Michigan Football: Tidbits from MaizeMan — Spring Practice — Answering Some Questions
Posted at 7:00am — 3/28/2013
Michigan Football: Tidbits from MaizeMan — Spring Practice — Answering Some Questions
Here is a small sample of the post on the message board.
1 – question) Will UM run the “Pistol”?
Not sure how to answer this question since I do not know what people perceive to be the “Pistol”. If you mean will they run some power out of the shotgun, then yes, they will run it quite a bit.
Some comments on Borges.
January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (12) drops back against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsThe relationship between Borges and Gardner is very good. Not how important this is, but there have been some “tough relationships” that did not seem to work out in the past at Michigan.
Borges when you hear him talk, will discuss the “West Coast” in terms of principles, but you use those principles to multiple offenses.
One of the things Borges has done is to watch other teams that have QB’s similar to Gardner and has ever watched tape of the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina, 2 teams that have athletic type QB’s.
One of the Gardner’s biggest strength is also one of my concerns, so I guess there is a very fine line, that Gardner progress may be the ability to make the proper decision. To me, at times Gardner tucks the ball too soon, does not keep his head up enough when scrambling, does not create enough “big plays” on broken plays. On the other hand, Gardner to me, is even more adapt at running out of passing formations than Denard was. He has to be tough on defenses when they cover well—and Gardner starts running.
One of the reasons this concerns me is the more he runs, the more he is risking injury.
I guess the best way to describe this is, I want Gardner to transfer from being an “athletic QB” to a “QB who happens to be athletic”, if that makes sense.
2 – question) Which freshman (those not on campus) has the best chance of playing?
Well, of course we start with the RB’s. Both Smith and Green will have ample opportunity and we need to establish a top back. Green I guess is the most anticipated back to come to UM in years and with OL if a RB develops that can make the first guy miss there are big yards to be gained.
I do not expect any OL’s to play.
At WR (although have not seen them) if Jones could play slot or if Jordan Lewis plays offense and plays slot, one of them could see action.
At this point, I expect Lewis to play CB, but things could change.
I don’t see anybody on defense playing early.
This does not mean somebody may end up on ST’s, but I think the years of numbers of frosh making an impact are over.
3) As mentioned in Chat on Monday night the Seniors will end practices on April 13th, then prepare for finals, take finals, then they head to train with Navy Seals. Some have commented they are more nervous about the upcoming training with Navy Seals than they are preparing for spring football.
I continue to be impressed about the relationship between our coaching staff and players and how our coaches really mean it when they say they want communications to be open and yet on the other hand, how impatient they are with those who simply do not want to give 100% to the program. The best way to explain this is if the coaches are going to go all out, they expect the players to do the same. However, the best part now is you see the players themselves monitoring the other players, nothing better than peer pressure.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — MaizeMan
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