Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Vincent Smith — Running Back — Wolverine’s Spring Football — GBMWolverine Evaluations

Posted at 6:00am — 5/2/2012

Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Vincent Smith — Running Back — Wolverine’s Spring Football — GBMWolverine Evaluations

GBMWolverine Football Spring Evaluations: Position-by-Position — Player Profile.

GBMWolverine readers: Here is a brief overview of Vincent Smith and GBMWolverine’s analysis concerning his progress this spring in our opinion.

Note: We will not evaluate every player on the team and with this position group (Running Backs) we will not evaluate #99 Paul Gyarmati who plays fullback and linebacker. If you would like to chat about this player bring them up on the message board or send us an e-mail request.

Reminder: Also noted that we didn’t attend every practice and realize things happen during those fifteen practices, but our evaluations are based on what we seen first hand and in our opinion and not what we hear like just about every other site out there that relies on second, third hand information to make their evaluations of the players during the spring.

Losing from 2011 (Team #132) on scholarship:

Michael Shaw (NFL – Redskins Free Agent), Michael Cox (Graduated and transferred to UMass), and John McColgan (FB).

Coming in for 2012 (Team #133) on scholarship: Drake Johnson, Sione Houma (FB), and Dennis Norfleet.

Commit for 2013 (Team #134) on scholarship: DeVeon Smith and Wyatt Shallman (FB).

Vincent Smith
Height: 5’6
Weight: 172
Number: 2
Position: Running Back
Year: Senior
City/State: Pahokee, Florida
High School: Pahokee
High School Coach: Blaze Thompson

Almost unanimously, every Michigan football follower absolutely loves this kid. Those who do not know little about team play, effort, and doing things the right way. Vinnie always gives everything he has. His work ethic and attitude are paramount reasons for his success. He is the type of guy who cannot finish an interview because the interviewer would stop the process and say, “You are hired.” In short, he is a Michigan Man all the way and has represented the university very well.

Despite changing offensive schemes, Smith has done everything asked of him, even though he is not a natural fit with the new offense. He is not a natural fit for this offense in part because of his size, which is a factor beyond his control, but one never brought up publicly.

At the worst, Vinnie is probably the second best receiver out of the backfield. And it would not be surprise to see Vinnie make several more important plays out of the backfield this year.

We have several times, in person, heard glowing and justified praise of Vinnie from Coach Funk and Coach Borges. Both have no problem describing how they love Smith and what he brings to the team. Funk said he believes pound for pound that Smith may be the strongest player on the team. Borges made comments about how he loved that Smith would do whatever is asked of him and has never complained. He will enter a game and block a rushing linebacker or take on a defensive lineman that slipped past one of the offensive linemen.

Funk stated that Smith bailed his offensive linemen out many times, and in film studies during the spring clinic he showed many clips where Smith was supposed to be on the other side of the quarterback, but came across and picked up the blitzing defensive player or a player that just got by the regular block. Also, coach Funk stated that he had no problems at all when Smith was sent in on short yardage plays, because he knew Smith would give everything he had to get that first down, get over the goal line, or whatever.

We believe (not a tough call here) that Smith will be part of the passing game during passing downs for sure, and will likely see time staying in and blocking on passing downs as well. Look for the Michigan offense to use him on sweeps, screens and in the passing game on the check down routes.

He will truly be one of the players that will be missed and guys like Vincent Smith are a lot harder to replace than some fans perceive. Team players that do things the right way on and of the field are always welcome, in any program, at any level.

Just a reminder, you must be a member to participate on the free Message Board. Here is the link for the registration page for those people interested in becoming a GBMWolverine member of our message board. GBMWolverine Register.

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Please follow us on Twitter: @GBMWolverine

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!