Michigan Wolverine football, season 7 under Jim Harbaugh, is up and running, and yeah … there’s a lot of optimism in the building about what’s transpiring. This team is talented, flying under the radar, and hungry …
We’ve heard this all before, of course, but even some of the pessimists in the real ‘Fort’ have noted the high level of play at a number of positions. Linebacker player has been the most pleasant surprise with Nikhai Hill-Green having emerged and Josh Ross playing at a very high level (again — it’s early), and the depth there is solid.
But what of the defensive line? There have been some reports that Julius Welschof has been really good, but he’s still down a bit on the depth chart. Head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t even mention him yesterday when talking about the D-line, which was probably an oversight … however, if he had been standing out, you can be sure Harbaugh would have thought to include him.
We actually saw him downtown Thursday with Aidan Hutchinson, and he looks great. They both do, in fact, and Hutchinson is also off to a great start at his new position. Harbaugh mentioned Donovan Jeter as one who is standing out with his consistency … we’ve heard that before, of course, and we’re going to need to see it to believe it (with no disrespect intended).
He’s in outstanding shape, however, and had a great summer, so that’s a good sign.
All that said …
While Harbaugh says he feels ‘good’ about the line (initially he said ‘feeling better,’ which is a sign in itself (opinion)), there’s still a lot of work to do here, per others extremely close to it.
“The line has its good days and down days. Regardless of what anyone says, it’s just not deep enough along the front yet,” one said.
And while everyone talks about Mazi Smith, there’s still a level of consistency he hasn’t reached yet on a day-in, day-out basis. The guys they need to be ‘studs’ — that would include former five-star Chris Hinton — have another level they need to reach before this line can be expected to hold up against good offensive lines.
The secondary is coming around, and the bet here — Daxton Hill will be playing a lot of corner. That’s because the safeties are really coming around, and the depth there has grown with RJ Moten and Makari Paige both playing at a high level. Brad Hawkins is back there too, of course … while the corners still have plenty to prove, they feel it will be much improved if DJ Turner continues to play at the level he has.
All THAT said …
The receivers have really gotten the best of them, and they are playing very well. Transfer Daylen Baldwin is the real deal, and while Cornelius Johnson and Ronnie Bell have been the best, this guy is going to be fun to watch.
“He’s doing really well,” one said.
“He’s going to be a stud,” another added. “He’s one of those kids that really wants Michigan to do well and cares. All the kids love him."
Again, we’re in ‘believe it when we see it’ mode, but the culture seems to be much, much improved. We credit Harbaugh’s hires for part of that. Mike Hart and Ron Bellamy know what it’s supposed to look like, are preaching it and will accept nothing different, and Steve Clinkscale is a guy who ‘just gets it.’
“It’s like he was born to coach here. It’s like he played here, too,” one source said.
Finally, the quarterback competition has really brought out the best in both Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy. As Harbaugh noted, McNamara is still a half step ahead, but it’s clear McCarthy has closed the gap and is going to push for time. Sources in the building confirmed both have been sharp.
The line in front of them right now would be, left to right, Ryan Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Andrew Vastardis, Zak Zinter and Andrew Stueber. Some still believe the best line will include Zinter at center, but Harbaugh really likes Vastardis. We’ll see how that plays out, but there’s depth here, and talent. Right now, though, they’re ‘just okay,’ and that needs to improve.
So … there’s your dose of Kool-Aid after a long offseason with a lot of negativity coming off a 2-4 season. Not changing the 7-5 prediction, but have higher expectations that this group will be playing some good, sound fundamental football on both sides of the ball and improve as the year progresses.
****
To basketball and recruiting now, starting with the latter …
Four-star Jett Howard recently released his top seven, and Michigan made the cut. Georgetown, LSU, Tennessee and others are on it — and frankly, while it doesn’t matter who else is (he’s coming to U-M), the kid is enjoying the recruiting process, as he should. His mother even responded by retweeting someone’s defense of her son when someone criticized him for “playing games.”
Michigan will continue to look for one more dynamite addition either in the fall or spring period, and many want that to be Yohan Traore, a future five-star. The big man will visit and is very intrigued, and the coaches believe he and four-star pledge Tarris Reed could play alongside each other.
“I’d watch out for teams like Texas and LSU with him,” one analyst we trust implicitly said recently.
But … you never know with Juwan Howard. He’s becoming an elite recruiter.
As for the current team, the offseason cycle is in full swing. The Wolverines have turned the page to 2021-22, and a couple new leaders have stepped up after they lost Isaiah Livers, Austin Davis and Franz Wagner from last year’s squad.
First, fifth-year senior guard Eli Brooks remains a leader, and has become the top voice in the locker room. He’s setting the expectations for the rest of the guys, especially the seven newcomers, a group that includes six freshmen.
“Eli has really taken a leap forward as a leader,” one close to it said. “He’s been really vocal with the guys, just letting the new guys know that,‘this is the way that we do things here; this is how we act.’ Just showing everyone how to go about things as a ‘Michigan Man.’”
Second-year freshman center Hunter Dickinson has also been more vocal during workouts, pushing his teammates. After testing the NBA waters, he came back ready to win for Michigan.
“He was vocal last year, but this year, he’s really stepped up as a leader,” the same source revealed. “You can tell that he has made huge strides as a leader.”
He’s also attempting to take some strides as a player, building on what he did individually in the late spring and early summer. As noted in past updates, Dickinson is working on his outside shot. The 7-foot-1 second-team All-American is also preparing for the double teams he’ll inevitably face once again this year.
“He’s still working on his outside game now and has noticeably improved his outside game — three-pointers, his turnaround little jumper out of the post that you saw a little bit last year,” an everyday observer told us. “He’s working on a lot more stuff out of traps. He got trapped a lot last year, so as a smart player, those are things that you realize you’re going to have to work on.
He’s been working on that, improving tremendously.
“One of the things that I’ve noticed the most is how his body has changed from last year to even now, and it’s continuing to improve. He has really, I don’t want to say, ‘slimmed down,’ but he’s really worked on his body. The amount of lean muscle on him now is noticeable. He realized that, at the next level, he’s going to have to gain some strength.”
While he’s not a returning player, redshirt junior guard and Coastal Carolina transfer DeVante’ Jones is also leading, and he’s taken command of the offense from the point guard spot.
“He’s been great so far. He’s obviously new, so he’s still trying to learn the culture and everything else, but as a vet in college basketball, he’s been able to help the freshmen and coach the guys through certain things,” our source noted. “He’ll chime in and give some pointers and tips, and help the freshmen learn some things.
Jones played shooting guard last season — that’s where his team needed him most — but was a point guard the year prior and averaged 5.7 assists per game. In limited action during the G League Elite Camp in June, Jones didn’t show a ton when it came to passing, but he’s been promising in Ann Arbor this summer.
“He’s a high IQ player, a great passer,” an open gym onlooker said. “You have to be ready for him to pass it, because there have been some times where it doesn’t even look like he can see a guy, then all of the sudden the ball is in their hands. All they have to do is go up and dunk it or lay it in.”
Jones, who registered 7.2 rebounds per game last season, also likes to crash the boards and hasn’t been afraid to get physical, something that has endeared him to his teammates.
We’ve had a lot on the freshmen since they’ve arrived on campus, but there’s been more praise for forward Will Tschetter — ”he’s very skilled and has a high IQ.” Moussa Diabate, meanwhile, is “freakishly long and freakishly athletic.”
“I don’t think anybody realized that until open gyms started and he was catching lobs. Everyone was just shocked with how long his arms are,” one source said. “And his motor — he can sprint up and down the floor all day.”
How many of the freshmen will actually play and reside in the rotation once the season begins (Nov. 9 against Buffalo) or, as associate head coach Phil Martelli has said, “the popcorn is popping?”
That’s going to depend. Guys like second-year freshmen Zeb Jackson and Terrance Williams II aren’t going to back down, but talents like Frankie Collins, Kobe Bufkin, Moussa Diabate and, yes, Will Tschetter may be too good to keep off the floor (Caleb Houstan is likely a starter).
Of course, it’s still early (full practices haven’t even begun).
"There’s skill from the very top guy to the very bottom,” one close to it said. “Pretty much anyone is an option to play on this team. “But it really just depends on how guys progress, because Juwan will only put guys in that are ready from a mental standpoint.
“One of his big things is, don’t mess up plays and lock in on defense. So, if you’re out there, you’re solid and you understand what’s going on and your mistakes are limited, that’s when he will really trust you to put you out there.”
As always, thanks for visiting TheWolverine.com!
We’ve heard this all before, of course, but even some of the pessimists in the real ‘Fort’ have noted the high level of play at a number of positions. Linebacker player has been the most pleasant surprise with Nikhai Hill-Green having emerged and Josh Ross playing at a very high level (again — it’s early), and the depth there is solid.
But what of the defensive line? There have been some reports that Julius Welschof has been really good, but he’s still down a bit on the depth chart. Head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t even mention him yesterday when talking about the D-line, which was probably an oversight … however, if he had been standing out, you can be sure Harbaugh would have thought to include him.
We actually saw him downtown Thursday with Aidan Hutchinson, and he looks great. They both do, in fact, and Hutchinson is also off to a great start at his new position. Harbaugh mentioned Donovan Jeter as one who is standing out with his consistency … we’ve heard that before, of course, and we’re going to need to see it to believe it (with no disrespect intended).
He’s in outstanding shape, however, and had a great summer, so that’s a good sign.
All that said …
While Harbaugh says he feels ‘good’ about the line (initially he said ‘feeling better,’ which is a sign in itself (opinion)), there’s still a lot of work to do here, per others extremely close to it.
“The line has its good days and down days. Regardless of what anyone says, it’s just not deep enough along the front yet,” one said.
And while everyone talks about Mazi Smith, there’s still a level of consistency he hasn’t reached yet on a day-in, day-out basis. The guys they need to be ‘studs’ — that would include former five-star Chris Hinton — have another level they need to reach before this line can be expected to hold up against good offensive lines.
The secondary is coming around, and the bet here — Daxton Hill will be playing a lot of corner. That’s because the safeties are really coming around, and the depth there has grown with RJ Moten and Makari Paige both playing at a high level. Brad Hawkins is back there too, of course … while the corners still have plenty to prove, they feel it will be much improved if DJ Turner continues to play at the level he has.
All THAT said …
The receivers have really gotten the best of them, and they are playing very well. Transfer Daylen Baldwin is the real deal, and while Cornelius Johnson and Ronnie Bell have been the best, this guy is going to be fun to watch.
“He’s doing really well,” one said.
“He’s going to be a stud,” another added. “He’s one of those kids that really wants Michigan to do well and cares. All the kids love him."
Again, we’re in ‘believe it when we see it’ mode, but the culture seems to be much, much improved. We credit Harbaugh’s hires for part of that. Mike Hart and Ron Bellamy know what it’s supposed to look like, are preaching it and will accept nothing different, and Steve Clinkscale is a guy who ‘just gets it.’
“It’s like he was born to coach here. It’s like he played here, too,” one source said.
Finally, the quarterback competition has really brought out the best in both Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy. As Harbaugh noted, McNamara is still a half step ahead, but it’s clear McCarthy has closed the gap and is going to push for time. Sources in the building confirmed both have been sharp.
The line in front of them right now would be, left to right, Ryan Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Andrew Vastardis, Zak Zinter and Andrew Stueber. Some still believe the best line will include Zinter at center, but Harbaugh really likes Vastardis. We’ll see how that plays out, but there’s depth here, and talent. Right now, though, they’re ‘just okay,’ and that needs to improve.
So … there’s your dose of Kool-Aid after a long offseason with a lot of negativity coming off a 2-4 season. Not changing the 7-5 prediction, but have higher expectations that this group will be playing some good, sound fundamental football on both sides of the ball and improve as the year progresses.
****
To basketball and recruiting now, starting with the latter …
Four-star Jett Howard recently released his top seven, and Michigan made the cut. Georgetown, LSU, Tennessee and others are on it — and frankly, while it doesn’t matter who else is (he’s coming to U-M), the kid is enjoying the recruiting process, as he should. His mother even responded by retweeting someone’s defense of her son when someone criticized him for “playing games.”
Michigan will continue to look for one more dynamite addition either in the fall or spring period, and many want that to be Yohan Traore, a future five-star. The big man will visit and is very intrigued, and the coaches believe he and four-star pledge Tarris Reed could play alongside each other.
“I’d watch out for teams like Texas and LSU with him,” one analyst we trust implicitly said recently.
But … you never know with Juwan Howard. He’s becoming an elite recruiter.
As for the current team, the offseason cycle is in full swing. The Wolverines have turned the page to 2021-22, and a couple new leaders have stepped up after they lost Isaiah Livers, Austin Davis and Franz Wagner from last year’s squad.
First, fifth-year senior guard Eli Brooks remains a leader, and has become the top voice in the locker room. He’s setting the expectations for the rest of the guys, especially the seven newcomers, a group that includes six freshmen.
“Eli has really taken a leap forward as a leader,” one close to it said. “He’s been really vocal with the guys, just letting the new guys know that,‘this is the way that we do things here; this is how we act.’ Just showing everyone how to go about things as a ‘Michigan Man.’”
Second-year freshman center Hunter Dickinson has also been more vocal during workouts, pushing his teammates. After testing the NBA waters, he came back ready to win for Michigan.
“He was vocal last year, but this year, he’s really stepped up as a leader,” the same source revealed. “You can tell that he has made huge strides as a leader.”
He’s also attempting to take some strides as a player, building on what he did individually in the late spring and early summer. As noted in past updates, Dickinson is working on his outside shot. The 7-foot-1 second-team All-American is also preparing for the double teams he’ll inevitably face once again this year.
“He’s still working on his outside game now and has noticeably improved his outside game — three-pointers, his turnaround little jumper out of the post that you saw a little bit last year,” an everyday observer told us. “He’s working on a lot more stuff out of traps. He got trapped a lot last year, so as a smart player, those are things that you realize you’re going to have to work on.
He’s been working on that, improving tremendously.
“One of the things that I’ve noticed the most is how his body has changed from last year to even now, and it’s continuing to improve. He has really, I don’t want to say, ‘slimmed down,’ but he’s really worked on his body. The amount of lean muscle on him now is noticeable. He realized that, at the next level, he’s going to have to gain some strength.”
While he’s not a returning player, redshirt junior guard and Coastal Carolina transfer DeVante’ Jones is also leading, and he’s taken command of the offense from the point guard spot.
“He’s been great so far. He’s obviously new, so he’s still trying to learn the culture and everything else, but as a vet in college basketball, he’s been able to help the freshmen and coach the guys through certain things,” our source noted. “He’ll chime in and give some pointers and tips, and help the freshmen learn some things.
Jones played shooting guard last season — that’s where his team needed him most — but was a point guard the year prior and averaged 5.7 assists per game. In limited action during the G League Elite Camp in June, Jones didn’t show a ton when it came to passing, but he’s been promising in Ann Arbor this summer.
“He’s a high IQ player, a great passer,” an open gym onlooker said. “You have to be ready for him to pass it, because there have been some times where it doesn’t even look like he can see a guy, then all of the sudden the ball is in their hands. All they have to do is go up and dunk it or lay it in.”
Jones, who registered 7.2 rebounds per game last season, also likes to crash the boards and hasn’t been afraid to get physical, something that has endeared him to his teammates.
We’ve had a lot on the freshmen since they’ve arrived on campus, but there’s been more praise for forward Will Tschetter — ”he’s very skilled and has a high IQ.” Moussa Diabate, meanwhile, is “freakishly long and freakishly athletic.”
“I don’t think anybody realized that until open gyms started and he was catching lobs. Everyone was just shocked with how long his arms are,” one source said. “And his motor — he can sprint up and down the floor all day.”
How many of the freshmen will actually play and reside in the rotation once the season begins (Nov. 9 against Buffalo) or, as associate head coach Phil Martelli has said, “the popcorn is popping?”
That’s going to depend. Guys like second-year freshmen Zeb Jackson and Terrance Williams II aren’t going to back down, but talents like Frankie Collins, Kobe Bufkin, Moussa Diabate and, yes, Will Tschetter may be too good to keep off the floor (Caleb Houstan is likely a starter).
Of course, it’s still early (full practices haven’t even begun).
"There’s skill from the very top guy to the very bottom,” one close to it said. “Pretty much anyone is an option to play on this team. “But it really just depends on how guys progress, because Juwan will only put guys in that are ready from a mental standpoint.
“One of his big things is, don’t mess up plays and lock in on defense. So, if you’re out there, you’re solid and you understand what’s going on and your mistakes are limited, that’s when he will really trust you to put you out there.”
As always, thanks for visiting TheWolverine.com!
