MichiganCardinal

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Surprised by this. They kept him around all of last year. Must not see the development they want. I think this puts Fountain in the driver's seat for the WR3 role. It's him or DPJ, and DPJ has done himself no favors this camp. I like Isaiah Williams for the 5th spot if DPJ gets cut.

It's good to see, but I also think we knew he had this ability. I would probably prefer a headline like "Jake Bates ends practice a perfect 24/24 from 30-39". In a league decided by 8 points or less more than half the time, I think being absolutely money on extra points and chip shots is more important than the rare 60+ yard attempt. If you miss from 64 as time expires and lose, you can probably point to other times in the game where you could have done more. If you miss an extra point and a 30-yard field goal in a game and lose by 1, well.... Though don't get me wrong, the ability to have this in the back pocket is nice to have.

Per Campbell, Mahogany has returned to the team, Hooker won't be able to return to practice until at least Friday (and they're looking to possibly add a QB to the team in advance of the Chiefs game as a result), starters may play a little against the Chiefs but still TBD, and Nate Lynn suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Giants.

Preseason 53-Man Prediction 1.0 Quarterbacks (2): Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker Despite the words by the coaches, I don't think this has ever really been a competition. You can't release Hooker and still keep him on the practice squad. You can release Nate Sudfeld and keep him on the practice squad, and that is what I expect will happen. They like him as a scout team QB, so he's probably going to be around. But I pray I never have to see him behind center in a real game. Running Backs (4): Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki RB1 by committee and RB4 are decided, so this is just up to what they want to do for RB3. I think they will give Jermar Jefferson a long, hard look, because I don't think it's a given that he will make it through the waivers to the practice squad for a third straight year. Jefferson is 24 to Reynolds' 28, but I think ultimately Reynolds' reliability, as well as his contributions on special teams, will make the difference. Wide Receiver (5): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Antoine Green, Kalif Raymond, and Isaiah Williams With the rookie developmental additions, I don't think they will have the luxury of not dressing a WR each week like how they treated Green last year. Plus, no one seems to want the WR5 job, let alone be pushing them to keep a WR6. DPJ was assumed to be the guy, but he failed conditioning and hasn't impressed since. I think he's good as gone. It's probably between Fountain and Williams. The other seems headed for the practice squad. Williams has more upside, so I'll go with him. Tight End (4): Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, and Parker Hesse Unlike the WR room, there is reason in the TE room to justify keeping an extra man. The battle between Zylstra, Hesse, and Mitchell for one or two spots is probably as good a battle as we have in camp. Zylstra is probably the best backup for LaPorta as a pure receiver, especially given the lack of reliability on the depth of the WRs. Behind that, if they keep a 4th, I think Hesse's contributions on special teams, and his pure physicality as a blocker, give him the narrow lead. I would hate to see Mitchell leave though, so hopefully he clears waivers. Offensive Line (9): Penei Sewell, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Taylor Decker, Colby Sorsdol, Kayode Awosika, Dan Skipper, and Giovanni Manu The starting five are the best in the league, but if any of them go down, we immediately have a glaring weakness. Particularly at center, considering Ragnow may be our most injury prone lineman. They're throwing a lot at the wall in training camp but I am guessing they go with their known commodities. Sorsdol is their backup tackle, Awosika is their backup guard with NFCCG experience, and Skipper is their jumbo package lineman. Manu probably won't dress all season and Mahogany will start the season on the PUP list. Edge Rusher (5): Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, James Houston, and Mitchell Agude The depth here leaves something to be desired as well. I think the top four are entrenched, despite Houston's recent struggles. That said, I don't think Houston is guaranteed to dress week-to-week if everyone is healthy. Agude's contrast with Houston likely makes him a matchup decision for Tyrell Williams. Defensive Interior (6): Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Kyle Peko, Brodric Martin, and Mekhi Wingo This seems pretty set in stone after Cominsky's injury. They're not cutting Martin or Wingo and Peko has outperformed them both. I actually like the depth here. Linebackers (5): Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Derrick Barnes I don't see any surprises here, though it's possible they keep a Ben Niemann or Malik Jefferson for special teams. We don't see enough of this to know who contributes the best. Cornerback (6): Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, Kindle Vildor, Khalil Dorsey I will never forgive Vildor for the NFCCG, but his experience by force can't be questioned. He's a good fit as a backup, he's just a terrible starting corner, which is a spot he never should have been put in. Dorsey is a good special teams contributor as well, gaining him a spot as well. Gilmore is the odd man out here, but I could be wrong between him and Dorsey. This competition feels close. Safety (4): Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Iffy Melifonwu, and CJ Moore I don't think the Lions would have brought back Moore after his suspension if they didn't see him as one of the 53 best on their team. They don't have space beyond that, and will hope the UDFAs who have been camp battles will make it to the practice squad. Special Teams (3): Jake Bates, Jack Fox, and Scott Daly I think they're going to give Bates a shot. Not because he's earned it, but because they don't see a better option right now. I hope the long field goal in the rain against the Giants is a sign of things to come.

I'm kind of intrigued honestly. No one has ever told the NCAA to **** off like this so publicly. Most schools just kiss the ring, fake an apology, and move on. The NCAA is probably going to try and go nuclear on Michigan at this point.

Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow are all playing today. I don't get it at all. If they need a quarter to warm up, it should come in September against real action instead of against 3rd string defensive linemen who will be insurance agents in two years. Why bet your entire season on this meaningless nonsense?

Finally got a chance to watch the second half of the first preseason game this morning. Campbell said that he thought Hooker's concussion came from one of his runs, but I think it came from the roughing the passer penalty. He took a shot to the chin on that play, I didn't see any helmet contact on his runs. That said, he needs to get much better at going through his reads in the pocket instead of just taking off when his first read isn't there, and he needs to get much better at avoiding contact when he does take off. Right now, he's Malik Willis or Pat White. He'll be a great preseason QB, because third-string linebackers won't be able to keep up and he can get away with it. But he won't have any sustained success in the league, because he'll be constantly hurt and a defensive scheme that contains his legs will vex him. If he can develop those skills though, I think Hooker will at least be a fine backup, which is all we need from him. Putting him behind an elite offensive line will give him time to make those reads, because he won't be feeling pressure. It will also allow him to make the most use of his legs when he does take off. If he's back there for 3, 4, 5 seconds and nothing is open, he will be able to gain many yards on the ground, because ASB, Jamo, LaPorta, et al. will all be 15+ yards downfield. Hope he doesn't get any regular season action though. Except to maybe take a knee or two when we are up 30.

I think Hooker has backup upside in how different he is from Goff too. If Goff goes down in the 2nd quarter, no one who comes in for him will be able to do what Goff does. But with Hooker, at least the change will force the defense to abandon the game plan they had against our offense. Hooker adds an additional element to the offense.

TP is good. He took a break after the NFCCG and says life has been busy. He’ll be back by opening kick (whether y’all like it or not!!)

The preseason always amazes me as I see how these are allegedly among the 64 best players at their position in the world.

Punting?!?! Instead of a 66-yard field goal?!? Disappointing.

Just how we planned it. Two two-minute drills in one half.

Get... *checks notes* Maurice Norris out of there!

Using a 3rd round pick on a developmental QB is not something I’ll lose sleep about no matter how his career turns out.

I've heard the same. Which makes sense considering he's effectively a rookie. But that's why I would flood him with snaps, because ideally he won't get any in the season.

I expect Hooker will get the start tonight, but it’s not a given. I think they’re treating him like a rookie this preseason. The nature of having Nate Sudfeld on the team is that you can afford to release him at the end of camp with a really good chance he clears waivers and can come back to you as your practice squad QB3. At that point if God forbid Goff does go down for a few games, you can start Hooker, but you can also call up Sudfeld and start him if Hooker still isn’t ready. I would almost be in favor of letting Hooker play all 12 preseason quarters. I doubt they will, but if he is your QB2 (which at least by the depth chart I think he will have to be, unless they carry three QBs), then just flood him with experience. Sudfeld should not be relying on preseason experience to make the roster in his 9th season in the league.

Spent the evening re-watching Lions-Rams highlights and I AM HYPE. Bring on the season.

I think he’s much less of a hot head than he was back in the day. I don’t think it’s humility though I think he’s just aged. I don’t see him getting into an altercation with Jim Schwartz for slapping the dude’s back for instance.

Getting ejected from a joint practice is pretty impressive.

Still, they might as well have him rehab with the team and not just cut him with an injury settlement. If he heals on the same timeline as CJGJ (which is not a given), he would be back by Week 14 or so. All the same I would still probably prefer to see Moseley in coverage deep in an NFCCG as opposed to Kindle Vildor.

They tried but we can’t keep penciling a guy like that into the depth chart preseason. It’s not his fault but even our depth needs to be more dependable than this.

That’s kind of my point. It’s time for the 30 for 30 and Netflix documentary on this. Make the soap opera a profitable drama series. Not time for the NCAA to say “AKTUALLY guyz this is still a very serious situation because they didn’t want to talk to us! 🤓” I agree that Warde should have played nice and blamed Jim Harbaugh for all of these mortal sins the second Harbaugh left Michigan. Probably would have put a stop to the leaks and put Michigan on the road to resolving this.

This is such a 2023 story. Everyone but the NCAA and select rival fans are so completely over this. If Michigan can negotiate any result that doesn’t result in vacating wins or a postseason ban, they should do it. Give Harbaugh a five-year show cause, who cares. Give Sherrone a two-game suspension, whatever. The program needs to move on.

Could be notable for week one if they’re not all back in time. Hutch is licking his chops.