RUSH OFFENSE vs. OHIO STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan had a solid rushing effort last week against Northwestern and still ranks just #71 nationally (159.6 yards/game) and #62 in yards per carry (4.47). Kalel Mullings (12 carries, 92 yards, 3 touchdowns against Northwestern) is now up to 11 scores on the year, while Donovan Edwards (10 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD last week) had his second-highest rushing average of the year. Backup quarterback Alex Orji has 50 carries for 228 yards and 1 touchdown this year, but has two DNPs in the past five weeks, including against Northwestern. I would think Orji would get a few snaps just to give Davis Warren a breather from what will probably be a tough day of avoiding the pass rush, but maybe not. Meanwhile, Ohio State is #3 in rush defense (90 yards allowed/game) and yards allowed per carry (2.7). They have allowed more than 3.75 yards/carry to just two teams, Iowa and #1 Oregon. Junior LB Sonny Styles (6'4", 235) leads the team with 71 tackles, followed by senior LB Cody Simon (6'2", 235) with 65. Senior DT Tyleik Williams (6'3", 327) is a force in the middle of the defense with 25 tackles and 5 tackles for loss, and senior DE J.T. Tuimoloau (6'5", 269) leads the team with 11 TFL. Northwestern did a good job of stopping the run in the first half last week, but they ran out of steam in the second half and gave up. I don't think Ohio State is going to do that this year.
Advantage: Ohio State
Hit the jump for more.
PASS OFFENSE vs. OHIO STATE PASS DEFENSE
Michigan is #128 in passing offense (140.1 yards/game) and #132 in yards per attempt (5.6). But they're all the way up at #125 in passing efficiency, so yay! Warren had one of his best passing games of the year (26/35, 195 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), but it was mostly dink-and-dunk stuff. To top it off, top receiving target Colston Loveland (56 catches, 582 yards, 5 TD this year) didn't play in the second half and is questionable for this week. Right tackle Evan Link has been awful in pass protection this year and will face Tuimoloau (6.0 sacks) and 6'5", 260 lb. senior DE Jack Sawyer (4.5). Michigan will have to do its best to chip or help with tight ends and running backs, because the offensive line can't hold up on straight dropbacks against this unit. The Buckeyes are #6 in sacks per game (3.18). On the back end, Ohio State is #4 in pass defense (151.7 yards allowed/game), #9 in yards allowed per attempt (5.9), and #11 in passing efficiency defense. They have good safeties, including sophomore Alabama transfer Caleb Downs (6'0", 205) and fifth year senior Lathan Ransom (6'1", 210), but the cornerbacks have been so-so; senior Denzel Burke (6'1", 193) and redshirt junior Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun (6'2", 193) have 2 interceptions each to lead a team that is #94 in interceptions per game. It's a good enough defense to smother whoever Michigan throws out there, and Michigan's only real chance for success is to make sure Loveland can play.
Advantage: Ohio State
RUSH DEFENSE vs. OHIO STATE RUSH OFFENSE
The Wolverines are #4 in yards allowed per game (94) and #12 in yards allowed per carry (3.13). In a sense, they seem to be hitting their stride over the past couple weeks, allowing just 50 yards total on 53 carries against Indiana and Northwestern. Linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham lead the team in tackles with 74 and 60, respectively. Defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant may be the best DT tandem in the country, so running the ball in standard ways might be tough; where Michigan has seemed the most vulnerable against the run has been on draws or 3rd-and-long situations where they get caught running games. Michigan also lacks depth on the interior, so if the defense has to spend a lot of time on the field, that run defense might soften in the fourth quarter. To counter that defensive tackle duo, Ohio State probably has the best 1-2 punch at running back in the country with junior Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins (6'0", 219) and senior Treveyon Henderson (5'10", 208); they have combined for 233 carries, 1489 yards, and 14 touchdowns, and while those numbers aren't as impressive as the combos of Blake Corum/Donovan Edwards/Hassan Haskins over the past few years, keep in mind that Ohio State doesn't run the ball nearly as much as those Michigan teams. Quarterback Will Howard, a Kansas State transfer, doesn't put up a ton of yards on the ground (121 on 68 attempts), but he is a capable runner and has 7 touchdowns on the season. He had 364 yards rushing as a freshman in 2020 and put up 351 last year. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly certainly knows how to make his quarterbacks factors in the run game, and when the ball gets near the end zone, don't be surprised to see Howard used in those +1 runs. I think Michigan can hold up early in the game, but I expect them to get gassed as the game goes along.
Advantage: Ohio State
PASS DEFENSE vs. OHIO STATE PASS OFFENSE
Michigan is #72 in passing defense (222.3 yards allowed/game), #39 in yards allowed per attempt (6.6), and #55 in defensive passing efficiency. While the last six quarters have been very good for the defense (the second half against Indiana and the whole game against Northwestern), Indiana has been a team playing above its talent level and Northwestern just isn't very good. Perhaps that will give Michigan some confidence, but Ohio State is on a different level, even if they're not at the level of the Dwayne Haskins and C.J. Stroud years when it comes to throwing the ball. The big key here is whether All-American CB Will Johnson can play, but there are rumors that turf toe will keep him out of yet another game. Meanwhile, Albany transfer Aamir Hall and converted nickel Zeke Berry started at corner last week with Johnson out and sophomore CB Jyaire Hill oddly not playing until the fourth quarter and wearing #35 instead of his normal #20 when he did get on the field. Michigan is #21 in sacks per game (2.82), led by DE Josaiah Stewart with 8.5 and backup DE T.J. Guy with 5.5. Ohio State is #20 in sacks allowed per game (1.18), but they have had to shuffle things around to replace their starting left tackle and starting center over the past couple weeks. The Buckeyes are oozing with wide receiver talent, led by 6'3", 215 lb. superstar freshman Jeremiah "J.J." Smith (52 catches, 899 yards, 9 TD) and senior Emeka Egbuka (6'1", 205) with 56 catches for 692 yards and 9 TD; even #3 receiver Carnell Tate (35 catches, 525 yards, 4 TD) would be the top receiver on Michigan's roster, from both a talent and a statistical perspective. Quarterback Will Howard is completing 74% of his passes for 9.6 yards/attempt, 26 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
Advantage: Ohio State
ROSTER NOTES
- Ohio State players recruited by Michigan include: OL Deontae Armstrong, OL Devontae Armstrong, CB Denzel Burke, WR Mylan Graham, DT Ty Hamilton, CB Jordan Hancock, RB Treveyon Henderson, DE Eddrick Houston, CB Davison Igbinosun, DT Tywone Malone, S Jaylen McClain, LB Mitchell Melton, OL Luke Montgomery, RB James Peoples, LB Gabe Powers, S Lathan Ransom, DE Jack Sawyer, QB Julian Sayin, CB Aaron Scott, CB Lorenzo Styles, LB Sonny Styles, WR Carnell Tate, CB Bryce West, LB Kourt Williams, DT Tyleik Williams
- Ohio State LB Joey Velazquez played his first five years at Michigan before transferring to OSU for 2024
- Former Michigan OL coach Tim Drevno is an offensive analyst for Ohio State
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED...
- On November 25, 2023, Michigan beat Ohio State 30-24
- QB J.J. McCarthy completed 16/20 passes for 148 yards and 1 touchdown
- RB Blake Corum ran 22 times for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns
- TE Colston Loveland caught 5 passes for 88 yards
- CB Will Johnson and S Rod Moore each had 1 interception
- Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison, Jr. caught 5 passes for 118 yards and 1 touchdown
- Ohio State RB Treveyon Henderson ran 19 times for 60 yards
PREDICTION
- Ohio State 38, Michigan 17
Last week I jokingly predicted Michigan to beat Northwestern 49-0, and they almost did that. But I can't do that this week. Your prediction feels right.
ReplyDeleteThe over/under betting line is 42.5, which seems low. Your prediction is 55, and I wouldn't be shocked if we see 60 total points put up.
I thought I would go with 34-1o, but as I write this GT leads UGa 17-6 with time running out of the 3Q, in Athens ...
ReplyDeleteUpset: we win, 23-2o!
It has been one of those years, so anything is possible!
DeleteI will do my part, which is to go dark on all sources of information until the game is over. If I so much as check the score, it affects the game negatively for Michigan. This is proven science.
"Upset: we win, 23-20!"
DeleteSubtract 10 points from both sides and you're spot on!
I sure hate that prediction, but I understand it. Fingers crossed our guys have a rivalry game upset in the works. It feels like the raw ingredients are there but on the road and probably without two of our best (Loveland and Johnson) it seems like the coaches need to gameplan in a way we haven't seen all year to pull it off.
ReplyDeleteGo Blue!
This is the game that Wink Martindale can change my mind. At this instant I have him for the second worst squandering of talent by a coordinator in the history of college football, right behind only the great squanderer himself, Al Borges.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is the best starting D line unit I have seen play at Michigan during my lifetime. I've seen them all going back to Timmy Davis and before. My thought and hope was that they could go down with the greatest D line of all time across all of college football.
Bare minimum, I had thought that they had a shot of being at least mentioned in the same breath with the Selmon brothers. But no!!!
I'm putting that on Martindale.
I've seen defensive lines decide to win the football game, and then get it done, I firmly believe that that can happen here. But, if I still bet, I'd take the points.
I think he has been OK. The front 6 is definitely better than the results, but college teams know how to nullify that advantage with scheme (to some degree) and the backups haven't been nearly as good as the starters.
DeleteI think the secondary is kind of like the OL -- we thought they were pretty good but they are closer to "not bad" than "excellent". I dunno how much coaching can fix it, when a massive drop off occurs.
And the drop off WAS massive, more massive than we allowed for. Consider Will Johnson to be functionally part of last season's departures (Sainristil, R.Moore, Sabb, Wallace) in the secondary. Paige has been a big disappointment this year, and it now seems maybe protected in last year's scheme. QJo is mediocre, even as a vet. Berry was behind Sabb and QJo for a reason. Hill is talented but learning on the fly. Essentially we went from Wallace being a weak link that we could cover for to numerous weak links, resulting in us playing freshman like Mason Curtis in meaningful situations.
For all our griping about not hitting the portal for QB -- the coaches saw a need to hit the portal HARD at DB. A notable question -- who has been the best player in our secondary this season? Contrast that with last years bounty of options.
Maybe that's on Wink for not coaching up the personnel in the secondary (the way that Minter did to some degree), but I think things would be a lot different if Will Johnson, Rod Moore, and Keon Sabb were all back there and the talent level was closer to 2023's.
Anyway, it's not like they are incompetent and inept like on offense. Wink will face a much stiffer test next season (assuming he is back).
He's too expensive to eat the contract.
ReplyDeleteLet's FXCKING GOOOOOO 〽️
ReplyDelete- lady luck was on our side, and I'll take it!
ReplyDelete- Ryan Day was desperate to assert his run game, and it cost him!
- Mullings proved that RBs do in fact matter! (again)
- that last INT was JOK bad ... I wanted to bench Warren for Orji, and that's sayin a lot
- wink earned his paycheck, and silenced a lot of doubters (incl me) ... won the game despite terrible QB and no #1 (or #2) WR
Well, had I bet the over on 42.5 points, I would have lost my shirt. :-)
ReplyDeleteHail to the Victors! Today I am going to celebrate Graham and Grant, the best tackle tandem in college football. I am going to congratulate Moore, Wink, Campbell or Warren. Shout out to the secondary who managed to contain Ohio's future NFL WRs. Shout out to Mullings who has always given it his all. That last drive was all his. Everyone knew we are running the ball after the last INT and yet he managed to get a few first downs.
ReplyDeleteBoo to College GameDay crew who unanimously (sans Desmond Howard of course) picked Ohio. We won! We upset Ohio. I do not care if it is luck, if Ohio shoots themselves in the foot with playcalling or missed fg. We did it without our number 1 CB, our number 1 TE.
For one day, I am happy to be a fan of the Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!
sloppy play all around. both teams dropped easy catches, 2 poor picks each, one team missed two chip shot kicks while the other had 2 deep red zone turnovers.
ReplyDeletewild rivalry game. fun to watch. michigan D played outstanding. and the OL did enough - while far from great, they didnt allow many negative plays. mullings often met LBs in the hole, bullied forward for 3 yds which add up when both teams struggle to top 200 yds.
mentally/physically tough win
Hard game to watch without firing multiple remotes to into the sun, but, the biggest upset in UM's history. The 1969 game was more impactful since it sent UM to the rose bowl and ended OSU's season (their best team ever). OSU can still win the Natty and put this behind them. Also, the 69 UM team was cooking at the end of the year. This team, well, not as much.
ReplyDeleteGlad Mullings had a good week of practice so he could get on the field. /s
Mullings won TWO games for us. That bounce out and run down the sideline was epic.
Enjoy the win, I gave UM a 5% chance and I thought that was generous. I still don't know how we won with 2int and 60 yards passing. If we played OSU next week at Ann Arbor OSU would be 14 point favorite.
A lot of changes coming. Let's see where we fall with new coaches and the portal.
Three games (SC, Minnesota & ohio) ... his mid season benching was one of many questionable moves by the coaches
DeleteWarren is substantially worse than O'Korn. Play of the day (season?) from him was scramble on the ground LOL.
ReplyDeleteJudkins and Henderson combine for 67 yards on 22 carries. 2 of the best RBs in college and they produce diddly. Shows you how much RBs matter. This was ALL about the trenches and our OL stepped up when it counted most.
Max Bredeson = playmaker.
We won by abandoning the downfield pass and trusting the defense. That recipe was evident since USC. But coaching staff deluded itself into thinking it could win by throwing. Probably cost us a playoff spot to attempt 30+ passes against Indiana and Illinois. Almost cost us this upset against OSU by getting up to even 16 pass attempts. Fortunately they got it right in the end. 11 straight runs on the winning drive, eating up the clock.
Defense shut em down. Wink is the hero! LOL. What a world.
Truth is that OSU handed us this one with terrible mistakes (INTs and missed field goals) and bad coaching decisions (trying to run up the gut with a weakened OL instead of taking all the easy passes our defense is willing to give up). It's like they didn't scout our games against Oregon and Texas.
None of that matters though. All that matters is that W. I can't think of a more surprising upset win at the moment. HAIL TO THE VICTORS!
Mullings ends his career undefeated against OSU.
Delete2021-special teams
2022-4th string RB, backup LB, and special teams
2023-3rd string RB
2024-starting RB
Helluva career with yesterday being the pinnacle.
If it were all about the trenches, how would you explain that last big run by Mullings?
DeleteM won the at the line, but yesterday was just the latest example of number 20 doing things others could not and have not
It was a nice run but when you give any RB 30+ opportunities, at some point he is going to bounce off some guys and get extra yardage. That probably happens if you give Ben Hall 30+ touches, Marshall, Edwards, etc. Not really trying to take anything away from Kalel because he ran tough and strong all season. He's a really good player and his physical style was a tremendous asset. He gets extra yards consistently and is up in the class of guys like Hassan Haskins and Deveon Smith in his toughness of running. So fun to watch! How different things would have been with another back is impossible to know but Michigan has had great results with Haskins, Edwards, Corum, and Mullings in each of the last 4 seasons so I dunno how much to put on any one of those guys individually as compared to another. It hasn't seemed to matter when Haskins left, Corum got hurt, Corum left, or Edwards got hurt. Haskins was ESSENTIAL to beating OSU in 2021...but his backups were Corum, Edwards, and Mullings. So for as awesome as it was (and there's a Hassan Haskins jersey in my house because of how awesome it WAS) how much credit should he really get for a truly LEGENDARY performance in 2021? It's pretty debatable.
DeleteMullings was not a backup RB in 2021. He was a linebacker.
DeleteEdwards has had 4 years and 422 carries to do something like what Mullings did (breaking tackles and turning it into a big run), and he never has. Not one of his big runs has been shrugging off a tackle attempt, keeping his balance, and running away. The closest one was the TD against Washington in the national championship game, except the tackle he shrugged off was actually just bouncing off the backside of one of his offensive linemen.
Mullings has 235 career carries and numerous ones in which he shrugged off tackle attempts to churn for a chunk of extra yards.
Barry Sanders mattered.
DeleteIn 1998 (the first season that popped up on Google), he had games with 41 yards, 33 yards, 66 yards, 28 yards, 69 yards, and 70 yards. Sometimes players just aren't effective. QBs matter, and sometimes they put up crappy numbers, too. You're too entrenched in this whole concept of "RBs don't matter."
@Thunder
DeleteYou are too entrenched in this whole concept of RBs mattering. When you assert things like Michigan won't have a chance of beating OSU without Blake Corum.
Yes Mullings was moved to RB (while also playing LB still) in 2022. He didn't need much prep time to have a role, a week after Corum got hurt against Illinois. So I'm asserting he was an option even in 2021 when he was playing LB full time. Some people were talking him up as a RB prospect since high school (I believe Thunder, you included). I was a skeptic but have been thoroughly convinced now -- it was always there.
Edwards was so awesome when having the starting job in 2022, despite supposedly being a not very good RB according to some, that some people predicted him to have a 1000 yard season the following year....as a backup.
All of that is well covered ground. So that's a lot of quibbles and technicalities to argue over a simple statement that remains evident, even if hyperbolic in nature. These guys get a lot of credit for what the other 10 guys on the field do and they are, seemingly, largely, generally, usually -- interchangeable. 2022 showed this most clearly.
If he is such a bad player, Donovan Edwards thriving when given the primary back role, proves the point you are arguing against so vociferously and continuously all these years.
If he is such a bad player, Donovan Edwards putting up 4.6YPC compared to 5.1 YPC from super impact hero stud like Mullings, proves the point as well. If all you get from flipping a scrub in for a stud is 10 fewer yards over 20 carries...well that doesn't much matter does it?
@ Lank 9:25 p.m.
DeleteI'm not going to get dragged into this debate again.
But you are factually incorrect when asserting Mullings was a running back in 2021. He was listed as a linebacker. He played linebacker. By all accounts, he didn't convert to offense until late in 2022.
The only way you can make this work is if you also say Mikey Sainristil was a backup cornerback in 2021 and Khalid Hill was a backup running back in 2014 and any other position switcher was a backup at his new position but before he actually switched positions.
Was Taysom Hill a backup TE when he played at BYU, even though he was the starting QB?
This is some real "Minority Report" type of thinking.
You're sitting here arguing with something I agree with, and telling me you don't want to get dragged into an argument.
DeleteYes Mullings was on the roster in 2021 but not playing RB until 2022. Agreed and acknowledged.
You're arguing about semantics that are tangential to the point. If you don't want to call him a backup RB in 2021 that is fine and reasonable since he was at LB at the time. We'll just call him another roster option instead. Pre-backup? Who cares. He was around and it's not unreasonable to think if he been used instead of HH at RB he could have done really well, as could Corum, as could Edwards. We've seen each of them do it against OSU -- in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Mullings played RB against OSU one week after he moved to RB in 2022, so I think he could have done the same in 2021, hypothetically, on pretty short notice. Since he was a RB in high school in 2019 and a RB again in 2022, I don't think it's too crazy to assert that he could have been an an option in 2021, if needed. Mullings and Edwards flipped roles as backups/starters against OSU between 2022 and 2024. Edwards and Corum flipped roles as primary/secondary against OSU between 2023 and 2022. Haskins himself serves as another example of a LB moved to RB. The role is the role and the guy in that seat is more fluid and more replaceable than all the hero-talk indicates.
The fact is that 4 different guys have served as primary ball carriers in 4 different wins against OSU in the last 4 years. PERHAPS, any of those 4 could have done the job that Haskins did in 2021, or that Mullings did in 2024, or that Corum did in 2023, or that Edwards did in 2022. Of course we don't know about the counter-factual in any case. But it's not really much of a leap.
Again, I agree with you. Mullings was playing LB in 2021. Not really the point is it? The point is that these supposedly historic and legendary performance were made by RBs who seems replaceable by a bunch of other guys on the roster. This is the same as your view of backup TEs, so the logic shouldn't be too foreign. If you think AJ Barner can be replaced by Marvin Klein or Hogan Hansen then you might also be able to imagine Hassan Haskins being replaced by Kalel Mullings or Ben Hall.
@Anon 5:2oPM, a hypothetical could be made that if Mullings were stuck sharing with Edwards yesterday, we don't get to that last FG attempt
DeleteDude broke tackles and got critical yards after contact. On the run you mention, DT Ty Hamilton had Kalel in a bear hug behind the LoS and Sawyer got hands on him too ... Mullings just bullied his way towards that big gain. No other RB on our roster came close to what we witnessed from Kalel this season
Another hypothetical is that Mullings is dinged instead of Edwards and that when Don gets 20+ carries he busts a long one at some point and we score more than 0 TDs on offense (aside from Hills INT return to the 2).
DeleteKalel played well and did his thing. Can't take it away from him just like no one can take away Edwards' game in 2022.
That was characterized as boom bust because 22 for 216 included an 85 yard run and a 75 yarder. Take those away and It's only 20 carries for 56 yards. Sounds pretty bad until you do the same thing with Kalel's day 32 for 116, remove the 2 longest runs of 29 yards and 8 yards, you get 30 carries for 79 yards. 2.8 YPC vs 2.6 YPC.
In both cases you get guys running mostly into stacked boxes and ending up averaging less than 3 yards per carry because stacked boxes are hard wether you are more of a speed guy or more of strength guy. They each used their respective strengths to shake loose a couple times. Boom/Bust some might say.
Another measure is success rate. Edwards in 2022 against OSU - 41%. Mullings in 2024 against OSU - 31% So Edwards had the better day even if you remove the two big runs from each of them.
This is where one can rightfully say they had different OLs and different QBs and that is true. But if you're a Mullings >>>>>> Edwards guy, it illustrates the point that the RB only has so much control over outcomes.
Mullings has the success rate edge on the season over Edwards (46% to 36%) but they are also used differently. Edwards was at 47% in 2022, when he got most of his carries as a primary back.
That's a very far stretching hypothetical, considering the OL didn't open holes like they did two years ago
DeleteI'm not Mullings > Edwards ... I'm Mullings=Harball, while Edwards=misused playmaker. Different Backs, and how they are used does matter
2o21, we probably lose without Haskins since our QB wasn't good and Corum was coming off injury
2o22, we had a passing game and probably win without the two big runs. But man, they were fun to watch, and only Don could do it
2o23 was a team win. It's quite likely Don gets a crease here & there to match (or exceed) Corum's production (if he sees the holes & hits them)
2o24 was almost only Mullings, even if he only rarely broke free. Our offense stunk outside of that
But we won each game, and that's what counts. Go Blue
*on a humorous note, someone on the MGoPodcast used my hypothetical today
2022 - Edwards got the job done even if you ignore the 2 big runs.
Delete2021 is like 2022 -- plugged in Edwards for Corum or Corum for Haskins and you would still win the game. Plug in Mullings and ditto. The personnel was mostly the same between 2021 and 2022. 2 different backs got it done those two years and then the following year it was Corum, the best of them all.
Every win is a team win LOL. Asinine to isolate 2023.
2024 was won by the defense first and foremost. Offense stunk. PERIOD. Stunk with Mullings, Edwards, or Marshall. But they had grit and in the end lived with 3 yards and a cloud of a dust instead of watching their QB throw INTs (like most of the season).
3 long runs were bounces to the outside by Orji and Mullings and a scramble by Warren. That's right - 2 of the 3 longest and most important runs were by QBs not RBs. Eventually you run enough times and even mediocre runners will find some light.
Still no clue what Harball means.
DeleteJim Harbaugh offense to me is defined by:
1. balanced ability to run or pass, but content to playcall safe and run all day if opponent can't stop it or protecting a lead. Prefer to score slow than fast.
2. using RBs who are small, quick, tough (Gore and Corum) as primary ball carriers but also wanting the speed/pass threat (Evans and Edwards) available
3. QBs who can pass AND run, but adapt if one-dimensional
4. 2 TEs almost always, sometimes 3. Use em all over -- outside WR, slot, In-line, H-back, FB.
5. 6' WRs who won't be mistaken for Randy Moss anytime but are reliable as blockers and pass catchers (e.g., Ronnie Bell). Grit over speed.
6. A Schembechlerian OL - big bad and mean (MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL)
7. Adapt and evolve with the times and the staff around you. Many ways to skin a cat. Harbaugh's offense changed quite a bit between 2015 and 2023 just as it changed between having Smith and Kapernick.
---------------
The idea that Harbaugh wants big tall heavy power backs like Haskins and Mullings to execute his vision of traditional power football doesn't really hold up when you look at who he recruited. Those guys were supposed to be LBs! They only moved to RB when the depth chart got thin. (In 2022 Corum went down so Mullings played both ways. In 2019 Evans was suspended and Higdon left so the only options were a walk-on and a freshman, so Haskins moved over).
Meanwhile the number of <6' speedsters recruited was very high.
If Harbaugh wanted "Harball" backs he would have recruited accordingly.
Mullings hardly played under Harbaugh, over 4 years.
DeleteNobody wants to ignore the two biggest runs of The Game 2o22. It's a testament to Edwards talent & potential, and why it's hard to argue against carries when he wasn't getting it done. Plenty of hope that 'the next run' would be BOOM
Delete2o21 disagree. Corum was coming off injury, and wasn't 1oo%. Only six carries shows that. Edwards has never been the same RB as HH, not even 4yrs later. Over 4o runs in that game, and - despite RB2 hobbled - got one carry, same as Henning & Cade but less than JJ
2o23 team win is in the context of your "RB Hero" comment in the other thread ... so many guys were celebrated that it's asinine to pretend any one guy was made out to be The Hero
And the 2o24 run that got us into game winning FG position? That was Mullings, not "ALL about the trenches" ... could Warren have gotten us there? Perhaps, but doubtful. Could Orji? Perhaps, but he had ONE play and was otherwise ineffective or just sitting on the bench
Your assumption here is that Harball is about RB height, which is something I've never heard or read ... There's more to it, mostly related to power and that trait of "GRIT," but vision & agility are up there too
*Gore & Corum are short, but not small ... both are brick sh:thouses, thick & powerful, and tough to tackle. This creates highlight runs that include sick cuts, burst, broken tackles and moved piles ... you know, the OMG WTF runs like we saw from Haskins & yeah, Mullings (Gerhart too), while getting you what is needed for a given play, drive, game and season. Sure the schemes change, but the Harball RB has been consistent
At halftime, all the commentators on TV were telling us how good the Ohio State receivers are, and that Michigan was overmatched in that departments. Then OSU scored ZERO points in the 2nd half. What happened? Did Berry, Hill, Hall, and Walker step up their games? Why weren't Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka targeted more? Just how did we shut down such a vaunted passing outfit?
ReplyDeleteDay didn't recognize what his team is best at. Michigan has him shook.
Delete