Wednesday means it’s time for a Big Ten mailbag. Before you know it, the melodrama of satellite camps will give way to the real drama of football season. Let’s talk about it.
@ESPN_BigTen @mitchsherman Why so much"Love"&"Hype"for Hackenberg? His # aren't any better than Armstrong's! He still living off those HS #?
- Black41FlashReverse (@Black41Reverse) June 10, 2015
Mitch Sherman: The numbers that matter most for Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg are his height and weight - 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds. Hackenberg ranked 107th nationally last year in adjusted QBR, an index representative of a quarterback's overall play that takes into account the level of competition. He has thrown 25 interceptions in two years and completed 57.2 percent of his passes. Still, you'll not find a coach or QB expert who questions his ability. It's a matter of time with Hackenberg. If he gets better protection in 2015 - he was sacked 44 times last season - Hackenberg is ready for a breakout statistical season. Despite difficult circumstances, he has shown durability, leadership and a tendency to rise to the moment. Hackenberg, in fact, fought some of these same struggles in high school, yet maintained his spot as the top-rated QB in the Class of 2013. He may well enter the NFL in 2016 in the same position. Down the road, production will matter more. At age 20, potential earns him every benefit of the doubt.
@ESPN_BigTen @mitchsherman does Minnesota really have a shot at repeating the success they had last year having lost so much talent? - Peter Achauer (@AchRockOState) June 10, 2015
Mitch Sherman: If you're looking for a skeptical viewpoint of the Gophers, you've come to the wrong place. That was my stance a year ago, explaining away Minnesota's first eight-win season in a decade as a fluke. It was a perfect storm of events, I figured, what with how the Gophers rallied around their coach as Jerry Kill battled medical issues, and certainly no scenario likely to repeat itself. As it turned out, the Gophers' success in 2013 had more to do with their ability to play an efficient, strong-minded style than Kill's motivational story. Minnesota loses a lot from a year ago, primarily tight end Maxx Williams and running back David Cobb, linebacker Damien Wilson and safety Cedric Thompson, but the attitude and coaching longevity remains. I trust the Gophers' staff more than any other in the West Division to find a way to get the most of their roster, plugging athletes like receiver and running back Jeff Jones into key roles. The secondary, one of the Big Ten's top three units, will keep foes honest, and Mitch Leidner is ready to take a big step.
@ESPN_BigTen @mitchsherman which team, Maryland or Michigan, will have more of its offseason questions answered by their Oct 3 #B1G opener?
- A-Game Tailgate (@AGameTailgate) June 10, 2015
Mitch Sherman: A team with a first-year coaching staff like Michigan typically experiences more growing pains in September than a program like Maryland, entering year No. 5 under coach Randy Edsall. This isn't an instance in which Jim Harbaugh works magic with the Wolverines; there will be struggles. Both of these teams, in fact, must accomplish a great deal in August after facing difficult situations in the spring. For Michigan, quarterback Jake Rudock didn't make it to campus until recently. The Iowa transfer will battle Shane Morris in preseason camp. Maryland QB Caleb Rowe missed spring, too, while recovering from a knee injury. Running back Wes Brown also missed spring drills for the Terps. Maryland, with a rebuilt front seven, must adjust to a 4-3 scheme under coordinator Keith Dudzinski, promoted from linebackers coach. Michigan needs more clarity in the secondary and must form a defensive chemistry while replacing middle linebacker Jake Ryan. The nonconference schedule for Michigan appears slightly more difficult than Maryland's slate - which may offer an edge for the Wolverines if they stay healthy. All considered, though, the Terps figure to look like something closer to a finished product than Michigan by the first week of October.