The Board.

New Information:
MD RB Tavon Austin. Has a top 3 of Michigan, North Carolina, and WVU.
MI DT William Campbell. Sam Webb still thinks Michigan ends up grabbing him (audio). Scouting reports on him and his teammates.
MI RB Teric Jones. Scouting report (same as above).
MI S Thomas Gordon. Scouting report (same as above).
MI WR Cameron Gordon. Sam Webb News fluff.
SC S Devonte Holloman. May make a commitment without getting a chance to visit Michigan. It sounds like Michigan is no longer under consideration, though different sources have said otherwise recently. He’ll stay on the board for now.
FL S Vladimir Emilien. Michigan the team to beat? (audio). He’s deciding November 23rd.
FL CB Jayron Hosley. Doesn’t sound like Michigan is really involved at all. Also, all-access video piece.
MD CB Travis Hawkins. He’s deciding today. Final four of PSU, Maryland, Oregon, and Michigan. Maryland and Oregon are the likely final two there.

Removed:
TX S Craig Loston. LSU Commit.

Etc.:
In the audio above, Sam Webb gives a little treatise on Michigan’s in-state recruiting in 2009. His feelings are essentially the same as mine, in that people are making a big to-do when there is no substance to the “allegations.”
Freep fluff on the senior recruits at the MSU game.

Analysis:
I’ve been wondering for some time if Michigan will get back in on Cameron Gordon, if only to help with his junior teammate, Devin Gardner. It appears as though he’s resigned to ending up at linebacker, though Michigan may be filling up at the position. Who knows how it’ll end up, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Michigan go after him at least a little bit more.

Posted under Football

One of the few brights spots for Michigan on the field this year has been the exception play of punter Zoltan Mesko (it really is depressing to have a hand sign for the punter when he is trotting onto the field 6 times a game). Today, his efforts were recognized, as Mesko was announced as a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Mesko is currently 10th in the nation, averaging 44.64 yards per punt, and if the NCAA released net yards per punt statistics, I’d wager he’d be even higher than that.

Zoltan is also multi-talented, as he took off on a fake punt for 13 yards and a fourth down conversion against Notre Dame, and can do things like this:

Posted under Football

There may be another ITP coming from this game. Stay tuned later in the week in case there is.

The Situation
It’s Michigan State’s first drive of the game. The drive started on their own 17, and despite a big sack, they were able to convert on a long third down attempt, completing a pass to Mark Dell. After a pair of Javon Ringer runs, they face 3rd and 5 from their own 39 yard line. A stop here, and Michigan sets the tone against Little Brother. If the Spartans convert, however, they might be able to ride the momentum to their first victory against the Wolverines since 2001.

The Personnel and Formation

Michigan State comes out in a 4-wide shotgun. White Blair is in the left slot next to Mark Dell, and a tight end (Charlie Gantt) is lined up in the right slot. Javon Ringer is to Hoyer’s right. Michigan counters this formation with a 4-3. Jonas Mouton is head-up with White, and Johnny Thompson is over the tight end. Stevie Brown and Brandon Harrison are the safeties.

The Play

Michigan appears to be running a cover-2 man scheme on this play. Jonas Mouton is the important party, as he is White’s man. At the snap, Dell doesn’t even go out on a route, and instead occupies Trent with a block of sorts. On the right, the other wideout gets an outside release and runs his defender (Warren) off. The slots are making all the magic on this play. Gantt runs a hook towards the middle of the field, and White runs a slant. This is clearly a one-read play for Hoyer, as he never looks anywhere other than directly at White. White makes the catch, breaks a tackle from Stevie Brown, and races to the endzone.

Why it Worked

Jonas Mouton gets completely burned by his man on this play. He gives up the middle of the field, and is left chasing after White. Compounding the issue, Stevie Brown pretty much whiffs on his tackle, allowing White to get behind the last line of defense. Mouton is culpable for the reception, and Brown is at fault for allowing a first down to turn into a touchdown.

Posted under Football

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Texas	—
2	Penn State	—
3	Alabama	—
4	Oklahoma	3
5	Oklahoma State	1
6	Southern Cal	2
7	Texas Tech	1
8	Florida	2
9	Georgia	4
10	Utah	1
11	Ohio State	2
12	Missouri	3
13	TCU	—
14	Boise State	5
15	Brigham Young	6
16	Michigan State	10
17	Minnesota	3
18	Tulsa	8
19	Maryland	5
20	Florida State	3
21	Pittsburgh	2
22	South Florida	10
23	LSU	9
24	California	2
25	Iowa	1

Posted under Football

Going into the Michigan State game, I was not confident Michigan would win, but certainly that they could win. As it turns out, the defense laid a complete egg, and it’s back to the drawing board again. A few random observations from the weekend that was:

• The stadium atmosphere, though it was better than some games, left a whole lot to be desired. Most disturbingly, a rival’s fans got a stadium-wide cheer going in the waning moments of a victory in our stadium.
• The offense still can’t put together four full quarters, but with the defense Michigan has, there really isn’t much of an excuse to lose a game in which we score 21 points.
• The recruiting weekend didn’t go exactly as planned, but it sounds as though most of the recruits in attendance really liked Michigan – with the notable exception of DeWayne Peace. Is a decommitment looming?
• Maybe I’ve just never considered them because I’m friends with a bunch of MSU fans, and those that I typically run across are cordial enough, but MSU fans are really a special brand of pathetic.

And looking forward to Purdue:

• The Boilermakers are probably the coldest team in the conference at this point, with Wisconsin and Indiana finally cracking through this past weekend. The next closest “competitor?” Probably Michigan. Sadly, this weekend’s game is likely a battle to avoid finishing at the bottom of the conference, along with Indiana.
• QB Curtis Painter is expected to miss the game this weekend. Top backup Joey Elliott is out for the remainder of the season. That means OLSM product Justin Siller will likely start for the Boilers.
• If you ask me, Purdue is the closest thing offensively Michigan will play to Toledo (except maybe Minnesota). This might bode ill for the Michigan defense, since it’s a personnel upgrade at nearly every position (except maybe replacing a 5th-year senior QB for a redshirt freshman).
• I don’t forsee having a podcast this week.
• Michigan really needs this game. If they can get a bit of momentum going, they could probably pull off a game or two against Minnesota and Northwestern, as well.

Posted under Football

Basketball prospect Blake McLimans, from Worcester Academy in Worcester, MA, has committed to the Michigan Wolverines. McLimans is a 6-10 big man (a huge need for Michigan) in the class of 2009. McLimans was a weekend visitor for the UM football game against Michigan State, where he decided that he would pick the Wolverines over Providence.

With McLimans’s commitment the 2009 class is now full, and John Beilein and Co. will focus on the 2010 class. For more on McLimans, head to UMHoops.com.

Posted under Football

The Board.

Moved to Committed:
:(

Added:
IL OL Andrew Schofield. ’09 Commit Michael’s lil bro.

New Information:
TX QB Darveon Trahan. Out for the year with injury.
OH QB/Ath Courtney Avery. He’s not projected as a college QB, but he can really chuck the ball.
OH WR Tyrone Williams. Offered by Ohio State.
FL WR Commit Ricardo Miller. Despite the loss, his MySpace confirms he is more committed than ever.

Removed:
FL RB Jakhari Gore. He’s “A ‘Cane at Heart.” At this point, a Miami commitment appears to be little more than a formality.
MD CB Louis Young. Stanford commit.

Analysis:
Yeah, so I was expecting this update to be a lot more substantive, particularly in the “commits” section. Of course, the loss Saturday didn’t help, but I was thinking Marvin Robinson (at least) was all but verbally committed to Michigan. We’ll see how the recruitment for several of the top kids in attendance ends up playing out.

Posted under Football

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Texas	—
2	Alabama	1
3	Penn State	1
4	Southern Cal	4
5	Oklahoma State	1
6	Florida	4
7	Texas Tech	1
8	Oklahoma	1
9	Utah	2
10	Ohio State	1
11	Georgia	6
12	Boise State	7
13	TCU	—
14	Missouri	1
15	Brigham Young	6
16	Kansas	10
17	Minnesota	3
18	Tulsa	8
19	Michigan State	7
20	Maryland	4
21	Florida State	4
22	South Florida	10
23	Pittsburgh	—
24	LSU	10
25	Iowa	1

Posted under Football

Hey, with the way Michigan’s losing commits, maybe I won’t have to do this feature much longer!

If you know of an article that can help out, let me know. I’ll fill in the remaining game articles/stats as I find the articles. 2010 updates will come in the form of a year-end wrapup.

CA QB Tate Forcier
This Week: Scripps Ranch v. Henry. Scripps loses 47-45.
Season Totals: Scripps Ranch 5-2.

Posted under Football

Paul: me: why did you go to state? her: i didn’t want to write an essay
Tim: eye lasers
Paul: so it begins
Paul: yakety
Tim: sparty no
Tim: sparty no x2
Paul: brian hoyer always comes through. now we’ll go 3 and out and miss the fg
Tim: I think he was down
Tim (post Minor receiving TD): really shitty call, but whatev
Paul: i take what i can get
Paul: msu fans are moving up the shitlist
Tim: yeah. they aren’t even knowledgable, which is one of the few possible redeeming qualities. im not used to cocky AND stupid.
Tim: haha one of them just threw a punch and got kicked the fuck out
Paul: connor got into a scuffle… with an m fan.
Paul: mo t: hurt or dog house?
Tim: i think they’re trying to establish something of a rotation
Tim: john thompson isn’t sucking. what alternate reality have we been temporarily transported to?
Paul: 2 minute offense? what?
Tim: in the rare game that we dont score on our first drive, we are tied at half. might there be a little more offense in the tank?
Paul: so second half like wisco or like ill/psu?
Tim: give me somewhere in between and i might be satisfied
Paul: threet can run this offense
Tim: obvs
Paul: brandon graham hates qbs
Tim: Worst kicker in the state of michigan
Paul: evil msu fg hating god?
Tim: i wouldn’t say evil if it’s msu hating
Paul: evil michigan 3rd down hating god
Paul: sparty nothe offense is not inspiring… big play is needed… M needs field position
Tim (re: 3trd quarter music): does paralyzer win this vote if we aren’t playing state? i think not
Tim: i was getting ready to tell you our 3rd down d leaves something to be desired. bg55 bailed it out
Paul: looks like he’s playing for top end draft $$
Paul: impending doom…
Tim: yeah…
Paul: and… doom
Tim: so much fucking doom
Paul: DOOM!
Paul: btw… sparty bob infiltrated the pressbox
Tim: remember the days when only sheridan threw crippling interceptions?
Paul: ohhh last week… i remember thee well.

Posted under Football