Steve Schilling

Per Tim Twentyman of the DetNews:

Michigan got two — linebacker Jonas Mouton and guard Steve Schilling.

Michigan State got the most invites of the state schools, with four — receiver Mark Dell, tight end Charles Gantt, defensive back Chris Rucker and linebacker Greg Jones.

The only other invitees from the state are Hillsdale receiver Andrew Holmes and Central Michigan linebacker Nick Bellore.

Congratulations to Jonas and Steve.

Congratulations to Steve Schilling for his selection to the Senior Bowl North team.  Schilling joins the following players from the Big Ten:

Iowa and Wisconsin lead the way with three players each represented in the senior showcase event.  The Hawkeyes are sending defensive linemen Christian Ballard and Adrian Clayborn and quarterback Ricky Stanzi.  Wisconsin will be represented by Outland Trophy winner Gabe Carimi, tight end Lance Kendricks and offensive lineman John Moffitt.  The Hawkeyes and Badgers are followed by Michigan State (2—Greg Jones, Chris Rucker), Indiana (1—James Brewer), Michigan (1—Stephen Schilling), Ohio State (1—Ross Homan) and Purdue (1—Ryan Kerrigan).  

Among the new additions to the North roster from the Big Ten are: Wisconsin’s Carimi, Lance Kendricks and John Moffitt, Michigan’s Stephen Schilling, Indiana’s James Brewer, Michigan State’s Jones and Chris Rucker and Ohio State’s Ross Homan.

Schilling, an offensive guard, was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both the league’s coaches and media this season.  He finished his career tied for second among Michigan offensive linemen with 49 career starts, and was the only player in school history to claim the Hugh R. Rader Award (team’s top offensive lineman) three times.

[The Senior Bowl] is scheduled for Saturday, January 29^th at 3pm (CT) in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.  The game and all practices will be televised by NFL Network. 

Original Picture Pages is at http://mgoblog.com/content/picture-pages-more-throwing-rock.  As always, text and analysis courtesy of Brian.

This is actually an instance of 'N+2 in the box' (where N is the number of available Michigan blockers) executed by Purdue, holding Vincent Smith to a six-yard gain despite all the linemen getting good blocks.  By walking down both safeties, Purdue creates an 8-to-6 overmatch in the box. 

Wha'hoppon: Michigan has the ball on their own 43 to start their final drive of the first half.  They run a zone stretch left.  Kerrigan at left DE rushes straight upfield and is blocked by Huyge.  It looks like Denard may have a keeper option to the right, but he reads the safety staying down low and hands off to Smith.  Omameh blows the backside DT off the ball, Molk gets a good reach block on the playside DT, Schilling helps Molk get that reach block and then releases to go after an LB.  Lewan kicks the playside DE out, and Koger takes out the other playside LB.  HOWEVA, because Huyge stayed in to block Kerrigan, LB Will Lucas is free to flow down the line and tackle Smith after a gain of six yards.

(original PP is at http://mgoblog.com/content/picture-pages-throwing-rock-against-slant. As always, text and analysis courtesy of Brian)

In this edition, Purdue recognizes that 8-in-the-box is like 9-in-the-box when the opposing offense is in 3-wide. But they're an enjuneerin' skool, so dey're smart like dat.

Wha'hoppon: Michigan has first and 10 on the 20 to open their third drive of the second half. They run a zone stretch left to Smith. Purdue slants the line against the stretch instead of flowing with it, which doesn't initially seem to do much except give Molk an easier reach block on the DT (one of several he had on the day, exactly as Brian predicted on MGoPodcast before the game). However, by slanting inside instead of maintaining outside contain, the playside DE forces Smith farther outside, where the MLB - the extra body Michigan can't quite block on this play - is headed at full speed. Purdue's paper, our rock, and Smith is stopped for no gain.

'Glass half-full' types will note that it required Purdue guessing right three different ways to stop this: 1) committing against the run with the 'extra' man, 2) slanting the DE inside instead of using him in contain, and 3) committing the MLB to the outside from the snap (although it could be argued that 2 and 3 are a combo meal). And the play was still just one ankle tackle away from being a big gain.

The latest version of Ask Steve is posted at mgoblue.com.  In it, Steve Schilling answers:

1. "What was it like to run out of the tunnel for the first time at Michigan Stadium?"
2. "At all levels of football, who has been your favorite coach?"
3. "What's it like protecting Denard Robinson?"
4. "Coach Barwis vs. a grizzly bear, who wins? Keep in mind, the bear could be rabid."

For some reason, in his answer to number five, Schilling chooses the rabid grizzly bear.

Coach Barwis vs. a grizzly bear? Haha, I wish I could ask him and see what he thinks. I'm sure he thinks he'd win, no problem. But if we threw the two of 'em in a cage match and we were making bets, I'd have to choose the rabid grizzly bear. Sorry Coach.

Those pre-draft workouts might be a little harder on Schilling than he's expecting.

Catch the latest iteration of Ask Steve at MGoBlue.com.  Steve Schilling is answering the mail every week, taking questions submitted at asksteve52@gmail.com and via the Michigan football Facebook fan page. 

Here are this week's questions.  Answers at the link above.

• Josh Wooldridge asks on Facebook: "If someone created a sandwich called "The Schilling," what would it consist of ?"
• Gabrial Mielke emails: "I'm in the Army currently in Afghanistan and though I can't watch all your games, I try to follow on the internet, when we get connection, LOL. My question is, what's your opinion of the 3-3-5 defensive set?"
• Cyrus Sidhwa emails: "Can you share some of your thoughts about playing in the incredible rivalry that is Notre Dame and Michigan? Were you aware of the depth and intensity of the rivalry when you were in Washington?"
• Javier Chico Solares asks on Facebook: "Does Coach Barwis really put a trash can for puking in the middle of the weight room?"