Michigan had a scrimmage yesterday and while the staff continues to operate in "bunker" mode, we have heard a few things from the past two practices.
• Chief among them is that it appears redshirt sophomore tailback Ty Isaac is making a move. In one observer's opinion, "Isaac has been the best running back the past few days" and notes that when he brings his 'A' game there is no one on the team that can match his combination of size, speed, vision and hands.
That said, junior De'Veon Smith is not backing off and classmate Derrick Green has also dialed it up recently. Similar to the three-safety look, U-M is trying out a few variations with Isaac, Smith and Green all on the field together. Isaac is someone the coaches feel is versatile enough to put in motion and utilize in the slot. In that way, he's sort of like a freak tight end that can run through defensive backs trying to cover him and sprint past linebackers.
We still have two weeks of camp, but to see Isaac turn it on is, in one observer's opinion "something that can make this team much more dangerous offensively."
• At quarterback, grad-senior Jake Rudock maintains his lead, but junior Shane Morris is charging. He's playing with an edge to his game, and is displaying the competitive fire that is winning over coaches. In one man's opinion, "if the game slows down for him mentally, and it's starting to, he's the guy."
• Defensively, the front seven remains nasty and we've been told that senior Royce Jenkins-Stone is picking up right where he left off in the spring, simply the most consistent playmaker at the BUCK linebacker position. Senior Mario Ojemudia and redshirt freshman Lawrence Marshall have had their moments, but can't match RJS for consistency.
• The defense appears to be at its best in the three-safety look, with senior Jarrod Wilson, junior Delano Hill and redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers helping cover a developing weakness at the second cornerback position. Again, our source said, "Jourdan Lewis is playing at a high level, but the corner opposite him is a revolving door. If [redshirt junior] Jeremy Clark had been there in the spring instead of just moving over last week, he'd probably be the guy already."
Whatever his reasons for leaving for Auburn, Blake Countess would almost certainly be in a position to start at cornerback had he decided to stay at Michigan.
That's all we've got for now, but we expect to hear some more as the week unfolds.
• Chief among them is that it appears redshirt sophomore tailback Ty Isaac is making a move. In one observer's opinion, "Isaac has been the best running back the past few days" and notes that when he brings his 'A' game there is no one on the team that can match his combination of size, speed, vision and hands.
That said, junior De'Veon Smith is not backing off and classmate Derrick Green has also dialed it up recently. Similar to the three-safety look, U-M is trying out a few variations with Isaac, Smith and Green all on the field together. Isaac is someone the coaches feel is versatile enough to put in motion and utilize in the slot. In that way, he's sort of like a freak tight end that can run through defensive backs trying to cover him and sprint past linebackers.
We still have two weeks of camp, but to see Isaac turn it on is, in one observer's opinion "something that can make this team much more dangerous offensively."
• At quarterback, grad-senior Jake Rudock maintains his lead, but junior Shane Morris is charging. He's playing with an edge to his game, and is displaying the competitive fire that is winning over coaches. In one man's opinion, "if the game slows down for him mentally, and it's starting to, he's the guy."
• Defensively, the front seven remains nasty and we've been told that senior Royce Jenkins-Stone is picking up right where he left off in the spring, simply the most consistent playmaker at the BUCK linebacker position. Senior Mario Ojemudia and redshirt freshman Lawrence Marshall have had their moments, but can't match RJS for consistency.
• The defense appears to be at its best in the three-safety look, with senior Jarrod Wilson, junior Delano Hill and redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers helping cover a developing weakness at the second cornerback position. Again, our source said, "Jourdan Lewis is playing at a high level, but the corner opposite him is a revolving door. If [redshirt junior] Jeremy Clark had been there in the spring instead of just moving over last week, he'd probably be the guy already."
Whatever his reasons for leaving for Auburn, Blake Countess would almost certainly be in a position to start at cornerback had he decided to stay at Michigan.
That's all we've got for now, but we expect to hear some more as the week unfolds.
