Week 2 Notes With Updates On Tweeting MSU Players And Blake Countess

We are officially headed into Week 2 of the college football season. We have an idea on some teams, and others we're still wondering about. Here's a few things to keep in perspective:

1. Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark are back. I don't want the importance of this action to be overlooked. There were many Michigan fans who cried out when Fitz was suspended initially, and even more when Brady announced that he would be also suspended for the Alabama game. Now, did he make the right call? Absolutely. Even with the presence and skill of having Fitz on the field would not have changed the outcome of the game. If he had played one of two things might have happened. We might have had better field position of a couple of series, but still no points from it. Two, he might have been injured. Fitz comes into the Air Force game with a set of fresh legs, ready to take on their defense.

2012 Positional Breakdown: Defensive Back

Michigan Defensive Backs were arguable the most improved players from 2010 to 2011. They were the biggest part of the Wolverines huge turn around through that time, and it was hard to not be impressed with the progress the Defensive Backs showed last season.

Now we are about to begin the second season with Brady Hoke and Greg Mattison heading up the defense that was the statistically most improved unit last year, while basically using the same personnel that embarrassed the program a year earlier. Defensive Backs will once again have a huge influence on how this defense fairs against a relatively tougher schedule.

J.T. Floyd
J.T. Floyd is entering his final season as a Wolverine, and it's needless to say he has experienced a lot during his time in Ann Arbor. Redshirting during his Freshman year of 2008, Floyd did not see playing time until the next season, where he played in 9 games. It was obvious he had a lot of potential to his game; it was just a matter of when he would pop out of his shell and become an impact player. Well, that time has come.

Biggest Performers Of The Spring Game

Now that we've all had some time to sit back and look at the results of the Spring Game, we can take a look at the biggest performers and the biggest disappointments of the day.  Obviously, a lot of this is subjective, considering that Michigan was playing themselves and for every good play there is also a bad play, but I still think it's appropriate to take a look at what unfolded over the afternoon.  I've compiled a list of the players that I believe were the biggest performers of the afternoon.


1)  Russell Bellomy
A lot had been made about Bellomy's performances during spring practice and many described the massive improvements he has undergone as of late.  I think fans saw a lot of that improvement before their eyes on Saturday.  He not only completed a lot of passes and moved the ball, but he also looked poised in the pocket and under pressure, which is pretty difficult for a freshman (he will be a red-shirt freshman next season).

I remember one play that really caught my eye.  He had dropped back in the pocket and several defenders had surrounded him and it looked like he was about to get sacked.  However, he was able to get away and completed the pass anyway.  This showed a lot of confidence for a quarterback that many had forgotten existed until a few weeks ago.  He has probably been the most under the radar quarterback Michigan has signed in a long time.  This is the first time fans got to see him in action, but there was no major response as was seen with players like Gardner in 2010.

I wrote about this a few weeks back, but I truly believe that by the end of next season, Bellomy will have secured the backup quarterback role from Devin Gardner.  There are going to be a lot of people that disagree with me, but I see this for two primary reasons.  First, Bellomy has improved significantly over the last few months and there's no reason to believe that improvement won't continue.  Second, Gardner still seems to struggle with the offense in many situations and I think he is going to be so good if he moves to wide receiver that the coaches will not want to move him back under center.

Bottomline, Bellomy had the best Spring Game out of any player on Michigan's roster, especially considering his low expectations entering the game.  With his development, there are sure to be some quarterback controversies over the next few seasons with him, Gardner, and Shane Morris.

2)  Thomas Rawls

I have been a big supporter of Rawls in the past and he gave me more reasons to continue this support.  He was the only player to score a touchdown all afternoon.  He never truly dominated the game like this stat implies, but it is still something that is worth noting.  He was able to move the ball effectively against the defense and showed some serious speed and ability to evade defenders.

I can remember several situations when I thought for sure that he was going to be tackled or stopped in the backfield, but he would somehow escape or be able to throw the defender off himself.  This is something that's going to get him the extra yards and one of the biggest reasons I'm predicting that he will become the backup running back by time the season ends.  Yes, Vincent Smith is a great player and is very useful in certain scenarios (notably 3rd downs and passing plays) because of his blocking and catching skills, but Rawls has that raw ability that Smith will probably never gain during his career.

Now, don't get me wrong, Rawls is far from the best running back on the field (that title belongs to Toussaint), but I think he's going to be very good.  Right now, he is certainly more prepared than guys like Justice Hayes and I think he's going to continue that during next season.  He's not going to pass Toussaint for the starter position anytime soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if he saw a lot of action next season.

3)  Blake Countess
Countess is the only player I've chosen that was a starter last season.  This isn't because I think the starters performed badly, but rather that their expectations were significantly higher than players like Bellomy and Rawls.  Toussaint had an excellent Spring Game and probably deserved the MVP award (if there was an award), but he should have done well.  He proved himself last season and the Spring Game is typically about players that don't often see the field.  Bellomy and Rawls didn't have a lot of expectations before the Spring Game, which is why their performances were so impressive.  Players like Toussaint would have to do something spectacular to be the biggest performers of the day.

Having said that, Countess played so well that I felt it would be a crime not to include him on this list.  He was the only defensive player to get a turnover against a scholarship quarterback and did an impressive job in shutting down many of the receivers he was covering.  Granted, he didn't have the task of guarding against the best quarterback on the team, Denard Robinson, but he still did a fantastic job in coverage.  I truly think Countess is one of those players that is just going to get progressively better in college without taking those major steps back.

There had been some doubts after the Ohio State game and the Sugar Bowl that Michigan and Countess' coverage weren't that good, but I think he ended those worries when he grabbed that interception out of the air.  Countess is here to stay and he and J.T. Floyd are going to be a great duo during next season.  I feel bad for the wide receivers that have the challenge of playing against them.

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Overall, the Spring Game went pretty well for Michigan and there were a lot of improvements by many players.  There's no way to say whether these improvements will carry over to next season, but players such as Bellomy, Rawls, and Countess have got to have fans excited for not only next season, but the next few years of Michigan football.


Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com

Spring Game Questions? How Will Michigan Be In The Fall?

Yesterday, I was among the 20,000-25,000 fans who attended the annual Mott's Spring Game. It raised a hefty amount for the hospital, which half was matched by the Bean family of Brighton. Great thanks to that family because they do more than some of us wish we could do.

Ok, so 1 short paragraph about the alumni game. Granted, it was raining for most of it but that didn't diminish the enthusiasm that all of the alumni players had. The Blue team clearly outshone the Maize squad, and even when the Maize squad tried to make a comeback, they were uniformly answered by the Blue team. I was unaware Cato June could still move like that!

Onto the major topic at hand. While some of the things I saw yesterday defined progress, I was left with some questions that hopefully will be solved by summer and fall.

1. I'm sure everyone was aware of Denard's lack of playing time and production in the game. Part of this was done on purpose, with Hoke telling him earlier in the spring that if he fumbled one snap, or threw one interception, he would be benched for the rest of the game. Key is he said fumble. Not to say that's a prediction or a prophecy of the upcoming season, but it is worrisome. I, just like everyone else, have heard the rumors of Denard having great spring practices, and working hard on not throwing off his front foot (which we all know leads to disaster almost every time). However, I still am leery. Denard looks to be in great shape and seems to have added muscle onto his wiry frame so hopefully that will help him absorb punishment in the season ahead. Devin Gardner is another story--an enigma really. The incumbent backup to Denard was not on time with his throws yesterday, and seemed uncomfortable being rushed out of the pocket. Last year Russell Bellomy was a freshman, and I honestly have to say that I was impressed with most of his throws. Now granted, he doesn't have the experience that Gardner has yet, but he looked very much in command. He even showed a little bit of skill escaping a collapsing pocket. Overall, I think Bellomy had the better game but I think it's going to take a lot more than that to supplant Gardner as Denard's backup.

2. Defense! Just some musings about the impressions I was left with. I said in a previous article that Floyd and Countess needed to step up. They appeared to do just that, especially with the interception that Countess caught. I was intrigued by Will Campbell, Craig Roh, and Jibreel Black. If they're able to continue the pressure on the quarterback, and cut through the blocks to get there as I saw, I really don't see much of a downward spiral from Martin, Van Bergen, and Heininger leaving.

3. I wasn't excited by Gibbons as our kicker. Yes, he was our de facto hero from the Sugar Bowl, but Matt Wile looked much more impressive with his leg on kicks before the game, and the lone field goal he attempted during it. The kicking game has been somewhat cringing in recent years and I don't think Gibbons will be the full time kicker. Wile needs more experience sure, but as a freshman last year he had some highlights. We need that kickrr to be able to stay close in games against tougher opponents i.e. Alabama.

4. Ah the receivers. Roundtree looked superb, as did Gallon. I saw nothing to separate one TE from another. Maybe Moore can make a go of it, maybe not but that is one position that gives me the willies this season.

5. The offensive line. OK, this one is a head scratcher. What we all saw yesterday was missed assignments and blocks. Quarterback pocket consistently collapsing. Hopefully with our incoming freshman, especially Magnuson and Kalis, we won't see as much penetration as we did on Saturday.
    
Bottom line, the Sping Game was nice. If they were always a sure indication of how the regular season would go, I'd be one of the best prognosticators around. Things are sure to improve over the summer with the incoming freshman class, and with more time. I will say this...with the rain stopping just before the game started yesterday, it was almost an omen. I'm going to call it the Schembechler effect. I know Bo would not want rain on such an important day for the fans. Feel free to send your feedback, for it is with your comments that we are all more dedicated fans.


Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com

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

Get to Know Kendall Fuller

Kendall Fuller

Kendall Fuller, an excellent cornerback out of Olney, MD (Our Lady of Good Counsel High School), is one of the top overall prospects in the 2013 class. He is a 5* prospect who Rivals ranks as 4th overall in the nation. He has offers from over 20 schools, including Michigan, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. He is listed at 6’0” and 185 pounds and also runs a 4.5 second 40. Fantastic all-around for a cornerback. Interesting tidbit: Rivals says Kendall Fuller reminds them of Charles Woodson. 

If you thought his high school sounded familiar, you were right. Fuller comes from the same school Michigan sophomore CB Blake Countess comes from. Although this may seem like fantastic news for Wolverine Nation, it might not be enough to lure him to Ann Arbor. Fuller’s two older brothers, Kyle and Corey, are currently at Virginia Tech. His third brother, the oldest, also played at Virginia Tech before spending 6 seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Lots of people say he’s a lock to Virginia Tech and he is theirs to lose. I am not of this philosophy. I have three reasons as to why. 

1. My first reason is the power of Brady Hoke and Greg Mattison. Defenders love to play for Coach Mattison. All he has to do is show them some Ravens tape. And it's not like Hoke's recent crazy recruiting haul is going to hurt...

Blake Countess

2. My second reason is Blake Countess. Now, Blake is a fantastic player, but I would never have imagined the year he’d have as a freshman. Cornerback is an especially difficult position to play as a freshman, but Countess excelled. Why did he excel? Because he played under Greg Mattison. But more important for recruits is how early he played in his career. Countess started and got plenty of time as a true freshman. And he was great at it! Granted we had injuries (Troy Woolfolk) and aren’t very deep at the position, but it’s still a great sign for incoming recruits...especially ones from Blake’s high school. Blake’s best game came against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl (registering 8 tackles), showcasing his improvement throughout the season and also Mattison’s coaching ability.

3. My third reason is Dorian O’Daniel. Dorian O’Daniel is a 6’1” and 205-pound 4* LB from Good Counsel HS and is a great friend and teammate of Fuller. He will actually be visiting Michigan the same weekend as Fuller. More importantly, he’s a prospect Michigan is going after hard and he has Michigan near the top of his list at the moment. Rivals ranks him 37th in the nation and he has just as many offers as Fuller (more than 20). Package deal? We could only hope! 

Dorian O'Daniel

If we could lure Fuller to Michigan, it would be an incredible feat. Fuller is the third Good Counsel player since 2009 to earn 5* status, the others being linebacker Jelani Jenkins (2009) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (2012). If we were to snatch him, future Good Counsel players could see what we do with players like him and Blake Countess and Michigan could put a stamp on the impressive football school.

At the end of the day, I do unfortunately believe that Fuller is a long-shot for Michigan. His familial ties at Virginia Tech might just be too much to overcome (see Armani Reeves from 2012). I still don’t think he’s a VT lock though. Michigan is looking to get one more cornerback commit. We received 4* CB Jourdan Lewis’s verbal commit on February 18th, and like I’ve said multiple times before, anything can happen if we get a recruit on campus. Luckily for us, he plans on visiting April 14th weekend, the weekend of the Spring Game. 

Fuller has clearly been to Virginia Tech multiple times, whether that’s to visit his brothers or visit the campus, he’s very familiar with the university. However he recently came out with a “top-8” and it consists of Virginia Tech, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Like I said, we need to get him to campus. I think we’ll learn a lot after the Spring Game. He has no timeline for his decision date. Here's to hoping he goes Blue!