Snapshots: Chris Evans’s 43-yard TD run vs. Hawaii

Tag: Chris Evans


4Sep 2016
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Snapshots: Chris Evans’s 43-yard TD run vs. Hawaii

One of the many great moments from Saturday’s 63-3 pounding of Hawaii was the 43-yard touchdown run by Chris Evans. It came on a staple Jim Harbaugh play, but rarely has it worked so effectively as it did against the Rainbow Warriors with Evans running the ball. You asked in the off-season for more analysis of plays or schemes, so I’ll try to indulgeHere’s a frame-by-frame breakdown:

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3Sep 2016
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Michigan 63, Hawaii 3

Chris Evans 318x

Chris Evans was the star of the show (image via MLive)

I’m still in the same place I was with Wilton Speight. I have confidence that Jim Harbaugh can pick the right quarterback, so I believe Speight is the best guy for this team. However, I’m still not in love with Speight as a guy who can take this team to the next level. He started off the game with a bootleg on which he tried to dump the ball over the head of the flat defender, which ended with an interception. Okay, fine. No real harm done, but it was an inauspicious beginning to the Wilton Speight Era. By the end of the game, Speight was 10/13 for 145 yards, 3 touchdowns, and the 1 interception. Hawaii didn’t make it difficult, and Speight mostly made the right throws to the right guys. He did make another mistake when he hung a deep ball short that was intended for Darboh, but a spectacular interception turned into an incompletion when the safety couldn’t hold on. On the plus side, Speight threw a nice corner route to Grant Perry for the first TD, and he bought some time outside of the pocket to redirect Maurice Ways for a 20-yard catch. Otherwise, it was a pretty ho-hum day for a Michigan QB against an overmatched opponent.



Hit the jump for more takeaways from Saturday’s blowout of Hawaii.

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30Jun 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #70 Chris Evans

Chris Evans

Name: Chris Evans
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Evans was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran 188 times for 1,115 yards and 15 TDs, while also catching 40 passes for 411 yards and 4 TDs.
Final TTB Rating: 68

Evans was offered in late May of last year, and he committed shortly afterward. Initially, he was wanted as a running back, but other ideas have been floated since: slot receiver, cornerback, safety, etc. The one school that could have thrown a wrench into his commitment was Ohio State, and they did eventually offer in early January. He scheduled a visit to Columbus, but before it happened, he canceled it and announced that he was solid to Michigan and essentially didn’t want to rock the boat.

I had a hard time placing Evans in this countdown. He’s a speedy “running back” without a clear position right now. He could be a big-play back. Or he could be a slot receiver, where his route running and understanding of the passing game might take some time. I don’t think he will move to defensive back this year, since the coaches recruited him for offense, but that’s a possibility down the road. Evans also has some upside as a kick returner. So where will he play this year? I don’t know. I think he might get a shot to return kicks, since Michigan depends so heavily on Jabrill Peppers, Jourdan Lewis, and Jehu Chesson for their primary positions. I also think Evans brings an element of speed to the running back position that might not be available elsewhere, so perhaps a couple screens and a few handoffs might be in order.

Prediction: Backup running back, kickoff returner

20Apr 2016
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Poll results: Which 2016 prospect will have the best career at running back for Michigan?

Kareem Walker 875x

Kareem Walker

Back in March I posted a poll about the 2016 class of running backs: Which 2016 prospect will have the best career at RB for Michigan?

Here are the results out of 1,105 total votes:

Kareem Walker: 48%
Naturally, this was bound to be the pick since Michigan stole Walker from Ohio State, he’s the highest rated of the bunch (4-star, #4 RB, #100 overall), and he was an Under Armour All-American. The 6’1″, 210 lb. prospect enrolled early and participated in Michigan’s spring practices, but he appears to be a ways down the depth chart for now. Walker was my pick because a couple of these guys won’t stay at tailback, and I think he has good potential to be a between-the-tackles runner with a bit of burst.

Kingston Davis: 28%
Another early enrollee, Davis is a bit of a tweener who could also play fullback. In fact, he was a 3-star, the #1 FB, and #735 overall in the 2016 class. Of course, the last time Michigan signed the #1 fullback in the class, Brandon Minor turned into a pretty good tailback. Davis’s size has been listed at anywhere from 225 lbs. to 242 lbs. at different times, and he is not the most explosive back, but he has resisted suggestions that he’ll be a blocking back in college.

Khaleke Hudson: 16%
A standout tailback in high school, Hudson was recruited to Michigan as a safety/outside linebacker. The 5’11”, 205 lb. Pennsylvania native was a 3-star, the #23 safety, and #382 overall, and he was a standout in the Semper Fi All-American Bowl. There’s always a chance that he could end up playing running back in college if the chips fall in a certain way, but I’m looking at him as a potential replacement for Jabrill Peppers down the road.

Chris Evans: 8%
Evans also appeared in the wide receiver poll results, which I posted the other day (LINK). The 5’11”, 186-pounder could be a runner, a wide receiver, or a cornerback in college. He should get his first shot at running back, but Jim Harbaugh tends to like bigger, stronger backs.

17Apr 2016
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Poll results: Which 2016 signee will have the best career at wide receiver?

Ahmir Mitchell 817x

Ahmir Mitchell

A few weeks ago, I started a poll asking which class of 2016 signee would end up having the best career at receiver. Here are the results of the poll:

Ahmir Mitchell: 39%
The 6’3″, 205 lb. Mitchell was the only early enrollee of the bunch. While he did show off good size and athleticism this spring, he reportedly continued to have issues catching the ball. Braylon Edwards had the same problem early in his career, so that is not a death knell, but it will be something to watch.

Eddie McDoom: 25%
McDoom was a late pull after he flipped from Oregon to Michigan in January. The Florida native can play outside, in the slot, or as a returner. He was an Under Armour All-American.

Kekoa Crawford: 20%
The U.S. Army All-American played well at the all-star game and is the highest rated player of the bunch. Like McDoom, he could also play inside or outside.

Nate Johnson: 8%
The 5’11”, 175-pounder is a pure slot player who might be able to return punts, too. He’s the lowest rated player of the bunch at #589 overall in the 2016 class.

Chris Evans: 5%
Evans was ranked as a running back by some services, but his future position is unclear. He could play running back, receiver, or cornerback at the next level.

Brad Hawkins, Jr.: 3%
I wouldn’t pick Hawkins, either, but it’s interesting that he got 3% of the vote when Evans, McDoom, and Johnson were all rated lower by the recruiting services. The 6’1″, 202 lb. Hawkins could also end up at safety, which maybe factored into the voting.

What was your reasoning behind your voting?