Tag: Noah Furbush

2017 Season Countdown: #37 Noah Furbush

Noah Furbush (image via Twitter)

Name: Noah Furbush
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 238 lbs.
High school: Kenton (OH) Kenton
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I ranked Furbush #39 and said he would be the backup SAM linebacker. He made 15 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 64

Furbush did a good job on special teams in 2015 and worked his way into the good graces of the coaching staff. Going into 2016 he was in line for a more prominent role. He was slated to be the backup SAM linebacker, with Jabrill Peppers as the starter. After missing the first few games due to injury, he returned to make 15 total tackles throughout the year. In Don Brown’s defensive scheme, he’s not the type of player who gets a ton of snaps at SAM unless a team is using a tight end and fullback regularly.

This year there are rumors that Brown might line up Furbush as a weakside end, along with having him play SAM. The depth at weakside end is thin, with Chase Winovich being the only player with any noteworthy experience. Jabrill Peppers is gone, but a similar player in Khaleke Hudson has been inserted in his place. Furbush is still the best option as a traditional SAM linebacker, but Brown’s blitz-heavy scheme may lean more toward fellow backup Joshua Uche on passing downs. Furbush has several roles he can fill – SAM, WDE, special teams – but he’s unlikely to break out at any spot.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker, backup WDE, special teamer

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. Penn State Awards

Karan Higdon (image via Newsday)

Due to time limitations, I wasn’t able to get this post done for Monday, so here it is two days later.

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Karan Higdon. I’ve never been that sold on Higdon before, but I’m intrigued. He had 9 carries for 81 yards (9.0 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns in this one, including a 40-yard touchdown on a toss sweep. He looks bigger and stronger this year after sitting out the spring and summer with injuries and illness. I definitely think he earned himself some additional carries.

Hit the jump for more.

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Michigan vs. Hawaii Awards

Wilton Speight (image via Houston Chronicle)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Chris Evans. If you watched the game, you already know that Evans was the breakout star of the opener. He ran 8 times for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a nifty run where he dived for the left pylon, showing good field awareness and body control. The other was a 43-yard burst right up the middle after being untouched at the line of scrimmaged. He hurried a couple runs, but he showed good patience on most of his rushing attempts. That’s how you average 14 yards/carry. Evans looks like the most explosive running back the Wolverines have had in several years.

Hit the jump for more awards from the Hawaii game.

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2016 Season Countdown: #39 Noah Furbush

Noah Furbush (image via Limaohio.com)

Name: Noah Furbush
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 242 lbs.
High school: Kenton (OH) Kenton
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I ranked Furbush #81 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He played special teams in nine games and made 4 tackles.

Furbush was recruited as a middle linebacker in the 2014 class. He had nagging shoulder injury problems that prevented him from lifting and adding weight for a while, so he spent last season around 220 lbs. and was limited to special teams. Michigan didn’t need any more bodies at middle linebacker with a bunch of upperclassmen available, but he still found a way to impress on special teams. Kickoff coverage was his specialty, where a guy with good length and decent speed can tear through some people at high velocity. Jim Harbaugh mentioned him multiple times in press conferences.

Fast forward to the spring, and Furbush was moved to SAM linebacker. That position makes more sense to me than middle linebacker for a guy with his size and skills. Oddly, though, he’ll be backing up quasi-safety Jabrill Peppers, who is about 6’1″, 210 lbs. They’re totally different players, but Furbush makes sense against teams that like to line up big bodies, while Peppers is more of a spread-beater. I expect Furbush to be deployed more against the Wisconsins and Michigan States of the world, while Peppers fits more against Ohio State and teams that send out three or four wide receivers. Peppers is too good to take off the field very often for Furbush, but the coaching staff seems to like the Ohio native, who has added over 20 lbs. since last season now that he’s healthy. In addition to more special teams duty, Furbush should get his first snaps on the defensive side of the ball in 2016.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker

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