Michigan hammered Rutgers, 52-0, and will now face Iowa with the season essentially on the line. Here’s what we picked up after film study.
First off … the body language was much better. With the caveat that it’s Rutgers, guys worked harder from the get-go to finish their blocks, there was a bounce in the step on both sides of the ball and — unlike at times during the Wisconsin game — guys generally played hard to the whistle.
A few things we noticed …
The offensive line was just okay, and certainly not good enough in the running game. There are times they are too slow off the ball, and it’s exacerbated by young tight ends being slow off the ball and some penetration on the interior. The cadence is such that the quarterback is giving the snap away too often, and junior center Cesar Ruiz is too often looking at the quarterback when he’s snapping.
That’s okay for a long snapper, not for the center … and Ruiz was getting beaten with swims moves and slow to his blocks at times because of it.
They were better about holding their blocks this game, but it still wasn’t nearly good enough. Missed assignments, though, by the young tight ends were to blame for some of the worst looking plays. And Redshirt freshman right tackle Jalen Mayfield graded out well per PFF, but he is still too leaky in pass pro, and this was against weak competition. Senior quarterback Shea Patterson would have been killed before he hit a check-down to running back Hassan Haskins, for example, had it been a better pass rusher on the edge.
He had his hands full at times with the Rutgers kids. And while the entire line was fine in pass pro, for the most part, Rutgers rarely brought heat and just the occasional, easy to block twist.
Back to the freshmen tight ends …
Erick All is going to be a stud. The true frosh might already be the best blocker (when he knows his assignment). He’s certainly the most aggressive. Go watch the two plays that start at 11:01 of the third quarter for your evidence. He holds his blocks and tries to bury guys better than any tight end they’ve had here in the last several years.
We’re anxious to see some balls thrown his way, too.
All had a couple special teams tackles on hustle plays, too. At the same time, he didn’t know where he was going on a few plays and that cost the team, especially at the goal line.
Redshirt junior tight end Nick Eubanks simply needs to be more aggressive as a blocker. He’ll stand his guy up and watch the play too often. Not good enough, though he obviously had some nice receptions.
Redshirt frosh Luke Schoonmaker missed some assignments, but he’s going to be good, too. He looked fast on his catch and run.
At running back, freshman Zach Charbonnet is the difference between a good and adequate running game. He has great feet and finds the holes, finds the few extra yards you expect a very good back to find, and is needed. He didn’t look gimpy, as head coach Jim Harbaugh noted, and while we’re not advocating for 30 carries, he needs to be on the field if this team is going to beat the better teams on the schedule.
Christian Turner is still confused at times in pass pro, etc., and while he has a nice burst, he’s still learning.
The wide receivers all played hard and played well. That’s never been an issue for Ronnie Bell, who is the heart of the offense with his play. There’s a reason he’s gotten the most targets (and 13 of his last 15 catches have gone for first downs) — the coaches and quarterbacks trust him to be in the right spot, run a great route and finish. His effort on the near touchdown was what’s needed from every receiver on every play, and it’s never an issue with him whether he’s blocking or passing.
He’s the kind of guy who can help you win championships.
On defense — junior end Kwity Paye was living in the Rutgers backfield. This line is much better when redshirt junior Mike Dwumfour is in the game, and he played hard on every down and provided some nice interior pass rush. He and Kemp are solid in the middle when they’re together, and the pass rushers benefit when they’re in there together.
The ends are fast, and you can tell why Harbaugh said this is his “fastest” line at Michigan. They are quick and can do things when not double teamed and when guys in the middle are getting penetration. We’re still not sure how they’re going to hold up against the run against teams like, say, Iowa.
D.C. Don Brown mixed in a lot more zone this game, and it paid off. We can complain about the crossing routes, but the two biggest plays were the result of blatant picks, including a third and one play, and the Wolverines did make adjustments. They sat in a zone on a third and 11 play and took away the underneath stuff, and Paye got to the quarterback for a sack.
On the fourth down, junior corner Ambry Thomas waited for the route to come to him and stuck the back short of the sticks.
They dropped end Aidan Hutchinson into coverage and safety Brad Hawkins made a great play. Two games in a row, Hawkins has been one of the best defensive players.
Fifth-year senior Jordan Glasgow obviously struggled in space, but redshirt frosh Cam McGrone was as good as advertised in the Devin Bush role. They need him on the field, even when Josh Ross comes back from injury. McGrone was only credited with two tackles, but he had at least three … all of them impressive.
Finally, the phantom flags against this team are still head scratchers. All’s great decision to not blindside block on Nico Collins’ long touchdown was still flagged (though picked up), and Sammy Faustin’s block in the back that eliminated a long punt return was the result of two Rutgers players running into each other.
Onward.
First off … the body language was much better. With the caveat that it’s Rutgers, guys worked harder from the get-go to finish their blocks, there was a bounce in the step on both sides of the ball and — unlike at times during the Wisconsin game — guys generally played hard to the whistle.
A few things we noticed …
The offensive line was just okay, and certainly not good enough in the running game. There are times they are too slow off the ball, and it’s exacerbated by young tight ends being slow off the ball and some penetration on the interior. The cadence is such that the quarterback is giving the snap away too often, and junior center Cesar Ruiz is too often looking at the quarterback when he’s snapping.
That’s okay for a long snapper, not for the center … and Ruiz was getting beaten with swims moves and slow to his blocks at times because of it.
They were better about holding their blocks this game, but it still wasn’t nearly good enough. Missed assignments, though, by the young tight ends were to blame for some of the worst looking plays. And Redshirt freshman right tackle Jalen Mayfield graded out well per PFF, but he is still too leaky in pass pro, and this was against weak competition. Senior quarterback Shea Patterson would have been killed before he hit a check-down to running back Hassan Haskins, for example, had it been a better pass rusher on the edge.
He had his hands full at times with the Rutgers kids. And while the entire line was fine in pass pro, for the most part, Rutgers rarely brought heat and just the occasional, easy to block twist.
Back to the freshmen tight ends …
Erick All is going to be a stud. The true frosh might already be the best blocker (when he knows his assignment). He’s certainly the most aggressive. Go watch the two plays that start at 11:01 of the third quarter for your evidence. He holds his blocks and tries to bury guys better than any tight end they’ve had here in the last several years.
We’re anxious to see some balls thrown his way, too.
All had a couple special teams tackles on hustle plays, too. At the same time, he didn’t know where he was going on a few plays and that cost the team, especially at the goal line.
Redshirt junior tight end Nick Eubanks simply needs to be more aggressive as a blocker. He’ll stand his guy up and watch the play too often. Not good enough, though he obviously had some nice receptions.
Redshirt frosh Luke Schoonmaker missed some assignments, but he’s going to be good, too. He looked fast on his catch and run.
At running back, freshman Zach Charbonnet is the difference between a good and adequate running game. He has great feet and finds the holes, finds the few extra yards you expect a very good back to find, and is needed. He didn’t look gimpy, as head coach Jim Harbaugh noted, and while we’re not advocating for 30 carries, he needs to be on the field if this team is going to beat the better teams on the schedule.
Christian Turner is still confused at times in pass pro, etc., and while he has a nice burst, he’s still learning.
The wide receivers all played hard and played well. That’s never been an issue for Ronnie Bell, who is the heart of the offense with his play. There’s a reason he’s gotten the most targets (and 13 of his last 15 catches have gone for first downs) — the coaches and quarterbacks trust him to be in the right spot, run a great route and finish. His effort on the near touchdown was what’s needed from every receiver on every play, and it’s never an issue with him whether he’s blocking or passing.
He’s the kind of guy who can help you win championships.
On defense — junior end Kwity Paye was living in the Rutgers backfield. This line is much better when redshirt junior Mike Dwumfour is in the game, and he played hard on every down and provided some nice interior pass rush. He and Kemp are solid in the middle when they’re together, and the pass rushers benefit when they’re in there together.
The ends are fast, and you can tell why Harbaugh said this is his “fastest” line at Michigan. They are quick and can do things when not double teamed and when guys in the middle are getting penetration. We’re still not sure how they’re going to hold up against the run against teams like, say, Iowa.
D.C. Don Brown mixed in a lot more zone this game, and it paid off. We can complain about the crossing routes, but the two biggest plays were the result of blatant picks, including a third and one play, and the Wolverines did make adjustments. They sat in a zone on a third and 11 play and took away the underneath stuff, and Paye got to the quarterback for a sack.
On the fourth down, junior corner Ambry Thomas waited for the route to come to him and stuck the back short of the sticks.
They dropped end Aidan Hutchinson into coverage and safety Brad Hawkins made a great play. Two games in a row, Hawkins has been one of the best defensive players.
Fifth-year senior Jordan Glasgow obviously struggled in space, but redshirt frosh Cam McGrone was as good as advertised in the Devin Bush role. They need him on the field, even when Josh Ross comes back from injury. McGrone was only credited with two tackles, but he had at least three … all of them impressive.
Finally, the phantom flags against this team are still head scratchers. All’s great decision to not blindside block on Nico Collins’ long touchdown was still flagged (though picked up), and Sammy Faustin’s block in the back that eliminated a long punt return was the result of two Rutgers players running into each other.
Onward.
