“The Week 2 Eckrich Team of the Week powered by PFF saw some impressive performances and, of course, the strength of opponent also factored into the overall selections as did the PFF player grades.” – @PFF_Cam https://t.co/5aZCCYnIEK pic.twitter.com/hQGhs3Kwr5
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 8, 2019
Hit the jump for more.
read more
Name: Michael Onwenu
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 370 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Onwenu #22 and said he would be the starting right guard (LINK). He started all thirteen games.
TTB Rating: 78
Onwenu has had an up-and-down career at Michigan so far. He has struggled with his weight, for one, and the roster refuses to list him at more than 350 lbs. even though coaches acknowledge that he’s about 370 lbs. right now. And if he’s 370 right now, he has probably been 380 or 390 at times in the past. Onwenu has also struggled with the consistency of his play on the field, sometimes looking like a road-grader and other times looking like a statue. On the plus side, he was named a Third Team All-Big Ten player by the coaches and Honorable Mention by the media.
This year we should see more of the same from Onwenu. Seniors don’t generally take huge leaps, so I don’t expect a major one from him this year. There has been some buzz about him in the off-season. He has the right guard spot locked down, and his experience is even more valuable now that Andrew Stueber is injured and a redshirt freshman (Jalen Mayfield) will be starting next to him at right tackle. Backup options include redshirt junior Stephen Spanellis and redshirt sophomore Chuck Filiaga, not to mention redshirt sophomore Joel Honigford, who has at least temporarily bumped out to tackle to help back up Stueber/Mayfield.
Prediction: Starting right guard
With spring practice beginning in Ann Arbor, there will be lots of positive talk and fluff around the program. Every position will be better than last year, and every newcomer will be compared to a past standout at his position.
And there are often position changes from season to season, so here are some switches that the players and coaches might consider.
read more
Karan Higdon
The Big Ten released the all-conference defense and special teams yesterday (LINK), and today it was time for the offense. Michigan players include:
First Team
Running Back: Karan Higdon
Offensive Tackle: Jon Runyan, Jr.
Second Team
Offensive Guard: Ben Bredeson
Third Team
Quarterback: Shea Patterson
Wide Receiver: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Tight End: Zach Gentry
Center: Cesar Ruiz
Offensive Guard: Michael Onwenu
Honorable Mention
Wide Receiver: Nico Collins
Offensive Tackle: Juwann Bushell-Beatty
First Team
Running Back: Karan Higdon
Second Team
Offensive Guard: Ben Bredeson
Offensive Tackle: Jon Runyan, Jr.
Honorable Mention
Quarterback: Shea Patterson
Wide Reciever: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Tight End: Zach Gentry
Tight End: Sean McKeon
Offensive Tackle: Juwann Bushell-Beatty
Offensive Guard: Michael Onwenu
Shea Patterson (image via Bleacher Report)
Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Christian Turner. Why Christian Turner? Toward the end of last week’s blowout win against Penn State, Michigan was still running zone read options with quarterbacks Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey. I was afraid it would get one of them injured, and it turns out McCaffrey broke his right collarbone and will be out for the year. If Michigan gets in another blowout situation – which is a strong possibility this week against Rutgers – then I would prefer to see the quarterbacks hand off to Turner (or other backup running backs).
Hit the jump for more thoughts on the game.