Attractive Michigan Girl of the Week: Elle Johnson

Attractive Michigan Girl of the Week: Elle Johnson


March 26, 2019

Check out Elle Johnson on Twitter for some good pictures on the regular. Go Blue!

Here’s an extra little dose:

 

19 comments

  1. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Mar 26, 2019 at 12:54 PM

    These photos are pretty sexy but not as sexy as Big Mike Onwenu getting hyped up by Ed Warriner and Jim Harbaugh.

    Warinner said. “They continue to improve. They were very good players last year, taking another step. I told them that after practice yesterday. I said, ‘I’m so proud of how hard you guys are working in the offseason. The fact that each one of you has gotten better. Mike is really taking a big step. He’s got a lot of talent. He trained hard in the offseason, in the first phase of winter conditioning. Came in in great shape. His last two practices in pads have been phenomenal for him. He continues like that, we’re going to see it in the field when we play.”

    “Mike’s always been strong,” Harbaugh said. “He’s always been strong. He can always move anybody that he’s up against. But he’s doing so many subtle things now. His awareness to pass off twist games or zone block and redirect during the progression of the blocking scheme – should maybe talk a little bit about that.”

    “Yeah, I think that’s where his growth has come is that he’s really been studying the game,” Warinner said. “No one has been more aggressive asking questions, texting, wanting to know more, watching film about – because those details are what’s going to make him a great player, because he is talented. His ability to understand the zone schemes and some of the things we see from our defense, where his eyes should be, his hand placement, bumping off games and twists, communicating, getting to the second level. I mean, he’s just doing a lot of those high-level details now and we’re seeing it in practice. It’s because he wants to and he’s listening to those things and asking for those things. Nobody sends us more text messages about, ‘What should I do on this?’ He watches film on his iPad. He takes picture of something, he sends us. So we’re really happy with Mike.”

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Mar 26, 2019 at 12:55 PM

      via WolverineWire

      Also:

      Offensive line has been really good,” Harbaugh said. “Mike Onwenu is really standing out along with Cesar Ruiz and Ben Bredeson. That’s the real strength for our football team.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Mar 27, 2019 at 9:57 AM

      These comments seem to basically confirm the anti-Onwenu arguments from reviewing last season. It’s being made a big deal that he’s doing well in conditioning and that he’s dedicating himself more to the game. This probably wouldn’t be emphasized so much if it had been the case all along. So if he’s doing well, that’s great. Maybe the fear of getting passed by Spanellis – or of being bumped to defense – spurred him to work a little bit harder.

      I don’t think anyone has ever questioned the talent. I have questioned his conditioning and effort, though, along with some mental mistakes.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Mar 27, 2019 at 12:03 PM

        I see doubting upside as the same thing as questioning talent. Otherwise the assumption is that it’s impossible to improve which is flat-out ridiculous when we just saw Runyan make a leap his 4th year.

        The questions about Onwenu also go back to weight and effort. No one knows if he will overcome those limitations. But it’s a possibility and this kind of praise from Harbaugh is a positive sign, though far from definitive.

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Mar 27, 2019 at 12:30 PM

          I agree that it’s a positive sign. I would certainly rather Harbaugh be saying good things about Onwenu than a) bad things or b) refusing to mention him altogether. But does it mean that Onwenu is definitively #1 in the pecking order on the OL? Eh…I dunno.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Mar 27, 2019 at 1:02 PM

            I don’t think he’s #1 in the pecking order.

            I do think he has the talent (and potential) to be there, though I don’t think that’s likely.

            I do think he’s probably in the top 3 and certainly in the top 4.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Mar 27, 2019 at 12:05 PM

        I don’t think “fear of being bumped to defense” exists in this case.

  2. Comments: 1863
    Joined: 1/19/2016
    je93
    Mar 26, 2019 at 9:28 PM

    I’m against moving a starting OL too, but won’t buy into any spring hype. JH mentions far too many players to ever be taken seriously

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Mar 27, 2019 at 9:52 AM

      Agreed. When he runs through those position groups, he mentions almost everybody. Sometimes it seems like whom he chooses to mention first is a bit of a motivational ploy. For example, he made a big deal about Michael Onwenu before talking about the guys who are more established players. Is that because the third team all-conference guy is better than Ben Bredeson? And Jon Runyan, Jr.? I’m not sure if I can believe that.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Mar 27, 2019 at 12:12 PM

        Why is Onwenu being better than Runyan Jr so unbelievable?

        Onwenu was better in 2016 and 2017.

        The primary point of evidence that Runyan was better in 2018 is all conference honors which have been consistently dismissed in other cases.

        Harbaugh generally names the best players first and works his way down. Not always, but more often than not it’s an approximate reflection of the pecking order. Explicitly saying Mike’s group is a team strength (rather than say, LT) is further evidence.

        If nobody questions the talent…how is it unbelievable?

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Mar 27, 2019 at 12:28 PM

          I’m not sure what you mean about all-conference honors being dismissed. If you’re talking about me, I have dismissed them at times for grizzled veterans who have been starting for three or four years. For example, I think Kyle Kalis being named 2nd team all-conference as a fifth year senior was a nod to the fact that he was a 5-star kid who started for his last four years on campus. That’s not the case with someone like Runyan, who didn’t play much and then burst onto the scene in 2018. In that case it’s not a career achievement award; he was presumably recognized for his performance on the field.

          I didn’t say it was unbelievable. I said I’m not sure if I can believe it. There’s a difference. It’s within the realm of possibility, but I think it’s unlikely.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Mar 27, 2019 at 12:54 PM

            Thanks for clarifying.

            I think the all conference honors are just as much a “team achievement” award as a “lifetime achievement”. Michigan’s OL (and team) were a lot better last year and it was a down year for tackles in the Big Ten.

            Kyle Kalis has proved to be a legitimate, albeit fringe, NFL player the last few years. There was a big drop-off after he left. I think that new information makes it worth reassessing the old theory that his 2nd team all-conference honors were bunk. I think his deficiencies as a senior were just as overstated as his hype as a freshman. Opinions got locked in.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Mar 27, 2019 at 12:58 PM

            IMO Kalis and Onwenu both reflect what happens when over-inflated hype leads to over-inflated expectations. Both good players who had good careers, and made great contributions to winning teams. But Michigan’s OL woes forced them to be plugged into lineups before they were ready to be high level players. Their warts got exposed and people end up being frustrated with them.

            Meanwhile a 3-star like Runyan who nobody expects much out spends 3 years mostly sitting on the bench (behind a younger player in Onwenu). He comes in to fill a void and gets lavished with praise despite rumors and evidence (2 TE sets and conservative play-calling) that Michigan had to scheme around it’s weaknesses at OT. Furthermore, Onwenu is on NFL draft boards despite being a year behind Runyan (who isn’t).

            One guy is dogged and one is praised.

            It’s interesting to say the least.

      • Comments: 1863
        Joined: 1/19/2016
        je93
        Mar 27, 2019 at 10:40 PM

        Exactly. Here’s my takeaways after listening to AED:
        Onwenu, Ruiz, & Bredeson are each looking great – they’re outstanding!
        There’s not much of a drop off between the 1st and 3rd(!) OL…
        Despite our interior OL looking great, brand new 3T Ben Mason is “causing havoc” out there…

        JH has a tendency to say nothing, or say everything. All in hopes of misleading/deceiving potential opponents

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Mar 28, 2019 at 12:13 PM

          I appreciate the inclination to take spring hype with skepticism. It’s called “reading the tea leaves” for a reason. Not being named means more than getting praised.

          • Comments: 1863
            Joined: 1/19/2016
            je93
            Mar 28, 2019 at 3:27 PM

            Christian Turner wasn’t mentioned by JH, Dad, or EdW
            None of our TEs were mentioned
            No WRs were mentioned
            On D, no LBs or Secondary were mentioned
            No SpTms either

            With JH, it’s all just words. Great coach, and I am a big fan, but know better than to think ANYTHING of his interviews

  3. Comments: 36
    Joined: 11/17/2015
    funkywolve
    Mar 26, 2019 at 11:49 PM

    More Elle Johnson!!!

  4. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Mar 27, 2019 at 1:49 PM

    I’m buy the spring hype in the case of the OL. Given returning personnel it makes sense that there would be significant improvement. Returning 4 of 5 starters without any position changes is a big deal and there’s plenty of reason to expect improvement at the individual level as well.

    I think the fact that Ruiz was a second year guy and Onwenu/Bredeson were 3rd year guys is underrated. There’s a tendency to dismiss improvement from players who have seen the field but a lot of OL make a leap as upperclassmen.

    We’ve seen some stagnant development of multi-year starters in recent years (e.g., Mason Cole) but some of that can be attributed to position changes, weak OL coaching, and frequent changes in scheme. The latter is still an issue but Warriner appears to be a significant upgrade from Funk and Drevno and nobody is getting shuffled around (at this point).

    Maybe NFL-caliber talents like Ruiz, Bredeson, and Onwenu will just stay who they are but I think it’s more likely they take advantage of stability and quality coaching and get significantly better.

    Runyan may not be a prototypical tackle and may always be a liability against elite edge rushers but he’s a proven player coming off his first year starting. He, Bredeson, and Onwenu all have the urgency of their final college seasons and NFL draft potential as motivators as well.

    While there’s no denying that the situation at RT is still a concern the competition between two legitimate tackle prospects may be viewed as an upgrade over the recent situations. Certainly the upside with somebody like Mayfield is higher than it was with Bushell-Beatty/Ulizio/Runyan battling it out with freshman long-shots.

    I think Harbaugh’s right to hype the unit as a potential team strength and I could see the OL be the best it’s been since 2011. At worst, it should be back to 2016 levels, where a true junior NFL center (Cole) supported by 3 seniors (Magnuson, Kalis, Braden) led the unit through a wonky situation at OT.

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