People (& writers, it seems) see what they want. @Chase_Winovich crushed Bosa's stats in '17. Same sacks, but over double in tackles—73 vs. 34 (36 vs. 19 of solo); 19 vs. 16 for loss. All in 1 less game & also 2 more fumble recoveries. Somehow not listed.https://t.co/CvP8dFV2v2
"Michigan dynamic defensive end duo Chase Winovich, Rashan Gary has few equals"
"I think they're going to be a big problem for the Big Ten because these are two guys that can definitely get after it," NFLDraftBible.com's Rick Serritella said. "As far as a duo, I don't know if I can think of one that brings more pass-rushing ability than these two guys do."
"Winovich finished with 8 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last season. Gary had 6 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Stats are only a piece of the puzzle in explaining how good these two are and can be.
"One thing I notice is [Gary]'s not a freelance guy," said Ourlads NFL Draft analyst Dan Shoka. "He plays within the scheme. That's what you want to see a great athlete do, play within the scheme of the defense and that's what he does. He's got good hand use, which can improve. It's good but it can get better. He's a guy who played as a freshman and looked good as a freshman, and then last year he played really well. Now he's got to take another step forward and do all those things that increase productivity while playing within the scheme of the defense."
"Shoka and Serritella agree that Gary is a potential top-5 pick whenever he chooses to enter the NFL draft — and could contend to be the No. 1 overall pick. Winovich chose to return for his final year of eligibility. Serritella said the NFL's College Advisory Committee gave Winovich a grade of being selected between the second and fourth rounds."
"Hudson will again be Michigan's most multi-dimensional defender in 2018, as a blitzing coverage nickel linebacker/safety hybrid with sideline-to-sideline run-stopping ability. Last year for the Wolverines, Hudson had 77 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two interceptions, a pair of forced fumbles and nine pass breakups. He attacks the ball-carrier with a no-nonsense suddenness and power packed into his 6-0, 205-pound frame. As a pass-rusher and when dealing with run-blocking offensive linemen, his urgency and springy athleticism allow him to consistently bounce off blockers to stay involved in the play."
"Presumed starting running back Karan Higdon and transfer quarterback Shea Patterson are on the club's radar for the Maxwell, while Devin Bush, Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich all populate the Bednarik list."
"My point is, Michigan's defense this season is fully on the radar and expectations are extremely high for a group that features three pre-season All-Americans: defensive end Rashan Gary, linebacker Devin Bush and viper Khaleke Hudson. Add in a borderline All-American and 5th year senior Chase Winovich."
"Gary, Bush Hudson and Winovich are expected to lead a defense that also returns the number one cornerback duo in college football in Lavert Hill and David Long. In 2017, Winovich, Gary and Hurst finished sixth, tenth and eleventh nationally in pressures. This is an amazing pressure rate that means the Michigan defensive line alone can get after the quarterback"
"Is Michigan's defense as good as the experts think?"
The answer to the question is an emphatic "yes!"
"Michigan Wolverines defense deserving of pre-season hype"
1. TE Mustapha Muhammad
"Muhammad is 6-foot-4, 235 pounds and from Missouri City, Texas. He was the sixth ranked player at his position in the 2018 class, and he looks like he has the potential to be the next great Jim Harbaugh tight end.
The good news for Muhammad's chances are that he plays a pivotal position in Harbaugh's offense. There are multiple schemes throughout the offense where two or more tight ends can be on the field at a time. Muhammad is a likely candidate to fill in one of those roster spots, especially if there is an injury, because of his size and ability to block.
The good news is Muhammad has the versatility to knock defenders on their butts and to be a vertical threat.
The bad news is his position is pretty cluttered. Two of the Wolverines' leading receivers, Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry, will lead the way in playing time at the position, with Nick Eubanks not far behind. So although it is a position of great need scheme-wise, there is a lot of talent at Michigan, which may lead to limited playing time for the true freshman."
[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 19, 2018 at 4:38 PM ]
"Last summer, Welschof and 14 other international football prospects came with Collier for a tour of several camps that included Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Old Dominion and Wayne State. Each player was responsible to pick up the tab for his own travel and hotel costs. Collier, who says he spent about $8,000 of his own money on the trip, recalls that Welschof was dominant: "I think he only lost one one-on-one battle the whole trip."
"Michigan's German D-Line Signee and the Trainer Who Believes Europe Has Many More Like Him"
[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 19, 2018 at 5:22 PM ]
B/R: Michigan has two potential No. 1 draft picks
by Austin Nivison
8 hours ago
"The 2019 NFL Draft may be covered in maize and blue by the time the final pick of the seventh round is made. The defense in Ann Arbor seems to have an NFL prospect at every single position. Of all the future pros on Michigan's roster, which ones won't have to wait long to hear their names called? Bleacher Report answered that with their list of potential No. 1 picks in college football.
Bleacher Report names two players who could go No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. The first player listed, Rashan Gary, is not much of a surprise. He has been generating buzz as a top NFL prospect all offseason. The second Wolverine on that list is a bit of a surprise. Quarterback Shea Patterson is also listed. He's been named as a solid NFL Draft prospect for next year, but he hasn't been included among possible No. 1 overall selections until now."
Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
"People (& writers, it seems) see what they want. @Chase_Winovich crushed Bosa's stats in '17. Same sacks, but over double in tackles—73 vs. 34 (36 vs. 19 of solo); 19 vs. 16 for loss. All in 1 less game & also 2 more fumble recoveries. Somehow not listed."
"Nation-leading five Wolverines named to Nagurski watch list
by Zach Shaw"
9 hours ago
"In the summer of 2017, six Michigan players made a total of 11 appearances on the NCAA's sixteen award watch lists. This season, with five awards to go, the Wolverines have already had 10 players make 16 appearances on watch lists.
Most recently a nation-leading five Michigan players appeared on the 97-member Bronko Nagurski watch list for the nation's top defensive player, as Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Devin Bush Jr., Khaleke Hudson and Lavert Hill all made the cut.
"Individually, none of the five's inclusion on such an expansive list was all that surprising. All five were first- or second-team All-Big Ten players, are likely high-round NFL Draft picks in 2019 or 2020 and made NFL.com's list of the top 150 players in college football. But collectively, the quintet give Michigan more players on the list than anyone in the country, including Clemson (four members), USC (three), Miami (three), Washington (three), Notre Dame (three), Oregon and Wisconsin (three)."
"Ultimately, the watch list (and every watch list) is lengthy and full of speculation, but Michigan's high representation is a further continuation of the national perspective that Michigan can be better in 2018 than it was in 2017. In addition to the five listed, quarterback Shea Patterson (Maxwell), running back Karan Higdon (Maxwell, Doak Walker), tight ends Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry (Mackey) as well as offensive guard Ben Bredeson (Outland) have all landed on watch lists as well."
Lead Color Analyst and former Colorado QB JOEL Klatt
"If Shea stays healthy and if the defense plays to their potential. (If) those two things happen, you have a really potent combination in Ann Arbor. Still might be difficult, but if you have a healthy quarterback (who) plays to his potential, they're going to be tough to beat."
Former NOtre Dame QB Brady Quinn
"Shea Patterson plays the way I think he's capable of. I think if he can throw for 28-plus touchdowns, under 8 interceptions, this is going to be a really, really dangerous team. It will be a productive offense with that sort of balance, and those sorts of stats coming from your quarterback. I think they're a team, that again, because of their defense, they can always rely on that, and the talent they have on offense. If he can play that way, this is a team that can compete for a national championship."
Former Ohio State RB Robert Smith
"If Shea Patterson can provide the type of balance that the offense needs, because all the pieces are there on defense."
Sideline reporter and The Athletic's Bruce Feldman
"If Shea Patterson plays like a five-star guy. I mean, that's a big if.
"I think what's interesting to me here is, Dwayne Haskins, another five-star guy, another guy with a terrific arm — I think there's probably a little more benefit of the doubt for him. I don't think (Ohio State's) defense is better than the Michigan defense. What I do think is, the running backs, as good as the Michigan guys are, I think, maybe, Dobbins and Weber are a bit better. I think the receiving corps is more experienced.
