This Week's Obsession: 2020 Will Thank You

[Eric Upchurch]

The question:

Which freshmen do you NOT want to see burn their redshirts on Saturday?

The responses:

BiSB: The blindingly obvious answer is Brandon Peters, so I'm assuming we won't spend much time on him.

As far as players who might actually play, I'll go with Josh Uche. Sure, Michigan needs to develop linebacker depth in a big damn hurry. And sure, Uche is a crazy athlete and has serious upside as an outside linebacker or weakside end. But he's skinny. Really skinny. He's listed at 6'3", 217 pounds. Remember how we all thought James Ross was too small as a freshman? He was 6'1", 225 pounds. But if Michigan wants some depth at SAM behind Peppers that brings some of the same pass rush and above-average athleticism, Uche might be it. He might be a fun toy to bring unholy brimstone off the edge, but I think an apprenticeship/eat-all-the-sandwiches year would be more valuable.

[Ace is typing]

[Hit THE JUMP to see who wants to redshirt Rashan Gary.]

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Brian: The answer here is always going to be a raw player with high upside who isn't needed next year. Sean McKeon fits the bill. McKeon is an extremely athletic tight end with four guys ahead of him on the depth chart. He enrolled early and there's been considerable talk about him playing, so this isn't me making the bold call that Nick Eubanks should redshirt. He could play. He shouldn't.

He wouldn't help this year, he won't be in the top three next year—don't forget about Zach Gentry—and you might really want that fifth year down the road.

Note that much of my usual redshirt zealotry does not apply this year because Michigan needs a ton of answers for 2017. I will not complain about any DBs or LBs playing. I'd like to get one of the WRs a redshirt but won't stress if it doesn't happen.

[Ace stops typing. Starts typing again]

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David: I would be happy if Michael Onwenu is able to redshirt, especially given the chatter about OL injuries/competition...and the fact the Bredeson will most likely play, this season.

[Bill Rapai]

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Ace: [starts over]

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Seth: I'm generally in favor of ALL THE REDSHIRTS but this year is special in that:

1. It's a peak year. When you have Lewis and Peppers and Wormley and Butt and Gary and all these other guys on campus at the same time you can mortgage some future to maximize the now.

2. Michigan is going to be very young next year with two huge classes between two small ones so some spacing out will be necessary. They don't need to have 58 freshman next year.

3. A lot of these guys are going to start next year. If Devin Gil or Josh Metellus looks like the 2nd or 3rd linebacker/safety in 2017, might as well get him as much experience as possible.

I'd really don't want to see any more DL than Gary though. The forgettable Ron Johnson may be forgotten about for now. Kemp is probably much further along but there are few guys who can do what he can who already took redshirts. And Dwumfour is a guy you unwrap in a few years.

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[Aaron Bills]

Ace: The players I feel strongly about that aren’t obvious redshirts have already been covered, so I’ll mention a guy I’m genuinely torn on. LaVert Hill has a very good chance of starting in 2017, and for that reason there’s a good chance he sees the field this year. It’s reasonable to get him out there in garbage time this year so he’s more comfortable when he’s called upon to play a much bigger role next year.

At the same time, he’s not David Long; he’s got a lot to work on, especially in getting more consistent from snap to snap, before he’s ready to see significant time on the field. There’s a part of me that really wouldn’t mind seeing Long and Hill get a year of separation so Michigan isn't facing the same situation they’re going to face in 2017: replacing both starting corners at once. I’m not sure how much value garbage-time snaps against this slate of non-conference opponents (or, like, Rutgers) is going to provide over simply practicing against Michigan’s elite group of receivers this year. While Long is a guy who seems destined for the NFL in four years at most, Hill isn’t an NFL prototype; I could see us really wishing he had a fifth year if it takes him a little while to work out some of the issues he had in high school.

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Adam: I think we're pretty unanimous in that there's no Dymonte Thomas-level freakout coming if someone isn't redshirted this year, but it'd be nice to get one on Carlo Kemp. If he spends the year bulking up he could move to Anchor (SDE), which is a boon to the depth chart. Next year that position will feature Rashan Gary, Lawrence Marshall, and maaaaybe Shelton Johnson (he's listed at 212 lbs on the roster) with no current commits slated to step in there. A redshirt gives Kemp time to learn another new position (he bounced between DL and LB in spring) and spaces guys out on the depth chart so that Michigan has an experienced starter for two seasons post-Gary.

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Seth: Hill is a good answer Ace but one thing to consider is for the moment at least Michigan is the only non-spread team in its division and isn't itself a spread team. Nickel snaps in garbage time against all those slot bugs would be valuable experience for him next year.

Washington exists or Michigan would have no choice, but even so I can't think of the last time Michigan's 6th corner got a redshirt, and my memory extends back to when split backs was a common formation. So I agree with you but I don't think it is likely.

Ace: There’s another reason I think they can redshirt him: while your memory extends back to when pro-style was the norm, those defenses didn’t have safeties or linebackers you could put in man coverage and feel comfortable. That’s not the case with this team. I’d rather see Kinnel out there as an extra DB in a dime package.

Brian: Yeah, Michigan's got six guys who are CB enough: Lewis, Clark, Stribling, Peppers, Long, and Watson.

BiSB: And for the extra DB-type objects, you still have Kinnel and Khaleke Hudson (who no one wants to see redshirt).

Ace: I also don’t see Hill as much of a nickel. He didn’t stand out to me in run support. I think he’s destined for the outside. Where Michigan has plenty of depth this year.

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BiSB: So, Rashan Gary plays, yes? And we're good with that?

:NO!!!

: I agree. redshirt him.

: Defensive linemen need seasoning. If there's injuries maybe but I'd wait till the Big Ten season to see if he's even needed.

: Yeah. In fact every freshman should redshirt to adjust to college life and focus on their academics. Oh right, nobody but Penn State cares about academics.

: I enjoy cheese.

: Verily, the brah should sit, brah.

: I will concur with this assessment as part of my diabolical plot to convince Michigan to sit this biological freak when they play their biggest rival. And it will work too, or my name's not Wes Lunt, the Half-Mike Gundy Half-Hyperintelligent Duck That Secretly Runs Illinois!

: A redshirt would help him…: MOVE OVER TERRY BRO I'M THE STARTER. I beat Ohio State brooooooo!!!! Also who you calling "brah" spray-tan Jersey Brah? Little sister gonna get murdered in the REAL Big House, which is WAAAAYY taller than their Little $ister House. See what I did there bro? That's a dollah sign instead of an 'S' AND I called them little sister. That's why I'm the starter. 12-0 Go Green!