Tag: Ben Bredeson

Mock draft watch: breaking down Draft Wire’s latest 4-rounder for the Browns

It’s a great haul for the Browns

The latest mock draft from our friends at Draft Wire celebrates President’s Day with four rounds of 2020 NFL Draft projections. For the Cleveland Browns, it’s truly a presidential haul of talent to help stock the roster for new head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Here’s a look at what the Browns select in the four rounds from Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling.

First round: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

The Alabama right tackle has become a fairly popular projection for the Browns, and for good reason. He’s NFL-ready to start at the weakest position on the team.

There’s no denying the amount of talent this offense has at the skill positions, but it’ll be all for naught if the Browns don’t improve their offensive line in a big way this offseason. Wills has been a fast riser throughout this season, and could easily be off the board by this pick. If he’s not, he’d be the perfect blend of need and value for Cleveland.

Second round: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

Delpit is a player whose stock has taken a real perceived tumble. In mock drafts from the college season, Delpit was often gone by the time the Browns would make their first pick at No. 10 overall.

An injury watered down his season for the national champs, and the holes in his game — namely tackling — got worse and not better when he did play. The elite-level prospect is still there, probably. It would be up to new defensive coordinator Joe Woods, himself a seasoned DB coach, to bring back the playmaking headhunter that dominated in his earlier LSU tenure.

Third round: Ben Bredeson, OL, Michigan

Third round: Jordan Mack, LB, Virginia

The Browns have two third-rounders, their own and Houston’s as a result of the Duke Johnson trade. Using them on Bredeson and Mack helps restock the depth on the team.

Bredeson projects best as a center, though he’s played left guard for the Wolverines and certainly has the power to handle playing RG for the Browns. An Academic All-American, Bredeson has the ability to contribute right away.

Mack is a reactive, twitchy linebacker with excellent blitzing ability and a downhill sense of play. He’s a similar size to Mack Wilson but doesn’t play the same type of game at all; Mack struggles in coverage and doesn’t move as well in space as you would expect of a 6-foot-2, 230-pound LB. Playing them together in Woods’ 4-3 could be a nice blend of talents.

Fourth round: Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU

Yeah, Randy Moss’ son. The guy who thrived in the CFB playoffs at just 21 years old and with limited experience for a guy at a major program. He’s got incredible upside as a supersized (listed 6-3/249) receiver, but he also has pretty solid blocking chops for being the son of arguably the most physically gifted WR of all-time, too.

Detroit Lions All-University of Michigan mock draft

With mock drafts coming in left and right, ever curious to see what if the Detroit Lions drafted from just the University of Michigan? It may not be as crazy as you might think.

Mock drafts are everywhere right now and the majority of them have the Detroit Lions taking either Jeffery Okudah, Chase Young, Derrick Brown, or Isaiah Simmons with their first pick.

After a while, the mundanity can set in seeing the same few players getting slated to the Lions, so we at Lions Wire decided to add a twist to traditional mock drafts by introducing a series of mock drafts that select prospects exclusively from one school.

To kick off the series, we are staying in-state and beginning with the University of Michigan.

Round 1

Pre-combine there may be only one Wolverine that might receive first-round consideration, interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz.

Ruiz has been gaining steam as of late to a point being regarded as the top interior lineman in the draft. He a versatile chess piece having played both center and guard while at Michigan and can fit into any scheme. With his strong mobility in space and heavy anchor, he was the highest-graded pass blocking center in 2019 through PFF. With it looking more likely Graham Glasgow leaves in free agency, the Lions could look to dip their toes in another versatile Michigan lineman to help the offensive line.

The Lions are too far up in the draft to take Ruiz, but if the Lions make a trade and acquire the 26th pick from the Dolphins, the Lions could theoretically take Ruiz to shore up the gaps that plaque the offensive line at the bottom of the first round. If Ruiz has a strong showing at the combine, he could boost his draft stock and go from a fringe first-round prospect to a sure one.

The Lions have a need at Ruiz’s position and he could anchor the vacant guard spot for years to come.

Round 2

I feel like there are two Michigan products the Lions could tag as their second-round pick, JACK linebacker Joshua Uche or receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Uche enjoyed a major rise to his draft stock after a dominant showing at the Senior bowl and Lions fans instantly fell in love with the local product.

He was able to show he can handle not only edge rushing, but play sticky coverage on tight ends and running backs. With his versatility as a JACK/SAM linebacker, he screams fit for the Lions.

People-Jones production in Michigan was something left to be desired considering how much of big-bodied receiver he was but with the low level of targets, it’s hard to lay the blame solely on him. With his size, speed, and ball skills, he could easily be a productive receiver at the next level. Even though his route running could improve, he has the look of receiver coaches who would love to get their hands on.

Even though the Lions have another high second-round pick, one could make an argument for either player to be the Lions’ selection. Uche will help shore up a disappointing pass rush and People-Jones could become a versatile piece in the receiving corps. It would be tempting to give Matthew Stafford another weapon, but the Lions need to look at improving their defense and Uche will help in not only edge pressure, but strong coverage abilities where the Lions lack in their linebackers.

Round 3

The Wolverines had one of the more impressive offensive interior lines this past season and the Lions could look to double-dip into that talent by selecting guard Ben Bredeson in the third round after selecting Ruiz in the first round.

Bredeson might not be as athletic as his counterpart, Ruiz, but he makes up for it with strength and power. He will plant you in the ground and have a smile on his face doing it because he loves setting the tone early. With his strong physicality, he is a great fit in a man heavy scheme perfect for what the Lions what to do in the trenches.

Even though the Lions tagged Ruiz as their first-round pick, the guard spot is in a flux and could use more bodies and they could do worse than Bredeson manning one of those spots or provide a quality backup.

 Round 4/5

The Lions’ secondary could use some help and thankfully for them the Wolverines offer a couple of intriguing options Day 3 of the draft, cornerback Lavert Hill and linebacker/safety Khaleke Hudson.

Hill’s skill set allows him to play outside, but because of his size, he is more favored to play in the slot. Having only one season of starter experience his production is minimal, but between his sticky man coverage, strength, and ball skills, he could be a diamond in the rough in the later round. The Lions could use him a potential prodigy to Coleman and provide depth on the outside in case of injuries.

Hudson is going to be one of the player’s teams might not know how to use him having played the VIPER position during his Michigan tenure. Essentially think of Hudson as a poor man’s Isiah Simmions, a free-roaming defensive chess piece, having logged snaps at off-ball linebacker, edge defender, slot corner, box safety, and deep safety. If a smart team can get ahold of him and figure out the best way to use the versatile defender they could have a player who can match up well against offenses. Since the Lions love versatile players, Hudson could match up well, starting on special teams, but could work his way to defensive snaps.

With their second fifth-round pick, the Lions might have to reach a little bit to grab a Michigan player, but tight end Sean McKeon could match up well in the Lions offense. McKeon is of those versatile tight ends who could be a three-down player with strong skills at catching and blocking. He is a technical, smart player who understands how to use leverage to his advantage and either seal off defenders or find the open spot for the catch.

The Lions likely aren’t looking for a top tight end after taking T.J Hockenson in the first round last year and signing Jesse James to a big contract, but McKeon could be one of those players who can sneak in and provide quality play as a TE3 for the Lions.

Round 6

Late in this draft, you aren’t looking for someone to contribute immediately, but the Lions could select this once highly regarded prospect who they got a first-hand look at the Senior Bowl, quarterback Shea Patterson.

Even though Patterson showed good mobility and arm strength, accuracy has plagued him constantly. He has the ability to extend plays but might tend to panic quickly and take off if his first read isn’t available or take the check down option. Patterson does have the tangibles to slide into a backup role and maybe, with some good coaching, groom into something bigger. Since the Lions were able to coach Patterson at the Senior Bowl, they know what they are getting with him and possibly vision a role for him.

Summary

Here is how the Lions draft could shape up with all Michigan players:

Late 1st- Cesar Ruiz, C
2nd- Joshua Uche, JACK
3rd- Ben Bredeson, G
4th- Lavert Hall, CB
5th- Khaleke Hudson, LB/S
5th- Sean McKeon, TE
6th- Shea Patterson, QB

Now some of the players may be reaches at this time, but with the Combine still to go, it is hard to tell how the draft will play out. Uche, Bredeson, Hudson, McKeon, and previously mentioned Patterson all participated at the Senior Bowl, so the Lions got a personal look at the majority of these players and General Manager Bob Quinn love drafting from the Senior bowl.

The University of Michigan will be well represented with the second most participating players giving the Lions another opportunity to get a first-hand look at the players. So it’s not out of the realm of possibilities to see some of these players finding their way on the Lions roster come draft day.

Michigan second-most with 11 NFL Scouting Combine invites

The Wolverines have the second-most players invited to Indianapolis of any school in college football.

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NFL mock drafts have been all across the board as it pertains to Michigan. But it’s undeniable that the Wolverines has talent in 2019.

The maize and blue lost two draft-eligible juniors who declared, but also have nine seniors that very well could find their name picked come April in the NFL Draft.

But the road to Las Vegas starts later this month in Indianapolis with the annual NFL Scouting Combine, and the Wolverines boast the second-most invitees, tied with Ohio State with 11, but behind LSU who has 16.

That said, there’s a strong case to be made that all 11 could be drafted.

While most mocks to this point don’t include any now-former Michigan players in the first-round, we’ve seen some with center Cesar Ruiz near the tail end, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Josh Uche makes a push.

Here’s all 11 invitees:

  • Ben Bredeson, OL
  • Lavert Hill, DB
  • Khaleke Hudson, LB
  • Sean McKeon, TE
  • Josh Metellus, DB
  • Michael Onwenu, OL
  • Shea Patterson, QB
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR
  • Cesar Ruiz, OL
  • Jon Runyan Jr., OL
  • Josh Uche, LB

7-round NFL mock draft sees 8 Wolverines picked

The site predicts all seven rounds of the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft and has 8 Wolverines going to the league formally.

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It seemed obvious coming out of the 2016 season that Michigan was going to have a bevy of NFL Draft picks. 11 selections later, the Wolverines led all teams with players coming out of Ann Arbor headed to the pro ranks.

It’s been slim pickings since then, with just a handful of former Michigan players going each year, but the 2020 NFL Draft looks like it could certainly have a maize and blue flair.

At least according to Bleacher Report.

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NFL Draft prognosticator Matt Miller put together his post-Super Bowl seven-round mock draft this week, and an astonishing eight Wolverines made the class of 256 players selected overall, including one surprise going in the first-round.

Miller explained why he has former Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, who left a year of eligibility on the table, picked 31st overall by the NFL runner-up San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers clearly have a defense talented enough to win the big games and have promising young players on offense, led by Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Up next to improve is the interior offensive line.

Cesar Ruiz is the draft’s best center and has shown the ability to handle power and speed on the inside. He’s smart, athletic and versatile enough to handle the 49ers’ zone-blocking scheme at any inside spot.

Here’s all of the Michigan picks as predicted by Miller:

  • 31, (1): OC Cesar Ruiz, San Francisco 49ers
  • 44, (2): WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Indianapolis Colts
  • 70, (3): EDGE Josh Uche, Miami Dolphins
  • 100, (3): OL Ben Bredeson, Seattle Seahawks
  • 171, (5): LB Khaleke Hudson, Baltimore Ravens
  • 207. (6): TE Sean McKeon, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • 216, (7): S Josh Metellus, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 228, (7): CB Lavert Hill, Indianapolis Colts

There are two notable omissions here, of course. Miller has QB Shea Patterson and OL Michael Onwenu both as undrafted in his seven-round mock — though it’s likely that one or both could be late-round picks by an NFL franchise.

Of course, we’ll have a better idea later this month when the NFL Scouting Combine kicks off, putting much more of the upcoming draft in perspective.

PFF: One Wolverine makes top 10 interior OL on NFL Draft board

The junior makes the scouting website’s list for best interior offensive linemen available for the NFL Draft.

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Michigan is losing the bulk of its offensive line, in more ways than one.

With three seniors and one early-entrant, four of the five offensive linemen from 2019 are gone, with eyes on the NFL. Some have better chances than others to be selected in the April NFL Draft in Las Vegas, and with excellent showings in the post-season all-star bowl games, both left guard Ben Bredeson and right guard Michael Onwenu both put in bids to be among the selectees called to the stage in two months.

But neither are the ones scouting website Pro Football Focus forecasts among their top ten offensive linemen entering the draft.

That distinction goes to junior center Cesar Ruiz, a two-year starter at the position who decided shortly after the VRBO Citrus Bowl that he would forgo his final year in maize and blue. When it comes to interior linemen, Ruiz is the only junior included in PFF’s list.

9. CESAR RUIZ, MICHIGAN

Draft Board Rank: 94th

The lone true junior on this list, Ruiz declared early because he’s already shown all the physical tools needed to succeed at center in the NFL. He’s so graceful for a 6-foot-4, 320-pound center that you often forget just how big he really is when watching his tape. He’s still not quite a power player, though, as indicated by his 64.9 run-blocking grade from last year, but at only 20 years of age, he could still develop a good deal physically.

While we’re not doubting that Ruiz could go as high as the second or third-round, it seems unlikely that both Bredeson and Onwenu didn’t help their cases for high draft inclusion with their showings this past month. Also, PFF’s lack of placing either is surprising, given the praise they’ve shown both throughout the year, given that both were exceptional in pass blocking in 2019.

6 more players the Jets should target at the Senior Bowl

Florida’s Van Jefferson and Michigan’s Josh Uche are among prospects at the Senior Bowl that the Jets should prioritize come April.

While this Senior Bowl class isn’t the deepest one in recent memory, that still doesn’t mean that there aren’t players worth targeting in Mobile.

We already highlighted six players that the Jets should keep an eye on down in Alabama. Well, now we are highlighting six more.

Certain players have been flashing this week and evaluators believe that several Senior Bowl participants have improved their draft stock with their performance in practice this. Let’s take a look at a few more names the Jets will want to consider with game day here.

WR Van Jefferson – Florida

(Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports)

This one seems like a no brainer, as Van Jefferson is the son of Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

The former Florida Gator was named one of the South Squad offensive practice players of the week, as voted on by the position group they competed against in practice.

In all three days of practice, Jefferson consistently stood out in one-on-one drills. He showed his ability to create separation with his flexibility as a receiver. His route running ability has opened some eyes, too.

Being the son of a 13-year NFL receiver seems to be paying off for Jefferson.

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Four Wolverines make Mel Kiper’s top 10 NFL Draft big board by position

Several Wolverines are standing out early in the eyes of the NFL Draft guru.

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The Wolverines looking to make a name for themselves ahead of the NFL Draft in April have a big week to do just that, given the Reese’s Senior Bowl practices have been underway with plenty of scouts in attendance.

But, it’s not all about the seniors who are departing Ann Arbor, but some of the juniors who don’t get to participate in such a showcase.

The prominent voice in all-things NFL Draft is ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who just released his first mock draft and big board for 2020. While no Michigan players made either the first round of 32 or Kiper’s top 25 players, he did separate the top ten players available by position, and four former Wolverines made those lists, including one at the very top.

The name that was highest for Kiper was former team captain Ben Bredeson, who headlined his top ten offensive guards available, coming in at the No. 1 spot. But he isn’t the only offensive lineman to get strong consideration as center Cesar Ruiz — who is forgoing his senior year to enter the pro ranks — came in as Kiper’s third-best center.

The other two players that Kiper is high on are both senior defensive players, as Josh Metellus came in as the No. 8 safety. Josh Uche had another year of eligibility, despite being in Ann Arbor for four years, and Kiper sees him as the 7th-best outside linebacker.

However, Uche can really make a name for himself at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he’s already made a strong impression during practices.

Notably absent in the lists are both senior QB Shea Patterson — who’s had an up-and-down go of things in the week-long preparation for the Reese’s Senior Bowl — but perhaps more notably wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones, who declared for the NFL Draft early, despite having another year of eligibility. Given that he had a year where he could improve his draft stock, that he isn’t on Kiper’s list of top ten wide receivers as of current means that Peoples-Jones will have to rely heavily on both the NFL Scouting Combine and his Pro Day workout to fly up draft boards.

QB Justin Herbert headlines potential Chargers who shined on Day 1 of 2020 Senior Bowl practices

Quarterback Justin Herbert was one of many players that should’ve drew the attention of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Day 1 of the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl is officially in the rearview.

This morning kicked off with the annual weigh-ins, which was followed up with media day where analysts, reporters and writers got the opportunity to speak with players before they took the field for the first day of practice.

The South Team made their way out to the big room first, and after about 20 minutes, out came Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. The 6-foot-6 and 227 pound signal-caller was immediately bombarded by the media, where he was hit with a slew of questions.

One of the questions that Herbert was asked really stood out. He was asked what NFL teams told him they wanted to see this week. There was no mention of polishing things when it comes to his play on the field. Instead, Herbert said one word: “Leadership.”

“I think people are worried about leadership and me being a pretty quiet guy. But I would say that I’m not too quiet. Unfortunately, I’ll talk your ear off. There are these things that I want to be transparent with and give a good representation of myself.

I’m not an introvert. I think that’s one of the things that I don’t think people have the right idea about me and I would say that it’s not fairly accurate and when I get into the huddle, when I get around the team it’s a little bit different and the guys would say that, the coaches would say that and I think they’d agree with me on that.

I think I’m somewhere in the middle (of introvert and extrovert) and there’s shades of both in me. That’s something I’ve really worked on and the coaches have done a great job of pulling that out of me,” Herbert told reporters.

Scouts and general managers know that he has all the physical traits, tools and talent to become a successful NFL quarterback, but teams want to see Herbert command a huddle and take charge on the field because many believe that he isn’t capable of leading a team.

When we got into Ladd-Peebles Stadium where the practice took place, it wasn’t long until Herbert flashed. The Eugene native looked phenomenal on Tuesday, displaying all the physical tools and most importantly, the leadership skills that were being desired.

Herbert was right on the money with nearly all of his throws.  He made plays in and out of the pocket, showcasing his strong arm and athleticism. His most notable pass was a beautiful vertical toss to wide receiver Austin Mack down the sideline where it landed perfectly in his hands.

After Mack reeled in the pass, Herbert scampered down the field fired up to give his teammate the recognition that he deserved.

Herbert’s incomplete passes were more about drops by receivers rather than missed throws on his part. And when his receivers dropped a pass, they made sure to hear about it from Herbert, showing the vocalness that evaluators are wanting out of him this week.

The Chargers’ biggest draft needs other than quarterback center around the offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback position, and there were a few standouts from those groups.

Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones, who is a candidate for Los Angeles’ second-round pick, had a great day. His previous basketball skills were evident in one-on-ones as he was an easy mover with flexible hips and agile feet to stay between the rusher and quarterback.

There was a small-school standout by the name of Ben Bartch who raised some eyebrows. Bartch, the 6-foot-5 and 308 pound tackle, did a fantastic job in pass protection, moving effortlessly and using his 33-inch arms to slow down speed rushers. He played tackle the entire afternoon, but he has the versatility to play inside, too.

As for interior offensive linemen, Michigan guard Ben Bredeson had himself a solid day. Bredeson was quick to leverage the point of attack and achieve body position, latching with his strong hands, and moving with a coordinated lower body to slide and mirror defenders.

A wideout that should’ve garnered the attention of the Chargers scouts was Ohio State’s K.J. Hill. Hill showed off a plethora of route-running skills and techniques to get open during multiple one-on-one reps.

Across from the wide receivers was Oklahoma State cornerback A.J. Green, who showed off some top-notch technique from zone coverage, ball skills and competitiveness during the seven-on-seven drill.

Michigan football offense grades from the 2019 season

Michigan football ended their season 9-4 with some big losses in big games. When looking at the offense, how did everything go?

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Headed into the 2019 season for Michigan there was a lot of hype around the team, more than it ever it seemed like. They were favorites to win the Big Ten Championship with Ohio State losing their head coach Urban Meyer and replaced with Ryan Day. They hired Josh Gattis from Alabama to be their offensive coordinator and preached “Speed in Space” all off-season long.

Michigan got quarterback Shea Patterson back for his senior year. After deciding to return to Michigan for another year, Patterson brought back leadership and experience. The biggest return besides Patterson was the healthy trio of wide receivers in Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins, and Tarik Black. They would look to dominate for the first time together as a group and with this new offense, they could excel their abilities.

While those two positions looked strong, the running back room looked questionable. With Chris Evans getting suspended for the entire season due to academics, Michigan lost their best receiving running back, and one that was fast and shifty, making defenders left and right miss. They would have to rely on the youth that had never really played for the Wolverines yet. The offensive line would be filled with veteran starters except for right tackle as that battle was between Jalen Mayfield and Andrew Steuber, and it looked to be head coach Jim Harbaugh’s best group of guys he’s ever had.

Overall it was looked at a great chance for the Wolverines to finally claim the top spot in the Big Ten, yet, they finished the season 9-4. They beat Michigan State in back-to-back years for the first time since 2006-2007 and got revenge on Notre Dame from the loss in 2018. But when it came to taking on Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, and even Alabama, Michigan couldn’t figure out how to get the job done.

With that said, it’s time to review how each position, including head coach and coordinators, did in the 2019 season, starting with the offense. While it wasn’t the result that everyone wanted, there are still some positives to take away from the 2019 season as the 2020 season is the next focus.

Quarterback: B+

Patterson had his final season in Ann Arbor be the best one he’s ever had. While he wasn’t in the Heisman conversation or blowing up the stat sheet, Patterson overall had a good year. His struggles with fumbling were the main issue in the first half of the season and it was a serious issue for him that was hurting the team. He did have some accuracy issues as well, overthrowing open wide receivers, or making some questionable throws into coverage.

The second half of the season though, his fumbling issues were almost gone, and he started clicking with his receivers on some big plays. Patterson finished the year going 214/381 with a 56.2 completion percentage for 3,061 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, along with 87 carries for 50 yards and five touchdowns. The completion percentage was his worst since his freshman year at Ole Miss, and while he is to blame for some of the issues, there were games where the ball would be right where it needed to be and the wide receivers couldn’t hold onto the football.

Patterson was inconsistent at times and that’s not what you can be when it’s time to play in the big games. Either way, Patterson did all he could and in the end, it wasn’t enough to push Michigan to the next level.

The backups got some action this year. Backup Dylan McCaffrey went 10/20 with a 50 percent completion percentage for 116 yards and a touchdown, along with 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown. Third-string Joe Milton went 3/7 with a 42.9 completion percentage for 59 yards with a touchdown and an interception, along with five carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. These two will duke it out over the offseason this year and battle for the starting rights in 2020.

Running Back: B

With Evans suspended, that left freshman Zach Charbonnet as the projected starter, but he would have to earn it. Harbaugh named Tru Wilson the starter at the Big Ten Media Days, but Wilson would never start. Charbonnet would eventually start, but as the season progressed, that job went to Hassan Haskins. Those three running backs, along with Christian Turner, would see some playing time, but it was Charbonnet and Haskins who ended up being the best of the group.

Charbonnet finished the season as the leading rusher with 149 carries for 726 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with eight catches for 30 yards. Charbonnet would have some wear and tear heading into the season coming off a minor surgery on his knee in March and he would be limited after a few games into the season, but he’d play in every game. He had the best season as a freshman running back in school history since Mike Hart back in 2004. Charbonnet has a bright future with a full off-season to prepare for the 2020 season and without going to surgery.

Haskins finished the season with 121 carries for 622 yards and four touchdowns, along with six catches for 40 yards. Haskins took advantage of the time Charbonnet was limited and forced himself to be involved with the offense more. His involvement will be interesting next season with Evans returning.

Wilson would get involved with the running game still, finishing with 44 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 14 yards. Turner, a player projected to compete for the starting running back job, only played in eight games and was pushed down the depth chart with others out-performing him. He finished the year with 44 carries for 171 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 13 yards.

Wide Receiver: B-

The wide receivers at Michigan were projected to have a big year in the new offense, along with the others as it fits their style and it could help them open up some lanes for the running backs as well. In the end, they weren’t as explosive as they’d like to be, but it took six games to get things to click and when things are clicking, this offense is putting up points easily.

Peoples-Jones would somewhat regress in the offense, getting only 34 catches for 438 yards and six touchdowns, along with 24 punt returns for 173 yards. 2018 saw more catches, yards, touchdowns, return yards and even a punt return touchdown for Peoples-Jones. While Peoples-Jones took a small step back, Collins improved off his sophomore campaign. Collins finished the season with 37 catches for 729 yards and seven touchdowns.

Collins and Peoples-Jones were the big two wide receivers, but Black was the third piece that has been limited since arriving in Ann Arbor in 2017 as he’s dealt with two separate foot injuries that held him to just six games the past two seasons. Black would play in 11 games this year, but his play seemed to have taken a hit, along with others around him emerging, his playtime would be limited, finishing with just 25 catches for 323 yards and a touchdown.

One of the biggest wide receivers to play big this season was Ronnie Bell, who finished as the leading receiver in yards and catches, with 47 catches for 747 yards and a touchdown. Three freshman wide receivers got involved with the offense as well, showing the future is bright at the position. Giles Jackson had nine catches for 142 yards with one touchdown, along with 10 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Mike Sainristil had eight catches for 145 yards and a touchdown, while Cornelius Johnson had four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.

The biggest flaw for the group this year was dropping catches. Some of the drops were due to good hits by the defense, others were wide open and the ball would drop out of their hands. They couldn’t hold onto the football when they needed it most sometimes and that is not what you want to see when down and trying to move the ball down the field.

Tight End: C+

With the change of the offense, the tight ends wouldn’t be used as much in the passing game as their blocking was more of the focus to help the running game get extra help. Senior Sean McKeon’s final season was this year and he finished with 13 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Eubanks was used more as the receiver with 26 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns.

Some of the blocking by both men was inconsistent, as one week they’d do well, the other they’d miss and struggle. With the offense not using the tight ends as much, they became less of an offensive weapon and more of a blocker, which opened up doors for more wide receivers to get in on the receiving action.

Offensive Line: A-

The lone position to get an A this season, the offensive line was the strongest it’s been at Michigan in a very long time. While Michigan would be without starting left tackle Jon Runyan Jr. for the first two games, backup Ryan Hayes did well in his place and will certainly be a starter or close to it next season. Left guard Ben Bredeson had another solid season, starting center Cesar Ruiz was great once again, and he declared for the draft after another great year, and starting right guard Michael Onwenu was huge once again.

The big battle at right tackle between Andrew Stueber and Jalen Mayfield ended before the season started as Stueber tore his ACL. Mayfield would play well as the starting right tackle and will look to defend his job in 2020 as Stueber returns and will be looking to start at that position or left tackle, possibly even at guard too.

When reviewing the season as a whole, the coaches got to get involved too…
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Josh Gattis, Shea Patterson and Ben Bredeson discuss Michigan vs. Alabama

Video and transcript of everything the Wolverines offensive personnel had to say about the Crimson Tide in the VRBO Citrus Bowl presser.

Transcript provided by VRBO Citrus Bowl

JOSH GATTIS: Obviously, heading into the Citrus Bowl, we’re really excited for the opportunity that we have to play the University of Alabama. We understand the challenge that we have in front of us and our guys have had a great week of preparation and preparing for this opportunity.

Q. Josh, do you sense this Alabama defense is vulnerable?

JOSH GATTIS: This defense is very talented. Coach Saban and Coach Golding have done a really good job putting together this defense facing some of the challenges that they’ve had this year as far as injuries.

But they played pretty good throughout the year. You know, you look at them, one of the things that stands out is they’re second in the country in turnover margin, so obviously creating turnovers but also offensively for them doing a really good job of maintaining the football. So they present a number of different challenges that we have been preparing for and we’re looking forward to the battle.

Q. Josh, what has this year been like for you, I mean, just going from Alabama to Michigan, being a first-time offensive coordinator? Can you just describe what this year’s been like?

JOSH GATTIS: This year’s been awesome. I get a chance to work with, you know, some fabulous young men that are here today to represent us. And, you know, the support that I’ve gotten from our players, the support I’ve gotten from our coaches, it’s been amazing. So it’s really living out my dream. I’m honored to be here at the University of Michigan to be able to lead these young men and continue moving the needle forward as we continue moving on.

Q. For Shea, you played at Alabama one time. What do you remember about that experience?

SHEA PATTERSON: It didn’t exactly go my way. I just remember going and playing in that game as a freshman, as a completely different player back then, and I was just happy to get the experience.

Q. Josh, what do you think down the stretch of this regular season clicked for this offense?

JOSH GATTIS: When you look at the first six games, you know, there’s a lot of positives. There’s some negatives in there. But when you look at the first six games, there was 13 turnovers, I want to say. And so, you know, that wouldn’t put you in the top of the country in any category from that standpoint. Then you look at our last six, I want to say we were in the top five or 10 in the country as far as in turnovers, not that you’re ranking at that point, but we only had three turnovers from the last six games on.

So when you’re extending drives, you’re not turning a football over, you’re able to put points on the board and continue those drives, I think it’s a credit to our players. They continue to put their head down, focus on the fundamentals, techniques, and details. And, you know, they did an unbelievable job. Ultimately, it comes down to our guys, when you look at some of the big wins that we’ve had, and it’s a tribute to those guys. They took those games over and really took ownership of it.

Q. Josh, how much has your familiarity with the Alabama offense helped your defense this week? How much have you been kind of poking your head into that room a little bit and giving them some insight?

JOSH GATTIS: Yeah, I think it always helps, obviously, going against us. But they’re different. We’re different. Obviously, there’s a little of similarities in what we do offensively. You know, I think they’ve done a really good job adapting and adjusting the offense from previously being there. And, you know, they’ve got good players. They’ve got good coaches. Steve Sarkisian has done a really good job for them offensively. And so Coach Brown does an amazing job, you know, in battling us. And that’s one thing that’s led us to get better, is going against our defense each and every day. You know, I think that’s one of the things that really attributes to our success, is we go against one of the best defenses in the country. So Coach Brown’s done a phenomenal job with our defensive unit, preparing them, but also preparing us for the challenges that we’ll face.

Q. This is for Ben and Shea. Ben, who’s the best defensive lineman from a rush standpoint? And then, Shea, what’s different about Alabama’s pressure?

BEN BREDESON: I wouldn’t put a name on that. I mean, they’ve got an outstanding defensive front. You know, it’s going to be one of the best that we’ve seen all year. Thankfully, just the way that the Big Ten worked out, we’ve had some outstanding defensive ends, interior D-linemen all year to help us get ready for this game. You know, we’ve had our fair share of battles with different teams we’ve played throughout the season. So we’re really looking forward to the challenge the Alabama defensive front brings. I think we match up really well and it’s going to be a good battle.

Q. Shea, you said you’re a different player than you were the first time you played Alabama. Four coordinators later, how has your game evolved? And, Josh, if you could speak to how Shea has evolved this season.

SHEA PATTERSON: Yeah. Completely different. I was watching film my freshman and sophomore year and it’s just — I mean, it’s completely different and…

JOSH GATTIS: I’ll go to battle with this guy any day of the week. This is Sugar Shea Patterson right here.

Just to see his confidence throughout the year continue to rise each and every week, his preparation, his performance. You know, obviously, statistically he did some pretty amazing things throughout the year as far as a number of 300-yard passing games. But I think there was some adversity that we faced offensively. And I think Shea is one of the leaders and Ben is one of the leaders that really took ownership of it. And no one put their head down. They continued to fight and continued to push through, and that’s a testament to their character.

You know, there was a point in the year when a lot of people were saying, give up and quit. ‘Hey, this isn’t working. This isn’t this.’ But none of our kids believed that because they truly knew who we were in practice, they knew who we were in practice, who we were in games. And it was a testament to their character, to fight through everything.

So I couldn’t be more proud of Shea and Ben, both of these guys. But specifically when you see Shea, this guy’s a player, man. He’s been playing at an extreme high level for us and he’s been the leader of our offense, leader of our team. And, like I said, I’ll go to battle with him any day out of the week versus any team in the country.

Q. Josh, what have you learned in our first year as a play caller, whether that’s Xs and Os or communication and getting through to your guys?

JOSH GATTIS: You know, I would say, when you first take over a job, the only thing that ever comes to mind is all the positive things. You know, you obviously think about, ‘OK, all the things positive, all the scoring, the touchdowns.’ You never really set the standard as far as thinking about the negative things as far as the adversity you may face.

And, you know, we can laugh about it now. Our first play of the season ended with a fumble. So when you’re sitting there on your first play call, the first thing that happens and the next thing you know, the ball’s on the ground, you’ve got to learn how to deal with adversity. So I think that was the unique thing.

But I think, really, the thing that really inspired me and inspired our offense is I knew that I could look in the eyes of our young men each and every week and they never lost faith. They never lost confidence. And when your players play for you and they play for each other, good things are going to ultimately end up happening. That’s my trust in them and belief in them but, most importantly, I think their trust in their coaches, their trust in their teammates, their trust in Coach Harbaugh.

We’ve got a great culture within our team, within our offense, and we’re really proud of everything that we’ve accomplished. We’re proud of each other but we’re not done. We’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us to really end the season the way we want to.

Q. Shea, what was the turning point here for you this season where the offense started to click for you and the team?

SHEA PATTERSON: I mean, anytime [you have a] new offense and Coach Gattis had to come in and adjust to new players and we had to learn new schemes, there’s going to be some growing pains. But I know in the end — right now it’s going really well.

Q. Coach, you worked with DeVonta Smith last year. He had somewhat of a breakout year this year. Was that something you saw coming from him?

JOSH GATTIS: Absolutely. DeVonta Smith is a great player. He’s a great young man. He’s a student of the game. Constantly we spend time in the offense. I told people after the season last year, had he not gotten hurt and faced some of the injuries he faced towards the end of the year, that a lot of people would have been talking about him as much as some of the other guys in the room.

That’s a very talented room of receivers. They’re great young men. And just a lot of credit to those guys. I have so much respect for those guys: DeVonta, Jerry, Henry, and — I’m leaving out a guy — Jaylen Waddle. Sorry. I forget the names real quick, thinking of my own guys. They’re all talented, very talented young men but even better people.

And so I think it’s a testament to them and their character and obviously their development. I think they’ve really kind established themselves and I just got tremendous amount of respect for those guys. Yeah.

Q. Josh, what’s the greatest thing that you learned being an offensive coordinator versus a position coach? Is there something when you take that next step that you really kind of start to understand even more so regarding the offense?

JOSH GATTIS: I’ll tell you, the thing that you really learn the most is every play call, every play lives with you past that play. And, you know, as a position coach, you can kind of go to bed at night and wake up the next morning after a game ready to move on. As a coordinator, you don’t sleep at night. Whether it’s good or bad, you’re always going back through processing every game, every call and trying to evaluate how you can put your kids in a better position, how you can put your team in a better position.

So, you know, that’s a little bit from my mindset. It kind of drives me crazy from that standpoint, in a good way, not in a negative way. But the brain just never stops thinking how you can help these young men and help put them in a position to be successful.

Q. Josh, with early signees like Blake Corum, getting a few practices in with you guys last week, how beneficial is that for them and what was your impressions of him during those practices?

JOSH GATTIS: I think it was very beneficial from a team chemistry standpoint, just mixing those guys in, you know, kind of getting them around some of their teammates, and really kind of showing those guys how we practice and the culture that we have in practice. There wasn’t a ton of work that they could do, obviously. We were focused on our opponent coming up and moving along in our game preparations. But very, very pleased.

You know, offensively we had Zac Zinter and then we had Blake Corum there early and really pleased with both of those young men and what they displayed. Blake’s got a unique ability to be explosive with the ball in his hands and we’re excited about him. But, you know, we’re going to welcome those guys back in January and they’re going to have to really get back to work. It’s going to be a different set and it’s going to be a different team. It’s going to be new opportunities and new challenges, and so we look forward to welcoming those guys on campus.

But, first and foremost, we’ve got to take care of the job that we’ve got at hand with this game.

Q. Nico Collins is a Birmingham guy. Has he talked at all about this game meaning anything more to him, just being from Alabama?

JOSH GATTIS: You don’t need to talk about motivation for this game. I think all of our guys are excited. This is the most important game for us because it’s our last game. It’s our last game as a team for this 2019 year. This is our last game for our seniors. These young men that sit up here, that we want to make sure that we leave these guys out the right way.

So, obviously, there’s going to be some chip on some guys’ shoulders. You know, Nico, being from Birmingham and obviously his familiarity with the program, Nico stayed steady in his preparation.

You know, the thing we don’t want to do is make it different than any other approach that we’ve had all year long, and so we’ve got to stay within the framework of how we prepare each and every game and each and every week and continue on focus on the things we need to focus on and make sure that, you know, we’re as prepared as we can be for when we take the field.