Recapping 2012 WR Commit Jehu Chesson

One of the biggest needs in the 2012 class was wide receiver and Michigan snagged a good one in Jehu Chesson. Jehu Chesson hails out of Ladue, Missouri.  After the departure of guys like Junior Hemingway (NFL) and Darryl Stonum (transfer to Baylor) the wide receiver position was going to be a big time need for Michigan to fill and Jehu was one of the two pieces that went towards doing so.  Roy Roundtree is the obvious #1 guy but it's really a toss up as far as the rest of the depth chart will go.  Sure Michigan has good receivers in Drew Dileo and Jeremy Gallon but neither of these two guys have good size.  Good short, speedy slot receivers so Michigan went out there and got a guy in Jehu Chesson that's got good height in 6'3" and he can go up and get the ball.  Denard Robinson has a bit of a tendancy to throw up some jump balls so having another receiver that can go up and get it is definitely something the Michigan offense needed.

Jehu is a true freshman this year and these guys don't necessarily get on the field a whole lot at Michigan but I think wide receiver could be where you see some young guys get playing time.  He doesn't have that elite speed after the catch, but he has the ability to go for jump balls, as well as that "no fear" mentality when it comes to going across the middle and catching footballs in that intermediate distance.  With Michigan converting to the Al Borges "pro-style" offense, I think Jehu will be a great fit and was a pretty solid pick up.

Toussaint Arrest Puts Chaos In Wolverines Offense

RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, arrested and indefinitely suspended

As reported earlier this week, starting RB Fitzgerald Toussaint was arrested this past Saturday night on a DUI charge. There were multiple questions up in the air immediately, but coach Brady Hoke cleared some of the fog for us with this statement on Toussaint:

"Fitz made a poor decision and has been suspended indefinitely because of that action. There are expectations that come with being a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan and those responsibilities were not met in this instance. We will use this as an opportunity to educate Fitz and make sure he understands the high standards that we have established within our program."

"Suspended indefinitely" could mean anything from zero games missed to an entire season. This is Toussaint's first offense, so most are not expecting the most drastic of measures, but it can't be shoved out of the picture just yet. Brady Hoke has held to his word of keeping a strong amount of integrity within the program. As he puts it, "This is Michigan, for God's sake."

A Rocky Start - Chris Rock Leaves Michigan

Photo Credit: Freep

     So, you all know by now that Chris Rock has left the team. The main idea from the public is that it was due to lack of playing time. A redshirt freshman last season, he might not have received a whole lot of playing time on the DL this season, when you consider the recruits coming in, such as Tom Strobel, Chris Wormley, and Mario Ojemudia. Rock, a 6'5 ft and 267 lb defensive end from Columbus, probably saw the writing on the wall. Rock is also the 13th player to have left the team since Brady Hoke arrived. However, the frequency of these departures is not necessarily something to be concerned about right now.  Some of them have been pretty solid for Michigan at times, but all left for specific reasons and I don't think Michigan is going to be hurt in the long run by these departures.

The following is a list of other players that have left the program:

• Offensive Lineman - Tony Posada (out of football)
• Receiver - Je'ron Stokes (Bowling Green)
• Tight End - Christopher Barnett (unknown)
• Linebacker - Kellen Jones (Oklahoma, then Clemson)
• Defensive Back - Greg Brown (Findlay)
• Receiver - Darryl Stonum (undecided)
• Safety - Carvin Johnson (Hampton)
• Linebacker - Isaiah Bell (unknown)
• Center - Rocko Khoury (forewent fifth year)
• Long-snapper - George Morales (forewent fifth year)
• Tailback - Michael Cox (forewent fifth year, transferred to Massachusetts)
• Receiver - Terrence Robinson (forewent fifth year)
• Defensive End - Chris Rock (unknown)

     Every major college program experiences some sort of attrition. Look at the SEC and their much bally-hooed (yay, I used that phrase finally) process of over-signing. I know Michigan tries it's hardest to avoid these issues, but sometimes players or recruits can get the hint that they aren't performing up to expectations.  It could be academics. I'll be on the lookout to see if he transfers to play at another school. Until then, I wish Mr. Rock all the success in the world in his future endeavors.

Roy Round"Tree"--Will He Wear The #1 Jersey?

Roy Roundtree has become something of an enigma at Michigan. We never know what kind of player to expect. In 2010, he showed maturity and poise beyond his years on his way to a 72 catch, 955 yard, 7 TD season. Last year, in 2011, he regressed into an almost afterthought with 19 catches. 355 yards. 2 TDs.

After 2010, there were some widespread rumors that "Tree" might earn the coveted #1 jersey. We all know what that means. Anthony Carter, Braylon Edwards, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, and Paul Goebel all earned the right to wear it. The idea behind the jersey is not too complicated.  It's not an official declaration of the athletic department and coaching staff, but it's supposed to symbolize the receiver has become the "best" on the team both on and off the field.  It doesn't separate that player from the rest of the team, or at least isn't supposed to separate them, but it does make them elite. That player needs to earn the jersey, and last season, Roundtree did far from it.

Every receiver has good games and bad. Against Illinois in 2010, Roundtree had 246 receiving yards. That was one of those games during the RichRod era that left many Michigan fans in disbelief. I caught some of the scoring in the end on the radio, shaking my head in disbelief.  While we could score better than we could with Threet or Sheridan, our defense was beyond porous. Racking up 246 receiving yards was great for Roundtree personally, but when you take the rest of the game into account, it's really not that significant.

So where does Michigan turn to in 2012? Gone will be Koger and Hemingway. The only other starting option next to Roundtree is speedy Jeremy Gallon. Gallon can make fantastic catches, but with his size he can only do so much. I've heard there might be some packages involving Devin Gardner as a wide receiver this season. Darryl Stonum has been dismissed from the team, and while this decision hurt our depth; we all understand why Brady Hoke had to do it. There is some new recruiting blood such as Jehu Chesson that can take some heat off the incumbent players, but we never know how that could turn out.

Bottom line, I expect a lot from Roundtree this season. Anyone who knows him or follows him on Twitter can tell he's a great guy. I know he can step up and be that receiver who can stretch out the opposing secondary. Hoke and Borges will probably leaning heavier on the power run offense this season with a bigger offensive line intact. Will he earn the number 1? I have my doubts. However, I also have high expectations and I expect nothing less from "Tree."


Photo Credit: Tony Ding

Devin Gardner...The Wide Receiver?

Right now, speculation is running wild that Al Borges and Brady Hoke are moving long-time Michigan backup quarterback Devin Gardner to wide receiver.  I admit, when I first heard the news I was a bit surprised.  However, upon further analysis, this may actually be a great fit for Gardner and Michigan.  With current projections, depth, and recruits, there are going to be a few spots where Michigan's roster is relatively weak.  The coaching staff seems aware of this problem and Gardner may be the solution.  Much of this shortage is likely due to Darryl Stonum's departure from the team, but either way the coaching staff has to address it for this team to be relevant.

First things first, fans need to realize that this isn't a permanent move.  Nobody on the coaching staff has even hinted that Gardner will not be playing quarterback in the future.  Having said that, it doesn't mean that their minds won't change and that Gardner won't "settle" as a wide receiver on the team.  For all we know, Gardner may turn out to be one of the elite wide receivers on the team or in the conference. I'm not saying he's going to be that guy, or at least not yet, but there is a chance that this move could eventually become permanent.  My gut feeling is that he will "split" time at quarterback and wide receiver.

He's already familiar with the system and has been given several years to "mature" as a college quarterback.  There have been a lot of concerns that he hasn't progressed enough, but there's no doubt that a player should have progressed through two full seasons and three years of spring camp.  At this point, he may not quite be ready to take over for All-Big Ten quarterback Denard Robinson, but I see no reason to believe that he wouldn't at least be manageable in a game scenario.

Working off that assumption, this move not only becomes obvious, but will probably become one of the best coaching decisions Borges and Hoke made over the off-season.  Let's be frank.  Michigan is returning some wide receivers that have had success in the past, but they certainly aren't as proven as guys like Hemingway or Stonum.  Along with that, there aren't very many of them.  The only wide receivers Michigan will be returning next season that fans probably feel comfortable with are Roy Roundtree and Jeremy Gallon.  Both receivers have proven themselves, but they are the only ones on the team with at least 10 receptions last season.

So, where does that leave us?  We have a great athlete that should be pretty experienced at quarterback and a severe lack of depth at wide receiver.  There's a simple solution to this problem and Borges hit it right on the head.  Take Devin Gardner and put him on the field as a wide receiver.  Sure, sitting behind Denard might make him slightly better as a quarterback, but there's no guarantee on that.  Why risk the potential for massive gains for the chance at slightly better play a few years from now?  Gardner would certainly never see the field as a quarterback this season (barring injury), so it makes no sense not to use him in this way.

Now, there is one down-side to this move that should be noted.  If Gardner becomes injured, he will obviously not be able to rotate in as quarterback for Denard.  He didn't have to do it a ton last year, but he did have to do it at times.  This would mean that redshirt freshman Russell Bellomy would have to come in to take Denard's place if he goes out with an injury.  This is obviously a concern.  Bellomy has been credited with developing pretty well, but he's never seen the field during real game-time and is an unknown.

Yes, there is a potential for a down-side, but I think the chance that both Gardner and Denard suffer injuries at the same time is pretty unlikely.  Along with this, Gardner is going to be giving Michigan a great advantage offensively that could take this team to the next level.  He's familiar with the system and losing practice time at quarterback is probably not going to hurt him very much.  Plus, like I said, Gardner may even end up being so good at wide receiver that he decides to stay at that position.  And with Shane Morris arriving next fall, the thought of Gardner moving to wide receiver isn't that frightening.

Obviously, this is a win-win situation for fans because it gives this year's team more potential and may work out best for Michigan in the long-run as well.  Only time will tell how this move works out, but I have high hopes for Gardner and Michigan at wide receiver next season.

Darryl Stonum Kicked Off Michigan Football Team

This picture is fitting with both Stonum and Forcier leaving 

After numerous incidents wide receiver Darryl Stonum has finally been removed from the team.  Although it's always depressing to see any player kicked off the team, this is a little more disappointing than usual.  When Stonum was first recruited he was a highly-touted 4 star who appeared destined for the limelight in Rich Rodriguez's famed offense.  However, once he arrived on campus he seemed more destined for trouble than anything else.

He had a respectable freshman season in 2008 amassing 176 yards for the season in what was a dreadful offense, however, in 2009 he had a breakout year that many will never forget.  Not only did he break the all-time Michigan return record, but he also caught 13 passes for 199 yards with 1 touchdown.  He followed this with another successful season in 2010, but what was most telling about his 2010 season was how it began.

Before the 2010 season he was forced to serve jail time after violating his probation.  Although this is not excusable, it was his first major offense while wearing a Michigan uniform.  He had originally been given probation for a 2008 motor vehicle violation, but one misstep shouldn't be a major ordeal.  Many called for a suspension, but Rich Rodriguez allowed him to play the entire season.

However, when he was pulled over for drunk driving in the summer of 2011.  Many schools seem to ignore these types of violations (cough cough Notre Dame and Michigan State), but Brady Hoke did not.  In a rare move, he decided to red-shirt Stonum for what would have been his senior season.  Some said this wasn't enough or was too excessive, but I thought it was a perfect punishment for the crime.  Stonum deserved one last chance to wear the maize and blue, but he deserved a punishment that would force him to realize his mistakes.  By sitting out his senior year one can hardly say he didn't suffer, but with over 1 year before he would play a game, there was plenty of time to see if his behavior had improved.

Unfortunately, a few days after Michigan's Sugar Bowl victory, Stonum was pulled over for driving to a probation hearing with a suspended license.  Afterward he was ordered to serve jail-time as a result.  There seemed to be a huge call for Stonum's dismissal from the team and Brady Hoke obliged early today when the athletic department announced Stonum had been kicked off the team.

As I said, it's unfortunate for both Stonum, the school, and the team.  Stonum's collegiate career has obviously taken a serious hit, the school's image took a hit, and Michigan's depth at wide receiver for next season took a drastic hit.  With only a few receivers returning next year, losing Stonum could given trouble unless a freshman is able to fill the void.  However, this shouldn't be the first concern.

Hoke made the difficult decision to kick Stonum off the team, but let's be honest, it was completely deserved. There's no way one can justify that behavior and claim they should still be on the team.  Sure the team's ability may take a slight hit for next year, but the move Hoke just made is something that's highly respectable.  Winning the right way is what counts, not just winning.  Frankly, if kicking Stonum off the team costs this team  a chance at winning games next year, so be it.  I'd rather lose respectably than win the wrong way.

Photo Credit: Domenic Centofanti

Wide Receiver Jehu Chesson Commits To Michigan

Today, Jehu Chesson from St. Louis, committed to the Wolverines to become #24 in the 2012 recruiting class.  This is a big pick-up for Michigan primarily because the team was in need of another wide receiver.  Brady Hoke has commented several times that the class would probably be around 26 commitments.  However, with several wide receivers graduating this season and many of the current players being upperclassmen, gaining at least two wide receiver commitments was crucial for long-term success.

Chesson is rated as a three star prospect by Rivals and Scout and is rated anywhere from #82 to #89 at his position across the country.  Basically, this means that he's a solid recruit, but not one that is going to "change" the entire team's dynamic the minute he walks on campus.  Scout says he's "tall and lanky," but needs to bulk up to become a true impact player.  If a recruit has a down-side, size may be the problem most coaches and fans would want because a recruit typically gains significant weight through training camp and their first season, effectively removing the "problem."

With the current depth at wide receiver, Chesson will have some time to develop under experienced players without being forced to contribute the day he walks on campus, which is always an advantage.  It's great to have a player who can make a difference and build game-experience quickly, but it can also be helpful if the player can avoid the limelight in their development, at least for a short-time.  Players like Roundtree, Gallon, and Stonum will be back next year, giving Chesson at least a full season where he could play off the bench or potentially red-shirt, although I doubt that will happen simply because there is some depth concerns at the position.

From all the information he seems to be a very tough and competitive player, which are some of the key aspects Brady Hoke is trying to build into this team.  It is pretty unlikely he'll get significant playing time next year without some injuries to other players, but I think there is a great possibility he will play a decent amount of time and make a few solid plays.  He is a great addition to this recruiting class and will help secure a position that was a big need for this class.  With two wide receivers commitments (the other being four star Amara Darboh), this class is nearing completion, bringing one of the best groups to campus next fall Ann Arbor has seen in a long time.  There are sure to be some huge expectations for this class and players like Chesson.

Photo Credit: Rivals