RUSH OFFENSE vs. RUTGERS RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is the #1 rushing team in the country, averaging 350 yards per game on 7.15 yards per carry (#4). The two most relevant players are Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins, who are almost identical in attempts this year: 48 and 49, respectively. Corum is the more explosive one (8.5 yards/carry, 7 touchdowns) while Haskins (5.7 yards/carry, 4 touchdowns) is the Steady Eddie. The unsung heroes of that rushing offense, of course, are the offensive linemen, who are blasting people up front. That group is led by center Andrew Vastardis. Rutgers is #49 in rushing defense (113 yards allowed/game) and #46 in yards allowed per carry (3.39). Those numbers are bolstered by the quality of opponent so far, which has included Temple, Syracuse, and Delaware.
Advantage: Michigan
Hit the jump for more.
PASS OFFENSE vs. RUTGERS PASS DEFENSE
Michigan is #112 in passing yards (164.3 yards/game), but the passing efficiency overall has been very good (#13 overall). Starter Cade McNamara is completing 64.9% of his passes and has yet to throw an interception in his college career. Last week he hit leading receiver Cornelius Johnson for an 87-yard touchdown, the third-longest passing play in school history; Johnson is averaging 27+ yards per catch on 6 receptions so far this year. Another emerging target is Daylen Baldwin (4 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD), a transfer receiver from Jacksonville State. Up front, Michigan's line has allowed just 1 sack this season. Rutgers is #15 in pass defense (145.7 yards allowed/game) and #6 in passer rating defense. They have allowed just 1 touchdown while making 3 interceptions; however, 2 of those interceptions came from starting cornerback Max Melton, who was suspended earlier this week for a paintball gun incident. He took 1 of those interceptions to the house for a 46-yard touchdown. The Scarlet Knights are #5 in sacks with 4.67 per game.
Advantage: Rutgers
RUSH DEFENSE vs. RUTGERS RUSH OFFENSE
Michigan is #47 in rushing defense (112.3 yards allowed/game) and #45 in yards allowed per carry (3.37). Teams have been able to gain yards in chunks at times, but the team has not allowed any huge plays yet in the running game. Senior inside linebacker Josh Ross leads the team by far with 23 tackles, followed by three defensive backs (Daxton Hill, Vincent Gray, R.J. Moten). That's normally an indication that the front isn't doing its job, but Hill often plays near the line of scrimmage as a nickel and Moten frequently plays as an in-the-box safety. Rutgers is #80 in rushing offense (144.3 yards/game) and even worse (#111) in efficiency with 3.31 yards per carry. Oddly, they're tied for #14 in rushing touchdowns with 10, but that's largely because they're really bad at passing the ball. Starting running back Isaih Pacheco (5'11", 215) averages just 3.38 yards per attempt, and quarterback Noah Vedral (6'1", 200) is a decent runner for a QB, at least enough to move the chains. In short yardage and goal line situations, Rutgers uses 6'2", 235 lb. quarterback-ish type figure Johnny Langan, who is slow and not elusive, but has managed to snare 2 touchdowns on 2.88 yards per carry.
Advantage: Michigan
PASS DEFENSE vs. RUTGERS PASS OFFENSE
Michigan is #29 in passing defense (176.7 yards allowed/game) and #31 in passing efficiency defense. Cornerback Gemon Green made the team's first interception last week. In general, the defensive backs have been positioned well so far but just haven't made a ton of plays. Hopefully they improve in that area as the season goes along. Outside linebacker Aidan Hutchinson leads the team with 4.5 sacks, which is tied for #1 in the country. Meanwhile, Rutgers is generally not so good at the passing thing. They're #92 in the country with 206.7 yards/game through the air and #52 in passing efficiency, but that's largely based on throwing short screens and letting athletes make plays, not by throwing the ball downfield. Vedral is completing 71% of his passes for 7.5 yards/attempt, with 4 touchdowns and 0 picks so far this year. It's a similar team to last year, where they throw the ball laterally a ton. Leading receiver Bo Melton (5'11", 195) has 20 catches for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the second guy is Aron Cruickshank (5'10", 170), who is on his second consecutive year of averaging fewer than 8.0 yards per catch (he's currently at 7.2). Rutgers is tied for #30 in sacks allowed per game (1.3), but it would be much worse if they dropped back to pass instead of throwing so many quick screens.
Advantage: Michigan
ROSTER NOTES
- Rutgers players who were offered by Michigan: DT Ryan Keeler, DE Aaron Lewis, WR Bo Melton, OT Raiqwon O'Neal, RB Al-Shadee Salaam, LB Drew Singleton
- Two Rutgers players began their careers at Michigan: DE Aaron Lewis, LB Drew Singleton
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED...
- Michigan beat Rutgers by a score of 48-42 in triple overtime in 2020
- After a slow start, QB Joe Milton was replaced by Cade McNamara, who completed 27/36 passes for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns
- RB Hassan Haskins ran 23 times for 111 yards and the game-winning touchdown
- WR Cornelius Johnson caught 5 passes for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns
- Giles Jackson had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown
PREDICTION
- Michigan 34, Rutgers 13
Slow start? We were down o-17 .. against Rutgers ... only Maryland offense (w/backup QB Najarian)was held in check as badly
ReplyDeleteFor the 2021 version, give me:
- more ground & pound
- Gattis dials up an RPO, for an Erik All TD
- Defense forces another turnover
UM 38, Rutgers 16
"The two most relevant players are" the five offensive linemen. Michigan had the same two backs last year, plus Charbonnet, plus Evans, and the run game struggled.
ReplyDeleteGreat stat from PFF via the Athletic
"3.6 average yards per rush before contact. This number ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and sixth in the FBS. It’s a major improvement over last season when the Wolverines averaged 1.8 yards before contact on running plays. Give credit to Michigan’s offensive line, which transformed itself from a weak link to a strength in the span of one offseason."
Last year's OL was under constant turmoil. It was a rebuilt unit to start with, 4 guys off to the NFL, and then got besieged by injuries. Those growing pains stung last year but are paying off now. So far everyone is healthy. They are bigger, badder, smarter and more organized.
Fan favorite Ed Warriner is off to Florida Atlantic and all M had to do was slide a TE coach over to improve.
Experience, internal development, retention, coaching. The RBs are good and will get attention but this OL looks like the real deal. The best players and real stars on this offense are named Andrew, Zak, and Ryan.
UM 148 Rutgers -2
You jinxed em
DeleteAlso, I have not been super impressed with Zinter. After all the pre-season hype, I thought he would be better. He misses a lot of assignments.
DeleteYeah that was a reality check for sure. Zinter is just a sophomore so expect some bumps along the way.
DeleteIt's almost like we should have worked on the passing game a little bit
ReplyDeleteNah, Michigan is just going to out-rush everybody all season...
DeleteIf they had worked more on the run game maybe they wouldn't have run into the 2nd half wall.
DeleteSeven years in, and it's the Defense carrying another Harbaugh team
ReplyDeleteOh, and yet another QB goes from potential to trash, right in front of our eyes ... Lank, we're not getting better QBs to ascend, but starters who become heinous under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh
McNamara didn't play like trash. His QBR was 68.1, which would put him at #43 in the country for 2021. His passer rating was 141.8, which would put him at #67 in the country. So he played an average to above average game.
DeleteI'm not saying he played well, but those are the numbers. And a couple of his throws were only a half step off the mark. This was not like Joe Milton where he was throwing near interceptions or throwing balls 5 yards off the mark.
Trash may have been to harsh, but just because he wasn't as bad as Milton - who overthrew a shovel pass today - doesn't mean he wasn't bad
DeleteHarbaugh/Gattis didn't help with playcalling. Running 4-6x in a row, then asking your QB to throw (cold) from an empty set into tight windows is asking a bit much. But McNamara let that blown TD at the end of the half get into his head. That 68 QBR was what, 1 for 9 in the second half? Keeping on a read that wasn't there? Even on the kneeldown, take a step back before you try to kneel ... He looked like he was pouting, and didn't play much better, is what I'm saying
Typical JE calling our QB trash. He/it is what it is.
DeleteI was really impressed with MacNamara in the first half. Almost won me over. He was making some legit good throws, not just short stuff or some degree of downfield arm parts but more outside and intermediate. The short stuff was crisp. He looked poised, confident, and in control. And it was a version of Rutgers that looked less cupcakey (they aren't all the same you see.)
And then the easy miss to schoonmaker and the second half. Some very bad misses and I'm going to disagree with Thunder that they were close. Some were awful.
But overall my opinion of McNamara still went up. Lot's of excuses to be made - from the hit to the playcalls to the limited sample size. I'm warming up to Cade for sure.
Bottomline is that he is inconsistent and that his accuracy comes and goes, which is a problem for a game manager. But he still had a pretty good game overall. The first half was more impressive than the second half was disappointing.
That was for you. It's not that only Milton sucks, plenty of QBs are bad. Milton is just worst
DeleteFor me? No thanks.
Delete@ LANK 12:19 p.m.
Delete4 out of 5 passes in the second half hit a receiver's hands. The fifth was the late out route throw to Sainristil, a play on which every player (including Sainristil) was covered like a glove. A "better" throw probably gets knocked down, if not intercepted.
If those count as awful, then you should not be so ardent in your defense of Joe Milton.
Some fans don't understand the game, and rely too heavily on boxscores. That's why your observation on misses go unnoticed, as does the easy TD on the left that Milton threw into the stands ... Not all incompletions are equal
DeleteAs for Cade, I admitted to being too hard. While he did not play well in the second half, I take great issue with the game plan. He did well last year coming in against Wisc & Rutgers, running a quick release, RPO offense. What have Harbaugh & Gattis done with him since? They force him to stand in the pocket, and wait on routes to develop. That's not his game. Rather than looking like one of the least reliable (and certainly least trusted) QBs in conference, Cade should be playing off the run, and delivering quick passes to our fast WRs ...
Next week we face one of the top defenses in the nation, with a runD allowing only 25yds/game ... Gonna have to attack the edges and get rid of the ball QUICK to keep the run game going
I too, like to see the coaches call plays around Cade's limitations. They might just be doing that.
DeleteGame plan? If it was run over Rutgers it worked, though not nearly as well as hoped. Mostly, Michigan looked like a team looking ahead to Wisconsin.
A bad half against Rutgers means they failed to adjust in this one and I agree that's not a great sign. It's also doesn't mean they CAN'T do the things being suggested above.
Also agree Wisconsin will be a stiff test. The run game will get tested and so will Cade & company. I also agree we're not just going to run over Wisconsin. So that will put it on Cade out of necessity and we'll see if he's as good as some of his offseason boosters suggested. He's already exceeded my modest expectations for him. I thought someone else would be QB by now.
Running over Rutgers worked? At 3ypc??? And four 3&outs? Okay then ...
DeleteScoreboard.
DeleteI saw every Milton snap.* Turns out looking at box score after games doesn't prevent you from watching football anymore than going to college prevents you from going to high school. You remember those kids who went to college right JE. You passed them in the halls?
Delete*Youtube live is nice for CFB.
None of those guys have IT. At least Milton has something.
DeleteYes Milton missed some of throws by a mile. Still counts as one down and one incompletion.
What's new right? It's still the same Joe Milton we saw at Michigan. He's inconsistent but he's also a playmaker. His eyes are downfield. He wants to score. He'll run or throw but he's doing it vertically. That's not enough, but it's something.
He's been that way since he was a freshman at Michigan. He came in against OSU and threw a TD and an INT in short order. He wants it. It's why he has a high YPA and a bunch of yards on the ground despite not being fast. It contributes to his low completion percentage (which is still higher than Peters over his career despite all the accuracy talk).
He's not afraid of mistakes or the spotlight. It's why he was undeterred as a freshman behind Patterson, Peters, and McCaffrey. It's why he transferred to the SEC and not Pahokee Tech State. I respect that.
The playmaker vs Steady Eddie debate is an interesting one. To me it really is the same as the Smith/Shaw argument Thunder and I had a decade ago but Thunder and I wear different hats at different positions. I really don't understand insisting on a playmaker at RB but focusing on mistake avoidance at QB. But that's where this Michigan team seems to be. I don't think that was the goal but it's a reasonable response.
DeleteFor THIS Michigan team, I see why we want the game-manager at QB. It complements a strong run game and solid D. Avoid mistakes and you can win a bunch of games. Don't try to repeat 2020 trying to outscore everyone if you don't have the talent -- and Michigan didn't and seemingly still doesn't. Not with Bell out and McCarthy still learning.
Likewise there are contexts where you want a homerun guy at RB -- when your OL makes yards by itself -- and others where reliability, pass game skills, or making their own yards at the LOS are more important. Luckily it seems we have two backs that do pretty much everything well and we don't have to make these kind of choices. Maybe QB will get there...
@Lank 1006: "we ran over them"
Delete@Lank 1125: "nevermind, scoreboard"
@Lank 1127: "I have no point, so I'll try an insult"
@Lank 1131: you make my point. None of those guys have it, and Milton is every bit as bad as when he got here. That "something" you sense, is crap
Ex Michigan QB performance comparison of the week:
ReplyDeleteMy column!
Milton wasn't good again, this time in mop up duty, and yet he had the best day between him Peters and McCaffrey again. I think that's 4 for 4 since when McCaffrey and Milton were hurt they did better than Peters.
McNamara > Milton > McCaffrey > Peters solidifies
You are high. McCaffrey completed 62% of his passes, with two TDs. Peters sucks, but completed 54%
DeleteMilton? 25%. That's twenty-five! Among his two ugly overthrows, one was on a GD shovel pass ... not sure I've ever seen that before, but hey - Joe made it through a game without a turnover! Benched, as I said, and as he shall remain
Best Twitter reaction of the weekend again comes from Vols fans. Against Pitt they went with "overthrowing the Taliban," and yesterday was a nod to JFK
https://twitter.com/Volken_Vol/status/1441960238387658754?s=20
McCaffrey needed 40 pass attempts and couldn't break 200 yards. That's less than 5 ypa. No passes over 20 yards on the day. And he didn't do much on the ground to make up for it. This is against the Northern Arizona Somethingorothers. Theoretically McCaffrey should have a huge talent advantage. He's got a guy who ran for 600 yards and 5.5 ypc at Michigan available beside him. Yet...10 points in regulation.
DeletePeters honestly is not even worth bringing up. Laughable. Like you bringing up pass percentage as if Milton didn't have the highest one among the group over his career.
But at least Peters has the dignity to fail in the Big Ten. Even as he struggles I'm feeling less and less confident about putting him below my guy McCaffrey.
Bottom line is that Milton could have sat the bench again and won by default. Garbage time snaps don't really move the needle on anything but Milton looked the same - a few nice plays, a few bad misses, some productive runs. Surprisingly still no INTs on the year. I would have thought he would have come out forcing stuff.
The best of the bunch, again, and probably forever.
That tweet is funny though, I'll give you that.
I watched all but Milton's first pass attempt in last night's game. His final four throws were about 4 yards over anyone's head. I tweeted about it in real time. His one long completion was a wide open skinny post against a prevent defense in the 2-minute drill.
DeleteAll three play for bad teams, but Milton is the one who was exposed by the second week, is getting benched, and can't complete his throws.
All 3 were exposed when they were demoted at Michigan. Nothing since has proven anything other than - Harbaugh made the right call in that decision.
DeleteWhat that says about Harbaugh's recruiting is the bigger point but that's not what we are arguing about.
Phrase it another way:
Has anything McCaffrey has done proven Harbaugh wrong in demoting him?
Has anything Peters has done proven Harbaugh wrong in demoting him?
I think the answer is no.
McNamara > Milton > McCaffrey > Peters
As we approach the middle of Cade's junior year I am starting to look forward to adding JJ to this pattern.
Your first two paragraphs are what everyone has been saying. It's not in the until you pull the "poor Joe was set up for failure," lies, exaggeration, and your delusional QB comparisons that things go sideways ...
DeleteIn other words, try not being so "Lank," and we're on the same page, which limits your stress & wellness
GO BLUE
Here are some truthful responses to "lies" above.
DeleteThose are not paragraphs.
Everyone has not been saying those things.
Joe Milton was not put in a position to succeed is direct quote from a player's parent.
Comparisons are not delusional because comparisons don't assert similarities. JE still doesn't know what that word means.
The methaphor about pages is wrong. We are not on the same one, you are way behind.
Your accusations about stress and wellness are projections.
You resort to personal attacks because you can't win an argument with facts.
They are paragraphs, just poorly written, and ineffective at making a point ... this is why you tend to post either a dissertation, or 4 separate responses - you cannot make a coherent point
DeleteEveryone on here, who comments on Milton. Context matters - you know this
If that's true about Milton being set up for failure, why did mediocre Cade outperform him on the same days, against the same opponent? Stop making excuses already ... if we're believing rumors, then Milton bashed MICHIGAN on the way out
YOUR comparisons are delusional. Milton sucks, and was benched by both programs who gambled on him
They're not accusations Lank. You went three seasons in a row, breaking down and crying about folks not agreeing with you. Now, when you feel the L coming, you insult me, probably hoping Thunder will mod your comments. Since I laugh you off, there's no need ... Easy day!
Relax, and Go Blue
That's quite a diatribe above. How can I relax when I'm reading all caps? "Everyone on here, who comments on Milton." That very coherent point has really caused me to reconsider my views.
DeleteIt's funny how worked up you get about this:
Milton > McCaffrey > Peters
Even after being wrong about Milton at every step for the last 3 years you rage on. Keep telling on yourself with every insult.
@Lank 1:49, places emphasis on "this" team
ReplyDelete@je93 2:51 places emphasis on "your" comparisons
@Lank 8:03 becomes rattled
I've been right about Milton: losing the starting job after Shea would lead to a transfer (he did). Should go to a school, conference & Division he could maximize playtime, because big boy football would relegate him to the bench (it did, again)
He should get the start with Hooker on concussion protocol, against a very bad Mizzou squad. How do you think he'll do?
https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/1436731003746279430?s=20
Do you believe these lies you tell yourself or are you just pretending?
DeleteI can send you the links again but doing so doesn't seem to matter.
Wrong about Milton's imminent transfer,
wrong about not beating out McCaffrey,
wrong about quality of transfer destination,
wrong about winning the starting job at Tenn,
wrong about not getting reps,
wrong about getting benched.
These are all funny on their own but the latest might be the best yet. After insisting repeatedly that without a formal depth chart update from Harbs we can't possibly know that Milton was ahead of McCaffrey, now you insist that Milton is behind Hooker (who he beat out in camp) despite the depth chart that says otherwise. Oh and Heupel's comments to the media which have been consistent and clear about the injury affecting things.
You see you see when Hooker is hurt Milton is an injury replacement but when Milton is hurt he has been benched. In JE land where everything is twisted to hate on Joe Milton it makes perfect sense.
https://volswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/27/tennessee-vols-football-releases-depth-chart-ahead-of-missouri-tigers-sec-east-game-2/
“Joe was in a situation where he could play, wasn’t at full 100 percent,” Heupel said. “During the week, we got him some work, but not at the same type of numbers that he would’ve gotten if he was 100 percent." "Anticipate just through him playing the other night, he didn’t reinjure or aggravate anything. Continue to think that he’ll get healthier as this week goes on.”"
I don't think I've made many predictions about how good Milton might be. Like you JE I was surprised he won the starting job at Michigan and at Tennessee. But if I started, it would be impossible not to do better than you. So if you want me to guess, I guess I'll play it safe and guess the opposite of whatever you think.
Correction: meant Peters above, not McCaffrey. It's hard to keep track of all the QBs Milton beats out. Until proven otherwise
DeleteMilton > McCaffrey > Peters
I don't really care about Tennessee's depth chart at this point, but I will say this:
DeleteIt does not make sense to bring Milton into a game when they're down 38-14 in the last two minutes if Milton's injury makes him unplayable. If Hooker gets hurt, just bring in the #3 QB (skipping over Milton) to run out the clock. At the very least, the whole Milton injury thing is pretty fishy at this point.
Lank knows coachspeak - or is at least familiar with it - but denial benefits his narrative
DeleteAnyway, let's do this:
I was right about his transfer. He entered the portal a few weeks after McCaffrey, so that was a surprise, but Milton's transfer was a good call
I didn't predict a landing spot, I said FCS was probably the best opportunity. This is an opinion, and it seems to be working out to be the right call
I said Milton wouldn't do well in a G5 (because they tend to schedule P5) and needed the lower level to avoid defenses that could kill his confidence even further
I never made a prediction on Tennessee specifically. But when he started I said we'd find out by Florida if I was right about D1 being too much for him. That too, was a good call
He needs more reps. Until he performs at a decent level, I think that's the right call (especially considering Milton has been terrible)
He was benched. Now hooker is in concussion protocol, so Milton gets another chance ... You wanna guess how he'll do against a bad Mizzou defense?
Man, that was easy. But I guess it should be. Even you don't buy your BS, which is why within 2min of posting, you had doubts and circled back
Just give up Lank. We're 4-0
Go Blue
@Thunder
DeleteI don't think it's fishy unless you have a bias. Milton wasn't supposed to play but Hooker got hurt so they used him. It's not black and white, and you know that very well. Most guys are playing with some degree of injury once you get into the year. It's a matter of severity and how performance is compromised. A QB can't throw with a club on their hand but they can tape an ankle.
Heupel's explanation of the situation makes perfect sense. Milton was available but compromised due to injury. It's simple and believable. It's not a conspiracy from a cult of Joe Milton Apologists who think he's the best QB in the world. Note: that cult doesn't exist.
@JE
LOLOLOL. Milton is getting starters reps because he won the starting job. At Tennessee. In the SEC. Never let basic reality get in the way...
Could he lose the job to Hooker? Of course. He hasn't been good. You and I both thought he wouldn't win the job in the first place. Would get better with more reps at lower competition levels? Nope - we saw the Minnesota game level of difficulty didn't translate. We saw him graduate from Michigan! and then move on to Tennessee.
As a QB he needs to get better with better competition not worse. He's smart enough to know that. Not everyone shies away from a challenge. Not everyone lies to themselves when they fail. Joe should absolutely not take advice from a guy like you. He's 20 years old but already he's parlayed being the 204th best recruit in the country into being a starting QB at Michigan and Tennesse, two of the most prestegious football programs in the country. And he got a degree from one of the best academic institutions in the country. Coaching from a host of the best countries in the world over the last 3+ years and 3 seasons worth of eligibility left to keep getting better in hopes of getting to the NFL, while collecting a grad degree on the way.
But no no no Joe - you shouldn't do any of that you should transfer to Pahokee State like the numskulls on the internet say so you can throw fewer INTs and increase your completion percentage. That's what the NFL really wants to see - guys who are cowards.
@ LANK 1:53 p.m.
DeleteAnything is possible. All I'm saying is that if my QB1 were too injured to start, then he wouldn't be QB2. And I sure as heckfire wouldn't bring him in during garbage time when the game is out of hand. There's no reason not to get QB3 or QB4 some reps at that point.
It might be a different story if QB1 was a little dinged up but went in the game during a 1-score game to try to pull out an important win or something. But down 38-14? It's fishy.
He knows thunder. Deep down, this ongoing series of lies, misdirection and insults is a stubborn refusal to accept being wrong
Delete@Lank, Milton got starter reps for two weeks. After getting benched, he did not. Man, this is too easy
https://youtu.be/2FqGQMoQqF0
@Thunder
DeleteSo your theory is that Milton has been demoted at the same time (or shortly thereafter) that he was injured. That Heupel is playing a game with the media on the injury reports to avoid putting it out there?
Hi JE. I'm having a meltdown over here so I'm using a different fake name for when I have to spank you around. Unstable and off the deep end. Let's see where the ride goes.
DeleteMilton is starting this week like he started the first week.
He has been injured and now his fill in is injured.
As pointed out before, the playing time decisions (Milton over Peters in 2018) were ignored when they didn't suit your argument and now you're ignoring depth charts when they don't suit your argument. No consistency. Totally unstable.
Coo coo, coo coo 🥴
Deletehttps://youtu.be/g3YD5v9w_3M
@ LANK
DeleteOne guy is completing 47% of his passes at 5.7 yards per attempt and a 101 passer rating.
The other guy is completing 66% of his passes at 8.8 yards per attempt with a 169 passer rating.
Assuming the former is a clear and obvious starter is odd.
No assumption made. Milton started game 1 and is listed as starter on the depth chart this week.
DeleteI don't have any reason to think Heupel is lying.
It's not a new depth chart. It's the same one Huepel released prior to BG
DeleteIn other words, if Hooker is even close to healthy, he's still the starter ... Milton was benched; get over it
@ LANK 9:18 p.m.
DeleteHere's what the coach said about the clear and obvious starting quarterback, via 247 Sports:
"Head coach Josh Heupel said Monday that Hooker is not in the protocols for a concussion, but said it was uncertain if he would be available to play against Missouri."
Hooker starts, and leads a TD drive ... Milton is benched. Can we all agree on that?
DeleteBackup Joe Milton comes in for the last drive of the 4thQ, but not trusted with a pass attempt ... BENCHED
DeleteThere's still a chance...
DeleteLOL. Yes, I agree Milton has lost his starting job to Hooker. Did it happen 3 weeks ago when he got hurt or Saturday morning? Was Heupel lying about injuries? Does it really matter that much?
DeleteIt's funny that this is what you want to talk about right after (during?) Michigan's best win in almost 2 years time. More important to hate on ex-players than celebrate the ones we have.
BTW, Milton once again had the best day among the departed trio of ex-QBs. That's how low this bar is. With what's going on in the Rocky mountains I'm really going to have to rethink the thing that makes you so mad
McNamara > Milton > McCaffrey > Peters > Malzone
-Maybe Lank
McCaffrey has more TDs, Yards, Completion Percentage and ... a higher RTG!
DeleteOh, and returning from injury was all it took to reclaim the starting position. Joe should have went FCS, but instead he is BENCHED
@JE. You are lying again. Here is proof:
Deletehttps://utsports.com/documents/2021/8/27/2021_UT_Game_1_Notes_Bowling_Green.pdf
https://utsports.com/documents/2021/9/27//2021_UT_Game_5_Notes_Missouri.pdf?id=23281
Unlike Michigan, Tennessee publishes a depth chart ever week. QB has not changed. DE has.
You are arguing against facts because you hate Joe Milton. What does it say about an adult man to be this way?
So the media shared offensive depth chart - Joe is on offense - is the same ...
DeleteI don't get your point (again). He's been benched Lank. Let's move on
More lies, as you might say JE.
Deletehttps://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4360698/joe-milton-iii
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4258191/dylan-mccaffrey
Milton is a full year younger yet:
1700 yards vs 1000 yards
11 TDs vs 9 TDs
120 RTG vs 112 RTG
On completion percentage, you did get that one (57 to 54) so your's is 25%.
Dylan McCaffrey had to run away from FBS to start. Joe Milton has already started at 2 FBS schools.
You got that one wrong too JE.
I'm wrong again so let's just move on.
DeleteI'm posting multiple times about this during the Michigan game so let's just move on.
It makes me feel better about myself when people run away from a challenge so I really prefer McCaffrey's approach and find Milton's too upsetting. Please let's move on.
Please please. for me.
2021 stats Lank. We're in 2021 ... you're welcome
DeleteNow go rest; you lost, again
As was pointed out to me when Milton did better than McCaffrey earlier in 2021. Context is relevant. Level of competition matters. Remember JE, when McCaffrey stunk vs Colorado and Milton was better against Bowling Green.
DeleteMcCaffrey ran away from FBS to play for Dad. Milton is playing in the SEC and lost his job to a proven starter.
Oh and McCaffrey lost to Milton way back in 2020.
So yeah, still the same thing. And back in 2019 when McCaffrey got hurt I gave the benefit of the doubt and considered the context. But now I know that as soon as you are hurt and replaced, if you don't get it back, the benching is retroactive.
So McCaffrey was benched for Milton way back in 2019.
LOLOLOL
Make shit up, get proven wrong with evidence, see your logic turned back around on you, change the argument, dodge, deflect, insult.
DeleteJE's playbook is worse than Al Borges'
Let's move on hahahahaha
I've not made one insult. Just batted away your bad takes
DeleteMilton was benched (again), period
The next time will be the first time.
DeleteThe only thing you've been right about is that I made a typo once but you wanted to 'move on' from that debate too.
Trying desparately isn't making a point, it's just pitiful
DeleteSeek help
"What does it say about an adult man to be this way?"
DeleteI don't think it says anything great about either of you to have a weekly, unending debate about Joe Milton vs. Dylan McCaffrey vs. Whoever. It's certainly interesting that either of you thinks you're going to win this argument, at least to the point where the other will acknowledge your correctness.
You both win! Congratulations!
Brandon Peters. Say his name!
DeleteI sense some sarcasm in that last line, Thunder. You are right of course but JE isn't going to stop responding to my posts and apparently I lack the self control to ignore his brain-numbing nonsense. We'll see what happens. Maybe someone will take the high road.
It wouldn't take much to change my mind: consecutive, not bad games by Milton. They don't even have to be good. Just not bad
DeleteAs for McCaffrey, I'm not even a fan; he isn't good. But to claim Joe is having a "better" year ignores the tape, the stats, and who still has their starting position. I agree it's a silly topic, but if a Marine with a DPSE can keep a Michigan grad on his heels, why not have a little fun with it?
My point has always been that Milton was treated (i.e., criticized) unfairly and disproportionate to Peters and McCaffrey. Those guys aren't being told they should stay in their place, wait their turn, know their role, lack character, and are just raw athletes who should change positions.
DeleteHim being good or not is not the point. And if he/they are at the next spot is an ancillary point at best. But it has spiraled into an obsession where JE is taking time out of Michigan game enjoyment to post multiple times about how Milton isn't playing, isn't really hurt, is the worst QB he's seen, UT's depth charts are fake news, Heupel is lying, etc.
I'm not on my heels I'm trying to step over some poop. I should have just walked around but now I got some on my foot and need to wipe it off. It's as resilient as it is mindless.
More untruths: I have been very critical of Michigan QBs, all the way back to Todd Collins. Here, you & I had exchanges on Speight. Peters & McCaffrey got there's, but any disproportion is due to your relentless defense - including lies & exaggeration - about Milton
DeleteSo long as that continues, this easy W will be taken
Watch out for that poop!
DeleteNo lies told here.
DeleteYou are a hater from way back. Congrats?
You admit to disproportional criticism on Milton. But blame me - got it.
This is what I keep telling you. You are a hater; one who disproportionally hates Milton. You argue but admit it. You tell on yourself so often you hardly notice.
You (and many others) took it comparatively easy on Peters and McCaffrey. They got the benefit of the doubt. I've pointed out the discrepancies multiple times. You don't agree and that's fine. Thunder doesn't agree either, ditto.
But instead of owning that debate about who got treated how, you leaned into "Milton Sucks" instead. Explaining and rationalizing why your criticism is justified. That's an admission in itself.
So back to the point. Milton has achieved far more than Peters or McCaffrey through the first 3.5 years of his college career. This is, objectively, a factual, logical, and unassailable conclusion. He did more at Michigan and he transferred to the better program and started. We'll see what happens the next couple years but he's well ahead of the pack. Even if he transfers to Pahokee State he'll have won this fake battle we invented for him after he won it himself at Michigan in real life. The only way he doesn't come out ahead is if he quits - and he's not a quitter.
Talking about your feelings or cherry-picking accuracy stats with wildly inconsistent logic from week to week doesn't help your argument against Milton. It just digs your hole deeper. Keep having fun with your shovel and watch you don't get spanked again.
They are lies
DeleteThe disproportion is in your defense of Milton. If you didn't lie & make sh:t up, I would have anything to disagree with
Milton does suck; more than one truth can exist
He hasn't accomplished more: he's behind both in wins ... that is how poor your conclusion is, and shows who leans on feeling
GO BLUE
@ SPANK 2:27 p.m.
DeleteMore than je93 (IMO), what you fail to realize is there are two sides to the argument. Some of what you say is objectively true, in a way (Milton has started at two programs). But you also push the argument so far and type so many words in defense of Milton that you make others, if they choose to participate, seem to hate on guys more than what they really do.
How do I know this? Because you've done it with me. You accused me of hating Vincent Smith, hating De'Veon Smith, etc. when I didn't hate either one. I just didn't think they should have played as much, received so many carries, etc.
@Thunder
DeleteThat's not true. For one thing, I didn't accuse you of hating Smith or Smith. I didn't think you hated them and I never thought it was personal. I just thought you were misevaluating what is most important at RB. You never criticized them as people or said they should transfer to D3 (from what I recall) or many other things that JE has said here. You just think speed is the most important thing and we disagree on that at RB.
You are consistent in what you want in a RB so I don't think it's a matter of hate. And maybe that's true to some degree at QB but I haven't seen the other QBs who are inaccurate get the same treatment as Milton got. Denard did/does but Peters and McCaffrey didn't/don't. The next time someone on here suggests McCaffrey should play WR instead of QB would be the first. AFAIK. I certainly haven't seen the personal insults (not from you but from JE the admitted hater).
That's not on me. No matter how many words I write. Period. JE has chosen to focus his responses on attacking Milton. For example, I didn't write "Milton is awesome" once, so "Milton sucks" is his choice. So with all due respect that is BS. I'm not making JE be a jerk that's 100% his choice.
@JE let me fix this one for you.
Delete"If you didn't lie & make sh:t up, I would have anything to disagree with"
"I don't have any interesting thoughts or anything to say so I resort to trolling.".
Still waiting for you to show me one lie. Not holding my breath.
BTW - Milton has 3 wins as a starter. McCaffrey has 2. McCaffrey is a year older. It's true that Peters has more wins but he is 24 years old while Milton is 21. That's a 3 year difference JE. Same gap as Milton to JJ.
5 games into his senior year (where Milton is at now) Peters had 4 wins as a starter.
Milton is doing better.
Milton has three wins as a starter, only of you count Rutgers. Sure, he started. We were down o-17 in the 2Q, and he was benched. One more series and we suffer an embarrassment of epic proportions. Cade McNamara comes in as a not good backup, and rescues Michigan ... Joe's transfer is a sure thing from there ... even in this post, you state Peters has more wins, but Milton is better ... it's not trolling (or hating) to so easily make light of your takes. They're weak, and never supported by fact, logic or History. And you hate that; you hate that it's so easy to prove you wrong, that all you have left is insult. That's okay, I have a sense of humor 😉
DeleteI've pointed out one lie after another; simply scroll up this thread, or through the others. Yet another simple example is when you say I insult & name call at you, but there are no posts this season where that has happened ... see how easy it is? Every time, I point out a different one
Proved you wrong on your McCaffrey lie. Your response? speculation about Milton transferring - which you were wrong about before at every step.
Delete"you hate that it's so easy to prove you wrong, that all you have left is insult" <-- That's an insult.
"No posts this seasons where [I insult]" <-- Overt lie from paragraph above.
Disproved twice in one post. Take your L's.
I never lied about McCaffrey. But that's what you do, make stuff up. I was right that Milton would transfer
DeleteLMAO, that's not an insult 😂 (unless an individual is sensitive). Everytime I prove you wrong, you get more upset and name-call. This is documented on this thread and others
Too easy
A Friday spanking? Sure why not.
DeleteJE 241 "He hasn't accomplished more: he's behind both in wins "
LANK 307 "Milton has 3 wins as a starter. McCaffrey has 2"
L. Gotcha again. If you're going to lie this blatantly try to not hit on shit that can be easily looked up by scrolling a couple posts up.
"unless an individual is sensitive" is your attempt at being insulting.
Take that L too. Stacking those things up.
I'd give you the 3rd in one post but I know it's too much for you. Plus you're not going to read back what you said on the Milton soph year countdown post even if I link right to it. Deny deny deny.
JE buddy, what did I just tell you about the shovel?
A Friday spanking? Sure why not.
DeleteJE 241 "He hasn't accomplished more: he's behind both in wins "
LANK 307 "Milton has 3 wins as a starter. McCaffrey has 2"
L. Gotcha again. If you're going to lie this blatantly try to not hit on shit that can be easily looked up by scrolling a couple posts up.
"unless an individual is sensitive" is your attempt at being insulting.
Take that L too. Stacking those things up.
I'd give you the 3rd in one post but I know it's too much for you. Plus you're not going to read back what you said on the Milton soph year countdown post even if I link right to it. Deny deny deny.
JE buddy, what did I just tell you about the shovel?
-SPANK
Are you counting Rutgers? He played 1.5 quarter, had a 17QBR, and got benched while down Zero-17 ...
DeleteThat's a special kind of reeeach, even for a guy posting from two accounts at the same time/day ... again, not an insult to prove you wrong so easily 😁
LOLOL. Yes Rutgers counts. Milton started Michigan won. Facts.
DeleteBut even if it doesn't count... your point is still shot down and you take the L anyway. McCaffrey still doesn't have more wins!
One of these weeks he might pass Milton. He's starting at a lower level and Milton is sitting behind a proven starter in the SEC. But it still hasn't happened yet. If McCaffrey keeps playing like he is it might never... Even if Milton retires tomorrow instead of having 2 more years to play after this one. Plenty of time to pad this stats at Pahokee State if he wants to take the McCaffrey route of least difficulty and ensure the NFL gives no nucks about him.
So yeah - back to business. JE you STILL haven't proved me wrong. Not once!
Say it, but don't do it. Receive it but don't give it. Distract and deflect to avoid defeat. Maybe that works with some dumdums you know in real life. On here it's too transparent. You're only playing yourself.
I'll leave this thread with a complement - I bet you're good at dodgeball JE.
LOL just kidding all you do is take hits, flail-throw the ball against the wall, watch it bounce back right in your face. Then you claim you won because you got a "hit".
I'm out. See you on some other tread troll. I'll hand you another spanking when you need it.
There's a lockerroom celebration video after last year's comeback win at rutgers. Cade is leading; where is Joe? Pouting in the corner? Was he even a part of the celebration? If course not. Maybe he was contemplating his 17 QRR?
DeleteToo easy
I just saw one of the most boneheaded plays of all time
DeleteHendon Hooker has Tennessee in position to pull an upset over 13 Ole Miss. Dude played his butt off - the entire team battled - but gets injured
In comes Milton, with a chance to make his mark ... Against prevent D, he hits an easy 12yd completion. My son & I are hopeful for the former M guy. Next play, he overthrow Cedric Tillman in the endzone. Typical, but also understandable after a 5hr game ... Then - on the last play of the game, he spazzes out in the pocket, runs it ... out of bounds, curling up in anticipation of contact that never happens. Dude ran out of bounds on the go ahead play. He forfeited the team last ditch effort for a win
Just terrible. Moment was too big for him
It was not a good play, but he did get pushed out of bounds by the trailing defender. Yes, with the game on the line, he should have lowered his shoulder and tried to stay inbounds, but it wasn't as bad as you make it sound.
DeleteThere were three seconds left - that ball had to go into the endzone ... right before this play is an Ole Miss timeout, so everyone had the opportunity to grasp the situation
DeleteThat said, it was a two-man rush, he spazzed in the pocket, actually running toward a defender ... Then scrambles toward the sideline, chops his steps, and lowers his shoulder. Not to run over the LB, but in anticipation of contact, he cowered. That wasn't a push as much as Milton heading for the security of the sideline. He was the one fresh body on the field. Everyone else was gassed & cramping. If a QB has so little confidence in his ability to complete a pass, he should use his 250lb body to truck someone. My God, we've all seen the Music City Miracle, Stanford-Cal, and a number of other heroic last ditch efforts. This was, not that. Orlovsky running out of the back of the endzone looks like an honest mistake after this
https://twitter.com/ArmchairQB_UM/status/1449594043252494336?s=20
I found this hilarious
https://twitter.com/KyleTucker_ATH/status/1449590069829029888?s=20
Coaches not countries lol. JE-level proofreading there.
ReplyDeleteJE - the depth charts are different. So they have been updated. It's a team depth chart that is released every week.
ReplyDelete