deep balls

Wait...

Higdon could start? Over Evans? I love Higdon, maybe more than anyone on this board, but that would shock me. At times last year, Evans looked like a potential superstar. And quite honestly, hearing that Walker is slipping is really annoying. Sick of getting underperforming 5* backs. Who was the last one that has worked out for us?

I could care less about Speight's deep ball if the running game can be good. I just want to see our OL punch the D in the mouth.

Monster said:

Wait...

Higdon could start? Over Evans? I love Higdon, maybe more than anyone on this board, but that would shock me. At times last year, Evans looked like a potential superstar. And quite honestly, hearing that Walker is slipping is really annoying. Sick of getting underperforming 5* backs. Who was the last one that has worked out for us?

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Anthony Thomas?

I think we are going to have three backs that get a good amount of carries. Evans the most, Higdon second, and Isaac gets the rest. The Walker news is pretty disappointing.

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Monster said:

Wait...

Higdon could start? Over Evans? I love Higdon, maybe more than anyone on this board, but that would shock me. At times last year, Evans looked like a potential superstar. And quite honestly, hearing that Walker is slipping is really annoying. Sick of getting underperforming 5* backs. Who was the last one that has worked out for us?

Click to expand...

Agreed about Higdon starting over Evans. I know the dude who posted all that stuff is supposed to be highly regarded on mgoblog but he really didn't post anything? It all sounds like gibberish to me and really provided no opinions over players or how they are doing. He just said like oh it looks good! No input on any players really.

dtroitlionsfan951 said:

Agreed about Higdon starting over Evans. I know the dude who posted all that stuff is supposed to be highly regarded on mgoblog but he really didn't post anything? It all sounds like gibberish to me and really provided no opinions over players or how they are doing. He just said like oh it looks good! No input on any players really.

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He writes and posts at Touch The Banner. He knows what he's talking about. He's either a part of the program or is closely connected to someone who is.

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Monster said:

I could care less about Speight's deep ball if the running game can be good. I just want to see our OL punch the D in the mouth.

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His deep ball cost the team a win last year. Makes me still worry about it and how it limits the passing game.

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I can get behind the idea of Higdon getting a high percentage of the Smith carries from last year with Evans getting a slight bump up. I really like Higdon's ability to make the quick cut and bounce off defenders for the extra yard or so. He'd be my clear cut pick if they really need to get 3-4 yards on a particular play. A lack of vision at times is the only thing holding him back. It would also be nice to see him break away more often too, but based on the 40 times they were mentioning throughout the summer it seems like that's just a matter of time.

I really like Evans too, but I think he'll be most effective in the ~15 touch range. I'd much rather keep him fresh throughout the season and hopefully avoid the dings that would slow him down. Isaac will definitely have a role, but if he hasn't grabbed the reigns by this point in his career it's hard imagining it happening now.

The Walker news would bother me a LOT more if they didn't have such a stable. As it is, I don't really care. Hopefully we actually get a deserving 5* in the 2019 class.

Evans is to small to Carry it 20+ per game every game . I like the 15 touch a game model for him. Hate that Walker is not panning out, and Monster is right when will we get a 5 star Running back to pan out again. Hope Higdon is good enough!!!!

Go Blue !!!

Well, let's not all give up on Walker yet. He still has 4 years of eligibility.

I'm more excited about O'Maury Samuels than I am about Walker. Samuels has off the charts athleticism. I believe he had the best SPARQ score in the nation. Hopefully he can put everything together and become a complete back for us.

Has there been any mention of him so far? I've been figuring he'll red-shirt, but maybe he's just too good of an athlete to keep off the field.

This should be a good week for practice notes. Right in the thick of position battles and they'll have more practices with pads under their belts.

deathroh said:

Has there been any mention of him so far? I've been figuring he'll red-shirt, but maybe he's just too good of an athlete to keep off the field.

This should be a good week for practice notes. Right in the thick of position battles and they'll have more practices with pads under their belts.

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No word yet. I think he's going to redshirt unless he happens to be a good KR/PR. We definitely have a huge hole to fill at that position.

I hope we start seeing a couple guys jump out and take the lead for the two CB spots this week. From Brown's comments, it sounds like it's still an open race with up to seven guys fighting for the top 2-3 spots.

thewolverines24 said:

No word yet. I think he's going to redshirt unless he happens to be a good KR/PR. We definitely have a huge hole to fill at that position.

I hope we start seeing a couple guys jump out and take the lead for the two CB spots this week. From Brown's comments, it sounds like it's still an open race with up to seven guys fighting for the top 2-3 spots.

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I was encouraged by Brown's comments. He's not your typical BS'er, so his optimism means more to me than say Drevno's on the O-line.

deathroh said:

I was encouraged by Brown's comments. He's not your typical BS'er, so his optimism means more to me than say Drevno's on the O-line.

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Yeah, I am completely in the "prove it" mindset regarding our o-line. It's been so long since our o-line was any good that I just won't buy any hype. I know our staff will eventually have them back to being great, but I don't think this is the year. Hope I'm wrong.

Nothing new or surprising. And IMO, umbig11 is a solid source. Whatever the connection - grad assistant or training staff - he/she is often right and never gossips or speculates. (Other than an opinion like 'slipping' re Walker ...which isn't inflammatory)

The following notes are from umbig11:

Typical fall camp with things swirling a bit with every rep being graded.

Confirmed starters at WR1 Crawford, WR2 Black, Slot Perry….DPJ then Collins

Two QB reports that vary. One says Speight gave up some of his lead/ground to Peters after week 1 evaluations. Today’s report says Speight back in charge. Looks like typical camp comments to me.

Higdon has taken over RB1, Evans, then Isaac. No other backs pushing for snaps.

Running with the 1’s:

Offense:

QB Speight, some Peters and some O’Korn
RB: Higdon/Evans, some Isaac (Higdon leads)
FB: Hill
TE: Bunting, then a host of others (McKeon/Gentry/Wheatley etc)
LT: Cole (locked)
LG: Bredeson (locked)
C: Kugler/Ruiz (thin lead for Kugler)
RG: Onwenu/Ruiz (slight lead for Onwenu)
RT: JBB/Runyan, then Ulizio

Defense:

DE: Gary/Kemp (Gary owns it; Kemp is a stud!)
NT: Mone/Solomon (Mone leads)
DT: Hurst/Dwumfour (high praise for Dwumfour, but behind a star)
DE: Winovich/Jeter (All Chase)
LB: McCray (fantastic leader and excellent fall camp)
LB: Bush (Huge hitter)
CB: Hill (host of others; thin lead)
CB: Long
S: Kinnel
S: Metellus
Viper: Hudson (zero competition)

Lots of talk about Collins in the top 5 at WR. Watson and Thomas pushing the CB’s
Nate Johnson will be a return specialist.
McDoom is losing ground to the Fr
High praise for Dwumfour, Solomon, and Jeter.
Speight lost some ground to Peters after evaluating week one.
Exit PWO Simeon Smith
Higdon may steal RB1
No worries in the kicking game; figuring out the return men a priority (Johnson will return punts)
Don’t sleep on Furbush or Woods to see plenty of action.

^^^^^^ Nice recap, thanks.

byco42 said:

^^^^^^ Nice recap, thanks.

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No problem, but thanks go out to umbig11 at Touch the Banner. Getting all the info from his posts.