FTFYAbout that Bert...
Spring Practice started today in Florida and Jim Harbaugh is dominating the college football headlines as usual. I thought Dan Wetzel, who I would guess is a Harbaugh sympathizer, had a good piece on the controversy. Harbaugh doesn't really give a shit, but we knew that. Malzahn had no comment. Whatever the take, Harbaugh and Michigan have been in the news and I'm really not sure that's a bad thing. Michigan is on the minds of everyone else and is taking energy away from focusing on what matters. Michigan, meanwhile, is going about its business.
I love the way that Harbaugh has split the practices. Part of that is due to non-contact, part of it is due to amount of time that players can spend at practice. Harbaugh has split the practice into two sessions with smaller groups. It allows the coaches to provide more individual attention while adhering to NCAA practice hour limitations. It gives guys more reps (less guys to distribute reps with at a time) and takes advantage of the fact that there's no limitation on the amount of practice time for coaches. I don't know how original this approach is, but I like it.
General notes:
- O'Korn seems to be in the lead with the QBs, but not as ahead as one would have expected. Morris struggled on Monday. Didn't hear how he did yesterday.
- Wheatley Jr has come in at a svelt 291. He looks the best of the tight ends that aren't named Jake Butt. Bunting is in the mix while Gentry is still learning the position.
- Peppers has been getting most of his reps at LB. It sounds like Brown wants him around the ball and he will be playing a sort of Star role where he will be asked to be a linebacker that can cover. He has apparently struggled in coverage so far, which isn't surprising since that is what he struggled with last year. I do like the idea of having him around the ball to disrupt the rushing game and screens.
- Mason Cole is getting reps at Center. Grant Newsome is stepping up at LT. Kugler is the sixth OL.
And not a single mention of Wrecking Ball Rashan.No team is returning more production on defense than the Wolverines, and with their ability to both shut down the run and regularly get after the passer, teamed with a true shutdown corner in Lewis and a potential star in Peppers, they could be the best defense in college football in 2016.
They have a very favorable early schedule, not having to leave Ann Arbor until Week 6 (Oct. 8 at Rutgers), giving whichever quarterback earns the starting job (the buzz out of spring practice indicates 6-foot-6 sophomore Wilton Speight has the inside track) time to get himself and the offense up to speed. The closing stretch looms large – three of their last five games are on the road, at Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State – but there’s no reason to think the Wolverines shouldn’t enter November in the thick of the playoff race. And their defense will likely be the biggest reason why.
That 6/1 is right up there with the Celtics at 20/1 to win next year's NBA title. Overly optimistic indeed.Picked this up yesterday in Vegas:
Seems a tad overly optimistic for a team without a returning QB.
And of course that "someone" is always going to be a whiny, self-absorbed Harbaugh.If Saban gonna talk shit after he fired a coach for recruiting violations, Harbaugh is going to throw shade his way. Deserved. Someone's gotta say something.
Yup. Shocked his twat of a kid hadn't chimed in with something incredibly stupid and incoherent yet. Must be too busy penning love letters in crayon to recruits.And of course that "someone" is always going to be a whiny, self-absorbed Harbaugh.
And of course that "someone" is always going to be a whiny, self-absorbed Harbaugh.
"Amazing" to me - People's hatred of all things Harbaugh makes them ignore the substance of what's being discussed and instead focus on the personalities and the laundry. Truly "amazing."Yup. Shocked his twat of a kid hadn't chimed in with something incredibly stupid and incoherent yet. Must be too busy penning love letters in crayon to recruits.
Nice."Amazing" to me - People's hatred of all things Harbaugh makes them ignore the substance of what's being discussed and instead focus on the personalities and the laundry. Truly "amazing."
I never said I disagreed with his point. Harbaugh is right and I don't blame him for one second for trying to gain an edge in a landscape where everyone is cheating or coming close to it. But I find it funny that a grown man can't avoid little Twitter spats. How Trumpian of him."Amazing" to me - People's hatred of all things Harbaugh makes them ignore the substance of what's being discussed and instead focus on the personalities and the laundry. Truly "amazing."
Honestly, while I'm certainly no fan of the Harbaugh's, I do enjoy him rankling the SEC.Just trying to keep it lighthearted.
Coaching? You mean like the "coaching" he did at the end of the MSU game in which he never said a word to his punting unit, sent them out with 6 essentially to block 10, never called a TO to adjust and then threw his punter under the bus in the post game presser. Yeah, excellent "coaching" there.Nice.
Harbaugh is doing a camp in Atlanta with Kirby Smart (and Pat Narduzzi) right now. Well, I should say that Harbaugh is doing the camp and Kirby Smart is there. Smart is on his phone. Harbaugh is coaching. Sounds about right.
If he lands DPJ and/or Ambry Thomas too, I will be absolutely floored since UM would then have cleaned up instate. Jaylen Kelly Powell could probably push for early PT if he sticks at S and is the other in-stater really worth keeping an eye on. I think we have a good shot at Isaiah Washington too on the national radar, but that chip wont fall until much later and will be tough to close.Michigan gets the commitment of Corey Malone-Hatcher. He is a defensive end out of Saint Joseph. He is the 6th ranked prospect in the state of Michigan. The Wolverines now have 3 of the top 6 prospects in the state