The Blue Board

Per our latest depth chart . . .

Baker, 5'9 210 (bowling ball?!) - True Jr

Caper 5'11 223 - True Jr

Bell 6'2 237 (bigger bowling ball?) - True Soph

Nick Hill (5'7 180) - RS Frosh

Jeremy Langford (5'11 205) - RS Frosh

Hill's going to do KR stuff this year for sure and will be the next guy in if any of the top 3 go down. Most of us feel that the carries will be split 65% Baker, 35% Bell/Caper. I'm beginning to think that we consider RSing Caper in the event that Baker goes pro and use Bell as our power guy . . . it seems hard to have a 3 RB rotation where everyone's happy (unless you're Wisky and run in 50 times a game).

Langford is a guy I was surprised stuck at RB. I thought he'd end up as a slot WR, like Martin, though he did run for over 2000 yards his SR year. Thought a complaint was that he had a slight frame, but 5'11 205 is fine for a RB. He won't see PT except for the early season blowout Ws against our FCS opponent and FAU.

Where are these talent issues at qb coming from? Michigan's best talent on the offensive side of the football is at the quarterback position, and it's not even up for debate. Devin and Denard are both really good. Devin is going to be a major problem for opposing defenses when he takes over, I think this kid is going to be special. I think the question for the current coaching staff is how you get your 2 best offensive players on the field when they both play quarterback? It's going to be an interesting fall camp to say the least.

From your mouth to God's ears, but I respectfully disagree.

Much like MSU, UM has only 1 proven starter, and a back-up that no one has seen much of in real game action. This season is going to be big for both back-ups; MD likes to get the heir-apparent several drives in the middle of big games, so that their experience is not all mop-up duty. I'd expect Maxwell to attempt between 40-60 passes this year.

Right now both Maxwell and Gardiner are more hype than substance, though I admit it's rare to have a "proven" back-up in college football these days. MSU is lucky in terms of 3rd string, because Nichol decided to stay on the team and act as our emergency 3rd string guy.

Tompkins is probably similar to Baker. He was electronically timed at 4.38 I believe.

I speak for the entire RCMB when I say I cannot figure out how he's not ranked higher. Probably the most impressive highlight film that i've ever seen. He cuts at full speed and just straight up burns past even DBs. He's a bit small but not THAT small and it's hard to see him break tackle because he tends to just outrun them. Competition isnt an issue either because he plays in Georgia 5A, which is the top.

His offer list is full of good running schools too, like Cal and Wisconsin. I can't see how he isn't ranked higher.

We've been trying to figure out why he's not a 4-star since the day he committed. The kid plays in GA 5A, the highest division in Georgia, and pretty much can't be touched. He's only 5'10 185, so maybe that's a knock, but if that Thomas kid last year can be a 5-star at 5'9 165, then I don't see how Tompkins can get knocked for his size (He's about the same as Hayes in terms of size).

FWIW, Tompkins is a pure speed guy, and not an every down back at this point. Baker is more a power runner with speed, than he is a burner. Nice change of pace guy though, we'll see if he develops physically to the point where he can be an every-down back.

Thing to keep in mind with all these guys is that their body is going to change a ton between now and their RS Soph years (generally the year I feel a kid should be counted on to make an impact, though there are always exceptions).

He played for a while against Iowa too.

Don't mean to , but........

Baker and Bell I would take, Caper not so much. For some reason you guys are in love with Caper, and yet he has yet to rush for more than 3.9 ypc in a season.

I would hope so, #1 rated mobile QB coming out of high school should mean something for a chance to be special. We will see if it translate to the college game.

Very surprised that Caper is #2 on the depth chart.

Also, Rocky, Macks, and other state fans: Sorry about the troll on your site. Blue2468 has talked about it a lot in our thread, but apparently it doesn't work.

Not begrudging your stance at all. Perfectly reasonable for someone outside the program and logical as well. He's the middle ground between Baker and Bell; not as fast as Baker, not as big as Bell . . . but bigger than Baker and faster than Bell. He's had 2 injuries; knee against IL in 2009, and his hand prior to the 2010 season. Between the 2 injuries, he beat out Baker for the #1 RB role last year, before injuring his hand about a week before our opener.

MSU fans were really distraught at that time, then Baker took his 2nd carry for a 23 yard TD, and Bell had a 60+ yard run on his 2nd or 3rd carry . . . . and we didn't worry about Caper anymore.

From our perspective, we're getting a guy that the coaches actually liked ahead of our 1st team All-Big RB back at 100%, so that's why we're high on him. I don't expect any other fans to be; he has to prove it on the field (spring games and fall practices are where hype springs eternal, afterall )

I see where you guys trust the coaching staff which would make you put Caper up there with the other 2. On the field the production isn't there yet though.