Week 11: Top Performers And Underperformers

Brady Hoke was able to stay perfect at home on Saturday, but a lot of credit is due to a few certain players who stepped up on the big stage.

Of course, where there is good, there is not so good. There was a little bit of that, too against Northwestern. Good thing I'm here to recap it all.

Let's start with the positives. And the good news here: only one player worthy of being labeled as an under performer.

Top Performers

1.    Roy Roundtree - WR

Roy Roundtree just knows when to step up for his team. Devin Gardner stepped into a giant role for the Wolverines in a must win situation, and Roundtree was able to make his job much easier by being a reliable target.

Roundtree caught 5 passes for 139 yards and displayed a little bit of everything we had been waiting on. The speed was there, the hands, the reliability. It was the Roundtree we had been expecting all season, and I think he uses this big performance to propel himself into a strong finish of the season.  

Recapping: Northwestern

Devin Gardner did it again.

We were all counting on Denard Robinson to make his return to the field on Saturday against Northwestern, but that didn't turn out to be the case. Instead, we had to once again out our faith in backup Devin Gardner, making the second start at QB of his career.

This game had a little bit more pressure packed into it, though, as the Wildcats are a rising team in the Big Ten and were still breathing in the Legends Division race.  Still, Gardner went out and made his greatest contribution to the Wolverines in his 3 years of wearing a winged helmet. He threw for nearly 300 yards and 2 TDs, adding 47 yards on the ground with another 2 TDs.

Week 8: Top Performers And Underperformers

Snapping the losing streak against rival Michigan State wasn't a clean cut process, but you can't win in a game like that without at least one key performance. The Wolverines found that key performance in Drew Dileo, but who else contributed? And who wasn't that impressive?

Either Way, these players combined together to end a four year losing streak to that other team in the state of Michigan.

Let's take a look.

Week 7: Top Performers And Under Performers

Our Wolverines were back at it once again on Saturday, and for the second straight week, I've had to spend a good amount of time thinking of possible under performers against Illinois. Of course, there were plenty of candidates for the top performers.

So before I hold you up any longer, I bring you Saturday's top performers.

1) Thomas Rawls - RB

Let the Thomas Rawls hype begin, if you weren't already on the train. Rawls has shown little sparks of greatness throughout the season, and he used 9 carries against Illinois to finally put it all together. Totalling 90 yards, Rawls was the second leading rusher on Saturday (next to Robinson) and made his case to get a shot to start against Michigan State.

Watching Thomas Rawls on Saturday was something truly special. He is a back who has the speed to break away in the open field but can also use his power to pick up the rough yards. That is exactly what this Michigan offense needs, and they might have found it.

Week 3: Biggest Performers and Underperformers

The week three game against Massachusetts was a beautiful things to watch. Everything seemed to be clicking for the Wolverines on offense and defense. This wasn't one of those situations where one key guy led the way to victory, and that is something to be proud of.

There were a lot (and I mean A LOT) of key performances from Wolverines this last week, but we're going to stick to the absolute top, and then also look at some guys who maybe didn't have the performance they were looking for.

Top Performers

1. Denard Robinson - QB

I'm handing out individual accolades for Week 3, and we can finally welcome Denard Robinson to the top of the list. This was one of the most complete games of Robinson's career because of the fact that he was able to get the passing game going, and I'm not just talking about the big plays.

Consistency is the most highly scrutinized aspect of Robinson's game, and it really isn't hard to see why. However, Saturday showed that his so-called "improvement" in the off season was not just a thing of talk; it was real. And we finally saw it on display.

Of course, it isn't a Michigan football game unless "Shoelace" busts one open with his legs and makes our jaws drop in amazement. So he did some of that, too. The running portion of Denard's game is truly what makes him so special.

Week 1: Biggest Performers And Underperformers

While Michigan did not walk away with a Week One win, there were still some notable performances from both sides of the ball. Some were good; others bad.  It will be interesting to watch how these players rebound against Air Force and going forward.




Top Performers


1. Jeremy Gallon - WR

Jeremy Gallon was very impressive throughout the course of the game on Saturday, leading both teams in receiving yards with 107. Gallon looked very comfortable within the offense, which is a great sign this early in the season, and Robinson definitely needs a go-to receiver.

I was most impressed with Gallon's consistency, and he looked to be running very clean routes. Hopefully, this is an early sign that Gallon will become a big part of the Wolverines offense and can make an impact on the outside with his hands and speed.

D-Lineman Ondre Pipkins Suffers Neck Injury

Head football coach Brady Hoke released a statement today (Friday, August 17th) that confirmed a neck injury suffered by freshman defensive lineman Ondre Pipkins, the third significant Wolverine injury this fall. The good news is Pipkins seems to be okay with no serious damage done to the neck, and, according to coach Hoke's statement: "He had movement in all extremities and was taken to U-M Health System for precautionary reasons and evaluation." That is obviously great news, but there has been no time table set for his return.

Pipkins was competing for a back up spot behind nose tackle Will Campbell through the fall, and fellow teammates of his said he was doing a very nice job of competing and that he was learning very quickly in practice.

2012 Positional Breakdown: Wide Receiver

One of last year's biggest strengths for the Wolverines was at the wide receiver position, largely because of the depth and a stellar performer in Junior Hemmingway. Unfortunately, number 21 from last year is no longer at Michigan's disposal to consistently make big plays. It is now up to the lesser roles of last year to step up and make something happen out wide for the Wolverines.

Heavy weights will be rested upon the shoulders of players like Roy Roundtree, Jeremy Gallon, and Drew Dileo. Some of these guys have proven themselves in years past, but offensive coordinator Al Borges will be looking for someone to really step up and do as much as possible to replace the presence of Hemmingway for the Michigan offense.

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.

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. 

Devin Gardner And The Battle For The #12 Jersey

In a flurry of jersey announcements over the past few days, the look of the team has changed quite a bit for fans.  Most of the players will be the same, but their look and legacies will look a little differently for the future.  The biggest announcement, Roy Roundtree being awarded with the #21 Legacy jersey, is pretty significant, but the one that is perhaps the most interesting is the change of Devin Gardner's jersey number.

Gardner, Michigan's backup quarterback since before the 2010 season, has been known to fans by his spectacular talents and by his famed #7 jersey.  He wore the number in high school and continued that tradition when he arrived on campus in the Spring Game in 2010.  The jersey had been worn by many famed Michigan athletes, but was probably best known as of late for being the jersey of Michigan's starting quarterback from 2004-2007, Chad Henne.  Henne holds Michigan's school records for passes completed, passing yards, and passing touchdowns and was only one of three true freshman quarterbacks to start his first game on campus.

Gardner seemed to fit in well with the #7 jersey of Henne.  He was an incoming 5* quarterback recruit and seemed destined for great success under center.  However, with recent news that he's moving to #12, there has been a lot of debate regarding the move and Gardner's future role with the team.  Is this a sign of the position change that has received much speculation?  Is Gardner officially becoming a wide receiver?  Along with this, wasn't Michigan's 2013 quarterback recruit Shane Morris promised the #12 jersey when he arrived on campus?  He, after all, wants the jersey because of his deep admiration of Tom Brady and because like Gardner, he wore the jersey in high school.

Do I think this is a sign of something much deeper?  Not really.  Jersey changes happen all the time and this is no different.  Although it is uncommon to change a player's number of Gardner's age and fame within the program, it's not anything shocking.  Roy Roundtree's number change was obviously something that was significant from its special place in Michigan football history, but it, like Gardner's change, doesn't symbolize long-term change for Michigan.

I do think there could be a possiblity of some future move to add a Legends patch to the #7 jersey for Henne, but that's not something that's going to occur anytime soon.  They have a lot more jerseys to address before they get around to guys like Henne, although his Michigan career was incredible.  I point this out because there may be a desire to make sure the jersey is only worn by quarterbacks.  If Gardner is splitting time next season between quarterback and wide receiver or only playing wide receiver, this may be viewed as something that could tarnish the jersey's legacy in the future.  This is definitely a possibility, but I don't think it's that likely.

So, if this wasn't the reason, why would the coaching staff give Gardner the #12, when Shane Morris seemed to have been promised the jersey?  Well, first, Morris isn't even on campus until fall of 2013.  The team doesn't need to be bending over backwards to be pleasing a high school recruit.  They need to be doing what's best for Team 133, not Teams 134 or 135.  Plus, Gardner would have more seniority even if Morris was on campus.  It's just not something that makes sense.

Overall, these frequent jersey changes are a bit surprising, but I really don't see them as that significant in the grand scheme of things.  It will be fun to see all the changes this fall, but for all we know, it could just be a random whim of Gardner to get #12.  Maybe Roundtree asked him to wear it because he was changing jerseys, or Gardner wanted to 'freshen' things up.  Something like this seems a lot more believable than a massive athletic department overhaul.  Either way, fans don't need to panic about a non-traditional number changing.  I'd focus more on the team's chances next year than a random jersey switch.

Roy Roundtree Gets The #21 Jersey

In a surprising move, Brady Hoke has announced that Roy Roundtree will be wearing the #21 jersey next season.  This is the number that Sugar Bowl MVP Junior Hemingway wore last season and that of famed Michigan Heisman winner Desmond Howard.  The jersey and Howard are most famous for his spectacular "Hello Heisman" play against Ohio State.

According to the athletic website, Roundtree was not aware of the decision and simply arrived in the locker room to learn that his jersey number had been changed.  Since the jersey number had been dedicated to Desmond Howard last season in the Under the Lights game, they asked him to comment and he only had positive things to say about Roundtree and the coaching staff's decision.

We actually broke down a similar topic earlier in the year when we discussed the possibility of Roundtree being awarded the #1 jersey, which belonged to famed Michigan receiver Anthony Carter.  Most seemed opposed to the idea and I tend to agree.  However, I'm less opposed to Roundtree receiving the #21 jersey.  Technically, the #1 has not been honored by the athletic department yet, but all Michigan fans know of its importance to the players, fans, and program.

The receiver that gets the #1 jersey is supposed to be the best the best receiver on the field and someone that can simply take over a game.  Roundtree, although talented, probably does not have that capability.  He certainly can make some big plays and impact the game significantly, but I don't see him having a game like Anthony Carter or Braylon Edwards.  These types of receivers were dominant at the position and controlled much of the offense and game.

However, the #21 jersey has its own distinct history.  Demond Howard obviously was a great player and won the Heisman because of his talents, but I have never viewed the #21 in the same way.  I like that they're keeping the jersey with somebody so dedicated to Michigan.  Desmond represents Michigan and college football on an almost daily basis and has a deep love for Michigan.  Junior Hemingway, the receiver that wore the #21 last season, obviously has a deep love for Michigan as well.  I'm sure everybody remembers his emotional speech after the team's Sugar Bowl victory.

I think Roundtree embodies much of this love for the school and program and I think that's probably one of the reasons they decided to give him the jersey.  Along with this, he seems to be set-up for a big season next year and I think he could play a significant role in Michigan's offense.  Now, the only remaining question is whether or not he will live up to the hype and tradition of the jersey.

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

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.

Ending The Series With Notre Dame

Michigan V Notre Dame "Under the Lights"

One minute and twelve seconds.  That's all it took to decide the first night game in Michigan Stadium history.  Fans had been forced to wait nearly one hundred years to see a night game in the Big House and the game that followed didn't disappoint.  An epic match-up of Michigan vs. Notre Dame gave fans the thrill of a lifetime.  Topped by 21 points in the final 1:12 and a game-winning touchdown by Roy Roundtree with two seconds will live in the minds of Michigan and Notre Dame fans forever.

However, there are rumors swirling that  the athletic department will be announcing tomorrow that the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry will be put on hold, for the foreseeable future.  Obviously, nothing has been confirmed and tomorrow's announcement could regard something completely different, but I thought it would be an interesting chance to take a look back at this rivalry, especially if it ends for the foreseeable future.

Now, one may ask, why?  Why would Michigan and Notre Dame put such a well-known and beloved rivalry on hold?  Well, there's a multitude of possible reasons, but most reasonable speculations seem to focus on scheduling conflicts for Michigan.  As fans have seen this year, by having a guaranteed "home and home" rivalry with Notre Dame on a yearly basis, it becomes very difficult to schedule other legitimate non-conference opponents.  This is because college athletic departments are only allowed to schedule four games a season if they are in a conference like the Big Ten.  The four non-conference games are typically chances for the community and athletic department to make money and scheduling away games during those four games decreases the school's income significantly.

Of course, when Michigan tries to schedule games against teams like Alabama or Notre Dame, they are much less willing to schedule just a road game similar to a team like Western Michigan or Central Michigan.  This desire for home games typically leads to a "home and home." This means there are an equal number of home games for each team.  This seems fair, but it is still a challenge to the athletic department.  For instance, in the 2011 season Michigan had four home non-conference games, but because they scheduled Notre Dame and Alabama for next year, the team will have to go on the road twice (Alabama is a neutral game).  This is a major reason why a school would want to end a yearly rivalry with Notre Dame because it could allow more home games and scheduling of different difficult opponents.

Along with this, there is speculation the possible move is a result of the new Big Ten schedule that will change it from eight to nine conference games per season. This may sound like a minor change, but it only allows teams to schedule three non-conference games per year instead of four.  Since Michigan and other Big Ten teams will have to play tougher competition for another game and will be required to have more road games, having a yearly game like Notre Dame would only allow six home games bi-yearly, something the athletic department does not seem excited about.

Whether this potential change is because of Michigan's desire to schedule other good non-conference opponents or a side-effect of an expanded Big Ten schedule is up for debate, but putting this rivalry on hold is not something new.  For two rivals that first played in 1887, having only 39 games against each other is quite surprising.  In fact, it's because of athletic department disagreements that prevented that rivalry from being played on a yearly basis until 1978.

Since 1978, the teams have played 28 times.  Michigan holds a 14-13-1 record over Notre Dame during this period in a very competitive rivalry.  However, one should notice that there have been 34 seasons since 1978, not 28.  So why did the teams not play six times over this span?  This happened because the series took several "breaks" during this time.  In 1983-1984, 1995-1996, and 2000-2001, the series was put "on hold" and no games were played.  One can speculate on the reasoning for these breaks, but after further analysis, there seems to be a good reason.

In every one of the seasons where the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry was put on hold, Michigan faced at least one non-conference opponent ranked in the top 25.  The quality of the opponent can be debated in hindsight, but nobody can debate the excitement leading up to those games.  For instance, in the 1984 season, Michigan was able to face #1 Miami and #16 Washington in non-conference play and in 2000 the team was able to face #14 UCLA.

I'm not arguing a "home and home" against a team like Oklahoma, Georgia, or Texas could replace what the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry has become, especially with the last few games decided in the final minutes, but it certainly would generate new excitement.  I'd hate to see the rivalry be put on hold for an extended period of time, but replacing it for a two years with a "home and home" against a team like Oklahoma or Texas would be very appealing in my mind.

I find it appealing because it allows Michigan to face new and different opponents without sacrificing the special rivalry Michigan has with Notre Dame.  There's already been three two year breaks in the rivalry since 1978 and another would probably change little more than those breaks changed.  Along with this, players would still be able to play Notre Dame at home and on the road.  These players would miss out on the four year battle most players receive, but they'd get to face a different team like Oklahoma or Texas and still get the experience of playing Notre Dame in the Big House and in South Bend.

So, even though the idea of ending the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry may seem unappealing, one cannot help but notice the breaks in the past and the chance to face a new, exciting opponent.  There's obviously no guarantee of what the athletic department's announcement will include and whether it's even about Notre Dame, but fans should not worry about the future of this rivalry as it will still be strong in the future if past history is any indication.

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

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