Michigan is really good. No disrespect to CMU, but that was an a** kicking. Michigan dominated them physically, and that happened minus the two starting offensive guards and a potential starting left tackle in Andrew Babalola. Michigan averaged 7.7 yards per play, including 6.9 yards per rushing attempt and 9.4 yards per passing attempt. Michigan had seven players with a rush of 10+ yards, including two wide receivers in Andrew Marsh and Anthony Simpson.
Or Central Michigan isn't good. One thing I have noticed over the years is that the weaker opponents usually have at least one guy who's dangerous, whether it's a tough running back who's difficult to bring down or a speedy slot receiver or maybe a quick quarterback. That's not the case with Central Michigan. I didn't see anyone who made me nervous, and they couldn't threaten the Wolverines. Defensively, they might play with enough discipline to get some wins this season, but they don't have playmakers on offense.
Hit the jump for more.
Bryce Underwood >= Devin Gardner? This game for Bryce Underwood reminded me a lot of the 2013 game against CMU when Gardner was dominant physically. Gardner was another tall, athletic quarterback who could run and throw. Underwood (16/25, 235 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 9 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD) was a clear difference maker in this game, and CMU had no answer except to hope that a freshman quarterback would make a silly passing attempt or two, which he did. I've heard comparisons to Cam Newton and others, but the closest Michigan comparison is Gardner. Underwood has a stronger arm and runs more powerfully, but no comparison is perfect. I think the best overall comparison might be Josh Allen, though there's still a long way to go until Underwood is challenging for NFL MVP. MAC teams generally just have no answer for someone like Underwood.
Also, no answer for Jaishawn Barham. MAC teams also aren't prepared for a 6'3", 248 lb. linebacker who might run a 4.4 at the NFL Combine. Michigan has several playable inside linebackers (Barham, Ernest Hausmann, Jimmy Rolder, Cole Sullivan), so with T.J. Guy missing the game, Michigan simply moved Barham to an edge spot and let Hausmann, Rolder, and Sullivan rotate at inside linebacker. Barham responded with 6 tackles and 2 sacks. Rolder and Sullivan were the other leading tacklers with 6 and 5, respectively. Michigan is going to need to be creative at linebacker, because Hausmann, Sullivan, Rolder, and Barham are all probably in the best eleven defensive players.
Justice Haynes might be elite. Haynes had a 70+ yard touchdown run taken off the board because of an Andrew Marsh holding penalty, and Haynes still ended up with 14 carries for 104 yards and 1 touchdown. He already had 75-, 59-, and 56-yard runs coming into the game, and in this one, his longest official run was a 20-yarder. Pitiful! His long speed is better than some expected, and his toughness is also impressive.
I like Michigan's receiving options a bit more. The coaching staff really seems to like backup tight end Hogan Hansen (3 catches, 43 yards), and that was on display a couple times in this game. Hansen seems to be a very natural receiving target, and I would say he already looks like a smoother receiver than Marlin Klein. I think Klein is faster and a better blocker, so I'm not wanting Klein to be replaced, but I think Hansen is a good heir apparent. I also liked to see Semaj Morgan (4 catches, 69 yards, 1 touchdown) catching some passes downfield, because it was really frustrating watching him catch only screen passes last year. He did drop a bubble screen on Saturday that I'm sure he would like to have back, because he had a lot of room to run. But if he and Underwood can find chemistry, I think that would bode well for the passing game.
Gerry DiNardo a kook. I made the mistake of listening to Gerry DiNardo in the post game, and he was complaining that Justice Haynes only got 14 carries. He said Haynes needs more carries to get in a rhythm for the Big Ten season, and I say there's a reason DiNardo is in the studio and not coaching games. Is Michigan supposed to get its difference-making 5-star transfer beaten up in a 63-3 victory when it's obvious that CMU brought a golf tee to a sword fight?
Go Blue! Go Blue.
Most of my thoughts are in the preview thread, but on Semaj I agree 1oo%. Channing Goodwin may be #2, but he's JAG, and not a good one. McCulley has zero drops, has moved the chains, and has a spectacular catch to speak of, but isn't stretching the field. Semaj can seize that role, and it's going to be needed
ReplyDeleteI liked Hansen. He's probably not 1oo% yet (nor is Klein), but when the two are healthy we may have some viable toys for Bryce (combined w/ roles for Semaj & McCulley above)
Yes. Semaj use downfield. Goodwin is JAG. McCulley? Better than JAG barely but not fast enough or elusive enough to be the consistent deep threat. Jump balls are low probability. But he's reliable when he knows the play.
DeleteMcCulley has gotta block like a TE and then we're in business because he is what he is at WR - good size and hands but limited ability to get open.
Hansen has the most upside as a receiver. You wanna throw a contested ball he's your guy. Klein has the speed and has turned into a good blocker but doesn't have the receiving skills to play outside consistently like Loveland. WR is a skill position because it takes skill. Hansen has that skillset, Morgan has it, I dunno if anyone else has it because Klein is still pretty new to football and McCulley was busy at QB and Goodwin just doesn't have the ceiling.
For the first time in a while Michigan is limited by skill position talent and lack of playmakers. QB is there to create opportunities and OL is functional and OC knows what he is doing. This is the team where we want Nico, Don, even AJ Henning LOL.
Still have hope in Marsh once he stops doing dumb stuff.
Where is Prieskorn?
Gardner had about the best QB game I have ever seen, the ND at night. He did throw a horrible pick 6 from his endzone but other than that did a Cam Newton on them. I thought we had it made at QB and all we did was get him beat up with a sieve OL while Hoke would talk about "how tough" Michigan was.
ReplyDeleteGardner talks about his time at UM on a weekly insider podcast with Webb. Every Sat was like getting in a car wreck where it took 2 days to even be able to move, then start to practice on TU, Fr start to feel acceptable and then get beat up again on Sat. Repeat.
Not sure about our WR coaches. Teslaa played at Hillsdale and wanted to transfer up, right?
ReplyDeleteHillsdale is what, 40 miles from Ann Arbor?
Arkansas (that Arkansas), from the SEC, comes and gets him without our coaching staff even bringing him in for a visit?
That...is a fireable offense.
Who? I don't see that name on Arkansas stat sheet
DeleteNo question it's a missed opportunity but so is nobody recruiting Josh Allen out of HS, the Glasgows being walk-ons who could have ended up elsewhere, etc.
DeleteNot recruiting a guy from Hillsdale is not a fireable offense. Moreover...
"TeSlaa said his decision came down to "what’s best for me culturally and obviously coming somewhere I can have a big role on the offense," he said. "They showed me that so the opportunity is there for me. That's definitely a good point.”"
Does Michigan have a similar culture to Arkansas? Nah
Teslaa was #2 at Arkansas immediately. Did Michigan have similar opportunity with Wilson, Johnson and Loveland returning on a playoff team? Plus Barner. Nah.
TeSlaa is a miss for sure. If Michigan offered, I think he would have joined. More likely, he was not on our staff's radar (no visit) and that WR was not a priority for this staff. In any case, it would not have made a difference last year. Not with the QB situation last year.
DeleteOne big difference between Underwood and Gardner was DG didn't start until the back half of his junior year. Love DG and thought he could have done a lot better with more help around him, but Bryce, doing what he is doing as a barely 18 year old is something else. I know he's a freshman and will make freshman mistakes but he seems exceptionally poised so far. Granted he's been a lot better against CMU and UNM than Oklahoma but that's to be expected.
ReplyDeleteI like the Josh Allen comp. He was a late bloomer though physically and obviously came up with a lot less attention and accolades as Bryce.
Nobody matches perfectly and DG might be the best bet at Michigan...since Tom Harmon at least LOL.
I think we should play Barham at DE even when TJ Guy us healthy. He could possibly be our best pass rusher (even better than Moore).
ReplyDeleteMaaaaybe. Opponent caveats are warranted here as the CMU OL kind of left him untouched a few times there. Barham definitely earned snaps. Let's see it against better competition.
Delete-iykyk
I worry about Underwood doing foolish things while running ... such as lowering his shoulder and trying to pop defenders, which he did in this CMU game. This isn't high school any more, where he was a physical specimen far superior to most defenders. When we get into Big Ten play, he's going to be facing run defensive players that can pop him back, and do some damage. I'm reminded of Dylan McCaffrey in 2018 against Penn State ... he was running down the sideline and had already picked up the first down. A defender stood between him and the goal line, so McCaffrey lowered his shoulder to try to bowl over the other guy and ... McCaffrey broke his collar bone. I sure hope the coaches are getting through to him that there's a time when he's accomplished enough with a run and to either get out of bounds, or slide.
ReplyDeleteYeah he should try to get OOB when he can. Sliding I dont love cuz you can still get popped, too many guys don't do it right, and you give up a lot of yards sometimes. but sometimes it's the right move.
DeleteI think we just have to live with the risk because the QB run is so valuable - not only in the run game but forcing pass defenders to keep an eye on the scramble threat. We can't replicate the 2021 offense so we need Bryce to be a hero. If he is hurt well that's just that we're screwed. But if he doesn't run we're also screwed.
-iykyk