GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 22 Offensive Players Evaluations 15-11
Posted at 6:00am — 1/22/2012
GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 22 Offensive Players Evaluations 15-11
The college football season never really ends for any dedicated aficionado that wishes every week was game week. We here also plead guilty and have prepared tidbits for consumption looking at the 2011 and offensive and defensive personnel.
First off is a look back and ahead for key offensive players of 2011, and below is a short description relating to those key players.
After seeing our ranking of players come to the message board and give your opinion and how you would rank the offensive players.
15. Rick Barnum:
Injuries lowered his ranking.
When healthy his movement skills and athletic ability made him the team’s best puller. Like Schofield, Barnum can fill in the void left from losing two starters.
Next season:
Ricky needs to get healthy, get bigger, and become stronger. Will be interesting to see how this plays out. He could play his normal position at guard or could move to center if warranted, but that could be more on other players being ready than him.
14. Devin Gardner:
A backup gets overlooked much of the time.
Coach Borges effort to get him involved speaks of his talent. And there is no doubt Devin has plenty of talent.
Like other talented guys across the nation, Devin needs more reps to accelerate his development. His arm mechanics did not seem to progress, but did not regress either. Patience may be his middle name waiting another year to play significant minutes.
Next season:
Have a game plan that is followed to the letter for improvement, show intensity and gain the coaches’ eye. Become the best passer on the team and be ready, use the spring as a self-proclaimed mission for making a statement. Above all, take advantage of any opportunity at any spot that may arise.
13. Michael Schofield:
Michael stepped up and gave Michigan solid play at guard and backed up at offensive tackle. He is a future All Big Ten player in our opinion.
The best part of his game may be locking on and mauling, there will be opportunities for some of that next year. His size and strength continues to improve and many believe he is destined for right tackle.
Very unselfish player who never really played on the interior line, but this gave him an opportunity to play right away, help strengthen Michigan’s offensive line and do something Coach Funk said he wanted to do and that was get the best five on the field.
Next season:
No secret here, continue to get bigger and stronger and grab a starting spot and never let go. Michael needs to adopt the model of the total package: technique, strength, and execution. In our opinion the best option is right tackle for him because of depth, talent and for the most part Michigan has more bodies for the interior positions come next fall.
12. Drew Dileo:
This may raise some eyebrows rating him this eye. All Drew did was catch nine passes, had two rushes and even completed a pass.
What is sometimes overlooked is his holding on PAT’s and FG’s. Drew has some moves, better than average speed, and loves to play the game. He is smart and coach-able as well. With next year’s loss of Hemingway, there is an opportunity for more playing time.
Remember we was one of the first sites to tell people to be on the lookout for Dileo and how well he catches the ball.
Next season:
Keep improving his overall game, find a niche that helps the team and be a positive leader. When the ball comes his way he needs to take advantage and make big plays.
11. Stephen Hopkins:
Hopkins only gained 43 yards rushing in 2011, but his unselfishness and willingness to throw outstanding blocks was key.
This is the type of attitude that leads to success. To gain more success Stephen needs to make up a lot of distance in a small amount of time.
He still may be Michigan’s best bet on third and one, provided he hangs on to the ball. With Michigan’s line and Hopkins as an option up the middle, the fake and keep to the edge by Denard finally became the flavor of choice for the goal line offense.
Stephen and the staff may opt for full time fullback duty. If so he has the speed and talent to do more than be a moderately successful battering ram. The other path is to be a utility back, blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield. He could be a threat from the fullback position. Hopkins could be one of GBMWolverine’s five forgotten Wolverines in preseason writing.
Next season:
Get a copy of the Power of Positive Thinking, make some goals and work harder than anyone else in the position group. Gain skill level across the board and make the coaches take note. Also, find a way to not fumble.
Next article will be offensive players 10-6.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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