Spring football scrimmages are always perplexing to me. It is hard to tell whether all starting players on the offense are playing against all potential starters on defense. The situation in Ann Arbor on Saturday seemed to be a mixed bag. Denard Robinson was sent out with 1st team offense against a mix of backup DB's and the starting linebacker corps., and Tate Forcier was sent out with a ton of Freshman against equally mixed defense.
No one got injured, and I imagine the coaches didn't pull all the fancy plays out of the book. It's difficult for me to place where this Michigan team stands in comparison to last year. I definitely think the team *will* be better. How much better is dependent on how Rodriguez uses the weapons he has, because the team has all the pieces to be good.
Random Thoughts
QBs: If Tate ever gets pulled in a game because of poor play, the opposing team better watch out. Denard looked scary good, and was zinging passes all around the field, and cut upfield if everyone was blanketed. I doubt Robinson would get the starting job, but stranger things have happened. Devin Gardner on the other hand, better not ever see the field. He walked out amidst a rousing cheer, and fumbled his first snap, and threw an interception a few passes later.
RBs: Vincent Smith didn't play, and Mike Shaw and Fitz Toussant didn't really do much. Mike Cox ran in a TD with some nifty moves, so perhaps he will step up in games.
WR: Roy Roundtree stole the show again this year, and he's got the most ability. Jeremy Gallon made some awesome leaps to grab high balls, and Daryl Stonum was a non-factor. The beauty of this group is that there are so many of them, after being thin two years ago, that Rodriguez won't have any problem putting in the right guy for specific plays.
Defense: Hard to judge. DBs looked better, and Obi Ezeh was all over the field. Don't really know much beyond that.
Rodriguez has got to get all the pieces locked in, because this is do or die time...and anything less than six bowl-eligibility-making wins is going to draw the wrath of the fanbase.
2 comments:
I think anything below seven wins before the bowl is going to draw a lot of wrath, regardless. Too bad Gardner looked so bad but I'd be very happy if I didn't choke with fear each time Denard made a throwing motion on the field.
Ha yea. Bowl game or bust this season. To have such a high-profile coaching hire fail to get Michigan to a bowl game for three consecutive seasons would be inexcusable, and I imagine more than the regular Rodriguez-hating crowd would want him gone.
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