It's crazy to think it’s already been 10 years since the first night game at Michigan Stadium, the ‘Denard Robinson’ game and a 35-31 comeback win over Notre Dame. While not everyone likes night games, you can’t argue with the atmosphere. It was crazy then and it was unbelievable again Saturday night.
What we witnessed in reviewing the film a few times, the good and the bad …
First off, this Washington team should be better than it is. There are good pieces, including several All-Pac-12 talents (offensive line, a pair of NFL corners) — most of them got abused, especially left tackle Jaxson Kirkland by Aidan Hutchinson, who got the better of him on four of seven snaps — but this is not a team that plays well together.
On the flip side, Michigan’s pieces are playing well in unison, and there’s ‘good’ talent there mixed in with some really, really good pieces, too (Hutchinson, Dax Hill, Josh Ross).
They’re building the wall on defense and have confidence in their teammates to do their jobs. That’s what great defenses do, and coordinator Mike Macdonald is off to a reall good start.
Now, there will be some misses, even by the best. Head coach Jim Harbaugh talked about communication between the linebackers and defensive backs, for example, as part of the reason for the holes in the middle for the passing game in the second half. Even safety Hill made a mistake once peeking into the backfield on a play fake and letting the tight end leak out.
That’s going to happen. But these guys play some good, bend but don’t break defense, and Macdonald makes really nice adjustments.
This is group will face much tougher tests, but it’s clear they like playing together, and they are fast. It’s fun to watch, at least for now.
Last year, the Wolverines were lethargic in sleepwalking through game two (Michigan State). The crowd absolutely makes a difference, and the Huskies felt it on the first series. They forced a delay of game penalty on the first snap, after which they started their dominance up front. Defensive end Mike Morris did a Superman over a blocker on the first snap, the interior line (Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith) got push and Ross cleaned it up.
It was a good night for Smith, in particular, who seemed to play the best game of his young career. He didn’t give up ground and often got push. On another early series, end David Ojabo great pressure on a third down and forced Dylan Morris to step up. Taylor Upshaw and Aidan Hutchinson, who was well blocked, got the sack, but the coverage was good downfield.
Ojabo is starting to use his hands extremely well, something he probably learns from Hutchinson (who is one of the best we’ve seen at that). Hutchinson is a stud. He follows up a Kirkland dismissal at one point with a bull rush, then splits Kirkland and another blocker on a play in a ‘wow’ moment. He has really upped his game.
Another step in the right direction for freshman linebacker Junior Colson, who was all over the place. Nikhail Hill-Green struggled a bit with his pass drops, it seemed, and Colson is going to continue to get more run. But these guys are going to be a great duo in the future.
Morris had a nice game and is going to be a good one. He’s another on this team with NFL potential, and he’s so young. Keep in mind, most of these guys are returning next year, and this is a fast defense.
One who isn’t so much — nose tackle Jordan Whittley, who doesn’t look the part but proved hard to move. He got some solid reps in the second half and pushed the center back into the quarterback on one play. That guy is built like a stout little fire hydrant, and he’s tough to move. It’s a bonus that he’s providing some good reps in there.
There were a few times, including the infamous third and fourth down runs, when Washington coaches thought they were going to catch Michigan with the run when the Wolverines went with a smaller, better pass rushing defensive line with Morris and Upshaw lined up in the middle. Upshaw in particular did a great job holding his ground.
On special teams, you can’t overstate the importance of the 52-yard Jake Moody field goal. The Wolverines were dominating but had nothing to show for it. That was a huge shot in the arm for him and the team. Caden Kolesar is really good on the punt team, but they’ll replace him as the return man this week. We expect A.J. Henning to get a look there this week.
Corum absolutely glides when he’s running and slipping tackles. There’s no dropoff there with Giles Jackson out of the lineup. In fact, in time, this will prove to be an upgrade.
On offense, the line was as good as advertised, and that was thanks in part to a lot of variety in the run game. They pulled center Andrew Vastardis on the first play, and left tackle Ryan Hayes and guard Keegan provided a great combo block to get great movement. These guys are already playing well together, and that’s a positive for a line that’s relatively new.
They pulled both the guard and tackle on a counter on the second series, adjusted in the second half to attack outside the tackles when the Huskies tried to crash the defensive ends and plug the middle gaps. The backs were outstanding, too, waiting for the holes to open and with their burst through them.
Blake Corum’s speed caught the safety off guard on his long touchdown run. The DB took a terrible angle, and it was over. A great combo block again from Keegan and Hayes opened that one up.
The best drive of the game was clearly the eight-play, 73-yarder to start the second half. We talked earlier about attacking the C gap … third and two, they pulled right tackle Andrew Stueber all the way around as the lead blocker left along with right guard Zak Zinter. Haskins was patient enough to wait and broke a big one around the left side.
There’s no comparison between Zinter and Chuck Filiaga. They need the frosh in there.
At 13:00 the line pulled a Wisconsin, and the crowd went nuts. Joel Honigford, Keegan and Vastardis pushed the pile on a Haskins run for five extra yards. You want smashmouth football, that’s it. As good as it gets.
And late in the game, freshman center Greg Crippen looked great on a block filling in for Andrew Vastardis, finishing a block with authority. There is a lot of good, young talent up front.
Some of the negatives …
Cade McNamara didn’t look comfortable. He didn’t get to throw much, but when he did, he wasn’t patient, had more time than he thought a few times to go through some progressions and didn’t.
Haskins threw a chicken wing block after a hop that probably embarrassed RB coach Mike Hart, and McNamara got hit when he threw. He was lucky he did, because he was locked on Corum on a wheel route — Corum had beaten his man, but the safety peeled off the deep receiver and was waiting for the ball if McNamara threw it.
The receiver and tight end blocking on the perimeter was abysmal, including Mike Sainristil. Roman Wilson had an attempt that was flat out embarrassing. Banged-up Daylen Baldwin, too, missed a block on the edge.
McNamara had another ball knocked down at the line of scrimmage. By our count, that’s three in two games. Hoping that’s not an issue all year.
The goal line offensive blocking was terrible. Guys played high. Trente Jones and Ryan Hayes did a good job on a first down play, but everyone else got shoved backwards. The second down play was doomed because McNamara wasn’t expecting the snap. It hit him in the stomach, fortunately, but it threw the timing of the play off.
Four shots from the two — line up and get it in. Run Corum to the edge. Do something besides roll out. It’s hindsight … but still.
Cornerback Gemon Green is always around the ball, which is good, but still struggles to play it, which is bad. He gave up a long third down when he was in position to make a play for a second week in a row.
And there were some ballsy calls on short yardage, including the fake punt for a yard-plus. Two of them kept drives alive deep in their own territory. They’re not going to get away with that against the Wisconsins, Penn States, etc.
Didn't like the late hit call on Hinton, though I get it. The one on D.J. Turner on which the quarterback faked like he kept the ball was a joke.
Onward.
What we witnessed in reviewing the film a few times, the good and the bad …
First off, this Washington team should be better than it is. There are good pieces, including several All-Pac-12 talents (offensive line, a pair of NFL corners) — most of them got abused, especially left tackle Jaxson Kirkland by Aidan Hutchinson, who got the better of him on four of seven snaps — but this is not a team that plays well together.
On the flip side, Michigan’s pieces are playing well in unison, and there’s ‘good’ talent there mixed in with some really, really good pieces, too (Hutchinson, Dax Hill, Josh Ross).
They’re building the wall on defense and have confidence in their teammates to do their jobs. That’s what great defenses do, and coordinator Mike Macdonald is off to a reall good start.
Now, there will be some misses, even by the best. Head coach Jim Harbaugh talked about communication between the linebackers and defensive backs, for example, as part of the reason for the holes in the middle for the passing game in the second half. Even safety Hill made a mistake once peeking into the backfield on a play fake and letting the tight end leak out.
That’s going to happen. But these guys play some good, bend but don’t break defense, and Macdonald makes really nice adjustments.
This is group will face much tougher tests, but it’s clear they like playing together, and they are fast. It’s fun to watch, at least for now.
Last year, the Wolverines were lethargic in sleepwalking through game two (Michigan State). The crowd absolutely makes a difference, and the Huskies felt it on the first series. They forced a delay of game penalty on the first snap, after which they started their dominance up front. Defensive end Mike Morris did a Superman over a blocker on the first snap, the interior line (Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith) got push and Ross cleaned it up.
It was a good night for Smith, in particular, who seemed to play the best game of his young career. He didn’t give up ground and often got push. On another early series, end David Ojabo great pressure on a third down and forced Dylan Morris to step up. Taylor Upshaw and Aidan Hutchinson, who was well blocked, got the sack, but the coverage was good downfield.
Ojabo is starting to use his hands extremely well, something he probably learns from Hutchinson (who is one of the best we’ve seen at that). Hutchinson is a stud. He follows up a Kirkland dismissal at one point with a bull rush, then splits Kirkland and another blocker on a play in a ‘wow’ moment. He has really upped his game.
Another step in the right direction for freshman linebacker Junior Colson, who was all over the place. Nikhail Hill-Green struggled a bit with his pass drops, it seemed, and Colson is going to continue to get more run. But these guys are going to be a great duo in the future.
Morris had a nice game and is going to be a good one. He’s another on this team with NFL potential, and he’s so young. Keep in mind, most of these guys are returning next year, and this is a fast defense.
One who isn’t so much — nose tackle Jordan Whittley, who doesn’t look the part but proved hard to move. He got some solid reps in the second half and pushed the center back into the quarterback on one play. That guy is built like a stout little fire hydrant, and he’s tough to move. It’s a bonus that he’s providing some good reps in there.
There were a few times, including the infamous third and fourth down runs, when Washington coaches thought they were going to catch Michigan with the run when the Wolverines went with a smaller, better pass rushing defensive line with Morris and Upshaw lined up in the middle. Upshaw in particular did a great job holding his ground.
On special teams, you can’t overstate the importance of the 52-yard Jake Moody field goal. The Wolverines were dominating but had nothing to show for it. That was a huge shot in the arm for him and the team. Caden Kolesar is really good on the punt team, but they’ll replace him as the return man this week. We expect A.J. Henning to get a look there this week.
Corum absolutely glides when he’s running and slipping tackles. There’s no dropoff there with Giles Jackson out of the lineup. In fact, in time, this will prove to be an upgrade.
On offense, the line was as good as advertised, and that was thanks in part to a lot of variety in the run game. They pulled center Andrew Vastardis on the first play, and left tackle Ryan Hayes and guard Keegan provided a great combo block to get great movement. These guys are already playing well together, and that’s a positive for a line that’s relatively new.
They pulled both the guard and tackle on a counter on the second series, adjusted in the second half to attack outside the tackles when the Huskies tried to crash the defensive ends and plug the middle gaps. The backs were outstanding, too, waiting for the holes to open and with their burst through them.
Blake Corum’s speed caught the safety off guard on his long touchdown run. The DB took a terrible angle, and it was over. A great combo block again from Keegan and Hayes opened that one up.
The best drive of the game was clearly the eight-play, 73-yarder to start the second half. We talked earlier about attacking the C gap … third and two, they pulled right tackle Andrew Stueber all the way around as the lead blocker left along with right guard Zak Zinter. Haskins was patient enough to wait and broke a big one around the left side.
There’s no comparison between Zinter and Chuck Filiaga. They need the frosh in there.
At 13:00 the line pulled a Wisconsin, and the crowd went nuts. Joel Honigford, Keegan and Vastardis pushed the pile on a Haskins run for five extra yards. You want smashmouth football, that’s it. As good as it gets.
And late in the game, freshman center Greg Crippen looked great on a block filling in for Andrew Vastardis, finishing a block with authority. There is a lot of good, young talent up front.
Some of the negatives …
Cade McNamara didn’t look comfortable. He didn’t get to throw much, but when he did, he wasn’t patient, had more time than he thought a few times to go through some progressions and didn’t.
Haskins threw a chicken wing block after a hop that probably embarrassed RB coach Mike Hart, and McNamara got hit when he threw. He was lucky he did, because he was locked on Corum on a wheel route — Corum had beaten his man, but the safety peeled off the deep receiver and was waiting for the ball if McNamara threw it.
The receiver and tight end blocking on the perimeter was abysmal, including Mike Sainristil. Roman Wilson had an attempt that was flat out embarrassing. Banged-up Daylen Baldwin, too, missed a block on the edge.
McNamara had another ball knocked down at the line of scrimmage. By our count, that’s three in two games. Hoping that’s not an issue all year.
The goal line offensive blocking was terrible. Guys played high. Trente Jones and Ryan Hayes did a good job on a first down play, but everyone else got shoved backwards. The second down play was doomed because McNamara wasn’t expecting the snap. It hit him in the stomach, fortunately, but it threw the timing of the play off.
Four shots from the two — line up and get it in. Run Corum to the edge. Do something besides roll out. It’s hindsight … but still.
Cornerback Gemon Green is always around the ball, which is good, but still struggles to play it, which is bad. He gave up a long third down when he was in position to make a play for a second week in a row.
And there were some ballsy calls on short yardage, including the fake punt for a yard-plus. Two of them kept drives alive deep in their own territory. They’re not going to get away with that against the Wisconsins, Penn States, etc.
Didn't like the late hit call on Hinton, though I get it. The one on D.J. Turner on which the quarterback faked like he kept the ball was a joke.
Onward.
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