These were my impressions after rewatching the game and slowing the tape down. The following is direct and perhaps harsh. But IMO the assertions are fair and true. I'll start with the defense.
- Carlos Kemp went backwards all day. He was high off the snap and got overpowered at the point of attack. No matter how good of a teammate he is he cannot be the center of our defense. Period. Not saying he shouldn't play, but they need another big body next to him-maybe instead of a Viper-on running downs. In his defense, if our linebacker play was better they wouldn't be able to initially combo block him. But they do and he just isn't big/strong enough to hold the point of attack.
-Josh Ross has no business being in the game on passing downs. Twice he was beaten on crucial plays by simple out patterns. And while he makes tackles, he is often late to the party. The Linebacker position might have suffered the most from last year's graduations. McGrone was as bad or worse than Ross. None of them are plugging the holes inside where our DE's are crashing outside and our interior personnel are being double teamed inside. It's easy to run the ball when you can double team the DL's and Linebackers just stand there waiting to be blocked. Not a single pressure by a linebacker in the MSU game...can you imagine that when Bush and Bolden were in the middle?
-Captain obvious says we lack talent at the cornerback position, I agree with him. I don't know if Gray lacks confidence or ability, but having balls go over your head when you know they are picking on you speaks volumes. Maybe they should bring him in for Ross to cover tight ends on passing downs...as long as the TE's aren't too fast. Green had good moments, if he could get his head around he could become an effective corner. Hawkins was a non factor in the MSU game-he had opportunities-just did not make plays. Dax was not tested which is another reason to tip your hat to to the MSU staff. Had Michigan run more zone, he would have been in the play on a number of those long balls.
-MSU was in max protect on passing downs virtually the whole game. They moved their RB back to block the Viper side. They kept in TE's in to help block Hutch and Paye. We should have expected that but somehow it caught our coaching staff off guard. Dax Hill said they were surprised by the strategy of max protecting and throwing it deep. These are the kind of things that have made me lose faith in our coaching staff. If you max protect, it means there are only three receivers in the pattern with TE's and RB's serving as safety valves. We had 5 or 6 pass defenders. Why are we single coverage without deep support when they only have three receivers in the pattern? It's beyond stupid and easily exploited-which it was.
-Brad Hawkins was never a prolific tackler but it was covered up by our Linebackers last season. This year its on full display. Paige has yet to wrap up on a tackle and MSU just bounced off him a couple of times for big gains. I know he is only a Freshman but maybe that's exactly the reason he shouldn't be playing in a close game. Dax is good, but he isn't involved enough due to scheme.
-Still trying to figure out the reason Joe Milton was removed on the halfback pass sequence. That's not Monday morning quarterbacking, it's just common sense.
-Receivers need to pick it up, and it's an a group issue-although All has had two consecutive games where he has had drops that killed big plays. Bell again had a big drop, Sanistril killed a drive with a drop. If any of those catches are made, the outcome could have been much different. Route running was poor overall-rounded cuts-understanding where the holes in the zone are. Two or three times they ran themselves into coverage. That's just youth and inexperience...and coaching.
-Line play needs improvement but play calling was the bigger culprit. State blitzed their inside LB's frequently ,messing up the inside running game. They gambled and Michigan didn't adjust by quick pitching to the outside where the running lanes were. What's puzzling is that the outside plays they did run worked yet they continued to try and pound it inside. Why?
-Joe Milton had some issues but honestly, he was mostly solid. He was 32-51 with at least 4 drops. As the game wore on, he tried to force the ball down field. On the last drive he took what the defense gave him and M marched down the field. State was in a prevent pretty much the whole game as their safeties were back peddling on the snap. As soon as their linebackers read pass they dropped deep. The underneath stuff-crossing routes-quick outs were available. They scouted Michigan well. They followed Mason to the ball on running plays. They were looking for the read/slant-we didn't just take the outside and underneath routes. Bottom line...Michigan didn't adjust. Coaching, scheme, game planning all were missing on our side.
-Special Teams, punting was abysmal in the first half. Jackson got lucky when he fielded a punt in the end zone and ran it out. He had another bad decision on a kickoff return. After last week's debacle I expected improvement this week. Nope.
I'm not in the season is over camp, but I will be if we lose to Indiana on Saturday. I think the offense will be ultimately be fine. Gattis is still finding his way as a play caller and he continues to improve. The MSU game was a misfortunate setback. I don't see where we improve on defense as I think it's a combination talent/scheme issue. Maybe Don Brown is not expecting pick plays, quick slants, tunnel screens, deep shots, and multiple QB runs this Saturday, but I do. Simply, his defensive strategy is a disaster against any team with QB and receiver talent. He just doesn't seem to get that sometimes it's okay to keep the ball in front of you and tackle in front of the sticks. It's like a gambler that can't walk away from the table when he's ahead. I haven't been this bearish on Michigan Defense since Robinson was on the sidelines. This is not based on just yesterday's debacle, its a judgement of a body of work.
- Carlos Kemp went backwards all day. He was high off the snap and got overpowered at the point of attack. No matter how good of a teammate he is he cannot be the center of our defense. Period. Not saying he shouldn't play, but they need another big body next to him-maybe instead of a Viper-on running downs. In his defense, if our linebacker play was better they wouldn't be able to initially combo block him. But they do and he just isn't big/strong enough to hold the point of attack.
-Josh Ross has no business being in the game on passing downs. Twice he was beaten on crucial plays by simple out patterns. And while he makes tackles, he is often late to the party. The Linebacker position might have suffered the most from last year's graduations. McGrone was as bad or worse than Ross. None of them are plugging the holes inside where our DE's are crashing outside and our interior personnel are being double teamed inside. It's easy to run the ball when you can double team the DL's and Linebackers just stand there waiting to be blocked. Not a single pressure by a linebacker in the MSU game...can you imagine that when Bush and Bolden were in the middle?
-Captain obvious says we lack talent at the cornerback position, I agree with him. I don't know if Gray lacks confidence or ability, but having balls go over your head when you know they are picking on you speaks volumes. Maybe they should bring him in for Ross to cover tight ends on passing downs...as long as the TE's aren't too fast. Green had good moments, if he could get his head around he could become an effective corner. Hawkins was a non factor in the MSU game-he had opportunities-just did not make plays. Dax was not tested which is another reason to tip your hat to to the MSU staff. Had Michigan run more zone, he would have been in the play on a number of those long balls.
-MSU was in max protect on passing downs virtually the whole game. They moved their RB back to block the Viper side. They kept in TE's in to help block Hutch and Paye. We should have expected that but somehow it caught our coaching staff off guard. Dax Hill said they were surprised by the strategy of max protecting and throwing it deep. These are the kind of things that have made me lose faith in our coaching staff. If you max protect, it means there are only three receivers in the pattern with TE's and RB's serving as safety valves. We had 5 or 6 pass defenders. Why are we single coverage without deep support when they only have three receivers in the pattern? It's beyond stupid and easily exploited-which it was.
-Brad Hawkins was never a prolific tackler but it was covered up by our Linebackers last season. This year its on full display. Paige has yet to wrap up on a tackle and MSU just bounced off him a couple of times for big gains. I know he is only a Freshman but maybe that's exactly the reason he shouldn't be playing in a close game. Dax is good, but he isn't involved enough due to scheme.
-Still trying to figure out the reason Joe Milton was removed on the halfback pass sequence. That's not Monday morning quarterbacking, it's just common sense.
-Receivers need to pick it up, and it's an a group issue-although All has had two consecutive games where he has had drops that killed big plays. Bell again had a big drop, Sanistril killed a drive with a drop. If any of those catches are made, the outcome could have been much different. Route running was poor overall-rounded cuts-understanding where the holes in the zone are. Two or three times they ran themselves into coverage. That's just youth and inexperience...and coaching.
-Line play needs improvement but play calling was the bigger culprit. State blitzed their inside LB's frequently ,messing up the inside running game. They gambled and Michigan didn't adjust by quick pitching to the outside where the running lanes were. What's puzzling is that the outside plays they did run worked yet they continued to try and pound it inside. Why?
-Joe Milton had some issues but honestly, he was mostly solid. He was 32-51 with at least 4 drops. As the game wore on, he tried to force the ball down field. On the last drive he took what the defense gave him and M marched down the field. State was in a prevent pretty much the whole game as their safeties were back peddling on the snap. As soon as their linebackers read pass they dropped deep. The underneath stuff-crossing routes-quick outs were available. They scouted Michigan well. They followed Mason to the ball on running plays. They were looking for the read/slant-we didn't just take the outside and underneath routes. Bottom line...Michigan didn't adjust. Coaching, scheme, game planning all were missing on our side.
-Special Teams, punting was abysmal in the first half. Jackson got lucky when he fielded a punt in the end zone and ran it out. He had another bad decision on a kickoff return. After last week's debacle I expected improvement this week. Nope.
I'm not in the season is over camp, but I will be if we lose to Indiana on Saturday. I think the offense will be ultimately be fine. Gattis is still finding his way as a play caller and he continues to improve. The MSU game was a misfortunate setback. I don't see where we improve on defense as I think it's a combination talent/scheme issue. Maybe Don Brown is not expecting pick plays, quick slants, tunnel screens, deep shots, and multiple QB runs this Saturday, but I do. Simply, his defensive strategy is a disaster against any team with QB and receiver talent. He just doesn't seem to get that sometimes it's okay to keep the ball in front of you and tackle in front of the sticks. It's like a gambler that can't walk away from the table when he's ahead. I haven't been this bearish on Michigan Defense since Robinson was on the sidelines. This is not based on just yesterday's debacle, its a judgement of a body of work.
