Recapping: Nebraska

It was another week of pure frustration for the Michigan offense as they failed yet again to score a touchdown against a mediocre defense.

The past two weeks have been almost identical stories. The offense does absolutely nothing, while the defense holds its ground and does a great job of keeping the Wolverines in the game. However, this week, the offense was without QB Denard Robinson for most of the game.

Robinson re-aggravated a nerve in his throwing arm and was unable to grip the ball. That left a heavy load on backup Russell Bellomy, who had not seen significant game time up to that point.

To say the least, Bellomy was unimpressive, and it was a clear reality check as to how much Denard Robinson mean to the Michigan offense.

Before being knocked out of the game, Robinson was 6/11 passing with 55 yards. Impressively, he took some shots down field and kept the safeties honest enough to open up his game on the ground. Robinson was taken out on a rush to the left side inside the 10 yard line. When he cut back, it didn't look like he was harder than usual, but he landed on the arm just right and aggravated that nerve.

Bellomy took over on first and goal but was unable to punch into the endzone. Nebraska's defense seized the opportunity to feast on the inexperienced redshirt freshman and did so all night.

He finished the night just 3/16 passing for 38 yards and 3 INTs, one of which being in the endzone. What I noticed about Bellomy was the lack of accuracy. When he sets his feet, he has the arm strength to throw the ball deep, but accuracy was a serious issue.

Fitzgerald Toussaint continued his campaign of being a non-factor against the Cornhusker defense with 38 yards on 15 carries. He's been getting his shots the last couple of weeks but can't cash them in. I was also surprised to not see Thomas Rawls. I don't want to speculate, but that was the second straight week without Rawls, and it was the second straight week without a touchdown.

Defensively, giving up 23 points to Nebraska is not a bad day. They picked off Martinez once and forced another turnover on a fumble.

The thing that continues to impress me with the defense is their ability to rise to the occasion. By that, I mean: when 3rd and short comes, you can count on a stop. You can expect a goal line stand. It's those plays that kept Michigan in the game, until late, once again.

The ability to get in the backfield has also impressed me. Jake Ryan and Craig Roh stand out the most to me. Both are extremely explosive and don't miss their tackles. Not to mention, the mere image of Jake Ryan has to give opponents nightmares.


Tyler's Prediction Record: 7-1. Yes, my first loss.

Week 6 Notes and Predictions

Week 6 of the 2012 season is coming up, and Michigan is back after the long bye week to face Purdue (a bye week seems even longer when it's Michigan not playing). Michigan will be playing yet another tough road game but please keep in mind that they are 3 point favorites in this one. I'm never one to put emphasis on point spreads (not much of a gambler), so I'm not putting much stock into it. However, if we played Savannah St. and were say...56 point favorites...I might then just buy into it for a game or so. Nevertheless, that isn't Purdue. So...on with the predictions:

Michigan at Purdue --Michigan is coming off of the bye week at the most important time. Denard Robinson has taken a hit both locally and nationally for the poor job against Notre Dame. Michigan's defense had a few bright spots a couple weeks ago, and against Purdue they will need to sustain most of that momentum. Purdue doesn't have any dominant players, but they do have a few good ones. A balanced attack against their defensive line and keeping turnovers down is what needs to happen. Needs to. Winner: Michigan

Recapping 2012 Commit Chris Wormley

One of the recruits that got a lot of excitement for his commitment to Michigan's 2012 class was Chris Wormley.  He comes out of Whitmer High School in Toledo, Ohio and was just one piece of Brady Hoke's massive Ohio haul in the 2012 and 2013 classes.  Wormley was also slated for a role in the 2012 season as the likely backup to Craig Roh.  Of course, this plan went out the window when Wormley tore his ACL in fall camp and will now redshirt the 2012 season, but he was getting some consistent play before that happened, giving fans a lot to look forward to in the future.

Wormley has a large skillset that makes him a great pick-up for the Wolverines.  He has solid size and strength, standing at 6'4" and weighing 279 lbs according to the official website.  Some think he's even big enough to eventually move to the inside once he increases his strength a little more.  He is also cited as having a great motor and speed off the snap, which is exciting for a defensive end.  Ace from MGoBlog had some concerns that his "pad level" was significantly decreasing his production.  This and Wormley's general technique will take some improvement if he truly wants to make an impact as a strongside defensive end in the future.  He seems to be pretty good at getting off the blocks, but if he can come off the ball right, he could be simply running through opponents because of his speed and strength.

Recapping 2012 Commit Tom Strobel

As we start to wind our way toward the end of our 2012 recruiting recaps, we reach what could be one of the more surprising recruits in the 2012 class, Tom Strobel.  Not only did he grow up as an Ohio State fan in Mentor, Ohio, but he also took advice from Drew Brees on making his college decision.  Talk about a cool way to pick Michigan.  I think that will do all the more to make him value his decision and should make the rivalry with the Buckeyes all the more meaningful for Strobel.

Strobel comes in with a good amount of hype from the major recruiting services and the fans.  He stands at 6'6" and weighs 252 lbs according to Michigan's athletic site.  Will that be enough to get him some early playing time?  Perhaps, but he does need to work on his strength and he's pretty raw in terms of his technique.  I anticipate both of these problems will pass in time, but it is something to note, especially when we're discussing the 2012 season.  There are some positives about Strobel.  His body size is perfect for a defensive end spot and he has great balance and speed off the ball.  If he can get a little stronger and work on his technique, he could be an absolute monster at the defensive end spot.  I see him more of a strongside defensive end, but there is some debate about where he will end up during his career.

2012 Positional Breakdown: Defensive Line

Out of all the question marks for Michigan's 2012 squad, perhaps the biggest are for the defensive line.  After losing three starters, Michigan is looking for players to fill the roles formerly played by Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, and Will Heininger.  They have returning players at every position on the defensive line with game experience, but only one of the four spots has gotten a serious amount of confidence from fans.  As a result, Michigan's defensive line progress could very likely determine the direction of the defense overall and the team's performance down the stretch.

This is largely because Michigan has All-Big Ten prospects at just about every positional group on the offensive side and is returning just about everybody that started at linebacker or in the secondary last year as well.  Add in the fact that both of the specialists return and Michigan looks like a pretty good squad for 2012, assuming the defensive line can progress.  In my opinion, this is the position group that will determine the type of season Michigan will have in 2012.  Not only because it has the most question marks, but also because of the way it produced in 2011 in route to the Sugar Bowl victory.  Key red zone stops, key stops on 3rd and short, and a plethora of turnovers during the course of the season.  Making up for that is going to be a challenge, so let's start breaking down who has a chance at doing it in 2012.

DE Chris Wormley Tears ACL

A university spokesman confirmed on Tuesday night that freshman DE Chris Wormley tore his ACL in practice today (August 14th). Sam Web, of Scout.com, broke the news over Twitter and was then verified minutes later.

Chris Wormley was expected to have a decent impact in the rotation for Michigan's men up front, but he will now have to wait another year before he gets his opportunity. Recovery from an ACL tear takes several months, and getting back to 100% is never a guarantee. This means Michigan is now on even thinner ice with their defensive line. Wormely, in all likelihood, was not going to be starting this season. However, he was planned to be a part of the regular rotation and make a pretty sizeable impact for a freshman.

Recapping 2012 Commit Matthew Godin

There are many offseason questions for Michigan's 2012 team.  How will the team fare against the brutal schedule?  How will Denard Robinson progress?  How will the team respond to the likely loss of Fitz Toussaint?  However, some of the biggest questions have revolved around Michigan's inexperience in the defensive line and how the team was going to replace key seniors Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen.  There are a few upperclassmen set to play, but one of the 2012 recruits that could potentially fill this void is Matthew Godin.

Godin is an impressive athlete that has the potential to play multiple positions on the defensive line.  According to the fall media guide, he weighs 270 lbs, which is pretty impressive for a true freshman.  What should lend more confidence is that he comes from the same high school as Mike Martin, which means he's been going through some intense strength workouts during his time there.  His best characteristic according to the scouting services has been his impressive size, which seems to make sense.  However, there seems to be a consensus among scouting services and Michigan blogs about his raw technique.  If he's going to see the field in 2012 and be productive, he's going to have to take a big step forward with his technique.  The big area that needs work are his hands, according to Scout.

2012 Most Improved Returning Players #4 and #3

Last week, we looked at the #6 and #5 most improved returning players for the 2012 season, J.T. Floyd and Fitzgerald Toussaint. Today (Thursday), we move on to Part 2 of the 3-post series to look at #4 and #3. 




4. Roy Roundtree (WR)
Roy Roundtree had a very quiet 2011 season with only 19 receptions for 355 yards. Of course, he had the catch of his life in the dwindling seconds against Notre Dame, but, other than that, there really wasn't anything to show for the talent everybody knows he possesses.

In 2010, Roundtree pieced together one of the finer seasons of any WR in the Big Ten, 72 receptions, 935 yards, and that was in an offense that didn't open up too many opportunities for its wideouts. The good news is that those numbers from 2010 are cold, hard proof that he can be an X-factor on this team.

The bar was set very high for last season, but it simply didn't work out. Roundtree was a minimal factor in a very powerful offense. It's hard to pinpoint an exact cause of a collapse like that, but it is usually both a mental and physical problem. It's not completely to blame on technique  or speed, but a lack of focus or confidence also can't be the sole reason.

My expectations for Roy Roundtree in 2012 are: 55-65 receptions, 800+ yards, and to turn into the go-to target on 3rd down.

55-65 receptions in 2012 is obviously not quite what we saw in 2010, but, after 19 receptions in 2011, it would be a huge step up for the senior. Denard Robinson is developing his passing game into something that will be reliable for this season, so that is already one plus on the side of all WRs. The most talented WR in the world is next to useless without an accurate ball. You can probably some of that into account from last year's mediocre performance, but it isn't everything.

One of the aspects of Roundtree's game that will be discussed most often early on is his confidence. Critics will be questioning his ability to bounce back and make a statement with this offense. Getting off to a solid start is absolutely vital for Roundtree this season.

It's very hard to predict a WR's total yardage for a season with so many factors involved, but I believe 800 is a very good number for Roundtree. He has a little better than average speed for a wideout, and hopefully Denard Robinson will be able to hand him the opportunities to create for himself after the catch. Roundtree could become the favorite target for Robinson after the departure of Junior Hemingway.

Offensive Coordinator Al Borges has a plethora of plays he can turn to on just about any 3rd down situation, and we can probably expect to see more passing with the development of Robinson's throwing game. It's very hard to piece together a solid team without having a reliable, go-to target on 3rd down. The QB needs to know he has reliable hands to help move the chains, and I expect Roy Roundtree to turn into that kind of a player for the Wolverines offense.

3. Craig Roh
Senior Craig Roh will have to be anchor of the Wolverines D-Line in 2012 with the NFL departures of Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. There are a lot of questions surrounding the men up front as Michigan tries to back up an outstanding defensive performance in 2011, but one thing is certain, at least in my mind: Craig Roh will be the star up front.

The play of Roh hasn't necessarily been over-looked, but unappreciated. He wasn't your typical third best big man on the D-Line because of all the talent across the board. Roh was some sort of a brick wall up front; if the ball came within arm length, the carrier was on the ground. It was a vacuum-like performance.

The absence of Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen will be deeply missed, everything from their performance to their leadership. It's going to be hard to come across another player who can replicate that. However, I am very excited to see how Craig Roh does with the spotlight on him. He's had three years to prepare for it.

My expectations for Craig Roh in 2012 are: 4-6 sacks, 25+ solo tackles, and to become the undisputed leader of the D-Line.

In 2011, Craig Roh tallied up five sacks, which I would consider pretty fair under the circumstances. 4-6 sacks doesn't seem like a step up from five, but you have to understand that he will be receiving much more attention than he is used to, becoming the number one man up front now. I would be very surprised to see anything above six, but Roh will be more than up to the challenge. After all, he spent a lot of time with a couple of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten last year. My guess is he learned a couple of things in the process.

The biggest improvement I'll be paying attention to for Roh this season is solo tackles. Especially on the D-Line, the number of solo tackles a big man is able to tack up is usually a pretty good gauge on how well he is doing. 21 solo take-downs a year ago still give Roh something to improve on. He has incredible strength, as he consumes 5,000 calories per day in order to put on weight, and then he also has something that really can't be taught: a nose for the ball. If Craig Roh is on the field, he is involved in the play.

To become the undisputed leader of the Wolverines D-Line is just as much a physical task as it is mental. Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison has broken down Roh to his very core and the proceeded to build him back up. That is what a leader is made of. Even if he under-achieves this year, that doesn't mean the jersey with "Roh" on the back can't be respected at the highest level of respect. He has invested a great deal into the rebuilding of the program, and I absolutely cannot wait to see him get in his stance for the first snap of the 2012 season.

Stay tuned for Monday, as a I reveal the #2 and #1 most improved returning players for the 2012 season in the finale of the 3-post series.

Pre-season All-Big Ten Teams Breakdown

Photo Credit: PhilSteele

Phil Steele has released his 2012 preseason All-Big Ten teams, and a lot of familiar names have made their way onto the list.

OFFENSE

QB- Denard Robinson (1st Team):

Topping the 1st team list at quarterback is no surprise: Denard Robinson. Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is one of the most exciting exciting players to watch in all of college football, and, while nothing is set in stone this early, Denard seems to be the favorite to get the first team selection among just about everybody.

The largest obstacle standing in front of Robinson is decision making. The Michigan staff says 1/3 of his 15 interceptions from a year ago were due to poor decisions, and Denard has acknowledged that flaw to his game. If we see a Denard Robinson that can keep attacking on the ground, as well as cut the turnovers in half, there is no way around crowning him with 1st team honors.

WR- Roy Roundtree (1st Team):

The second Wolverine to find himself on the 1st team ballot is WR Roy Roundtree. Everyone remembers Roundtree from a year ago for the famous TD grab with 2 seconds on the clock against Notre Dame, but he only had 19 receptions all year, after 72 receptions in 2010. However, the absence of Junior Hemingway will open up a huge opportunity for Roundtree to step up as a target of Denard Robinson.

OT- Taylor Lewan (1st Team):

The third and final 1st team selection for the Wolverines is OT Taylor Lewan, a 6-foot-8-inch, 294 lb junior. Lewan was one of the most physical presences up front in the Big Ten, but was somewhat downplayed because of the play of David Molk, last year's Rimington Award recipient.

Lewan played a very key part in the success of both running the football and protecting Denard Robinson in the backfield. Very few teams had any kind of success penetrating the Michigan O-line, which in turn led to the success of Fitz Toussaint in the running game and allowed Robinson to toss 20 TDs.

RB- Fitzgerald Toussaint (2nd Team):

Fitz Toussaint is a name worthy of a 1st team bid, but with other RBs like Montee Ball and Rex Burkhead, he finds himself as the only Wolverine selected onto the 2nd team. Last year, Toussaint established himself as the primary back in the beginning of Big Ten play, and that is exactly what Al Borgess wanted from his Wolverines backfield, someone to step up and carry the ball 20-25 times a game for the long haul. The staff is still working to develop Toussaint into a back that can take the pressure off of Denard's legs, which would ultimately make them both more affective.

OG- Patrick Omameh (3rd Team):

Patrick Omameh is another big body up front for the Michigan offense, and, much like Taylor Lewan, was somewhat looked over because of the play of David Molk. Still, Omameh made huge contributions to the Wolverines O-line. I could have seen his name anywhere from 2nd team to 4th team and really wouldn't have been too surprised, so 3rd team is certainly a good fit for big man.

WR- Jeremy Gallon (4th Team):

Jeremy Gallon is the only Wolverine to find himself on the 4th team, but, of all players selected preseason, I believe Gallon is the most likely to move up by the end of the season, possibly as far as the 2nd team. He made a huge jump from 2010 to 2011, going from just 4 to 31 receptions and was a consistent target for Denard Robinson all season. Gallon's biggest weapon is speed, so his numbers will highly depend on his ability to get out in the open field, however Al Borgess goes about doing that.

DEFENSE

LB- Kenny Demens (2nd Team):

No Wolverine made it as a 1st team selection on defense, but the first of three to be named to the 2nd team is Kenny Demens. Demens finds himself on the 2nd team strictly because of his ability to find the ball carrier and bring him down. He isn't a defender who is going to nose out the ball through the air or rack up 10 sacks per season. In a defense led by coordinator Greg Mattison, the number one emphasis was ganging up on the ball, and that's exactly what Kenny Demens was able to do. All in all, Demens accounted for 49 solo tackles and 45 solo tackles.

CB- J.T. Floyd (2nd Team):

J.T. Floyd is a very nice selection for 2nd team CB. Floyd is a much improved cover corner who has had his share of tests. The biggest stepping stone to his game came against Notre Dame, when the defensive scheme matched him up 1-on-1 with Michael Floyd (now with the Arizona Cardinals) for most of the game, and he held his own for the most part. This is J.T. Floyd's secondary, and I expect to see a very solid season from the senior.

S- Jordan Kovacs (2nd Team):

The final Wolverine to be selected to the 2nd team is Safety Jordan Kovacs. Kovacs had to walk on to the football team and now finds himself starting at Safety and doing a fine job at it, as well. Kovacs is passion-driven player who makes the right plays at the right times. I actually thought Kovacs would be a 4th team selection, but this just goes to show the amount of respect he has built up with other people.

DE- Craig Roh (3rd Team):

Senior Craig Roh is the only Wolverine selected onto the 3rd team, but I think Roh could have been a 2nd team selection. Craig Roh's staple was the ability to get into the backfield. He accounted for a sack in all but four games that he played in. A lot of his success from last year was due to the attention required by Mike Martin and Ryan Van Burgen, so it will be interesting to see if he can keep his success going with those two up front with him.

S- Thomas Gordon (4th Team):

Thomas Gordon is probably my biggest surprise being selected for the Wolverines, but he has deserved this honor. Gordon's biggest up-side is closing speed. As the last line of defense of safety, Gordon accounted for a good number of tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PR- Jeremy Gallon (3rd Team)

Jeremy Gallon is the only Wolverine listed under the special teams, but I think this is well deserved. Gallon is always a threat on the returning side, especially punt return, and, for the most part, he did a nice job of getting the Wolverines offense into good position. 

Spring Game Tastes

On April 14th, Michigan football will take the field for the annual spring game in front of thousands of fans. There are a few reasons that college teams do this, but I tend to think it's to give fans a small taste of what's to come later in the fall. It's a good time for fans to go to a free game, although parking is not (hint hint). The upcoming season of 2012 should be a great one for Team #133 if things work out the way most envision. I want to go over a few things that I believe should be evident, even if it's just a scrimmage.

Here's a list of things to look for in the spring game:

1. The confusing mystique of Denard Robinson. Denard has a very loyal following in Ann Arbor, and one only has to watch one game to see why. This will be Hoke's second season as head coach, but I think what gets lost among the hullabaloo is that Al Borges, offensive coordinator, will be in his second season as well. Last season was Denard's first in a pro-style offense under Hoke and Borges, and while at times it looked nice and fluid; at others it looked sporadic and clumsy. It's no accident Denard threw a conference high 15 interceptions and had a low completion rate. What we need to see at the spring game is a much more confident pocket passer who can take passes from under center just as well as he would in a shotgun formation. Denard will always be able to burst out of the pocket to make a big run if he needs to, but he needs to show off more accuracy of his arm.

2. The Barnum (and Bailey) circus? Ricky Barnum is a senior this upcoming season, and primed to take over the center position from David Molk. Molk provided consistency, strength, agility, and intelligence in that position that will be difficult to replecate. Barnum has the talent to take over but not much experience. Also gone is Huyge so look to Schofield or possibly Kalis to get some major snaps at right tackle.

3. Defensive line. It was a real treat last season seeing our defense progress from one of the worst to top 20 in the country. A lot of it had to do with the arrival of Greg Mattison from the Baltimore Ravens, and a lot had to do with significant improvement from the D-line. With Martin, Van Bergen, and Heininger all gone it will be up to Will Campbell, Craig Roh, and Richard Ash to bear the load this season. Martin and Van Bergen alone were the pivotal guys and I want to see if the current D-Line, Campbell specifically, can step up.

4. Secondary should be a primary focus. With stalwart cornerback Troy Woolfolk gone, now it's up to Blake Countess and J.T. Floyd to anchor the secondary. This has been a big issue for the past few seasons; giving up the big play at the worst time; amd hopefully at the spring game they have more of a spring in their step (pun intended).

5. Receiver core. Hemingway, Odoms, and Koger are gone and it's up to Roundtree, Gallon, Jackson, and Grady to pick it up a bit. I can see Denard throwing to Roundtree on a post route, or a fade, and Gallon is speedy enough to warrant two defenders. Maybe Chesson catches a few big passes. I think the receiving core is one of the positions where depth is going to hurt the most.

I could make this a lot longer. Things are never finely tuned in the spring game and rumors are always abundant. Remember just a couple years ago when Denard started and Forcier played just a few horrible snaps? Rumor had it Tate did not put in the effort in the offseason, waas called out by fellow teammates, and lost his helmet wings. That turned out mostly true and prophetic, as he left Michigan after Denard became a star that season and transferred to San Jose State, only to flame out there as well. Position rosters are never finalized in the spring game but it does give a good indication as to how things are going to flow for the upcoming season. I think I can say that I'm more excited for this spring game than I have been in a long time.


Photo Credit: Toledo Blade