Michigan Football Tidbits: Saturday Scrimmage Report
Michigan held a controlled scrimmage on Saturday with the #1 offense vs. #2 defense, and #1 defense vs. #2 offense. The offense won 65 to 25 last score I heard. Offense gets points for first downs and scores, defense for stops and turnovers. The defense was hurt by injuries to three starters, Warren, Mouton, and Martin. This did not help. Also, the scoring system favors the offense. When the offense scores they get the touchdown, etc., but when the defense makes interception, etc., they get three points.
The Three Stars on Offense:
#1 star — C. Brown: Minor fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and did not play again. We’re not sureof the reason, injury or other, but Coach Rod chewed him out really hard. C. Brown had three long touchdowns, one on a screen pass, and two on long runs. What a difference in his play. Not just fast, but elusive and explosive.
Side Note from ErocWolverine: I stayed after practice for a while and was talking to my friend, Koger’s dad. I think from what I was hearing, from Minor and Coach Rod, was that Minor tweaked his ankle again, so to be safe they took him out. Now I am sure another reason was to send a message about putting the ball on the ground, but I think it had to do more with playing it safe today. Minor is the clear cut #1 on the team right now, but they have some great options in C. Brown, Shaw and V. Smith. That is how I still have the depth chart listed.
Shaw needs to get healthy and get back to where he was or V. Smith could pass him on the depth chart. We need to get those four guys healthy and stay healthy throughout the year. It would be great if we actually used four running backs in a game just to mix it up and create competition.
Remember though Minor scored these against the second team defense, and as we have been telling people since last year’s clinic, our defense is in bad shape because of depth issues and lack of quality talent on the roster. I believe they had three walk-ons on the second team.
#2 star — Offensive line: They played very well. Now keep in mind they were playing against the second team defense, but they played well. Huyge is the Most Improved Player. He looks like a different kid. Leader of group is Schilling, who is also the best offensive lineman in our opinion.
Side Note: It is nice to see Coach Frey actually having some depth at this position. Last year at this time, he had seven players on scholarship because of the players graduating, players leaving the program with eligibility left, etc. This is not a knock on any of the other coaches, but we believe Coach Frey is the best assistant coach on the staff.
#3 star — Tight Ends and Fullbacks: Tight Ends might be deepest, most talented group on team, and Moundros is really improved. He caught a touchdown pass and another pass for a first down. Webb made three or four nice catches and turned one screen into a long gainer. Moore had a couple nice catches. Koger saw only limited snaps, we’re not sure why.
Side Note: (ErocWolverine) again stayed afterward and got a little insight why Koger did not play much. Basically, they know what he has and they wanted to see what the other tight ends could do against the first and second team defense.
I will not hide it, I’ve been following Koger since his junior year and went to many of his games. I met his dad and became good friends with him and Kevin. He is simply a great kid who just loves being part of the Michigan football team. We will not go into details of some of the things we talked about, but his dad said:
“Kevin is living his dream right now” probably because of mostly me, since I was a huge Michigan fan and he grew up loving Michigan he is just happy to be part of the team. He does not care if he gets the ball or not, he is just happy to be in Ann Arbor playing for Michigan. Nowadays you do not get that from some of your best players on the team and it is refreshing to see it from him.”
Kevin’s dad is one proud father and is glad Kevin turned down the evil empire even though he keeps hearing about it from Ohio State and Toledo fans for the past year’s performances.
Offense notes:
1. Forcier was okay, made good plays and some bad. That is mini capsule of what the season might look like this year.
Side Note: He stayed after practice for at least thirty minutes working on throws and getting rid of the ball. In drills, he looks more comfortable than when things go live, but that is expected, and frankly, it happens to all quarterbacks. He is a gym rat right now for several reasons, we believe: He knows he has to get better, he knows he is the #1 quarterback going into fall camp and a lot of pressure is going to be placed on his shoulders. In addition, he has no family here right now, so he has only school and football to concentrate on right now.
2. Grady had a nice scrimmage at fullback/max back. You have to give the kid credit: he is working his ass off and is a true team player, A Michigan Man for sure! Remember how he came in early and highly touted? He has not publically pouted and really does help the other running backs and is always hanging out with them.
3. Split Ends: No real deep threat, but were they consistent on short stuff. None of the Split ends was used as a deep threat. As for Trojan (a scheme they use), my team (CoachBt) got from Missouri (Pinkel used to be the Toledo coach before taking the Missouri job and that is where we got our offense from.
We were told that Oklahoma borrowed the concept from Missouri. We were also told that the Oklahoma and Michigan staffs have met several times the last few off-seasons. We do not know this for fact, but would guess that is how Michigan got it. What your basically trying to do is to force the defense into a mismatch with the Sam linebacker forced to defend one of two slots in the flat, or the running back out of backfield. If the defense overloads or shifts to a three-man side, you have a mismatch or numbers to the short side, and use the running back to take advantage of this.
4. V. Smith: Is going to help this year, the kid plays hard.
5. Michigan is using a new short passing package called Trojan, a passing scheme. It worked well a few times today.
6. If the tight end is not deepest position on team, running back is.
7. Slots: Played okay, some nice catches and couple of key drops and better talent than last year.
Defense:
#1 Star — B. Graham: Also #1 player on team.
#2 Star — RVB: Big sack and tough against run. Not the most talented player, but whatever he has, he gives.
#3 Star — Ezeh: Made great play on fourth and short, he filled and stuffed the running back. In new zone blitz scheme inside linebacker has ton of responsibility and is key to defense working.
Defense notes:
1. Depth is scary. There are twice as many offensive players as defensive players at scrimmage today. Walk-ons make up a significant part of the two deep on defense. Been trying to tell people this since last spring. Hopefully the 2010 class will see some impact defensive players. Do not get us wrong, the last two classes under Coach Rod have been decent for defensive players, but we feel that the coaches need to hit some homeruns with this ’10 class. Get some players that can come in, play right away, and make an impact, because this defense needs them. Some of the players coming in this year can help, but some of those players will take 2-3 years to make a contribution unless they are thrown into the defense because lack of the talent in front of them.
2. Inside linebacker: Depth is very scary, only six practiced and only three of them on scholarship. Keep your fingers crossed here.
3. Michigan has three solid cornerbacks (Warren, Floyd and Boo Boo), Floyd did well this weekend and Boo Boo also! Woolfolk played nothing but safety and he played well. Has the speed to make plays in cover two.
4. This zone blitz scheme is complex. It is going to take some time to implement. Players showed some frustration at times with it and were out of alignment several times as well. This is where Vlad struggled the most today, being in the proper position. Again, remember he just got here, so it will take sometime. He has a lot of pressure on him right now trying to understand this defense and where to be, but he is our best safety.
5. Vlad and M. Jones had nice scrimmages today. Jones made three big plays in a row on one series and the biggest hit of scrimmage! Vlad again is our best safety, but needs time.
6. FG kicker: Olesnavage did great job. Good height and gets ball up in hurry.
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Written by CoachBt, MaizeMan and ErocWolverine
