Bye week thoughts on a Michigan win over Wisconsin (better late than never … MSU to come next).
First things first … two great wins, but these are not the teams we expected to see at the beginning of the year. It’s one of the caveats of making preseason predictions, not knowing what these teams are going to be when Michigan plays them. In doing radio shows at the beginning of the year, we likened it to 1997 — yeah, it looked like a hell of a schedule, but it didn’t really play out that way. Most of the teams weren’t as good as we thought.
That said … who gives a crap? You play who’s in front of you, and some years you’re the team that’s banged up at a number of key positions (last year, when decent quarterback play would have led to three or four more wins), some years you’re on the opposite end.
To be clear, too, U-M was without one of its best defensive players in junior end Rashan Gary and one of its best wide receivers (we think) in Tarik Black … so, yeah.
Quick thoughts on the Wisconsin game —
• Paul Chryst is a good coach, and we’ll never question the Badgers’ identity. They do old school Big Ten better than anyone, and that’s who they have to be to compete given how they recruit.
But that was not his best game as a coach. The Badgers were tearing Michigan up between the tackles with back Jonathan Taylor, and dropping to pass on third and shorts was malpractice. They did it three times in that game, and each time Alex Hornibrook dropped to throw we were thinking, “Michigan fans thank you.”
It takes some good fortune, too. It was a 7-7 game and the Badgers were moving a bit when Hornibrook dropped a snap on second and one near midfield and lost two yards (for the record, one of the head scratchers — why doesn’t this swarming defense force and recover more fumbles? The ball was on the ground for a bit), and then Hornibrook went back to pass on third and three … drive over.
But D.C. Don Brown’s adjustments were fantastic. They overloaded the right side of the Wisconsin line with unique formations to compensate for the lack of beef inside, and the Badgers’ big guys were confused.
There’s a reason Brown is the best in the business. This could be the year he finally wins a Broyles Award (long overdue) as the nation’s top assistant. He’s no one-trick pony.
It was great to see sophomore defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon back and working in, too. He thumps the sled better than any of Michigan’s DTs (“you hear it”), and he got stronger in that game. He was better against MSU, and now he’s got two weeks to prepare for Penn State and heal up even more.
Interior line play had been a concern, and it was THE concern against the Badgers, especially with Gary missing on the edge. They got pushed around some, but they got stronger as the game progressed. We’ll credit strength coach Ben Herbert, only because it’s happened in most games this year that Michigan has been the stronger team at the end of games.
• Junior Carlo Kemp has been a very pleasant surprise. One of his plays in the fourth quarter vs. Wisconsin led to the Lavert Hill one-handed pick and return for a score. He got pressure and hit Hornibrook, causing the quarterback to short arm it.
The best part about this play … while everyone is rushing to meet Hill in the end zone and congratulate him, fifth-year senior end Chase Winovich goes directly to Kemp to let him know HE knows.
That’s leadership, folks. Winovich is a quirky guy, and that might be a reason he’s not a captain. But he leads and plays like a captain. His motor is similar to 1980s DT Mark Messner as one of the best we’ve ever seen from a Michigan defender.
Winovich challenged Wisconsin’s offensive line to come at him this game. They did, and they did a pretty darn good job against him, even one-on-one. It didn’t faze him, because he’s a team guy. He proved it again against the Badgers.
• A couple of plays that show just how strong and well conditioned these guys are on defense … here’s the first:
Another — senior safety Tyree Kinnel absolutely stands up a Wisconsin ball carrier (don’t think it was Stewart, but whoever it was had momentum) and stopped him in his tracks.
That’s tough to do, folks. And for all the grief Kinnel and junior Josh Metellus have gotten over the years, these guys are playing at an extremely high level (Metellus, especially). They’ll be tested against Penn State’s receivers again, but early prediction — they’ll get plenty of opportunities in man coverage, and they’ll do fine.
• The tight ends were up and down in this game, especially as blockers. Redshirt junior Zach Gentry plays too high, and it’s probably hard for him not to at 6-8. He let his man inside him on the Wolverines’ first third and short, and he was lucky to not be called for a hold.
Junior Sean McKeon had some really nice blocks, but he also needs to be more consistent. There are some missed assignments from these guys each game, too.
• Junior guard Ben Bredeson played with violence, but got beat a couple times against his home state school. One flushed junior quarterback Shea Patterson from the pocket and forced a throw to Gentry (that he should have caught) that was picked.
On another, Gentry was open but Patterson had to tuck it too soon because Bredeson got beat again. He’s lucky he didn’t lose the ball.
That said — Bredeson has had far more great plays than bad this year, and he was violent and outstanding vs. MSU (more to come on that).
• Pass protection was really, really good in this game, though Wiscy didn't twist and stunt as much (remember, that's what about got Brandon Peters killed last year). Patterson bailed the pocket too soon at times, doing his last year’s John O’Korn impression. He’s still learning, and his receivers still need to figure out how to keep moving when he’s scrambling (sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones, for one, was standing when all he had to do was bolt deep when Patterson was running right on one play. He’d have had a touchdown).
• Senior running back Karan Higdon has become a really nice back. And his diving catch early in the game that kept a drive alive was a big play.
His pass pro is where he’s improved the most, though. He’s standing guys up. Doesn't hurt that he’s 15 pounds heavier and built like brick you-know-what house.
• Great to see junior offensive guard Mike Onwenu with the head bob and talking a bit of smack after putting a linebacker on the ground. That nastiness has been missing from his game, and he’s still too content to just do his job and not finish his blocks.
Bet that would change if he lost some weight. Someone needs to get to him after the season and let him know how much money he could make if he were to get down to 330 or 340 or so and get a few steps quicker … like Robert Traylor heading into his last year at Michigan on the basketball court.
Fifth-year senior Juwann Bushell-Beatty got beat on a spin move, but his improvement (again) has been unbelievable. Ed Warinner is an OL guru.
• Finally, you can tell how much a team likes each other by the reactions from teammates on the sideline. Patterson isn’t on the bench when the defense is on the field … he’s standing up and watching, and his reaction on Metellus’ pick was priceless.
Watching the guys celebrate on redshirt frosh Dylan McCaffrey’s touchdown run and frosh Joe Milton’s late gallop, too — it’s just clear this team is tight.
And this team is also set at quarterback for the next five years. They’ve got to find ways to keep these guys happy and to get them all on the field, but there’s great talent and leadership there. This thing seems like it’s about to take off.
First things first … two great wins, but these are not the teams we expected to see at the beginning of the year. It’s one of the caveats of making preseason predictions, not knowing what these teams are going to be when Michigan plays them. In doing radio shows at the beginning of the year, we likened it to 1997 — yeah, it looked like a hell of a schedule, but it didn’t really play out that way. Most of the teams weren’t as good as we thought.
That said … who gives a crap? You play who’s in front of you, and some years you’re the team that’s banged up at a number of key positions (last year, when decent quarterback play would have led to three or four more wins), some years you’re on the opposite end.
To be clear, too, U-M was without one of its best defensive players in junior end Rashan Gary and one of its best wide receivers (we think) in Tarik Black … so, yeah.
Quick thoughts on the Wisconsin game —
• Paul Chryst is a good coach, and we’ll never question the Badgers’ identity. They do old school Big Ten better than anyone, and that’s who they have to be to compete given how they recruit.
But that was not his best game as a coach. The Badgers were tearing Michigan up between the tackles with back Jonathan Taylor, and dropping to pass on third and shorts was malpractice. They did it three times in that game, and each time Alex Hornibrook dropped to throw we were thinking, “Michigan fans thank you.”
It takes some good fortune, too. It was a 7-7 game and the Badgers were moving a bit when Hornibrook dropped a snap on second and one near midfield and lost two yards (for the record, one of the head scratchers — why doesn’t this swarming defense force and recover more fumbles? The ball was on the ground for a bit), and then Hornibrook went back to pass on third and three … drive over.
But D.C. Don Brown’s adjustments were fantastic. They overloaded the right side of the Wisconsin line with unique formations to compensate for the lack of beef inside, and the Badgers’ big guys were confused.
There’s a reason Brown is the best in the business. This could be the year he finally wins a Broyles Award (long overdue) as the nation’s top assistant. He’s no one-trick pony.
It was great to see sophomore defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon back and working in, too. He thumps the sled better than any of Michigan’s DTs (“you hear it”), and he got stronger in that game. He was better against MSU, and now he’s got two weeks to prepare for Penn State and heal up even more.
Interior line play had been a concern, and it was THE concern against the Badgers, especially with Gary missing on the edge. They got pushed around some, but they got stronger as the game progressed. We’ll credit strength coach Ben Herbert, only because it’s happened in most games this year that Michigan has been the stronger team at the end of games.
• Junior Carlo Kemp has been a very pleasant surprise. One of his plays in the fourth quarter vs. Wisconsin led to the Lavert Hill one-handed pick and return for a score. He got pressure and hit Hornibrook, causing the quarterback to short arm it.
The best part about this play … while everyone is rushing to meet Hill in the end zone and congratulate him, fifth-year senior end Chase Winovich goes directly to Kemp to let him know HE knows.
That’s leadership, folks. Winovich is a quirky guy, and that might be a reason he’s not a captain. But he leads and plays like a captain. His motor is similar to 1980s DT Mark Messner as one of the best we’ve ever seen from a Michigan defender.
Winovich challenged Wisconsin’s offensive line to come at him this game. They did, and they did a pretty darn good job against him, even one-on-one. It didn’t faze him, because he’s a team guy. He proved it again against the Badgers.
• A couple of plays that show just how strong and well conditioned these guys are on defense … here’s the first:
Another — senior safety Tyree Kinnel absolutely stands up a Wisconsin ball carrier (don’t think it was Stewart, but whoever it was had momentum) and stopped him in his tracks.
That’s tough to do, folks. And for all the grief Kinnel and junior Josh Metellus have gotten over the years, these guys are playing at an extremely high level (Metellus, especially). They’ll be tested against Penn State’s receivers again, but early prediction — they’ll get plenty of opportunities in man coverage, and they’ll do fine.
• The tight ends were up and down in this game, especially as blockers. Redshirt junior Zach Gentry plays too high, and it’s probably hard for him not to at 6-8. He let his man inside him on the Wolverines’ first third and short, and he was lucky to not be called for a hold.
Junior Sean McKeon had some really nice blocks, but he also needs to be more consistent. There are some missed assignments from these guys each game, too.
• Junior guard Ben Bredeson played with violence, but got beat a couple times against his home state school. One flushed junior quarterback Shea Patterson from the pocket and forced a throw to Gentry (that he should have caught) that was picked.
On another, Gentry was open but Patterson had to tuck it too soon because Bredeson got beat again. He’s lucky he didn’t lose the ball.
That said — Bredeson has had far more great plays than bad this year, and he was violent and outstanding vs. MSU (more to come on that).
• Pass protection was really, really good in this game, though Wiscy didn't twist and stunt as much (remember, that's what about got Brandon Peters killed last year). Patterson bailed the pocket too soon at times, doing his last year’s John O’Korn impression. He’s still learning, and his receivers still need to figure out how to keep moving when he’s scrambling (sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones, for one, was standing when all he had to do was bolt deep when Patterson was running right on one play. He’d have had a touchdown).
• Senior running back Karan Higdon has become a really nice back. And his diving catch early in the game that kept a drive alive was a big play.
His pass pro is where he’s improved the most, though. He’s standing guys up. Doesn't hurt that he’s 15 pounds heavier and built like brick you-know-what house.
• Great to see junior offensive guard Mike Onwenu with the head bob and talking a bit of smack after putting a linebacker on the ground. That nastiness has been missing from his game, and he’s still too content to just do his job and not finish his blocks.
Bet that would change if he lost some weight. Someone needs to get to him after the season and let him know how much money he could make if he were to get down to 330 or 340 or so and get a few steps quicker … like Robert Traylor heading into his last year at Michigan on the basketball court.
Fifth-year senior Juwann Bushell-Beatty got beat on a spin move, but his improvement (again) has been unbelievable. Ed Warinner is an OL guru.
• Finally, you can tell how much a team likes each other by the reactions from teammates on the sideline. Patterson isn’t on the bench when the defense is on the field … he’s standing up and watching, and his reaction on Metellus’ pick was priceless.
Watching the guys celebrate on redshirt frosh Dylan McCaffrey’s touchdown run and frosh Joe Milton’s late gallop, too — it’s just clear this team is tight.
And this team is also set at quarterback for the next five years. They’ve got to find ways to keep these guys happy and to get them all on the field, but there’s great talent and leadership there. This thing seems like it’s about to take off.
