2018 Michigan Season thread

[Temp430]

The Sun Belt refs in the SMU game were terrible.  Could not believe the replay refs buzzing down to the field to call Hudson for targeting.  Not as bad as the 2005 Alamo Bowl so I guess they’re making progress.

[CatsbyAZ]

Booting off some points on the Michigan-SMU game from the SoC thread over the weekend, is O’Maury Samuels 4th string RB until further notice?

Samuels played late against SMU and was productive from the two plays I can remember. I know his recruiting profile lists him as an RB, but it seems charging him up the middle late in games is a bit of a waste; his speed and shiftiness works well in space so if you brought Samuels all the way from New Mexico why not try him on some end-arounds or screen passes where he’ll work well in space?

Or is there not enough room in the Michigan Two-run offense for more creativity on the third down? (The two-run offense - think two step dancing: two runs up middle before maybe passing.) Not to be completely dismissive of the offensive staff because they’ve made a good move in finding a home at TE for Gentry (oddly, also from NM).

[Anonymous Coward]

The Sun Belt refs in the SMU game were terrible.  Could not believe the replay refs buzzing down to the field to call Hudson for targeting.  Not as bad as the 2005 Alamo Bowl so I guess they’re making progress.

I didn't care as much about the targeting being buzzed down. Yeah, it's unusual that none of the refs on the field cared but the booth did, but it was a borderline play. I mean, the rules suck, but them's the rules, so...
Anyway: there were several things I couldn't believe from those refs. Almost all of the things I couldn't believe were PI's. I doubt it was personal. I think they just don't see or understand tight man coverage in their Go5 conference. Reminded me of the refs in the MSU@ND game around 2013 +/-1 year.
There was one personal moment though. The cherry on top. It was when the umpire pushed Bush out of his carefully chosen alignment riiiiight before the snap "because that's where *I* stand." It was super juvenile. Until Saturday, that was something that even the worst refs didn't do.

[FearlessF]

imagine if Bush would have given the ump a shove right before the snap because he was trying to play football

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like Vilain recently had a (knee?) operation. Also reported that St. Juste has been lost for the season. Bummer on both. Was important to get BSJ snaps for next year and Vilain is needed this year. I think Paye may be fine, but if not the DE depth is getting scary. Damn.

[Mdot21]

Sounds like Vilain recently had a (knee?) operation. Also reported that St. Juste has been lost for the season. Bummer on both. Was important to get BSJ snaps for next year and Vilain is needed this year. I think Paye may be fine, but if not the DE depth is getting scary. Damn.

feel terrible for him. Vilain was a boderline 5* guy in 247's own rankings. He was just 4 spots away from being a 5* in their rankings. And he was the #5 WDE and the #57 player overall in the 247Composite in that 2017 class. Big-time athletic talent. Injured his leg last year in fall camp got shut down for the year. Sucks to see him injured again this time his knee. They don't need him this year. But they'll definitely need him next. Would've been nice for him to get his feet wet this year. Even if he did, still think he'd be behind Paye and Hutchinson. Both of them look like big-time talents and both so young.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sucks having no idea how good Vilain is. You could be right re: Paye/Hutch, though Vilain definitely had the best recruiting profile and feels like a major 2-year loss.

Totally different player than either Paye or Hutch, though. 

Paye is really impressing me, btw. I thought he was going to be a pure pass rusher. But he's complete. Holding the edge really nicely, and flashed examples of those speed-to-power moves that are getting more and more popular versus Nebraska (popular because they don't risk one's edge responsibilities and really collapse the pocket [and when they get home, they make for just the most badass sacks]). 

So glad his "injury" (hopefully it was just having his crotch stepped on - not fun, but also not longlasting) is being shrugged off as nothing. 

[Mdot21]

Sucks having no idea how good Vilain is. You could be right re: Paye/Hutch, though Vilain definitely had the best recruiting profile and feels like a major 2-year loss.

Totally different player than either Paye or Hutch, though.

Paye is really impressing me, btw. I thought he was going to be a pure pass rusher. But he's complete. Holding the edge really nicely, and flashed examples of those speed-to-power moves that are getting more and more popular versus Nebraska (popular because they don't risk one's edge responsibilities and really collapse the pocket [and when they get home, they make for just the most badass sacks]).

So glad his "injury" (hopefully it was just having his crotch stepped on - not fun, but also not longlasting) is being shrugged off as nothing.

I think Villain will wind up being a really good player. Just had some really unfortunate injury luck to start his career.
IF they can somehow convince Rashan Gary to come back in 2019 that defensive line will be ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

This doesn't really belong anywhere else, but it blows the mind:

Schlissel just announced that Michigan completed by far the most successful fundraising campaign in public university history. Five billion dollars. All donations. 

"Of more than 382,000 donors, 94 percent gave less than $5,000, and more than half made their first gift to U-M through the campaign."

[ELA]

This doesn't really belong anywhere else, but it blows the mind:

Schlissel just announced that Michigan completed by far the most successful fundraising campaign in public university history. Five billion dollars. All donations.

"Of more than 382,000 donors, 94 percent gave less than $5,000, and more than half made their first gift to U-M through the campaign."

Well now that people know donations to UM are really just a shelter to evade tax laws.  

[Anonymous Coward]

Ha, I can't see the emoji or image there. Maybe a wink?

[ELA]

Indeed

[Anonymous Coward]

It's been 15 years to the day. Still remember many of the snaps vividly. Sorry Gophers.


https://twitter.com/MVictors/status/1050014370942644225

[847badgerfan]

Was that Haskin's throwing the ball?