Michigan Friday: Does Michigan Have a Secret Weapon on Defense?

We know this Michigan team pretty well.   Yes, we hope the offense is more open with Josh Gattis calling the plays but we know the players and their ability.

The same for the defense, except one player.   Graduate transfer Mike Danna from Central Michigan.  He is been on campus for a couple weeks and already impressing the coaches and seems very happy to be in Ann Arbor.

"I've only been here for about two weeks so far, but it feels like I've been here for years because of how nice everyone has been," Danna said. "I can't even imagine what that feeling will be like coming out of that tunnel and onto the field for the first time."

"It wasn't a long decision process, because it's always been a dream of mine to play football at Michigan," Danna said, noting that his family appreciates the shorter drive from Detroit to Ann Arbor. "My eggs were all in one basket when U-M came calling, and it's an honor and a pleasure to be here." "I pride myself on being a hard worker and separating myself from the pack — on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom," Danna said, stating that he did think about the NFL as a possibility after graduating from Central Michigan this spring. "I figured one more year of college football at a prestigious program like Michigan would be icing on the cake."

Just to remind you Mike, had 9.5 sacks and 15 TFL's last year alone at Central.  Yes, you never know how a graduate transfer will fit, but so far so good!  Even Jimmy seems impressed so far.

"We knew he was good – we really did,” Harbaugh said. “But it’s a pleasure to introduce him to the Michigan fans, because he’s doing better than advertised. His work ethic has been outstanding. He carries himself like he’s on a mission to make Michigan great and make himself great. That has been noticed by everybody on the team and the coaching staff. The workouts ... he’s a dude, Don Brown would say. Moving exceptionally well, which we really thought, but then there’s been some of the sled work and some of the things where you come up and physically punch and hit. He’s got a lot of power – more than we thought. 

"He’s under-promising and over-delivering right now. Really excited about Michael Danna.”
"(Excited) by his talent, by his work ethic – he’s the only player that we brought in as a transfer in this class,” Harbaugh said. “Every other player was a player right out of high school. We thought Michael was really special and would really help our team. Really happy that he chose to be a Wolverine.”



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/07/michigan-friday-does-michigan-have.html

Michigan Thursday: 0-2 on Commits on Wednesday

Michigan Basketball and Football both took a donut on the 2020 recruiting trail yesterday.

Michigan Football lost out on 4 star OT/OG Andrew Raym to Oklahoma and Michigan Basketball lost 4 star Forward Jabri Abdur-Rahim to Virginia.   Neither was a surprise.

Andrew visited during commit weekend and went home Oklahoma and committed to his instate school.  Jabri was a Michigan lean until Coach B headed to the NBA and the National Champions swooped in.

On to the next one!

• Glenn Robinson III is officially a Golden State Warrior now

Now I have to wonder which team we will tie this year? Being a Michigan fan is never easy! 

Caesars Palace Over Under Win Totals for my Projected AP Top Ten teams
1 Clemson 11.5
2 Alabama 11.5
3 Georgia 11
4 Oklahoma 10
5 Ohio State 10
6 LSU 9
7 Florida 9
8 Notre Dame 9
9 Michigan 10.5
10 Texas 9
Others
Utah 9.5
Washington 9
Miami, Oregon Nebraska, Penn St 8.5

— Phil Steele (@philsteele042) July 11, 2019

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/07/michigan-thursday-0-2-on-commits-on.html

Maryland designates new enterprise zone in Garrett County, redesignates others

The Maryland Department of Commerce has designated a new Enterprise Zone in Garrett County to include the Keyser’s Ridge Business Park, approved an expansion of the existing Harford County Enterprise Zone, and redesignated the Route 220 South Enterprise Zone in Allegany County. 

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/maryland-designates-new-enterprise-zone-garrett-county-redesignates-others/

Wolverine Wednesday: Thinks About JR Smith and Coach B

GQ

Have you ever met two different people then JR Smith and John Beilein?  As of right now, JR is on John's team and is carrying around a $4M salary.  Both sides agreed in early July to push back his guaranteed salary due date while they search for a trade.   So far no luck.

JR was asked to leave the team last November and sent home while making his money.  The Cavs figured he was less of a distraction paying him at home then having him play basketball.   He showed up this week at the Cleveland All Star Celebrity Softball Game where he hit an inside the park home run with his shirt off.  Of course he did, that is 100% JR!

The Cavs are looking to trade the shirtless shooting guard so they can stay under the luxury tax as they re-build and learn Coach B's system.   Trading JR won't be easy and there is part of me that would love to see the interaction between Coach Beilein and JR, but it probably will never happen.   Somehow JR will end up on the end of the Lakers bench or as an official scorekeeper somewhere.

• 2020 Small Forward Jabri Abdur-Rhaim is expected to pick UVA over Michigan today. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/07/wolverine-wednesday-thinks-about-jr.html

Volvo reinvests in Hagerstown facility

Volvo is investing $43 million and expanding its powertrain facility in Hagerstown, Maryland.

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/volvo-reinvests-hagerstown-facility/

Michigan Tuesday: Being Malik McDowell

Malik McDowell has been on a wild ride for the last 5 years.  It started on February 5th, 2014 National Signing Day for the 5 star DE from Southfield when he committed to Michigan State.

2/5/14:  Malik commits to Michigan State over Michigan, but his mom is not happy with the decision because she feels that that the MSU Staff and current players told him, (I'm paraphrasing) "If you come to East Lansing you can play football and not worry about school".   Mom declines to sign his LOI to Michigan State.

4/1/14:  After nearly two months, Malik gets his LOI signed and is officially a Spartan.

10/29/16: Malik named to the All Big Ten Team

12/6/16: Malik declares for the NFL Draft

12/13/16:  Malik named to CBS's All American Team

4/28/17: Malik is drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 35th pick in the 2nd round.

June 2017:  McDowell signs a four-year, $6.95 million contract with $3.19 million in bonus money. As part of that contract, the Seahawks were to pay McDowell that bonus in four increments. 

Mid July 2017:  Malik is involved in an ATV crash and misses his entire rookie season due to injuries from the crash.  (concussion and facial injuries)

12/10/17: Malik is arrested outside an Atlanta night club after a dispute over a $600 bill

February 2018: Malik gets charged and convicted of  DUI in Royal Oak

May 2018:  Seattle cuts Malik

2/18/19: Malik is arrested and charged with driving while impaired, driving with a suspended license, obstructing justice and assaulting a police officer.  Video is now on TMZ of him wrestling with a police officer in a gas station. 

Between 2/18 and 6/27: Malik leaves the State of Michigan without permission which is in violation of his arrest. 

April 2019:  Malik is found to have a stolen Ford Truck in his garage.  He says he paid a guy $3000 for the $75,000 truck in Downtown Detroit.   The GPS pinged and the Police found the truck that was recently stolen from a Ford lot in his garage.  He is arrested for driving and concealing a stolen car. 

May 2019:  The Seahawks sue Malik for $800,00 after arbitration with the NFL Players Union where they agree to forfeit half of his signing bonus.   Seattle still believes that $800K needs to be repaid by McDowell.  

Other information from Yahoo about the case:

• Seattle initially attempted to regain everything it had paid him in the signing bonus installments. Meaning the franchise effectively tried to pay him almost nothing since he was drafted.
• McDowell’s base salary as a rookie – which was slated to be $465,000 – was reduced to $5,000 per week for 17 weeks while he was on the non-football injury list. Essentially, Seattle took full advantage of the NFI avenue to reduce McDowell’s rookie base salary from $465,000 to $85,000.
• The Seahawks are not only seeking repayment of the $799,238 that McDowell owes, they are asking for still-accumulating interest on that sum as well as repayment of their legal fees to recoup the money.

This is just crazy.



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/07/michigan-tuesday-being-malik-mcdowell.html

Veteran-owned businesses plan 75 new jobs in Maryland

Three veteran-owned businesses plan to create a total of 75 new jobs with financial assistance from the Maryland Department of Commerce.

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/veteran-owned-businesses-plan-75-new-jobs-maryland/