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Awesome haul

It's been a bit since I posted a Jim Harbaugh contract talk update. I wanted to gather some information before I posted anything further.

I want to be open and transparent with what I know whether that's good, bad, or everything else in between.

Let's get started with what I know for certain:

I will start by saying that Jim Harbaugh and his agent actively negotiating a contract extension and Harbaugh being open to exploring NFL opportunities can both be true, as I believe that Harbaugh would be open to listening to the NFL if they came calling. Now, you can't have your cake and eat it too so this is assuming that an NFL team will make Harbaugh an offer he would have to weigh up against what he has in Ann Arbor to consider leaving. January is the key month but there have been zero indications that Harbaugh is expecting phone calls, nor does he seem to be in the position to jump at the first NFL that would want him. It would also assume that discussions with an NFL team would get to the negotiation and contract offering standpoint and no one knows with certainty that he's ever gotten to that point with an NFL franchise since being at U-M.

Harbaugh does NOT have a physical contract to sign. He does, however, have terms that he can say yes or no to with most of those terms being ironed out. I am told that the salary numbers, which would put him top three in CFP, as well as an increased salary pool for his assistants, have been ironed out a long time ago. It appears there seem to be some assurances both sides want to be made in the contract, which includes Harbaugh not looking into the NFL *this* coaching cycle and for Harbaugh to have the NCAA findings in the investigation not be a for-cause termination included.

Not unreasonable asks from both sides by any means.

From U-M's perspective, there's not much else they can do here. From the top down (which includes Warde Manuel), they have done the right things every step of the way and have shown Harbaugh that he is wanted in Ann Arbor.

Take the brunch with the Regents that happened this week, which was mainly shown as a display of thanks for Harbaugh and appreciating what he has done for the program and university. If that doesn't prove he's wanted and loved, I am not sure what will.

I want to be clear, I am not officially predicting that Jim Harbaugh will be within the NFL ranks by this time next month and I am not trying to cast doubt or be a doom poster, as well as the flipside, I don't want to pretend everything is all sunshine and rainbows. It's likely somewhere in the middle but I also need to be realistic.

I think there's a reason why things with Harbaugh's extension talks have progressed the way they have in recent weeks with U-M, there is a desire to stay beyond his current deal and there is still optimism a deal gets done. If a deal gets done, that means that Harbaugh has likely given assurances (most likely in writing) that he won't pursue the NFL this cycle and the rest of the talk is moot. The longer this creeps into January, though, you have to think about the possibility of an NFL team calling. A possibility, NOT a guarantee.

The sooner a deal gets done, the better, to state the obvious.

I've got..

Nm

Arch Manning 3.2 million and has not seen the field

Brock Purdy MVP candidate $870k

Harbaugh in trouble for allowing JJ in the building and buying him lunch. Hypocrisy at its finest. If Harbaugh goes back to the NFL can you blame him...

We all want Jim to sign an extension and stay at UM until he retires from coaching. Unfortunately, the NCAA seems to be trying their best to drive him out. If Jim gets tired of the NCAA and bolts to the NFL, how about if Michigan went big game hunting again and hired Kalen DeBoer from Washington?
He's a proven winner. He wins everywhere he goes. Michigan hiring DeBoer would be huge considering they would be poaching him away from a future conference opponent. DeBoer is a not a "Michigan man" but he's a Midwest guy so he probably knows you need a great run game and great play in the trenches when the weather gets cold.

Part 2 of my Alabama rewatch with a focus on the defense. You can find my thoughts on the Bama offense Here

Bama Defensive Strengths

Saban coaches the secondary himself for a reason, and the defensive principles and athletes he’s able to recruit and produce at the corner position are the main reasons his defense have been so successful. This year is no different as Kool-Aid and Terrion Arnold are individually the best corners UM will face, let alone as a pair. Then you pair two projected first-round corners with maybe the best safety prospect in 10 years in Caleb Downs. This is hands down the best secondary in the country, and certainly far and away the best UM will face this year.

Both Edges are also really good in Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner. Both are very strong, well-rounded players who can rush the passer well but aren’t necessarily as strong against the run as their “hype” suggests (and not just against Auburn)

They will also sub frequently to match personnel.

Bama Defensive Weakness

First, the lesser of two evils for them, the interior Dline are just average players, nothing too fancy. They are average at both the pass rush and against the run. According to PFF, there have also been some randomly awful games from each. These are not guys you’re used to seeing line up defensively for the Tide in years past.

Even with the average interior D-Line, the most evident and massive trouble spot for the Tide is their linebackers. None of them are particularly strong against the run and, as a group, have significant issues in coverage. I believe this group is handcuffing Saban a bit with what he wants to do…but more about that shortly.

Their Free Saftey transfer is also underwhelming, and their Nickel they play a ton has some communication issues leading to coverage breakdowns.

Long story short on the defense – the outside, including the CBs, Strong Safety, and Edges, are top-notch. The middle of the defense, including interior Dline and LB, are average to below average.

How other teams have been successful against the Bama defense.

Communication has been a severe problem for Bama all year. The teams that have picked up yards through the air against Alabama use a ton of motions and bunch sets, forcing Bama defends to have to change their assignments on the fly prior to and directly after the snap – this has led to a lot of very visible confusion and coverage breakdowns. I thought Sarkisian did an unbelievable job of planning open Xavier Worthy, whom Bama clearly tried to plan to stop. He motioned him a bunch, ran him out of a ton of bunch sets, and even played him out of the backfield at times to get the matchups they wanted and avoid the bracket coverage.

What happened against Auburn and Georgia?

I THINK their weakness at LBs in coverage is forcing Saban to play more two-high safeties than he wants to tighten down their middle-of-the-field coverage.

Against Auburn, Bama played almost exclusively in a two-high safetys and a light six-man box that Auburn toasted for 244 yards. Auburn hit big plays in the run game but also consistently got 4-5 yards.

This two-high look was the defense they were planning to play against Georgia. However, what was wild to me was that Saban never adjusted, even late in the game when Auburn was up they never really moved another man into the box – just blitzed with their nickel more. It really kind of tells you the confidence he has in his LBs

Whatever lingering effect that Auburn game had led to Bama returning to their single high cover three look for the opening drive of the SEC championship.

Georgia went right down the field like they weren't even there, using a ton of motion and running off their outside WRs to get Bowers and their RBs in space on the sideline, which resulted in multiple big gainers. After that opening Drive, Bama returned to their two-high safety look and played an extra interior on the line to try to stop the run, where they had much more success the rest of the game.

Georgia's playcalling post-Bama adjustment was dreadful. They completely abandoned the run in the 2nd half and stopped throwing in the middle of the field. Carson Beck, UGA QB, I thought, had no clue what he was looking at and had a rough game.

How will Bama line up against UM?

Your guess is as good as mine…

I’m interested to see what Saban decided to do to try to defend this UM offense. If he brings an extra defender in the box, it forces his LB to have to cover more of the field when UM passes, which has been disastrous all year and is an area of the field UM has been successful attacking.

On the other hand, if he plays two-deep, you create a light box against UM. I would imagine you have to run three of your interior Dline – this may cause fatigue issues late in the game as they have a 4-5 man internal Dline rotation plus, you have to take out either Braswell or Turner, which will slow your pass rush and maybe your most significant defensive advantage (Turner only had 29/62 snaps vs. UGA) UM hasn’t seen a light box all year, boy would that be something. If we see this, it is Sherrone Moore smash time.

They will also not be able to sub as much as they usually do because we run a ton of two TE sets and can run and throw equally out of this.

How does UM attack this Defense?

A big part of our game plan needs to be, regardless of what Bama is doing defensively, is to utilize motions, bunch formations, and shifts to confuse the Bama defense prior to the snap – UM usually does a pretty good job of this already and I would imagine we see even more with a month to prepare.

JJ runs have to be on…and he needs to be a threat in the run game to neutralize that free defender. Peyton Throne’s running ability was a big reason why Auburn should have won that game, despite not being able to throw.

Bama is going to bracket Loveland in some way, shape, or form (see Saban’s interview with/ Pat McAfee), so you need to be prepared for that – I can see a big game from Barner, Semaj, and Roman Wilson if they scheme them properly.

I’ll end with this…if we ever see a Donovan Edwards breakout game, it will be this game. He is an absolute nightmare matchup for Bama with awful coverage LB’s.

SHERRONE MOORE – I BEG YOU, PLEASE PLAN TO SCHEME DE OPEN. Routes out of the backfield, motion to WR, etc. Please get him involved. It will work

A lot of smoke for this one the last few days.
Will be Denbrock's third stint at Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman's third OC in three years, but this is a massive hire for them.
Denbrock is from Michigan and is a midwest guy.

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Of course, Michigan fans will wonder what impact, if any, this will have on the Bryce Underwood recruitment. Denbrock was not the primary recruiter, but as OC and with his ties to Michigan, I am sure he was a factor. We'll see if we hear anything credible today about true impact.

Night for a Hat Trick?

????

The Wake Forest wide receiver transfer is looking at a January 3rd visit date. I don't get the sense that the date is locked in fully yet but it's certainly in the works.

Things have been quiet from Upton Stout's camp since he left from his visit.

I have been told that there has been some back-and-forth in the days since he left campus and that the staff had a VERY strong inclination that Stout would end up a Wolverine once he decided but now has informed the staff that there may be a chance he returns to WKU.

Nothing has been decided one way or the other but I do know that no guarantees of a starting job were given to him by the staff.

Former Wolverine and long time high school coach Jerry Diorio takes us into the film room and shows us what Michigan may be looking at when it comes to attaching Alabama's defense on New Years Day.
Breakdown
Open 00:00-4:10
NSS 4:11-21:53
Alabama Georgia film 21:54-37:32
Alabama Auburn film 37:33-1:03:02
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Can't wait to see what Minter does to try and slow down Milroe. I just rewatched the Bama vs Auburn game, and slowing down Milroe will be the key to having a successful day. All (Minus two deep throws)
of Bama's big plays were on runs by Milroe on passing plays after he got out of the pocket. Auburn seemed to have some success blitzing their nickel, which Mikey is great at! Going to be a chess match early.

4 OSU (2735)
7 Oregon (2616)

12 Michigan (2350)

15 Penn State (2124)
17 Nebraska (2094)
18 Wisconsin (2090)
20 USC (2042)

32 Iowa (1635)
34 Purdue (1619)
35 Maryland (1608)

37 Rutgers (1560)
40 Illinois (1478)
41 Minnesota (1450)
45 Washington (1405)

51 MSU (1335)

61 Indiana (1125)
66 UCLA (1001)

88 Northwestern (795)

***

Notes:

• The gap between OSU and us is bigger than the gap between us and Wisconsin/Nebraska.
• 3 of the 4 incoming Pac-12 programs had garbage classes by their standards. What the hell is going on at UCLA and Washington? Sheesh. You'd think UCLA would have a top 25 class every year by accident.
• MSU - LOL 🤣
• I see you, Huskers... Seems to be more going on in Lincoln, Nebraska than with Lincoln Riley right now.

I guess he'll have to remember that Orji TD to go up 49-0 (that russled him) when he's coaching at UTEP.

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Micah DeBose has never visited Michigan but made sure to let me know they were going to contend for him now that he's back on the market

Is it just me or is Ryan Day the bully that gets his A$$ beat in the Christmas Story. It’s almost poetic sometimes art does imitate real life!

Bleacher Report notification just popped up about an Athletic article regarding new allegations against Harbaugh unrelated to sign stealing.

Of course, it’s about the NOA today from the violations everyone knew about well before the sign stealing stuff.

How in the world does a responsible journalist attempt to make this appear and anew and separate list of violations.

Just terrible.

FSU wanting out of the ACC is old news, and this meeting they're having now is, I think, just an hysterical reaction to being spurned by the CFP. I remain highly skeptical that they're going to be able to back out of the grant-of-rights they signed on for.

But just musing on what could happen if the ACC dissolved... here's a setup where the Big Ten takes FSU, Clemson, Virginia, Stanford, Cal and Notre Dame.

This creates a 6-team Pacific Division that makes some georgrahic/logistical sense and locks down the entire state of California as Big Ten country, while also getting Stanford's great Olympic sports teams and Cal & Stanford's academics.

The SEC takes UNC, Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech (although I'm not 100% convinced they would even want the latter two.)

The rest go to the Big 12, with Memphis, UConn, Wazzu and Oregon State.


BIG TEN (4x6)

USC, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Oregon, Washington

Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois

Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State

Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland, Virginia, Clemson, Florida State


BIG 12 (4x7)

Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, BYU, Colorado, Washington State, Oregon State

Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU, SMU, Houston, Oklahoma State, Memphis

Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Louisville, WVU, Pitt

UCF, Ga Tech, NC State, Wake Forest, Syracuse, BC, UConn


SEC (2x10)

Miami, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky

Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn

Every year it hits Oct 1st for me and I look at a slow buildup to Christmas. Why? I want to enjoy as much of football season as possible.

This year has been the same, however, I am looking forward to the Rose Bowl with heightened anticipation.

Why? For the 1st time in 3 attempts, I believe this team truly has a chance to win and win it all

The kds will have to play the game of their lives, but, look at how they beat PSU, MD, OSU without their head coach.

Now, only a few days from Christmas, I am personally going through some changes, for the better.

I am selling my business and taking on a new challenge as the eastern sales rep for a new company and new state of the Art products. What is nuts is at 67 yrs old I am approaching this with an excitement I haven't had since I started my business years ago.

These positives for me I hope translates for Michigan Football a semi final win over Bama and a natty win at over Texas or Washington.

Michigan has had not the best postseason the last 2 years.

My business the last few years has been testy as well.

This year it has recovered slightly, where I can sell it with a foundation for the new to be owners.

Michigan in my mind can too move forward with the success they have been working to achieve.

May we all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

GI BLUE!

Wow this guy's has some big plums. Harbaugh has to be jumping up and down. Michigan time to pay up. 11m not the number now.....

It wouldn’t matter if Michigan created the best and most lucrative NIL system in college football. They would still be losing out on 5 star recruits like they have in the past to the historically known cheating “Pay for Play” schools because they haven’t stopped their nefarious under the table dealings in the “If you ain’t cheatin’..you ain’t tryin’!” culture in the south, and to certain schools in the north like OSU, or out west with USC and Oregon. Since Michigan refuses to sell their soul in that manner, it won’t matter how great any new Michigan NIL policy is, the schools that have bribed players in the past will continue to do so..along with the now legal NIL school collectives.

Until someone finally listens to Harbaugh’s consistent message that the players will still be taken advantage of by the NCAA until they are paid by the Universities with a percentage of the ridiculous TV rights deals and by the money made by the CFP, Michigan will always be at a disadvantage. Michigan will have to win like they have been doing on this great run, with an incredible team culture and Harbaugh’s uncanny ability to see a football player in a guy being recruited as a basketball player, finding undervalued and mistakenly low rated guys like Mason Graham and Loveland..Roman Wilson and Mike Sainristil..and dozens of other 2 and 3 stars that Harbaugh can just look at and know they‘re players. I’d much rather have that kind of program than one like Texas A&M, who bought a whole recruiting class of top rated 5 stars that can’t play a lick.

That’s just the way it’s going to be until the government steps in when the NCAA ceases to exist once they lose the two large class action suits filed against them. Until the players are finally adequately paid for how much they do for the University (everyone knows..a good football team means higher enrollment), Michigan will always lose out to the teams that are still operating as usual with NIL being just icing on the cake.