What is the MGoCoach in you looking at on Saturday?
Obviously we're ALL going to enjoy the game as fans first. This is going to be an exciting year of Michigan football.
Me myself, I'll probably watch the game (as a fan), record it, then watch it immediately afterwards to actually look at individual battles, subs, and things of that nature.
That said, what is the "coach" in your looking for on Saturday? Any position battles? Any players in particular? Just interested to see what everyone will be keeping an eye on to try and gather more information about the rest of the season.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
More specifically, how does Kalis look pulling. If he can pull then we can power run behind Lewan. In that case, even if Miller performs poorly and the LG is mediocre, we can ram the ball down peoples' throats.
August 29th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
I might move my Coach Funk Advisory System color up to Orange
August 29th, 2013 at 9:13 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:14 AM ^
- Offensive Line - last year's interior line (love those guys as people) was horrible. I'll be looking to see how we control the line of scrimmage.
- Devin - This is obvious. He hasn't had a lot of snaps at QB, I'll be interested to see how he manages the game.
- Efficiency, limiting mistakes and flow - I said this a lot during basketball season. When we were playing team that I knew we'd beat...I wasn't looking at the score, I completely tuned out the score bug. I just wanted "feel" how efficient we were being and feel like the game had a nice flow. We were making good passes and executing. Same thing here...I want to see execution. If the play doesn't work, that's fine. But let's make tackles and hit our assignments. Limit the sloppy play.
- Defensive Line - Have they earned the right to rush 4?
- Secondary - How's our coverage?
The reason I have DLine and Secondary at the bottom is because even if they play well...there will be some "it's just CMU" in there so the questions won't be completely answered. This is also the same reason I didn't list the #2 WR (Darboh's replacement)...I think it'll take more than one game to figure out if we have that spot covered.
August 29th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
aggressive defense. The thing that stands out to me about the '97 team and the '06 team was the aggressiveness of the defense. Guys were flying around and kicking the living shit out of our opponents. If we can do that, with this three deep rotation up front, then we're on track for a run at the B1G.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^
I've been wondering if we will focus more on the timing of the pass game or work on the run game. I will be watching Jehu, Glasgow and Miller on offense. On defense it will be our DEs and Jarrod Wilson.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:19 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 10:34 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
...did you hear him say it again on the BTN Legends Preview? Or Leaders...whichever one we're in.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
Indeed D Line, I am hoping we can hold gaps well so the LBs to flow and fill.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
I feel like our biggest concerns over the course of the year will be the Secondary...the interior o-line is not as bad as everyone thinks they might be, I have faith in Kalis and Glasgow...I am more concerned about Wilson getting burned deep as he has in the past
August 29th, 2013 at 9:21 AM ^
OLine needs to be in the neighborhood of dominant over CMU, or the ND game could get spooky.
I still think our D carries us over the Irish.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:21 AM ^
Total thermonuclear destruction. That is all.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
is the game itself. I'm traveling to Arizona on vacation...I'll be on the ground by gametime, but not sure if I will find it anywhere. I have a tablet, so thoughts on streaming?
August 29th, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 12:18 PM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
Your best friend, my friend.
August 29th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
(Response to all above with suggestions)
August 29th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
I want to see how well the linebackers fill. I'm tired of concrete feet linebackers.
I'm anxious to see the 3 interior lineman and see how much movement they can get.
I want to see Taylor Lewan powerbomb a defensive end. Sorry Kenny McClendon.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:25 AM ^
That always fills me with a lot of confidence.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
1. Defensive Line pressure
2. Who will get some serious snaps after Fitz?
3. SPECIAL TEAMZZZ
August 29th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
The somewhat forgotten man at WDE is pivotal, but I think at least some of the Clark-to-3T move is based on confidence in MO. If he can be a pass rush force, we go from Clark alone to having two attack points (assuming on some passing downs they're both in), and then when Ryan gets back it becomes very interesting. Some combination of two or three of Clark/Black/Ojemudia/Ryan can do some damage, especially if Ryan comes in at MLB at times at offers a blitz option. If Taco develops later in the year and Cam Gordon comes to play, pass rush may be OK.
But if Ojemudia is a really solid second pass rush threat, the D can really improve this year.
August 29th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
Anything else would be a disaster.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:32 AM ^
I'll be looking to see if there is a noticable difference in team speed on defense, the whole interior line thing, and toughness from the waterboy.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:32 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:32 AM ^
Weellllll, you know... fundamentals, technique, and physicalness.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:33 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
Are we talking about the game or the post-game after party at Ricks?
August 29th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
On Offense: Fitz's productivity is reflective of the offensivel line and the much discussed interior. Also, as we saw in 2011, a healthy, productive Fitz = good things
On Defense: our Secondary. Its been awhile since we have seen a solid to semi-dominant secondary. We have seen signs of it the past two years but it has been infrequent. Hopefully this is the year that their effectiveness is more sustainable.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
YOU MEAN FREE SAFETY, RIGHT???
/reignites Seth/Heiko gchat fight.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
ALL THE PLAYERS!!!
August 29th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
I want to see him run (scramble or otherwise). If he does well to avoid contact, then I will be so happy. If not...my jimmies will be rustled.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^
What the coach is looking for is to win the game. They likely hope they can get to some things, experiment a bit, etc., but the key objective is to win and that must happen first and foremost.
The MGoCoach in me is looking for mostly a very fundamental game plan. Work on the go-to plays in the playbook and simplified pass schemes to get some run at those in a game situation. Lots of Power, some draws, lots of simple play action hitch and slant type patterns. They'll take a few shots deep to see where they're at in pass pro and to see if receivers and QBs are reading the defense correctly. But other than that it should be a fairly simple game plan focusing with a focus on minimizing mental errors and winning individual match-ups.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
1. Interior OL
2. More interior OL
3. Even more interior OL
August 29th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
But really, I look for a win aided by fundamental and intelligent play.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
I think we enter the 4th on pace for that kind of win, but somewhere in the late 3rd or early 4th quarter, Mattison rotates in all the younger guys on the depth chart and CMU finds the endzone once.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
I believe the lines will be the key this season.. I know you can pretty much say that every season but we have a young and talented DLINE with depth and finally some OLINE depth as well. I think with Lewan coming back and leading these guys the OLINE can be special.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^
1.) How does the O-Line perform, particularly the interior? We'll be fine on the edges, but seeing as how CMU doesn't have the personnel to compete with us, I'm looking for true dominance on the line as a sign of progression since last year.
2.) Does Clark live up to the hype? Again, its against CMU, but will he still be living in the opposing backfield for the day?
3.) Is Fitz back to 2011 form? Sounds like he might be, but all his rehab will be for naught if our O-Line can't get any push again.
4.) Will either Reynolds/Chesson establish themselves as the #2 man so we can all stop worrying about who else Gardner can throw to?
5.) Stay healthy, Gardner. Stay healthy.
August 29th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
if not as a fan. CMU is not Notre Dame. You ought to be able to assess pretty fairly whether the Oline is working, the Dline is getting push and rush, and whether the secondary can cover and keep plays in front of them. I mean basically, outside of individual performances by freshmen, and improved or meh play by certain guys, you want to see scoring efficiency and a defense that gets off the field after third down.
Of course, you won't need replay to determine whether this defense is playing fast, turning the other team over and taking the ball away and whether Gardner is moving the offense and where he's doing it. So, you will enjoy the game as it unfolds and then break it down postgame like the coaches and analysts do.
And then you'll worry about next Saturday night when this audition becomes the first seasonal test.