletic programs on a national television audience.

The Big Ten is so full of rivalries and tradition we do not see any team willingly to leave. The conference is also geographically close together making travel, financial expenditures and time change easier.

As stated, traveling and the cost is a huge factor, especially when you think of the complete athletic department and all the associated sports.

Michigan has twenty-five athletic programs, many of which are funded by programs such as the football program and program

donors. So if the Big Ten would add a team to the conference that is out of the area, more money for travel, more money for expenses of being on the road longer, and also more time for the student-athletes to be away from college and on the road.

Many secondary programs use buses for most trips and do not fly.

Right now with Michigan being down, Ohio State does not have a team in the conference that is equal or better year in and year out. Yes, some programs will have a good year and then falter for a couple of years, but not one program in the Big Ten today can compete with Ohio State. That is why it is so important for Michigan to get strong again so the Big Ten will be competitive and make the conference stronger.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Davion Rogers: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Defensive End -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/26/2010

Davion Rogers: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'6
Weight: 210 lbs.
Position: Defensive End / Outside Linebacker
High School: Warren G. Harding (Ohio)
Head Coach: D.J. Dota
Recruiter: Coach Bruce Tall
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)


Overview:
Davion Rogers is a tall rangy defensive end/outside linebacker prospect. He was a good enough overall athlete to actually play some safety in high school. Davion moves his feet well for being a taller player.


Strengths:
Davion is a hustle player and makes a lot of plays in pursuit. He shows very good range and has a solid get off. Davion shows a nice little rip move that he uses to maintain outside leverage. He has good lateral movement skills and range. Davion is a solid tackler, but not overly physical.



Needs work:
Davion’s size and strength are definitely issues. He also tends to get too deep and turn his shoulders. Davion, like many tall players, plays high and needs to do a better job of squeezing plays.


Davion reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Pierre Woods.



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Very likely a red-shirt.


Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #29 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #28 at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #102 at position.

Final Thoughts:
Davion has the height to play defensive end or outside linebacker, depending on what defense Michigan uses. He has a lot of athletic ability with his size, a solid get off from the line and shows a good pursuit of the ball carrier. Can he learn to play in space as an outside linebacker, or can he add the necessary weight and strength to become a good pass rushing defensive end?

Written by GBMW Staff

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Michigan Basketball: Inside Michigan Basketball

Posted at 12:00pm -- 2/26/2010

Michigan Basketball
Inside Michigan Basketball
4:00pm EST. - 4:30pm EST.
DirecTV Channel 610
BTN

Written by GBMW Staff

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Michigan Hockey: Notre Dame vs. Michigan -- Preview

Posted at 8:00am -- 2/26/2010

Sorry did not get this put up in time for Thursday's night game. I was not home or around when Yost sent the preview. Sorry guys.

NOTRE DAME / WOLVERINES HOCKEY PREVIEW

MICHIGAN (18-16-1, 13-12-1) 7th in the CCHA
NOTRE DAME (12-14-8, 8-11-7-2) 10th in the CCHA
Thursday, 2/25 7:35 pm Yost Arena
Saturday, 2/27 7:05 pm Joyce Center, South Bend, Ind.

Both games will be seen on TV: FSN (Thursday) and BTN (Saturday).

Closing the season:

Michigan and Notre Dame meet for the final time in the regular season after splitting two earlier games in December. Both teams have had disappointing seasons and are looking to end on a high note. Notre Dame needs a sweep (and a combination of an OSU and LSSU sweep by their opponents this weekend) to move up into a first round home playoff spot- 8th or higher- or they will be done playing in front of their fans on Saturday.

Michigan’s scenario (see my last recap for their possibilities) is simple: win both games and hope that NMU loses, or they will be playing in the first round. Lose both games and they could also slip to a position that will put them on the road for the entire CCHA playoffs.

Charting the Blue and Gold:

The Irish have been banged up all season, but to a man they will tell you that their problems lie much deeper than that. Rumors of locker room in fighting, early departure talk, as well as disputes with coaching, have derailed a very talented team. Nonetheless, Notre Dame will take to Yost on Thursday with the idea to further nick one of its fiercest rivals.

Calle Ridderwall leads the Irish offensive charge with 17-8-25. Ryan Thang 9-11-20) and defenseman Kyle Lawson (4-18-22) are dangerous every time they are on the ice.

Two other Irish defensemen have chipped in with over 17 points each.

Mike Johnson is still anchoring the goaltending, holding a 9-10-5 record, a 2.36 GAA and a .919 Sv. %.

Notre Dame is still solid defensively, giving up an average of 2.47 GPG (11th), while scoring an anemic 2.41 GPG (49th). Their special teams are a mirror image: the PP is converting at an 18.6% clip, while the PK is stopping opponents 87.2% of the time, good for 5th in the country.

From what I have been able to glean from Irish Nation, the team has a glass jaw right now due to their internal issues, and may just be as happy as the Wolverines are to put this season to bed.

Wolverine Notes:

Thursday marks the final home game for five U-M seniors: Captain Chris Summers, Steve Kampfer, Brian Lebler, Anthony Ciraulo and Eric Elmblad. On behalf of GBMW, I wish all of these gentlemen good luck in the future and thank them for their efforts during their career at Michigan.

First, though, there is a set of games to be played against the Irish and then… who knows.

Michigan comes into this weekend’s action 27th in the country in scoring (3.06 GPG) and 9th in goals against (2.40). They are right behind the Irish in penalty killing, with an 87% rate, good for 6th. Their PP is converting at 18.8%, also good for 27th. Carl Hagelin leads the team with 14-23-37. Matt Rust follows with 10-20-30 and Louie Caporusso has crept up to 11-17-28. Chris Brown is still one of the freshmen scoring leaders, putting together 12-12-24. Steve Kampfer is tops on the blue line at 2-15-17.

Brian Hogan is 18-15-1 with a 2.34 GAA and an even .900 Sv.%.

This week’s keys to the match up:

1. Michigan must show a little patience with the Irish. Get on top early at Yost and they may fold up. Of course, since both teams are very similar defensively, that will prove to be difficult.

2. Stop turning the puck over in the neutral and defensive zone. The Irish will thrive on counterattacking.

3. Stop Ridderwall and you stop the Irish. But don’t let their defense pinch in and beat you, either.

4. Use Senior Night to the Wolverine’s advantage- get the crowd into it early. It may be the team’s last chance at home.

5. Conversely, go play a complete road game and redeem what little value this season has left.

Prediction:

Thursday

Michigan 2
Notre Dame 1

Saturday

Notre Dame 3
Michigan 2

Written by Yostmeister

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Josh Furman: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Linebacker -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/25/2010

Josh Furman: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'3
Weight: 194 lbs.
Position: Outside Linebacker / Safety
High School: Old Mill (Maryland)
Head Coach: Damian Ferragamo
Recruiter: Coach Tony Dews
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Josh is a super, all-purpose athlete with excellent to superior physical measurables. He possesses a good combination of size and speed. Josh is capable of playing either linebacker or running back, but he will probably end up on the defensive side of the ball (hopefully).



Strengths:
Josh clearly has above average quickness and gets off the ball well. He also has excellent straight-line speed and acceleration. Josh is an aggressive defender who will hit hard and plays with some edge to his game. Josh hustles, is very good in pursuit, and is an excellent blitzer!



Needs work:
Josh is a bit stiff at times and must learn to bend his knees and play with better leverage against top-notch college athletes. Josh’s coverage skills need to improve and his lateral movement is not on par with his straight-line speed. He plays better at the line of scrimmage than in space and his backpedal needs some work.



Josh reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
With his linebacker size combined with safety speed, Josh reminds us of former Michigan Wolverine great Larry Foote.



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Might red-shirt or might play on special teams.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #38 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #38 at position.
Scout: 4-Star .. #7 at position.


Final Thoughts:
Josh has excellent speed, ability, and seems to be a solid tackler. He is a great athlete who has the body of a linebacker and the speed of a safety, and plays with a lot of intensity and strength.


Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Michigan Hockey: Notre Dame at Michigan

Posted at 12:00pm -- 2/25/2010

Michigan Hockey

Notre Dame at Michigan
7:30pm EST. - 10:00pm EST.
DirecTV Channel 663
FSN Detroit
***Need Sports Pack out of the area***

Written by GBMW Staff

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Michigan Football: Point / Counter Point the NCAA Investigation

Posted at 8:00am -- 2/25/2010

Michigan Football: Point / Counter Point the NCAA Investigation

Well, by now everyone in the universe is aware of the five violations quoted by the NCAA. In Columbus, the media is mockingly stating “well, Michigan could not have over-practiced football, it must have been lacrosse they were spending all their time on.”

We are extremely happy that David Brandon is the AD at Michigan. He showed leadership, take charge attitude, and he is not even started the job yet. Like we have said since he was named AD he was a great hire and probably the best thing for Coach Rod!

We at GBMW have decided to infer the positions of various factions concerning the NCAA investigation and offer a simplistic point/counter point framing to start what will certainly be a long path of discussion in the months ahead.


Point: Detroit Free Press -- They were correct in pointing out that there were significant issues caused by wrongdoing.

Counter Point: There was nothing worth months of front page reporting and all the media attention it received, that this was motivated by personal agenda and even greed and not for purist reform.


Point: The head Coach was not involved in the snafu.

Counter Point: The head Coach is the boss and is making a lot of money to know and be responsible for everything involving the program, especially the football program at a place like Michigan.


Point: Cara forms were not required at West Virginia.

Counter Point: This is Michigan, not West Virginia, and it is the head coach's job to know and understand proper protocol.


Point: Twenty minutes is a minor issue when you are practicing this long and Michigan was not really practicing, just stretching.

Counter Point: Any time it is TEAM activity that players are required to do it counts, PERIOD!


Point: Using Quality Control personnel is a wide spread and common practice in college football.

Counter Point: This is Michigan, not anybody else, and using the personnel improperly is a violation and should not be done.


Point: Herron was covering his own fanny.

Counter Point: Herron was covering for higher-ups and told to lie.


Point: Quality Control Staff -- Everybody in college football takes attendance and punishing Michigan for doing it is unfair.

Counter Point: Again, this is Michigan, not everybody else is being investigated and doing this is a violation and everyone knows it.


Doc4blu is planning an article on the likely thinking of the NCAA and just how serious all of this is. Hopefully, this can be put up in a few days.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Richard Ash: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Defensive Line -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/24/2010

Richard Ash: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'4
Weight: 263 (rumored to be 300lbs. now)
Position: Defensive Tackle / Defensive End
High School: Pahokee (Florida)
Head Coach: Blaze Thompson
Recruiter: Coach Rod Smith
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Richard is a classic Coach Rod recruit, a bit of a tweener, who runs well and shows a decided defensive mentality. Richard is a solid, versatile athlete, capable of playing defensive end or defensive tackle at the college level.

Strengths:
Richard has good get off and a solid first step. He uses his hands very well and shows a nice swim move. Richard separates well with his hands and gets good penetration. He has good stop and go and retraces his path well.



Needs work:
Richard tends to play a bit high and therefore sometimes loses leverage. He also gets too far up field and must learn to play laterally. Richard shows just average closing speed and burst.



Richard reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
James Hall.

#54


Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Richard would likely benefit from red-shirting, but may be needed for immediate depth.

#54


Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #54 at position.
Rivals: 4-Star .. #25 at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #52 at position.

Final Thoughts:
Richard is rumored to now be around 300 lbs. (from the coaches press conference). So will he maintain that weight or lose some once Coach Barwis gets Richard under his charge? Hopefully he does not lose his quickness and athletic ability with the added weight. With the added weight Richard will probably be a defensive tackle, but if he slims down could play defensive end as well.


Written by GBMW Staff

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