Michigan hammered Maryland, 38-7, despite looking sluggish on offense. Here’s what we picked up after watching film …
Perfect game to start off with a kick return for TD, and Giles Jackson did it ... but not without some help. Great pancake block by Michael Barrett (though he’s got the hand on the back — might have been lucky to not be called for holding), fantastic blocks by redshirt junior linebacker Devin Gil and junior fullback Ben Mason and Jackson did the rest, though ‘E’ for effort to Maryland’s kicker. His half-assed attempt was embarrassing, and Maryland head coach Mike Locksley let him know about it when he came back to the sidelines. You can hear him say, “why didn’t you push him out of bounds?”
On Maryland’s first possession, senior linebacker Josh Uche started to wreak havoc from the get-go. It was clear immediately the Terps were going to have to change their game plan early when the U-M line was getting pressure with four. They gave Uche a running start on the blitz on first down; he forces a backwards pass fumble out of bounds for minus-six by making the left guard whiff. On third down it’s just a bull rush, both Uche and junior end Kwity Paye collapsing the tackles. It was just a matter of who was going to get there first.
Even sophomore Aidan Hutchinson, lined up inside, nearly got home on a twist around the right side taking he long way around. They twisted him a lot this game, though they also put some wrinkles in where they dropped him in coverage.
On offense, we rarely saw junior center Cesar Ruiz pulling this game after he did a lot of it against Notre Dame. They pulled the guards a lot, senior left guard Bredeson on the first play and both guards on the second play to set up third and short. Mason and McKeon (welcome back they need him. Eubanks didn’t hold his block on the first play) created the seam for a Hassan Haskins first down. The redshirt freshman back is getting better and better.
As for the receivers, analyst Brian Griese noted that coordinator Josh Gattis told him the group “can be much better than they’ve been this season.” No doubt. At the same time, the pass to Nico Collins in the end zone was overthrown (Griese wanted him to go up with two hands). And the third and four pass to junior Donovan Peoples-Jones at the sticks on the sideline? A better, faster safety breaks that up and might be going the other way.
Quarterback play needs to be better.
Senior left guard Ben Bredeson is lucky he doesn’t get flagged for a hands to face on running back Zach Charbonnet’s wildcat keeper for a score. It would have been a weak call, but it was unnecessary and something an official looking for something to call might flag. Nice job by the left side of the line on that play.
Other thoughts:
• Maryland’s running success on its second drive … the linebackers were clean early and should have been making more plays. Some of the fits weren’t great, it appeared (redshirt frosh Cam McGrone didn’t grade out as well in this game), and the Terps did get some push on the interior on this drive. They were fortunate to pick up the fourth and one at the Michigan 20, though. There was great penetration, and freshman Chris Hinton was one of them in the backfield.
Grad transfer Mike Danna’s play to force the interception was easy — a guard whiffed on a cut block. But watch what they do with looper Hutchinson on that play. He comes around and instead of continuing into a gap seems to drop into short zone coverage. Another wrinkle we haven’t seen (at least noticed) yet.
• Patterson’s second series — a high throw to redshirt sophomore Tarik Black on the sidelines, a check-down to Haskins. They were only rushing three and he had plenty of time, but panicked … in fairness, nobody else was close to open and the routes were lazy. Not a great series for the senior. And his play action throw to redshirt junior tight end Nick Eubanks in the second quarter … behind him and high or he’s still running. That’s an easy throw and one he’s got to put on the money.
SECOND QUARTER
• Uche looked like he was the one who hesitated on a Josh Jackson keeper on the option keeper. McGrone is sprinting to the pitch man, Uche hesitated for just a second and was upset with himself after making the play after three yards (on a third and three play).
And as much as Uche was a warrior, the guard simply bumped him looping through on his second sack. If he stands him up, Jackson has time to make a play on third and long in the red zone.
• Loved the call on the fake punt, and the deep play after that to junior Nico Collins … more, please. Senior corner Lavert Hill said Collins is the toughest receiver to cover because his hands are so strong. We saw it again on an underthrown ball. If it had been on target, Collins walks in to the end zone. Regardless, he makes the play with the corner smacking the hell out of his arms.
• Redshirt junior Nick Eubanks simply needs to be better as a blocker. His whiff on the edge that got Christian Turner tripped up for a three-yard loss can’t happen. But te does help spring Charbonnet for the back’s second score — not a huge block, but effective — but Bredeson makes that one work by turning an edge block into a log block with a great adjustment. You always know you’re going to get a hell of an effort from Bredeson.
SECOND HALF
• More success for Maryland running the ball, but it’s not on the d-line. Senior Carlo Kemp continues to play at a high level. Watch the line of scrimmage when he’s in there … he’s almost always on the opposite side of it. His third and two penetration forces the second punt of the half, and Danna got off his block, too, to make a great hit. These guys have been very good since the Wisconsin game.
My recruiting job if I were Harbaugh would start with Kemp and Uche and trying to convince them to come back for one more year. Kemp’s non-stop motor got him a half sack when senior Khaleke Hudson got around the edge for a third quarter sack … was nice to see Hudson in on an impact play. He’s been quietly solid this year.
• The O-line and the offense as a whole responded when Harbaugh challenged them on the second drive of the third quarter. Harbaugh told them to bring some energy – they put a great drive together to go up 28-0. And loved the play call with Eubanks, who’d been trapping all game but sneaked out and broke tendency, was all alone for the score on third down.
Gattis challenged them again to put two drives together. They picked up the intensity, senior Tru Wilson broke a huge run — great blocking by the left side, but the best part of the play is the forearm Wilson lays on the safety at the end of the play, initiating the contact.
Those two drives are how we expected most of the game to go, honestly. The energy wasn’t the same as the previous six quarters, but with the fast start it really didn’t need to be, and it wasn't all that unexpected given the two night games prior.
• Safety Sammy Faustin is going to get a stern talking to for his effort on the Javon Leake kick return for score. He’s out there playing one-hand touch waiting for someone else to make a play.
• Not sure what to make of Dylan McCaffrey. Some really poor throws, including one that should have been picked, and he hasn't looked as good as hoped when he's been on the field. Next year’s quarterback competition should be interesting.
Onward.
Perfect game to start off with a kick return for TD, and Giles Jackson did it ... but not without some help. Great pancake block by Michael Barrett (though he’s got the hand on the back — might have been lucky to not be called for holding), fantastic blocks by redshirt junior linebacker Devin Gil and junior fullback Ben Mason and Jackson did the rest, though ‘E’ for effort to Maryland’s kicker. His half-assed attempt was embarrassing, and Maryland head coach Mike Locksley let him know about it when he came back to the sidelines. You can hear him say, “why didn’t you push him out of bounds?”
On Maryland’s first possession, senior linebacker Josh Uche started to wreak havoc from the get-go. It was clear immediately the Terps were going to have to change their game plan early when the U-M line was getting pressure with four. They gave Uche a running start on the blitz on first down; he forces a backwards pass fumble out of bounds for minus-six by making the left guard whiff. On third down it’s just a bull rush, both Uche and junior end Kwity Paye collapsing the tackles. It was just a matter of who was going to get there first.
Even sophomore Aidan Hutchinson, lined up inside, nearly got home on a twist around the right side taking he long way around. They twisted him a lot this game, though they also put some wrinkles in where they dropped him in coverage.
On offense, we rarely saw junior center Cesar Ruiz pulling this game after he did a lot of it against Notre Dame. They pulled the guards a lot, senior left guard Bredeson on the first play and both guards on the second play to set up third and short. Mason and McKeon (welcome back they need him. Eubanks didn’t hold his block on the first play) created the seam for a Hassan Haskins first down. The redshirt freshman back is getting better and better.
As for the receivers, analyst Brian Griese noted that coordinator Josh Gattis told him the group “can be much better than they’ve been this season.” No doubt. At the same time, the pass to Nico Collins in the end zone was overthrown (Griese wanted him to go up with two hands). And the third and four pass to junior Donovan Peoples-Jones at the sticks on the sideline? A better, faster safety breaks that up and might be going the other way.
Quarterback play needs to be better.
Senior left guard Ben Bredeson is lucky he doesn’t get flagged for a hands to face on running back Zach Charbonnet’s wildcat keeper for a score. It would have been a weak call, but it was unnecessary and something an official looking for something to call might flag. Nice job by the left side of the line on that play.
Other thoughts:
• Maryland’s running success on its second drive … the linebackers were clean early and should have been making more plays. Some of the fits weren’t great, it appeared (redshirt frosh Cam McGrone didn’t grade out as well in this game), and the Terps did get some push on the interior on this drive. They were fortunate to pick up the fourth and one at the Michigan 20, though. There was great penetration, and freshman Chris Hinton was one of them in the backfield.
Grad transfer Mike Danna’s play to force the interception was easy — a guard whiffed on a cut block. But watch what they do with looper Hutchinson on that play. He comes around and instead of continuing into a gap seems to drop into short zone coverage. Another wrinkle we haven’t seen (at least noticed) yet.
• Patterson’s second series — a high throw to redshirt sophomore Tarik Black on the sidelines, a check-down to Haskins. They were only rushing three and he had plenty of time, but panicked … in fairness, nobody else was close to open and the routes were lazy. Not a great series for the senior. And his play action throw to redshirt junior tight end Nick Eubanks in the second quarter … behind him and high or he’s still running. That’s an easy throw and one he’s got to put on the money.
SECOND QUARTER
• Uche looked like he was the one who hesitated on a Josh Jackson keeper on the option keeper. McGrone is sprinting to the pitch man, Uche hesitated for just a second and was upset with himself after making the play after three yards (on a third and three play).
And as much as Uche was a warrior, the guard simply bumped him looping through on his second sack. If he stands him up, Jackson has time to make a play on third and long in the red zone.
• Loved the call on the fake punt, and the deep play after that to junior Nico Collins … more, please. Senior corner Lavert Hill said Collins is the toughest receiver to cover because his hands are so strong. We saw it again on an underthrown ball. If it had been on target, Collins walks in to the end zone. Regardless, he makes the play with the corner smacking the hell out of his arms.
• Redshirt junior Nick Eubanks simply needs to be better as a blocker. His whiff on the edge that got Christian Turner tripped up for a three-yard loss can’t happen. But te does help spring Charbonnet for the back’s second score — not a huge block, but effective — but Bredeson makes that one work by turning an edge block into a log block with a great adjustment. You always know you’re going to get a hell of an effort from Bredeson.
SECOND HALF
• More success for Maryland running the ball, but it’s not on the d-line. Senior Carlo Kemp continues to play at a high level. Watch the line of scrimmage when he’s in there … he’s almost always on the opposite side of it. His third and two penetration forces the second punt of the half, and Danna got off his block, too, to make a great hit. These guys have been very good since the Wisconsin game.
My recruiting job if I were Harbaugh would start with Kemp and Uche and trying to convince them to come back for one more year. Kemp’s non-stop motor got him a half sack when senior Khaleke Hudson got around the edge for a third quarter sack … was nice to see Hudson in on an impact play. He’s been quietly solid this year.
• The O-line and the offense as a whole responded when Harbaugh challenged them on the second drive of the third quarter. Harbaugh told them to bring some energy – they put a great drive together to go up 28-0. And loved the play call with Eubanks, who’d been trapping all game but sneaked out and broke tendency, was all alone for the score on third down.
Gattis challenged them again to put two drives together. They picked up the intensity, senior Tru Wilson broke a huge run — great blocking by the left side, but the best part of the play is the forearm Wilson lays on the safety at the end of the play, initiating the contact.
Those two drives are how we expected most of the game to go, honestly. The energy wasn’t the same as the previous six quarters, but with the fast start it really didn’t need to be, and it wasn't all that unexpected given the two night games prior.
• Safety Sammy Faustin is going to get a stern talking to for his effort on the Javon Leake kick return for score. He’s out there playing one-hand touch waiting for someone else to make a play.
• Not sure what to make of Dylan McCaffrey. Some really poor throws, including one that should have been picked, and he hasn't looked as good as hoped when he's been on the field. Next year’s quarterback competition should be interesting.
Onward.
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