Michigan Wolverines Football: Getting Closer — Football Thoughts
Apr 5, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Freddy Canteen (17) and defensive back Blake Countess (18) during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Posted at 5:00pm — 7/30/2014
Michigan Wolverines Football: Getting Closer — Football Thoughts
Just some opinions on off-season.
1) First, it has been a very quiet off-season in terms of players getting in trouble. It is in some respects the most stressful time of the year for coaches because players for the most part are still on campus, but have much more time on their hands. There have been times in the past this has not been a great combination. I have only heard of one incident which may involved some discipline. Other than that as I have stated in past posts the attendance and participation in off-season has been great.
Dec 28, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Devin Funchess (87) against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports2) Some players who have had a good off-season
Devin Funchess (WR):
I put him at the top of my list because he needed to really be pushed this off-season. Not only was he carrying too much weight a year ago (not for a TE, but for a WR), but he needed to find a way to keep focused during games. Many times this can be accomplished by really pushing in off-season and Funchess seems to have responded.
January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Joe Bolden (35) against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsJoe Bolden (LB):
I think he is one of our best linebacker’s. I thought he was our best LB along with RJS in spring and he has really become a “silent leader” of the defense. He gets the award for the hardest worker in off-season.
Amara Darboh (WR):
The best news is he seems to be completely healed from his injury and as stated here in the past there is no doubt he has the best hands on the team. He really looks to be in great shape and I fully expect him to be in the starting line-up in Sept. His emergence will make our WR group a pretty good one.
Maurice Hurst (DL):
when he came to Michigan all he needed was to get stronger. He seems to be much stronger especially in his lower body. Hurst along with Mone gives us some very good young players on the interior DL.
Freddy Canteen (WR):
I wonder how he was not rated higher during recruiting. There are times when a true frosh just “looks” like he is a player and Canteen has that type of talent. He is very fast and adapt at getting behind CB/S, the only issue is his hands.
Apr 13, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Drake Johnson (29) is wrapped up by linebacker Cameron Gordon (4) as offensive linesman Kye Bosch (65) blocks linebacker Joe Bolden (35) during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsKyle Bosch (OL):
He might not start, but it is going to take someone having a great fall for him to not being in starting line-up in Sept. It won’t be because he did not work hard enough.
Delano Hill (safety):
For years UM has had all kinds of issues at safety. It has been a long time since UM has at least had a safety that looked like a NFL type player. Hill (I remember during his HS days) people questioned his work ethic. Sure has not been a problem at UM.
Jul 28, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke addresses the media during the Big Ten football media day at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports3) I am somewhat more optimistic than I expected going into fall camp. I think this team has a real chance of being very good. And I now think Hoke has his act together. As some may recall I frequently questioned Hoke’s approach to building the program relying way too much on what he considered the process or fundamentals of a program, hence the over reliance on things like tradition, SR leadership programs, over hyping the ‘Michigan way”, etc.
Not saying these are not important, but you still have to win on the field your kids still have to be prepared. I think finally all the talk about Michigan football, the need to run the football, the need to play physical, the talk will be less and we will actually see more production on the field. The depth as I have stated in better than ever and now they can conduct practices the way the want (or at least talk about).
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — MaizeMan
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