1) Obviously the running game was a huge success for Michigan in Week 1. Loved the combo of Haskins and Corum, and excited to see what they will do for an encore. I'd like to see a little less running on first down early in the game. In the first half, Michigan called for a run on 11 of 14 first down plays. On the three passes, McNamara was 2 of 3 for 22 yards and a TD. Though the 11 rushes were largely successful, with an average of 5.6 YPC. Of course there were some low-yardage numbers (four runs of two yards or less) and some high-wattage plays (9, 12 and 18 yards) so it's a mixed bag. I'm all for wearing down a defense and I understand the strategy but I'd like to see that closer to 60% run on first downs instead of 79%.
2) Who steps up with Ronnie Bell out? I read the comments about Baldwin from Harbaugh and I know Gattis spoke highly this week of Henning/Wilson but none of those guys has really done anything of significance as a wide receiver in the winged helmet. Henning has seven career receptions, Wilson has nine (though he did show some promise catching five balls against MSU last year). Cornelius Johnson is dependable and I like his potential too but who can this offense really count on? Who is a difference-maker? That was Nico in 2019 to some degree, but it's been awhile since Michigan has really relied heavily on its receivers. You'd probably have to go back to 2018 to find the last time the passing game was a focal point for Michigan. Maybe with the renewed running game it doesn't have to be this year, but at some point, U-M will play football like it's 2021 and not 2002, and if that day comes Saturday because the Huskies are selling out to stop the run, who fills Bell's void?
3) McNamara himself has been in only one tight game, against Rutgers last year. if all the intangible/leadership stuff is true then a close game Saturday will be his wheelhouse and that type of edge from the QB will certainly be a major plus for Michigan.
4) Love the way MacDonald adjusted as the game went along and I expect to see him make similar changes early against Washington. Figure out what works and what doesn't after 2-3 series and adapt. I'm also really excited to see what Hutchinson, Ojabo and Hill-Green do after they got a feel for their roles in his defense. Thought those three really came on as the game went along, Hutch doing everything we could hope to get out of him. Frankly, in a game like Saturday, Hutch (and Dax Hill, him in a second) have to be the best players on the field.
5) Dax! He was a beast Saturday. I was shocked reading the box score that he had only six tackles as it felt like he had 16. What I love about Dax is how physical he is at the line of scrimmage. Passes to the flat get blown up because he wins those one-on-one matchups with receivers. Go watch how many times he pushes that guy backwards, making the receiver choose between cutting inside the blocker (to where more defenders typically are) or having to take a wider angle to get the corner. When you can redirect the desired path, you allow your teammates to rally and get to the ball. He does that as well as any defensive back I've seen at Michigan in the last 10+ years.
6) I've gone back and forth on this game. Originally, I had this as a loss for Michigan. I try not to overreact to one game and get too high on my team, especially when i didn't even see the Washington game, but I know this - while the talk has been about Washington rallying and showing they're not the team that lost to Montana, I've seen plenty of unexpected losses shake a team to its core. Michigan loses to App State in 2007 and then gets chainsawed the next week by Oregon. Now the Ducks had a special QB at the time (Dennis Dixon) and Chad Henne got banged up but from the moment the game started, U-M was on its heels. I think something similar could happen with the Huskies.
I have Michigan winning 38-20. God I hope I'm right!!!
2) Who steps up with Ronnie Bell out? I read the comments about Baldwin from Harbaugh and I know Gattis spoke highly this week of Henning/Wilson but none of those guys has really done anything of significance as a wide receiver in the winged helmet. Henning has seven career receptions, Wilson has nine (though he did show some promise catching five balls against MSU last year). Cornelius Johnson is dependable and I like his potential too but who can this offense really count on? Who is a difference-maker? That was Nico in 2019 to some degree, but it's been awhile since Michigan has really relied heavily on its receivers. You'd probably have to go back to 2018 to find the last time the passing game was a focal point for Michigan. Maybe with the renewed running game it doesn't have to be this year, but at some point, U-M will play football like it's 2021 and not 2002, and if that day comes Saturday because the Huskies are selling out to stop the run, who fills Bell's void?
3) McNamara himself has been in only one tight game, against Rutgers last year. if all the intangible/leadership stuff is true then a close game Saturday will be his wheelhouse and that type of edge from the QB will certainly be a major plus for Michigan.
4) Love the way MacDonald adjusted as the game went along and I expect to see him make similar changes early against Washington. Figure out what works and what doesn't after 2-3 series and adapt. I'm also really excited to see what Hutchinson, Ojabo and Hill-Green do after they got a feel for their roles in his defense. Thought those three really came on as the game went along, Hutch doing everything we could hope to get out of him. Frankly, in a game like Saturday, Hutch (and Dax Hill, him in a second) have to be the best players on the field.
5) Dax! He was a beast Saturday. I was shocked reading the box score that he had only six tackles as it felt like he had 16. What I love about Dax is how physical he is at the line of scrimmage. Passes to the flat get blown up because he wins those one-on-one matchups with receivers. Go watch how many times he pushes that guy backwards, making the receiver choose between cutting inside the blocker (to where more defenders typically are) or having to take a wider angle to get the corner. When you can redirect the desired path, you allow your teammates to rally and get to the ball. He does that as well as any defensive back I've seen at Michigan in the last 10+ years.
6) I've gone back and forth on this game. Originally, I had this as a loss for Michigan. I try not to overreact to one game and get too high on my team, especially when i didn't even see the Washington game, but I know this - while the talk has been about Washington rallying and showing they're not the team that lost to Montana, I've seen plenty of unexpected losses shake a team to its core. Michigan loses to App State in 2007 and then gets chainsawed the next week by Oregon. Now the Ducks had a special QB at the time (Dennis Dixon) and Chad Henne got banged up but from the moment the game started, U-M was on its heels. I think something similar could happen with the Huskies.
I have Michigan winning 38-20. God I hope I'm right!!!
