Part II of Inside the Fort, this time focusing on football heading into the last non-conference game of the season …
The win over Washington was a big one for a few reasons, obviously — No. 1, for season momentum. This was a ‘must win’ heading into the season in the staff’s eyes, and they took care of business.
At the same time, they knew going in the Huskies weren’t as good as advertised heading into the season, one of the reasons they were very confident.
Two — when you have such a big recruiting weekend and make that your selling point for the year (which they did), you’d better win. They did, of course, and our EJ Holland has been all over it explaining just how big it was for momentum
In some ways, folks inside the building noted, there are still things they don’t know about this team and won’t find out until Big Ten play starts.
“Are the lines as good as it seems? Nobody has a clue,” one said. “But I can tell you this — these guys are playing for each other, and they care.”
Winning helps, of course. And as we reported last week, there are always going to be guys disappointed with playing time or feeling the pressure. Two starters right now who aren’t necessarily looking over the shoulders but who are being pushed — linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green and quarterback Cade McNamara.
Junior Colson has been playing lights out in practice and it’s translating to games, to the point that he’s hard to take off the field.
“Everyone knows he’s got the potential to be an All-American,” one source said. “It’s only a matter of time. He already plays the game at a high level, and he’s just getting started.”
Some are a bit concerned about how the frosh will hold up to the physical part of being the full-time starter, if it comes to that, but if that’s the biggest concern … well, it’s a good problem to have. And Hill-Green is just getting started, too. He and Colson should be a really nice duo for a while.
Freshman quarterback JJ McCarthy, too, continues to make plays. He’s ‘the future,’ and if McNamara is feeling the pressure … well, it’s understandable.
Nobody’s saying it’s making him uncomfortable, but it’s clear he’s pressing at times (according to some observers). It’s going to be interesting to watch the quarterback battle play out not just this year, but also in the future.
On punt return, we expect someone else to get a shot this week in place of Caden Kolesar, and receiver A.J. Henning is the most likely. He’d be there already if he were more consistent catching the ball … he can do things with it once he catches it.
Daylen Baldwin should be 100 percent this week, and they want to get him more involved in the offense. They need someone to fill Ronnie Bell’s shoes, and Baldwin did a nice job with contested catches in the fall. Cornelius Johnson is the one guy who could really make an impact in replacing their injured leader.
“I said it two weeks in — he was the best receiver in [fall camp],” our source said. “He’s got the potential to be a go-to guy.”
****
More football …
Michigan ran 56 times (for 343 yards) and attempted just 15 passes in a 31-10 win over Washington, which left some fans complaining about the lack of an aerial attack. But don’t put ESPN.com senior writer Adam Rittenberg into that category.
“What does it take to win the game? That’s all that matters, or all that should matter,” he told TheWolverine.com. “You’re playing a program in Washington that — historically under Jimmy Lake and for quite some time — has been really good in the secondary. They put out a lot of NFL defensive backs and have one guy, at least, that I think is going to be a high draft pick next year.
“So, do you want to challenge that group when you’re running the ball effectively? And the other thing about Washington is, they don’t have a [former Husky and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive tackle] Vita Vea on the inside of the defensive line like they’ve had in the past.
“In some ways, it’s good coaching to recognize that this is the way to attack them. And when you’re up in the game, what’s the easiest way to win the game? To run the ball.”
However, what the lack of passing against Washington does do, Rittenberg said, is it continues the questioning of just how good redshirt freshman quarterback Cade McNamara really is. He played well last season against Rutgers and in this year’s opener versus Western Michigan but hasn’t seen many snaps against high-level defenses.
“These questions on the passing game are legitimate because I don’t think anybody outside of Ann Arbor is that crazy about Cade McNamara, because we just don’t know yet, but there’s time to change those opinions. I thought they showed some things in the first game that were encouraging, and now they’ve just got to do it against some better competition.”
That competition will take a step up next weekend against Rutgers, and an even bigger leap the following week at Wisconsin, the first ‘real test’ for the Maize and Blue.
“The thing with Wisconsin, especially on the road, is that you’re going to need your quarterback to make plays,” Rittenberg said. “You’re not just going to run the ball like they did against Washington and be able to beat them. They’re going to have to force some mistakes. Anyone who’s beaten Wisconsin in recent years has forced mistakes. That’s the formula, because they’re not going to give up a lot defensively. So the poise of Michigan is going to be really tested in that game.”
To the defense, which looks much improved two games into first-year coordinator Mike Macdonald’s tenure. The first noticeable difference between his group and what the Wolverines looked like under Don Brown is the lack of predictability.
They’re certainly not blitzing on every down,” Rittenberg said. “I think there’s a little bit more nuance to the scheme, which is not surprising given Coach Macdonald’s background and some of those other assistants that are on that side of the ball.”
One man in particular is especially difficult to play against.
“One thing a coach who has faced them this year, an assistant, told me that [junior defensive end] Aidan Hutchinson makes a massive difference, which isn’t a surprise to you,” Rittenberg said. “But the fact is, just having him in there, you have to notice him and game plan for him much more than maybe some of the guys they’ve had in the past. His presence is a big deal for them.”
Still, the bigger challenges are ahead, and while there have been encouraging signs, the Wolverines will reveal who they are in the coming weeks and throughout the rest of the season.
“I still want to see them against some better passing teams,” Rittenberg said. “It may not happen for a little while, but I think the front looks like it’s pretty solid. They have some decent back end guys; I don’t think they have a bunch of All-Americans in the secondary or even at linebacker, but I think they’re more serviceable.
“And again, so much of the defense before was risk/reward — it was either shutting teams down or falling apart. And I think this is the type of defense — based on what I’ve seen so far — that’s going to be much more of a middle ground.
“So, will they shut everybody out? Probably not. Will they have some busts and take too many chances and get gashed? Probably not. And that’s something you can live with if you’re Michigan as you’re developing into this new scheme and a new coordinator.”
***
A quick, fun note Juwan Howard and the Michigan women’s golf team …
Yes, Michigan’s head basketball coach was in attendance at the Wolverine Invitational Monday, the first of a two-day event in which the Maize and Blue finished first.
We caught up with junior Mikaela Schulz, who was a co-medalist at the event and earned Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors, for a magazine article, and had to ask her about Howard to get the full story.
“The team, we’re actually kind of buddies with Juwan because we work out at Crisler, which is where the basketball team works out,” she said. “He always sees us there and says, ‘Hey champions. Hey champs.’
“So Sunday, we had recruits and we went to brunch at Sava’s and we saw Juwan there. He asked us how we were playing and everything, and we told him to come out to the event.”
One day later, he made his appearance, and saw the Maize and Blue shine.
“I was on hole 17, hitting my approach shot in, and I stuck it to an inch — I thought I almost holed it,” Schulz recalled. “I looked behind the green because everyone was clapping, and I see Juwan Howard clapping. It was so cool. I was like, I’m glad I didn’t see him before I hit the shot. It was so cool that he was there.
“I remember when I saw him, he was like, ‘See … you told me to come, and I came.’
“It was such a cool experience having him there. He’s such a great guy, and being able to be around him is just really cool.”
A good luck charm? Maybe. A class act? Definitely.
****
Finally, we asked those in charge about the Michigan – Kentucky series and what exactly happened there.
“They bailed,” he said. “They didn’t really give an explanation.”
The London game is a separate deal, though, and as of now it’s still scheduled to be played in 2022. There’s always the chance that one could be canceled, too, according to the folks in charge of these things, and it will probably depend in large part on what’s going on with the pandemic.
The win over Washington was a big one for a few reasons, obviously — No. 1, for season momentum. This was a ‘must win’ heading into the season in the staff’s eyes, and they took care of business.
At the same time, they knew going in the Huskies weren’t as good as advertised heading into the season, one of the reasons they were very confident.
Two — when you have such a big recruiting weekend and make that your selling point for the year (which they did), you’d better win. They did, of course, and our EJ Holland has been all over it explaining just how big it was for momentum
In some ways, folks inside the building noted, there are still things they don’t know about this team and won’t find out until Big Ten play starts.
“Are the lines as good as it seems? Nobody has a clue,” one said. “But I can tell you this — these guys are playing for each other, and they care.”
Winning helps, of course. And as we reported last week, there are always going to be guys disappointed with playing time or feeling the pressure. Two starters right now who aren’t necessarily looking over the shoulders but who are being pushed — linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green and quarterback Cade McNamara.
Junior Colson has been playing lights out in practice and it’s translating to games, to the point that he’s hard to take off the field.
“Everyone knows he’s got the potential to be an All-American,” one source said. “It’s only a matter of time. He already plays the game at a high level, and he’s just getting started.”
Some are a bit concerned about how the frosh will hold up to the physical part of being the full-time starter, if it comes to that, but if that’s the biggest concern … well, it’s a good problem to have. And Hill-Green is just getting started, too. He and Colson should be a really nice duo for a while.
Freshman quarterback JJ McCarthy, too, continues to make plays. He’s ‘the future,’ and if McNamara is feeling the pressure … well, it’s understandable.
Nobody’s saying it’s making him uncomfortable, but it’s clear he’s pressing at times (according to some observers). It’s going to be interesting to watch the quarterback battle play out not just this year, but also in the future.
On punt return, we expect someone else to get a shot this week in place of Caden Kolesar, and receiver A.J. Henning is the most likely. He’d be there already if he were more consistent catching the ball … he can do things with it once he catches it.
Daylen Baldwin should be 100 percent this week, and they want to get him more involved in the offense. They need someone to fill Ronnie Bell’s shoes, and Baldwin did a nice job with contested catches in the fall. Cornelius Johnson is the one guy who could really make an impact in replacing their injured leader.
“I said it two weeks in — he was the best receiver in [fall camp],” our source said. “He’s got the potential to be a go-to guy.”
****
More football …
Michigan ran 56 times (for 343 yards) and attempted just 15 passes in a 31-10 win over Washington, which left some fans complaining about the lack of an aerial attack. But don’t put ESPN.com senior writer Adam Rittenberg into that category.
“What does it take to win the game? That’s all that matters, or all that should matter,” he told TheWolverine.com. “You’re playing a program in Washington that — historically under Jimmy Lake and for quite some time — has been really good in the secondary. They put out a lot of NFL defensive backs and have one guy, at least, that I think is going to be a high draft pick next year.
“So, do you want to challenge that group when you’re running the ball effectively? And the other thing about Washington is, they don’t have a [former Husky and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive tackle] Vita Vea on the inside of the defensive line like they’ve had in the past.
“In some ways, it’s good coaching to recognize that this is the way to attack them. And when you’re up in the game, what’s the easiest way to win the game? To run the ball.”
However, what the lack of passing against Washington does do, Rittenberg said, is it continues the questioning of just how good redshirt freshman quarterback Cade McNamara really is. He played well last season against Rutgers and in this year’s opener versus Western Michigan but hasn’t seen many snaps against high-level defenses.
“These questions on the passing game are legitimate because I don’t think anybody outside of Ann Arbor is that crazy about Cade McNamara, because we just don’t know yet, but there’s time to change those opinions. I thought they showed some things in the first game that were encouraging, and now they’ve just got to do it against some better competition.”
That competition will take a step up next weekend against Rutgers, and an even bigger leap the following week at Wisconsin, the first ‘real test’ for the Maize and Blue.
“The thing with Wisconsin, especially on the road, is that you’re going to need your quarterback to make plays,” Rittenberg said. “You’re not just going to run the ball like they did against Washington and be able to beat them. They’re going to have to force some mistakes. Anyone who’s beaten Wisconsin in recent years has forced mistakes. That’s the formula, because they’re not going to give up a lot defensively. So the poise of Michigan is going to be really tested in that game.”
To the defense, which looks much improved two games into first-year coordinator Mike Macdonald’s tenure. The first noticeable difference between his group and what the Wolverines looked like under Don Brown is the lack of predictability.
They’re certainly not blitzing on every down,” Rittenberg said. “I think there’s a little bit more nuance to the scheme, which is not surprising given Coach Macdonald’s background and some of those other assistants that are on that side of the ball.”
One man in particular is especially difficult to play against.
“One thing a coach who has faced them this year, an assistant, told me that [junior defensive end] Aidan Hutchinson makes a massive difference, which isn’t a surprise to you,” Rittenberg said. “But the fact is, just having him in there, you have to notice him and game plan for him much more than maybe some of the guys they’ve had in the past. His presence is a big deal for them.”
Still, the bigger challenges are ahead, and while there have been encouraging signs, the Wolverines will reveal who they are in the coming weeks and throughout the rest of the season.
“I still want to see them against some better passing teams,” Rittenberg said. “It may not happen for a little while, but I think the front looks like it’s pretty solid. They have some decent back end guys; I don’t think they have a bunch of All-Americans in the secondary or even at linebacker, but I think they’re more serviceable.
“And again, so much of the defense before was risk/reward — it was either shutting teams down or falling apart. And I think this is the type of defense — based on what I’ve seen so far — that’s going to be much more of a middle ground.
“So, will they shut everybody out? Probably not. Will they have some busts and take too many chances and get gashed? Probably not. And that’s something you can live with if you’re Michigan as you’re developing into this new scheme and a new coordinator.”
***
A quick, fun note Juwan Howard and the Michigan women’s golf team …
Yes, Michigan’s head basketball coach was in attendance at the Wolverine Invitational Monday, the first of a two-day event in which the Maize and Blue finished first.
We caught up with junior Mikaela Schulz, who was a co-medalist at the event and earned Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors, for a magazine article, and had to ask her about Howard to get the full story.
“The team, we’re actually kind of buddies with Juwan because we work out at Crisler, which is where the basketball team works out,” she said. “He always sees us there and says, ‘Hey champions. Hey champs.’
“So Sunday, we had recruits and we went to brunch at Sava’s and we saw Juwan there. He asked us how we were playing and everything, and we told him to come out to the event.”
One day later, he made his appearance, and saw the Maize and Blue shine.
“I was on hole 17, hitting my approach shot in, and I stuck it to an inch — I thought I almost holed it,” Schulz recalled. “I looked behind the green because everyone was clapping, and I see Juwan Howard clapping. It was so cool. I was like, I’m glad I didn’t see him before I hit the shot. It was so cool that he was there.
“I remember when I saw him, he was like, ‘See … you told me to come, and I came.’
“It was such a cool experience having him there. He’s such a great guy, and being able to be around him is just really cool.”
A good luck charm? Maybe. A class act? Definitely.
****
Finally, we asked those in charge about the Michigan – Kentucky series and what exactly happened there.
“They bailed,” he said. “They didn’t really give an explanation.”
The London game is a separate deal, though, and as of now it’s still scheduled to be played in 2022. There’s always the chance that one could be canceled, too, according to the folks in charge of these things, and it will probably depend in large part on what’s going on with the pandemic.
