2015 Michigan Football: Getting Real Real, Real Fast

SoxJox · Feb 10, 2015

One of the things that strikes me about this class is the successful reach into longer-distance markets. Alabama, New York, New Mexico, and Florida (is that a Dean Smith four-corners offense?). I realize Harbaugh had little influence over most of this (although I am quite confident he and his staff spent many hours on the phone to retain previous commits), and perhaps previous-staff turnover will inhibit his ability to extend their legwork into future years in the specific high schools and districts (i.e., his staff will need to begin anew in many respects), but this at least to me suggests that the Michigan brand is still strong across the country, and Harbaugh and staff should be able to leverage this next year and beyond. It will be interesting to see how Harbaugh matches up with Urban, and perhaps to a lesser degree due to market focus, Franklin. And at least for the short term, the in-state supremacy vs. Dantonio, who certainly has made inroads.

sachmoney · Feb 17, 2015

Right now, I feel like it's the Michigan education and the Harbaugh brand that's driving recruiting. I do feel like we're a step behind on a lot of kids because Michigan hasn't been really good since a lot of these kids were 10 or younger. On the plus side, Michigan is still one of the best public schools in America. You couple that with Harbaugh and his staff, and it's the jolt that Michigan needed. After a couple of years, it'll go back to being Michigan again, but right now, I'd say it's mostly Harbaugh on his own pulling recruits, at least those looking mostly at the football side.

Speaking of Harbaugh, Harbaugh is hosting Jameis Winston and Bryce Petty today. Normally, I wouldn't like this idea, since he's our coach and he should be preparing our guys. We don't have any quarterbacks. I actually think this is brilliant on the recruiting front. "These guys that played elsewhere didn't stay with their coaches, they came to see me. Why? Because I know quarterbacks." Hopefully, in the future, Harbaugh won't be hosting other people's QBs and preparing our guys.

Also, Michigan is hosting 6 in-state guys tonight. We don't lead for any of them, so this is a good opportunity to make up some of the gap. Harbaugh gotta Harbaugh.

Zososoxfan · Feb 17, 2015

sachmoney said:
Right now, I feel like it's the Michigan education and the Harbaugh brand that's driving recruiting. I do feel like we're a step behind on a lot of kids because Michigan hasn't been really good since a lot of these kids were 10 or younger. On the plus side, Michigan is still one of the best public schools in America. You couple that with Harbaugh and his staff, and it's the jolt that Michigan needed. After a couple of years, it'll go back to being Michigan again, but right now, I'd say it's mostly Harbaugh on his own pulling recruits, at least those looking mostly at the football side.

Speaking of Harbaugh, Harbaugh is hosting Jameis Winston and Bryce Petty today. Normally, I wouldn't like this idea, since he's our coach and he should be preparing our guys. We don't have any quarterbacks. I actually think this is brilliant on the recruiting front. "These guys that played elsewhere didn't stay with their coaches, they came to see me. Why? Because I know quarterbacks." Hopefully, in the future, Harbaugh won't be hosting other people's QBs and preparing our guys.

Also, Michigan is hosting 6 in-state guys tonight. We don't lead for any of them, so this is a good opportunity to make up some of the gap. Harbaugh gotta Harbaugh.

I'm pretty sure Harbaugh isn't allowed to be working with our guys at the moment. If that's in fact the case, this is about as good a use of time as you can expect. I agree it should bolster our recruiting profile.

sachmoney · Feb 19, 2015

Zososoxfan said:
I'm pretty sure Harbaugh isn't allowed to be working with our guys at the moment. If that's in fact the case, this is about as good a use of time as you can expect. I agree it should bolster our recruiting profile.

Is there a NCAA rule against working with guys who have already declared for the draft? I couldn't find anything and I haven't really heard of any coaches working with their or other teams' athletes. It seems rather unprecedented.

SoxJox · Feb 19, 2015

Here's a November, 2014 memo from Chris Howard, Director of NCAA Enforcement, to athletes with remaining eligibility and considering declaring for the draft or, "testing the waters", as characterized in the memo.

Bottom line, those declaring CAN, under very specific circumstances, remain eligible for NCAA athletics if, in the end, they decide not to continue their NFL pursuit that year, and thus remain under the NCAA's jurisdiction.

sachmoney · Feb 19, 2015

I'm not talking about it jeopardizing eligibility. I'm talking guys that have already declared for the draft. From the memo, it looks like coaches can advise a player, but there's nothing about training or helping them with drills or whatever. Winston and Petty both declared for the draft and went to Harbaugh. They're not going back to their respective schools. They're going to be in the NFL. What if Michigan had a quarterback who had declared? Could Harbaugh train that kid?

The premise of my original statement was based on the assumption that he could. I haven't seen anything to the contrary, but the NCAA is a bitch so it wouldn't surprise me if he couldn't or there was some sort of restriction.

SoxJox · Feb 19, 2015

sachmoney said:
I'm not talking about it jeopardizing eligibility. I'm talking guys that have already declared for the draft. From the memo, it looks like coaches can advise a player, but there's nothing about training or helping them with drills or whatever. Winston and Petty both declared for the draft and went to Harbaugh. They're not going back to their respective schools. They're going to be in the NFL. What if Michigan had a quarterback who had declared? Could Harbaugh train that kid?

The premise of my original statement was based on the assumption that he could. I haven't seen anything to the contrary, but the NCAA is a bitch so it wouldn't surprise me if he couldn't or there was some sort of restriction.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. It was't the eligibility that I was focused on. It was remaining within the jurisdiction of the NCAA and what Section 13 of the NCAA bylaws might apply as far as contact is concerned - and more as it applies to Harbaugh being in contact. Of course, neither of these guys are "prospective student-athletes", which is what about 99.9% of that section applies to. I think your premise and assumption are likely right. And it looks like FAQ #10 in the memo would apply,with Harbaugh acting as an "advisor."

sachmoney · Feb 23, 2015

Just a heads up, Spring Practice starts tomorrow. April 4th is the Spring Game. Looking forward to Harbaugh's first press conference though we probably won't get any details or insight right away (or ever?).

SoxJox · Feb 23, 2015

Wow. That's an early start. By comparison, Penn State starts 3/20 with the Blue-White Spring game on 4/18.

Still, only 15 Spring practices permitted, with contact limited to 12 of those.

sachmoney · Feb 23, 2015

I think a lot of it has to do with Michigan's school schedule. Usually, finals start around mid-April and graduation is usually at the end of April. We have shorter semesters (14 weeks) than normal (16 weeks). This is just a guess.

Zososoxfan · Feb 23, 2015

I never understood why Michigan is so eager to get students back on campus in early January. In my head, it seems like they could save some money by having students return later and running the heat less in January. It definitely sucked going back on January 3rd after having a final on December 19th.

sachmoney · Mar 2, 2015

From everything I've heard with regards to practice, Harbaugh is pushing the guys really hard. The main thing that I've seen with every review or observation is how much more intense things are. Joe Bolden said that you knew what to expect with Hoke, but with Harbaugh, "your guess is as good as mine." I love that. There was clearly something wrong or stale from Hoke's practices. It was reported that Ty Isaac was saying that Michigan's practices were a lot easier than USC's last year. It's pretty clear from everything that I've heard that practices are much more intense now.

Eric1984 · Mar 3, 2015

Zososoxfan said:
I never understood why Michigan is so eager to get students back on campus in early January. In my head, it seems like they could save some money by having students return later and running the heat less in January. It definitely sucked going back on January 3rd after having a final on December 19th.

Yeah - it always felt like I'd never left

SoxJox · Mar 3, 2015

Here are the Spring start dates. Again, start date is subjectively set - with a limit of 15 practices total, 12 of which can include contact.

Michigan: February 24
Northwestern: February 25
Minnesota: March 3
Nebraska: March 7
Ohio State: March 10
Purdue: March 10
Illinois: March 14
Wisconsin: March 15
Penn State: March 20
Michigan State: March 24
Iowa: March 25
Indiana: March 26
Rutgers: March 30
Maryland: April 2

sachmoney · Mar 6, 2015

Jim Hackett said today that the quest to get Harbaugh was called "Project Unicorn." Why? Well, his words are better than mine.

"While there's some fun with that name, the unicorn is about perfection, trying to find something that's perfect," Hackett said in a extended interview on the Huge Show syndicated on radio across Michigan.

I love that. It's a little weird though. Our AD is basically, at heart, Tina from Bob's Burgers.

sachmoney · Mar 9, 2015

WayBackVazquez said:
I don't know if this was known or expected before, but Hackett says starting next year, Michigan will be playing multiple home games under the lights.

I'm open to this mostly because I think that Harbaugh will get the team to a high enough level where this makes sense. It should be better homefield advantage too. Lubing up all day and what not.

Another awesome Harbaugh quote, this time on the Oakland A's:

"The A's to me, the way they compete, the team, the different way they think, they are jungle lions," Harbaugh told the San Jose Mercury News Saturday during his trip to A's camp at the invitation of good friend Bob Melvin. "Zoo lions get tired of zebra after a while and want filet mignon. Not jungle lions."

Let's hope Michigan turns into Jungle Lions.

SoxJox · Mar 9, 2015

Does this mean UM players will begin devouring game officials?

Granite Sox · Mar 12, 2015

Jack Miller announced today that he will not use his final year of eligibility and is done playing for Michigan (has other personal/academic goals to pursue).

He was so-so this past season, but considered the leader of the OL.

Who's the C? Kugler? Glasgow? One of the other G's moving over?

sachmoney · Mar 31, 2015

So Michigan is hosting camps all around the country in coordination with local schools (which is what makes it NCAA-legal). This is a tactic that Penn State used last year and so far Harbaugh has scheduled 6 dates:

June 5th - Prattville, Alabama
June 6th - Tampa
June 7th - Pennsylvania
June 8th - Houston
June 9th - Dallas
June 10th - California

While I'm not sure this will pay off immediate dividends, I love this and think that it will help make ties with schools down there, with payoff coming in the future. It also sounds like Harbaugh may get his first commits for this class very soon.

Zososoxfan · Mar 31, 2015

Do you have any idea if those are open and/or worth attending? I'm in Tampa and the Tampa camp is on a weekend.

SoxJox · Mar 31, 2015

If Penn State's camp last year with Georgia State is any indication then yes, it should be open. However, as WBV implies, I'm not sure you'd get much out of it. It's an open camp - meaning ANY high school player (from any grade - i.e., likely will include numerous HS freshman) and of any quality. They only need to be willing to pay whatever the camp fee is (for PSU/GASt last year it was $50).

Bottom line, these are not camps attended exclusively by the Rivals/Sports247 Top 100/250/whatever, and are not run as an Under Armor All-American game. They are predominantly skills improvement camps. What schools like UM and PSU get out of it is the exposure that they may not otherwise get to area/regional coaches and future potential recruits.

Zososoxfan · Mar 31, 2015

OK, yeah I misunderstood what this was all about. Thanks.

sachmoney · Apr 1, 2015

Here's the potential run down on prospects that may be close to committing, mostly in-state guys from Allen Trieu of Scout/DetNews. I'd watch for the Farmington guys.

sachmoney · Apr 2, 2015

WayBackVazquez said:
Reports are that Iowa transfer and 25-game starter QB Jake Rudock has been cleared to play this season, and is headed to Michigan. This could be big.

Iowa's offense is pretty far from awe inspiring, but getting an experienced quarterback who completed over 60% of his passes last season and had a 16-5 TD-INT ratio seems like a pretty nice get. Harbaugh is very big on taking care of the ball, so Rudock fits the bill. The fact that he has played two years in the Big Ten is another plus. I'm pretty excited about this development.

SoxJox · Apr 2, 2015

Apologies up front...Phrenile's table generator isn't working for me at the moment for some reason, but for comparison, the Yds/Comp and Yds/Att for the B1G top 10 QBs last year:

Cook (MSU): 15.40 / 8.42
Rudock (Iowa): 12.75 / 7.65
Barrett (OSU): 13.14 / 8.56
Nova (RU): 13.62 / 7.35
Hackenberg: 9.76 / 5.11
Siemian (NU): 9.89 / 5.62
Armstrong: (NEB): 14.28 / 7.14
Appleby (PUR): 10.01 / 5.38
Brown (MD): 11.26 / 5.84
Gardner (UM): 10.45 / 6.29

For comparison, Brandon Doughty, the national leader last year (at least in terms of total passing yds) was 12.88 / 8.75

Rudock's B1G rank in Comp / Att / Int (fewest) / Tds / Yds (total) / Yds (per game): 5 / 7 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 2

Bottom line: reason for you, sach, and all of UM nation to be excited.

Zososoxfan · Apr 2, 2015

This 'brings up the floor' quite a bit on this year's team. Either Rudock plays and that's great, or one of the younger guys shows enough to overtake a bona fide B1G starter. Slowly allowing myself to start getting excited.

sachmoney · Apr 2, 2015

Zososoxfan said:
This 'brings up the floor' quite a bit on this year's team. Either Rudock plays and that's great, or one of the younger guys shows enough to overtake a bona fide B1G starter. Slowly allowing myself to start getting excited.

You're only starting to get excited? Did you not hear? Harbaugh!

Hackett had an interview/fireside chat with the Daily. Worth a read.

Zososoxfan · Apr 2, 2015

I think that this has already been posted in here, but I love it unconditionally and it should be seen as much as possible:

https://lockerdome.com/tombradysego/6287116372027156

SoxJox · Apr 2, 2015

Got the tabilizer working (this represents B1G games only)

[tablegrid= 2014 B1G QB Leader Stats ]Rank G Comp Att Int Pct. Yards Yds/Comp Yds/Att TD Long Avg/G 1 Cook, Connor-MSU 8 134 245 4 54.7 2063 15.4 8.42 13 70 257.9 2 Rudock, Jake-IOWA 7 126 210 3 60 1606 12.75 7.65 11 72 229.4 3 Barrett, J.T.-OSU 8 133 204 5 65.2 1747 13.14 8.56 21 79 218.4 4 Nova, Gary-RU 8 122 226 10 54 1662 13.62 7.35 10 80 207.8 5 Hackenberg, C.-PSU 8 158 302 9 52.3 1542 9.76 5.11 4 53 192.8 6 Siemian, Trevor-NU 7 133 234 6 56.8 1316 9.89 5.62 4 35 188 7 Armstrong Jr.-NEB 8 100 200 9 50 1428 14.28 7.14 10 73 178.5 8 Appleby, Austin-PUR 8 137 255 11 53.7 1371 10.01 5.38 9 80 171.4 9 Brown-UMD 8 111 214 6 51.9 1250 11.26 5.84 7 71 156.2 10 Gardner, Devin-MICH 8 115 191 9 60.2 1202 10.45 6.29 5 45 150.2 [/tablegrid]

sachmoney · Apr 3, 2015

Forgot to post these when they came out, the rosters for the Spring Game scrimmage. I give the advantage to the Maize team.

sachmoney · Apr 5, 2015

Did anyone catch the Spring Game? It was a fascinating 7-0 win for the Blue team.

sachmoney · Apr 8, 2015

Michigan is now up to six commits with Brandon Peters, David Reese, Kingston Davis, and Matt Falcon now in the mix, joining Dele' Harding and Erik Swenson.

sachmoney · Apr 22, 2015

Harbaugh's Satelite Camps have pissed off Malzahn and Saban now. I love it.

sachmoney · May 8, 2015

If you guys haven't seen it, Harbaugh Real Sports Feature, Harbaugh Draft Academy, and Ufer Quarterback Club Banquet. He's freaking everywhere. He went to an event promoting college to Detroit area kids with Michelle Obama. He's constantly in the news.

sachmoney · May 13, 2015

Norfleet was kicked off the team. Apparently, he skipped multiple finals. One of the few characters from the Hoke era that I appreciated and I only hope that he can get things straight and get a degree (whether from Michigan or elsewhere).

EDIT: He's been suspended. Not kicked off the team. According to Sam Webb.

Granite Sox · May 13, 2015

Update from later today says he's off team.

Also, Blake Countess announced today he was transferring to play his 5th year somewhere else.

RedOctober3829 · May 14, 2015

Michigan has offered QB Jack Coan of West Sayville, NY(a few towns over from me). He's a dual threat QB who threw for 40 TDs this year as a sophomore. So far he's picked up offers from Maryland, Miami, and Syracuse along with local FCS school Stony Brook. QB coach Jedd Fisch came to see him on 5/8 and the offer came on Monday.

sachmoney · May 15, 2015

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2464735-the-loophole-that-will-allow-jim-harbaugh-to-revolutionize-recruiting

Harbaugh is essentially setting up an Elite 8 level quarterback camp.

tims4wins · May 15, 2015

Am I the only one out there that isn't particularly thrilled about rooting for a Harbaugh led team given his NFL personality, and his brother's possible connection to DeflateGate? I just don't like the Harbaughs, and while I do like Michigan winning, not sure I will be all in.

Edit: been sitting on this thought for a while... just my personal opinion. Harbaughs just rub me the wrong way.

Average Reds · May 15, 2015

tims4wins said:
Am I the only one out there that isn't particularly thrilled about rooting for a Harbaugh led team given his NFL personality, and his brother's possible connection to DeflateGate? I just don't like the Harbaughs, and while I do like Michigan winning, not sure I will be all in.

Edit: been sitting on this thought for a while... just my personal opinion. Harbaughs just rub me the wrong way.

My understanding is that Brady Hoke is a really good guy.

2015 Michigan Football: Getting Real Real, Real Fast

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