Tag: Eddie McDoom

2017 Season Countdown: #38 Eddie McDoom

Eddie McDoom (image via The Michigan Daily)

Name: Eddie McDoom
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Winter Garden (FL) West Orange
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #13
Last year: I ranked McDoom #60 and said he would be a backup receiver. He caught 5 passes for 59 yards and ran 16 times for 160 yards.
TTB Rating: 89

McDoom entered 2016 with some uncertainty surround his utilization. Was he a slot receiver? Was he an outside guy? Was he big enough? Could he return kicks or punts? Yes, no, I guess, I guess not. Michigan tricked everyone by turning a bunch of Jehu Chesson jet sweeps into Eddie McDoom jet sweeps, and the only thing missing was, sadly, a reverse from one to the other. Alas, we had to settle for McDoom averaging over 10 yards per touch, and the jet sweeps opened up some things in the run game. He had 33- and 20-yard rushes against Michigan State, but his usefulness waned late in the season when he had just 3 carries for 10 yards and zero catches over the final four games. Michigan’s coaching staff did not seem to trust his involvement in the passing game, and it showed.

The buzz about McDoom has been somewhat reserved, and I don’t think he’s taken the steps forward that perhaps I expected in the 2016-2017 off-season. With Michigan losing two starters on the outside, that should free up some room for some playing time. He played some outside receiver in the spring, and he also has the ability to play in the slot. The only catch he made in the spring game was a 31-yarder on a fade route over the head of freshman Benjamin St-Juste. He did hurt his ankle on that play, but he is expected to be full go for fall practices. I think McDoom can continue his jet sweep duty, and I think he will expand on those 5 catches from last season. I do believe he’s the most talented “slot receiver” on the roster overall, but I’m not expecting a step forward to stardom just yet. Maybe he can build on his rapport with Wilton Speight for next year.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 12 catches, 150 yards, 1 TD

Orange Bowl Preview: Michigan Receivers vs. Florida State Secondary

Tarvarus McFadden (image via Warchant)

MICHIGAN

Starters: Fifth year senior Amara Darboh (52 catches, 826 yards, 7 TDs) has been more productive this year than any Michigan receiver since Jeremy Gallon in 2013. Darboh has had some key drops, but that’s because he’s the go-to guy for quarterback Wilton Speight and gets the ball thrown to him in crunch time. Otherwise, he has made some highlight-reel catches and turned in some big plays this year. Michigan likes to use him as both a possession guy and a downfield threat, although he’s not a huge weapon in the deep passing game. Classmate Jehu Chesson (31 catches, 469 yards, 2 TDs) has seen his production fall off dramatically from the second half of the 2015 season, and he just doesn’t look like the same player after a knee injury against Florida in last year’s bowl game. Senior tight end Jake Butt (43 catches, 518 yards, 4 TDs) stands 6’6″, 250 lbs. and won the Mackey Award for the country’s best tight end. He’s not a great blocker, but he’s a very good route runner with sure hands.

Key backups: Michigan will be without the legally challenged Grant Perry (13 catches, 183 yards, 1 TD) due to legal troubles, and he’s the only other wideout who has been regularly targeted this season. The next most productive guy is 6’0″, 180 lb. freshman Eddie McDoom (5 catches, 59 yards; 15 carries, 154 yards), a speedster who has clearly made more of a mark on end arounds and reverses than in the passing game. Fellow freshman Kekoa Crawford (4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD) and redshirt sophomore Drake Harris (2 catches, 11 yards) may also see some additional time. The backup tight ends haven’t factored into the passing game much: five tight ends have caught either 1 or 2 passes. We should see a lot of 6’6″, 276 lb. redshirt freshman Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. and 6’3″, 287 lb. freshman Devin Asiasi in mostly blocking roles.

Hit the jump for the rundown of Florida State’s defensive backfield.

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Big Ten Network: 2016 All-Freshman Team

Chris Evans

The Big Ten Network announced its All-Freshman team for the 2016 season (LINK), and there are several Michigan players included. Here’s a rundown of those players, along with those Michigan recruited a season or two ago (since it includes redshirt freshmen).

FIRST TEAM
Chris Evans – RB – Michigan
Mike Weber – RB – Ohio State
K.J. Hill – WR – Ohio State
Ben Bredeson – OG – Michigan
Michael Jordan – OG – Ohio State
Rashan Gary – DE – Michigan
Dre’mont Jones – DT – Ohio State

HONORABLE MENTION
Miles Sanders – RB – Penn State
Kekoa Crawford – WR – Michigan
Eddie McDoom – WR – Michigan
Terrance Davis – OG – Maryland
Connor McGovern – OT – Penn State
Josh King – DE – Michigan State
Carter Coughlin – LB – Minnesota
Justin Layne – CB – Michigan State

Michigan vs. Michigan State Awards

Eddie McDoom

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Eddie McDoom. Freshman backup wide receiver McDoom actually led the team in rushing with 53 yards on just 2 carries (33 yards, 20 yards). He’s the fifth leading rusher on the team, behind the four primary running backs (Chris Evans, De’Veon Smith, Ty Isaac, Karan Higdon) and ahead of Jabrill Peppers and Jehu Chesson. I wouldn’t recommend running more jet sweeps, but I do think the offensive staff could afford to spread the field a little more at times and use McDoom in the passing game. He has the speed to threaten teams deep, and he could also be used on bubble screens, crack screens, and such. Michigan has sprung Amara Darboh for some deep throws this year, but the short and intermediate zones can get clogged with all the tight ends and fullbacks. I would like to see some formations with Darboh, Chesson, and McDoom, which might cause some defensive coordinators and defensive backs some consternation.

Hit the jump for more on the game vs. MSU.

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Michigan vs. Central Florida Awards

Eddie McDoom (image via Twitter)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Eddie McDoom. I’m not calling for anyone to get benched here. I just really like what I’ve seen out of McDoom so far. He’s shown speed, agility, willingness to fight for extra yardage, an ability to catch the ball in traffic, etc. He needs to get in the weight room this off-season, but there’s a lot of potential here.

Hit the jump for the rest of this week’s awards.

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