OT: MIchigan Sports Thread: UM wins Natty Championship

[Hen Kolland]

Barf. No objections to moving on from previous running backs. But that's supposed to be in order to draft a guy and pay him pennies, not to spend even more on an overrated guy who gets hurt.

Absolutely awful use of cap space.

Counter that point, you still have Swift on his rookie deal effectively serving the purpose of drafting a guy. You probably walk away from Swift at the end of the year and draft someone else anyways. Having continuity at the RB position with a veteran who can handle all situations is a positive.

And no, Montgomery is not overrated. He’s a more complete, more talented back by a significant margin than Jamaal. If anything, I think Montgomery’s value is suppressed by playing behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines in one of the league’s worst offenses (run by Nagy) for most of his career.

If you think the Lions ended up in a worst spot, I don’t know what to tell you. You’re just wrong

 

[Frk It]

I’ll play devil’s advocate. I think that Jamaal Williams is not the good locker room guy that Lions fans have made him out to be.

He’s a self-admitted introvert and that he rarely spoke up in the locker room. I think he’s an emotional and lead by example type on the field, but I don’t view him as the glue that keeps everyone together.

Are you in their locker room? How in the world could you know?

 

[Hen Kolland]

Are you in their locker room? How in the world could you know?

I'm taking things that he's said and providing my speculation. Hence the words "I think" prefacing the things that aren't substantiated. Saying that I question whether or not he's a consistent vocal leader in the locker room isn't degrading his value as an emotional leader. But to what point is that important over talent.

The reality is, Jamaal is a fantastic person to have in your organization and I'm not denying that. I think that people are vastly overstating how important it is, especially for those who are using that as the crutch of their argument that he should have been signed over a clearly better player.

 

[Frk It]

Saying that I question whether or not he's a consistent vocal leader in the locker room isn't degrading his value as an emotional leader. But to what point is that important over talent.

The reality is, Jamaal is a fantastic person to have in your organization and I'm not denying that. I think that people are vastly overstating how important it is, especially for those who are using that as the crutch of their argument that he should have been signed over a clearly better player.

Ok, that's an important distinction here. I get what you mean better now.

I would be surprised if he wasn't a big component to their locker room, but obviously I am not sure either.

I was curious what you guys would think because I saw some blowback on twitter about Jamaal being on his way out. I do understand supporting bringing in Montgomery. I think Swift would be a nice guy to have if he could ever stay healthy. Still think it would have been super interesting if y'all drafted Bijan, but I know that is not a popular opinion lol. I could see Tampa Bay drafting him at #19 if they don't go defense. I think he is a top 5 player in the draft, but wouldn't push back on people saying the RB position is not the most valuable.

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

Big fan of this off-season. Shrewd moves by Holmes thus far. Now we can stop hearing about drafting a CB at 6OA. They were NEVER drafting a CB at 6. You hope one of Anderson or Carter (preferably Carter) falls to 6 and you sprint to the podium to take him. Then 18 is where they take a CB or LB.


This team is going to be frightengly good, especially with all the cap space they have coming available after the 2023 season.

 

[Hen Kolland]

Ok, that's an important distinction here. I get what you mean better now.

I would be surprised if he wasn't a big component to their locker room, but obviously I am not sure either.

I was curious what you guys would think because I saw some blowback on twitter about Jamaal being on his way out. I do understand supporting bringing in Montgomery. I think Swift would be a nice guy to have if he could ever stay healthy. Still think it would have been super interesting if y'all drafted Bijan, but I know that is not a popular opinion lol. I could see Tampa Bay drafting him at #19 if they don't go defense. I think he is a top 5 player in the draft, but wouldn't push back on people saying the RB position is not the most valuable.

I’ve done some reading and I think the move is very logical.

Ben Johnson said in an interview that he thinks the running game can take a big step forward next year. Said that they didn’t take advantage of some of the chances created by the offensive line. A lot of 3 and 4 yard carries that could have been 8, 9 or more if they could break a tackle or make someone miss.

That’s not Jamaal’s game at all. Jamaal’s game is initiating contact and trying to fall forward. That’s why his touchdown yardage numbers look the way they do.

15/17 came inside the 10.
14/17 came inside the 5.
13/17 came from 2 yards or fewer.
10/17 were 1 yard.

I’m sorry, with this offensive line, anyone could produce high touchdown numbers from 1 yard out.

Then you introduce what David Montgomery does best.



And for reference, the same metric, Jamaal was near the bottom. Which makes sense given the way he runs.

Talking to my Bears fan friends, Montgomery brings a lot of the same leader by example elements. He just doesn't have the quirky things that made Jamaal so easy to love as a fan.

 

[jkutswings]

Counter that point, you still have Swift on his rookie deal effectively serving the purpose of drafting a guy. You probably walk away from Swift at the end of the year and draft someone else anyways. Having continuity at the RB position with a veteran who can handle all situations is a positive.

And no, Montgomery is not overrated. He’s a more complete, more talented back by a significant margin than Jamaal. If anything, I think Montgomery’s value is suppressed by playing behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines in one of the league’s worst offenses (run by Nagy) for most of his career.

If you think the Lions ended up in a worst spot, I don’t know what to tell you. You’re just wrong

If you felt a veteran was that necessary, Austin Ekler was given permission to seek a trade. Deal a mid round pick for a more productive guy that's hands down a better receiver as well, for essentially the same money as what they're paying Montgomery.

Yes, the Bears O-line is awful. But Detroit just signed themselves up for a running game where both guys are likely to miss multiple games based on injury history. I don't see the logic there.

 

[Hen Kolland]

If you felt a veteran was that necessary, Austin Ekler was given permission to seek a trade. Deal a mid round pick for a more productive guy that's hands down a better receiver as well, for essentially the same money as what they're paying Montgomery.

Yes, the Bears O-line is awful. But Detroit just signed themselves up for a running game where both guys are likely to miss multiple games based on injury history. I don't see the logic there.

I laid out the logic in the post directly above yours.

Ekeler isn’t likely to actually move. You make that deal and you’re pinned. Either you’re going to lose him for nothing or you’re paying him a boatload. He’s more redundant to Swift’s play style. Obviously a major upgrade, but from a play style perspective, Montgomery+Swift makes more sense than Ekeler+Swift

 

[WesNichols14]

If you felt a veteran was that necessary, Austin Ekler was given permission to seek a trade. Deal a mid round pick for a more productive guy that's hands down a better receiver as well, for essentially the same money as what they're paying Montgomery.

Yes, the Bears O-line is awful. But Detroit just signed themselves up for a running game where both guys are likely to miss multiple games based on injury history. I don't see the logic there.

Montgomery has been a pretty healthy player during his career, so I don't know where that narrative comes from. (mind you I don't watch Chicago all that much, so I could be wrong, and he could always be dinged up but still play.) I believe I read last night that he has only missed 6 games in his 4 year NFL career, that's a pretty good track Record. its not like we signed another Swift.

 

[izlez]

If you felt a veteran was that necessary, Austin Ekler was given permission to seek a trade. Deal a mid round pick for a more productive guy that's hands down a better receiver as well, for essentially the same money as what they're paying Montgomery.

Yes, the Bears O-line is awful. But Detroit just signed themselves up for a running game where both guys are likely to miss multiple games based on injury history. I don't see the logic there.

?
David Montgomery is a 25 year old that has played in 44 games over the last 3 years
Austin Ekeler is a 27 year old that has played in 43 games over the last 3 years

I don't follow your logic on judging these players injury history/outlook

 

[Winger98]

Montgomery is a good back. He stays happy you guys should be happy with him.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Hahahaha. Get f***ed Purdue. That was the most gutless performance I’ve ever seen.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Hahahaha. Get f***ed Purdue. That was the most gutless performance I’ve ever seen.

I knew they were going to get upset. They haven’t been that good in the second half of the season.

 

[RabidBadger]

This really is anyone's year. I think UConn may be due to hang another banner.

 

[RabidBadger]

Offside goal notwithstanding, Michigan played a hell of a game against the Jaundiced Gerbils last night. They've ironed out some major flaws and have looked like a Frozen Four team the past 2 games.

Even if they flop in the 1st round, Naurato should be extended for the job he's done in a chaotic year. Mel who?

 

[FabricDetails]

I miss watching Z so much.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

I miss watching Z so much.

Him and Prime Datsyuk

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Wowww, total makeover for this team's secondary.

 

[raymond23]

GO GREEN

 

[jaster]

Offside goal notwithstanding, Michigan played a hell of a game against the Jaundiced Gerbils last night. They've ironed out some major flaws and have looked like a Frozen Four team the past 2 games.

Even if they flop in the 1st round, Naurato should be extended for the job he's done in a chaotic year. Mel who?

They still give up too many odd-man rushes. They are sloppy in defensive transition. But I agree, they looked better than most of the season I've watched.

There was no off-side goal btw. It wasn't even close, except for the announcers who were apparently unaware that touch-up offsides became a thing like 20 years ago lol.

 

[newfy]

Wowww, total makeover for this team's secondary.

On paper, the team has no real weakness at this point. They could definitely improve at D tackle and linebacker but theyre not going to hold them back from winning a lot of games. With the amount of draft capital Holmes has, I would expect some moving around to get difference makers instead of making all of those picks.

Carter seemed like the perfect prospect for them to draft a month and a half ago, now I have no clue what Holmes will do. Hard not to drool over possibly having Will Anderson coming off one edge with Houston n the other and Hutchinson inside in their nascar package.Might have to move up to get Anderson though

 

[aar000n]

To me the Lions weakness is the Dline in the middle. Last year when they were hot the games they lost the line was gashed in the middle.

 

[jkutswings]

To me the Lions weakness is the Dline in the middle. Last year when they were hot the games they lost the line was gashed in the middle.

And maybe Carter at 6 helps that.

 

[Stony Curtis]

I'm not used to seeing the words "Lions" and "making good decisions" in the same sentence unless there's an "aren't" in between them. Frees up Holmes to do pretty much whatever he wants in the draft.

 

[Reality Check]

I've already prepared myself for the Lions to win no more than four games this year.

Curious to see what they do early in the draft now after addressing the secondary in free agency.